Inner Ear infections suck

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I have an inner ear infection. It’s nasty - like being seasick on land. Your balance mechanism goes, so moving your head makes the room spin. It’s also like being really drunk without the pleasure of drinking and being semi drunk to start with. At least I don’t have a hangover.

I’ve been in bed for 24 hours, getting up to use the toilet and then throwing up. Death would be preferable. I can’t even really read for long. I am all slept out, too. So I am bored. Sucks.

I’ve had this before - I know I will get better. but it really sucks right now. And if I don’t go to work on monday, I don’t get paid. I can afford a few days off, but this could take a week to shake off. Sucks.

Si

2

Sorry to read this. As hard as it may be, you want to try to get some fluid in you. With all of the throwing up, you’re bound to get dehydrated.

Take care

3

si_blakely, for Og’s sake, go get your ear checked out!

I am saying this because of a recent experience…recent as of this past Wednesday, actually.
I’ve been having ear infections for the past 2 years.
I’ve previously had them since I was 5 years old. It’s like a never-ending cycle with me.
I’m 46 years old, and after having countless tubes put in my left ear, without any numbing whatsoever (My previous ENT was the ‘Mengele’-type, apparently), I have put off going to my ENT for the problem for the past 2 years.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, and went to see a new, more humane ENT.
After doing some tests, he has discovered that I have a tumor in my inner ear and a tumor in my sinuses.
I don’t think they’re the ‘bad’ variety of tumors, but it was all because I didn’t go in and things taken care of to begin with.
It’s all my very own fault this has progressed as long as it has.
I have no one to blame by myself, and the ENT I saw on Wednesday was more than a little angry with me because of it, as he told me so.
At least he’s not the ‘beat-around-the-bush’ type…I’ll give him that.
I’m still in a bit of shock regarding the entire ordeal.

I’m off to Indianapolis to see a ‘specialist’ next week (he wanted me to that very day, but I refused, as I can’t just hop up and leave whenever I want/need to), and he will have to do some surgery to try to get these tumors removed (I thought an ENT was a specialist), which I’m sure is going to play hell with my duties as my grandmother’s caregiver for at least a couple of days (which I really can’t have happen, and which should be an altogether different thread, entirely).

So, my best advice to you, is to tell you to go get this ear infection checked out and treated.
Apparently, they’re nothing to be scoffed at, or to be just tolerated, and left to go away on their own.
YMMV.

I hope you feel better very soon. I know how badly these evil things hurt!

4

Go to the doctor. I had an eardrum rupture this month and I’m still impaired. Go.

5

Thanks for the concern.

I’ve been here before. It’s viral, so there are few treatment options. There is no auditory impact, it’s just my vestibular system (balance). It could be a vestibular migraine (my son gets those), but I doubt it. The two day buildup is too long for a migraine.

I’ll be seeing the doctor in a few days anyhow - if I am still bad then, then I would expect further investigations. Otherwise, they give you anti nausea drugs which barely work. Last time I had this, I was upchucking so hard I think I caused my hiatus hernia. This time is not so bad, and the bucket is still empty today.

It’s just a minor virus that is really debilitating.

Si

6

Labyrinthitis sucks.

I advise folks with vertigo to avoid fatigue, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and excess salt because they all tend to worsen the vertigo.

I advise meds to folks who I’ve evaluated like dramamine or meclizine because they may help reduce the nausea associated with the vertigo. But the meds don’t do anything for the vertigo.

7

The only time I had an inner ear infection, I went to the doctor immediately and was put on an antiviral medication that stopped it cold within 24 hours. So don’t wait “a few days” to go to the doctor; the sooner you get in, the sooner the chance something can be done about it.

8

Which med was this?

I’ve not heard of an antiviral for the types of virus which tend to hit the labyrinth. They tend to be the same viruses that cause typical cold symptoms quite often.

9

I had the symptoms you described for a very long time. You have my sympathies. I’m glad you know the cause of your problem for sure, and that you’re pretty certain it’ll clear up soon. I can’t help but second the advice that you see a doctor (preferably an ENT surgeon) ASAP, though. (Not that you’d need a surgeon, but, IME, they can quickly rule out any cause of your problem–a cause you might not know about now–that can be treated surgically.)

10

Since I had more or less what you’re describing (dizziness, seasickness) for about 2.5 years, I learned how to cope pretty well with it. I’d be happy to share my strategies with you, if you think you might benefit from them.

Granted,I was eventually diagnosed with Meniere’s and not viral labyrinthitis, so some of what worked for me might do diddly squat for you. But at least some of what I learned to do to get by while I was seasick all the time might help you. My e-mail is in my profile.