Hi Dizzygirl

Talk of a headache!! I had a bad one this morning but after taking some Ibuprofen I managed to control it and later went to work. As I earlier said the side effects of Serc-16 is headaches so I am not really surprised. My blood tests had similar results – high W.B.C. but that normally happens when you’re not well and you’re system is down.

Yours symptoms are similar to mine but I don’t really feel nauseated. The reason why I asked you about head/eye movements is I felt the same and a month earlier when I went for a friends leaving lunch, normal movements like moving my head forwards/backwards made me so off-balanced, it was awful. But since I’ve started doing physiotherapy for over 3 weeks I feel there is some improvement. As you’re already at home I would advise physiotherapy, these are simple exercises you can do at home (3 times a day). Whatever the infection is (Labyrinthitis, BPPV etc.) the brain needs to retrain for this vestibular disorder. (If it is).

Here is the link:
http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/treat ment/cawthorne.html
Try this!! Believe me it will work!! You just need to regularly do them, initially you will feel dizzier, and then slowly you will start getting used to it.

I have started going to work after nearly 3 weeks. My GP put me off-sick for over 4 weeks but then I went back. I just wanted to fight this thing!! I didn’t want it to take over my life!.. Staying at home just left me depressed and frustrated. I spoke to my managers and explained my condition, they were understanding, so I take frequent breaks and I am just working shorter days.

I too really hope we both get better, it’s just looks like a nightmare!! Hope it ends soon.

Hi Fern,
Thank you for the exercises, I will try them out. I wanted to tell you that I started acupuncture yesterday, I felt really relaxed doing it and although I didn't notice a change right away, my doctor said that after a few treatments, I would notice a difference with dizziness and my other symtoms. It's def. worth a shot. I'm going once a week, I have an appointment next week. SHe also mentioned that if your iron is low, it would be a good idea to eat more foods with iron and also to take more vitamin C tablets as they will help to fight off the virus. She's going to help me with my diet as well. Hope it will help. Let me know how you are feeling.

Hi Dizzygirl,

Happy Easter! I hope you have a great Easter. I am trying too, though this viral infection does get you down.

Good luck with the acupuncture!! Did they give you those Chinese herbs you have to boil in water in addition to the acupuncture? Let us known if acupuncture makes you feel better. Did you manage to see the naturopathic doctor?

Since my viral infection I have been trying to eat healthy and do take Vitamin C daily. I guess you need to eat loads of vegetables and drink plenty of water. Do tell us more about the diet.

I maintain a health chart monitoring my condition daily on a scale of 1-4, 1 standing for worse and 4 standing for good. There are a few days I feel some improvement and then I go back to square one.

On Friday I see the ENT specialist for some saline tests of the labyrinth. I think he is trying to diagnose what I have. Have you had any of these tests?

Dear Fern,
Happy Easter to you too! You seem like a very positive person. I've been so down lately. Last night, I had major motion sickness and I was so afraid. I just don't know what to do when I feel that way. The circ doesn't always seem to help. I had trouble sleeping, every postion, I felt i was moving. Do you feel that when you lay down? It's an awful feeling. Then I had pressure headaches all weekend

I see my naturopathic doctor again on Thursday for more acupuncture and she also wants to take a look at my diet which I have been recording. She asked me to drink a warm glass of water each morning with 1/4 lemon juice as well as take 2000 mg of vitamin C.

I haven't noticed a difference yet, but some days i feel fine and others i feel terrible. So it's hard to tell if I'm getting better or worse. Do you feel like this? Do you get discouraged at all?

I did see my ENT, I saw two different doctors. Once kept giving me circ pills and said it takes time and the other sceduled a ENG test (balance test) for me in May which i'm afraid of because they put cold/hot water in your ear as well as cold/hot air and i'm worried this will make my condition worse!

Where abouts are you? In the states? I live in Toronto, Canada.

Hope we get well soon, as this is very frustrating and discouraging.

Talk soon.

Hi Dizzygirl,

Easter was good, though the dizziness did get me down  the lovely Easter Egg!! was a bit of a cheer  . There are days (only a few of them) I feel I am recovering then I start feeling dizzy again. I don’t feel nauseated or have any motion sickness and when I lie down I do feel I am moving but it’s more bad when I’m sitting or standing.

I absolutely agree with you, this is quite daunting and the whole thing very discouraging and depressing but the best thing we can do for ourselves is being positive!! I know we will recover (people do recover from this virus) it’s just a matter of time!! so just hang in, you will be fine.

As I told you I see the ENT specialist on Friday for some saline tests of the labyrinth and to be perfectly honest I am really worried about these tests, in case they disturb something else, you never know but I guess we need to trusts these doctors, they seem to know better. I think you should take Serc on a regular basis (3 times a day) even if you feel better/worse that is what I was told.

I live in London, England and I don’t think the weather is doing us a favor; cloudy day’s just makes things worse.

Take Care

Hi Fern,
You live in London, England?!?!? wow.. my friend from work lived in Yorkshire, but came to Toronto because he was sick of the rainy/cloudy weather! He says he loves Canada because he's able to snowboard! lol

Anyway - I've been reading a lot of discouraging stuff over the internet, i really hope that this virus doesn't last for years! I should stay off the internet.

I'm feeling pretty terrible today, I'm so dizzy, incredibly off balance and I feel a lot of pressure in my ears. Do you feel anything going on with your ears? I'm so sick of that feeling of moving when I am not.

Do you know anyone who had this virus? I'm pretty worried as it will be almost three months at the end of April for me. It's wierd, some days I feel ok and others like today i feel terrible. It's hard to tell if you are improving or not. I see my neurologist on Tuesday.

What are saline tests?

Take care,
dizzy girl.

Hi Dizzygirl,

I love London, only wish it had more sunshine. The summers are simply fantastic it’s only the rainy/cloudy weather which I dislike.

Like you, I read a lot on the internet which is very scary. At times I feel how long will this horrible illness take. Will it ever go away? Then I remember it’s always good to be positive.

I do get the occasional ringing/hissing in both ears. Today I went back to work after Easter and didn’t feel too well, felt the same off-balance, dizziness, difficulty to focus/concentrate. What’s horrible is that everyone thinks you’re fine because you don’t show it especially if you’re a good actor. I really feel miserable at times. I don’t know anyone who has, had this terrible virus that is why I came across this forum but what I read is that the average time taken to heal is 3 months or so. Not sure what these saline tests are, will tell you more when I meet the ENT specialist on Friday. Are you meeting the neurologist for the first time? Did you consider seeing a otoneurologist?

Hi Fern,

I try to be positive too, but I feel so bad some days that I feel like I will never recover. I too get ringing/hissing sounds too and i feel scared because I dont know what's going on in there. And it's true, everyone tells me I look good and I don't feel good at all.

My mom's pharmacist at work tells her that she's had several friends with this illness and she says recover time is 3 to 6 months. I'm so scared of that, that could be my entire summer being sick It's going to be three months for me at the end of April.

Yes, I am meeting the neurologist on Tuesday for the first time, and if he can't help me, then yes I do want to meet with a otoneurlogist.

What do you do? What's your job at work? I had to take a leave of three months because i'm on the computer all day at work and it makes me very dizzy. I can't work right now, I've tried, but it's too hard. I feel better resting at home.

Hope to hear more about the saline tests..

Talk soon,
Dizzygirl

Hi Dizzygirl

Had an appointment with the ENT today, for some reason he didn’t do the saline tests . He has now referred me to an otoneurologist who I see next Monday and I have some balance tests scheduled for the end of April. Will tell you more about these tests after I see the Otoneurologist.

About your mom’s pharmacist who said recovery time is 3-6months. Though that’s quite scary but the good news is there is hope!!. How was acupuncture yesterday? Any relief?

As for work, I am involved with Statistics which means I have these massive spreadsheets with large datasets. Doesn’t make life easy with the type of symptoms we’re experiencing does it?

Let us know how the meeting with the neurologist goes on Tuesday.

Cheers!

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to post to tell my story about how 3 weeks ago, after being dizzy, foggy, and fatigued for a week I decided to go to an Urgent Care Facility where I was diagnosed with an viral inner ear infection and was told it would take several weeks to go away.

After a few more days of being dizzy and progressively feeling worse, I made an appointment with an ENT. Upon seeing me the doctor took a CT scan of my sinuses and diagnosed me with a severe sinus infection. He prescribe Prednisone and Avelox, antibiotic.

After day 5 of antibiotics, I started to feel much better. The steroids and antibiotics were rough, almost as bad as the dizziness itself but I stuck it out and now I can happily say that I feel 95% better. I still have some residual dizzness/off balance feelings but I do not feel foggy, dizzy, and fatigued like I had been.

I guess I am posting this to let everyone know that there is hope and a chance for a reasonably quick recovery. I recommened going to an ENT right away and my heart goes out to everyone who does not find quick relief from such a terrible sickness.

There is hope!

Hi Fern,

I hope you are able to find my post below. What's an otoneurologist? I have my appointmen with the neurologist Tuesday morning, so i will keep you posted. As for the acupuncture, I did two sessions and I feel no difference. I've decided to not go on with the acupuncture. It's expensive and I don't feel a difference, infact I feel dizzier. I spoke to two people who told me they did acupuncture for different things and said it was a waste of money and they feel the same. I'm going just to continue to rest and try to be positive.

As for your job, wow.. it mus be difficult to focus, but i suppose if you take lots of breaks it helps.

Anywa - i will keep you posted and you keep me posted as well.

I also wanted to ask you have you been experiencing any pressure headaches (on the side of your temples going down to your ears?) And do you feel any major pulsing in your temples? or body? I've been having bad headaches all week ahh..

anyway - let me know.

Take care,
dizzygirl

Hi Dizzygirl,

An Otoneurologist is basically a neurologist with additional years of specialized training and are a better bet when it comes to dizziness and balance disorders. If you can’t find an otoneurologist around then see a neurologist but I would suggest seeing an otoneurologist. The consultant I saw yesterday was an ENT specialist who had further specialized in certain areas (not sure what) and had vast experience of balance disorders. The ENT consultant referred me there so I thought let’s give it a go.

I see him next Monday for a CT scan and a number of balance tests. The one I’m dreading is the caloric testing. I think it’s similar to the ENG test you mentioned where they put water in your ears. I’m told it’s a horrible test and it does increase your dizziness. I have been told to stop taking Serc-16 for a week so that it doesn’t mask the balance tests next Monday. I am a bit worried as I have been feeling a little better with Serc and stopping it means going back to square one.

I have been getting headaches/body pain but I think it’s due to stress and this illness and to some extent due to the medication. Has this virus affected your hearing at all? I feel I am having a problem with my hearing especially with low frequency sounds.

How did the appointment with the Neurologist go today? Do keep me posted.

Take Care.

Dear Fern,

I saw the neurologist today, a woman and she told me she thinks it's all stress related. Based on my symtoms, she says it sounds like stress, the headaches, off balance etc.. but i'm not convinced, I think there is nerve damage. I was out in the cold when this happened, it was a freezing cold day and i felt cold air enter my ear and i felt so sick to my stomach and the off balance occurred the next day. Most of the doctors I have seen told me this happens from a cold or something. But this neurologist says she doesn't belive that, she says those are symtoms of stress. But i am not stressed!!! Everyday doctor I see only discourages and confuses me more. All I can do is try to live my life and move on and hope that this goes away. I worry a lot so maybe this is making it worse. I don't know.

Anyway - She wants me to have an MRI done so I'm waiting for that. And my balance test is sceduled for May which she recommends i do even though I hear it's awful. Let me know how your goes.

My hearing feel sesitive.

Dear Dizzygirl,

Don’t let the Neurologist or any other consultant convince you that it is stress or nothing is wrong, stress just doesn’t come overnight. You are fine one day and the next day you wake up you are dizzy and unbalanced, there has to be some underlining problem. Try and find an Otoneurologist maybe they can give you some answers. Worrying does makes things worse so try not be worry and be positive. I myself, do worry a lot and then realise I am not making things better.

I had a MRI scan done too, it was normal. Most scans come out normal it’s just to rule out any other problems. I will let you know how these balance tests go next Monday.

Take Care

Hi Fern,

I'm so glad I am able to talk to you about this, since we share similar symtoms. It's been really hard and discouraging. All these doctors I see tell me different things. I'm sticking to what I feel, and i'm not letting that stupid neurologist tell me it's stress when I know it's not! I know how my body reacts during stress and this has never happened to me before. I'm trying to be positive and not let anyone bring me down. After all, we are all different.

How has your week been without taking circ? I'm trying to stop taking them to see how i really feel, and i'm still dizzy and stuff but I think i'm geting used to the meds and they aren't working as well as they did in the beggining.

Please let me know how the MRI and other tests go, and what did your otoneuroglist suggest this problem is?

How are you feeling?

I find that for the past month now, i've had the same symtoms and they are not changing. The headaches and dizziness (off balance) seem to always be present. In the start of this illness, i found that each week i had different symtoms where now i just have the same ones all the time.

What are you present symtoms and have they stayed the same for sometime now?

Please let me know.

Take care.

Hi Fern,

I also wanted to ask you if your on any kind of Birth Control? I know that's a little personal but I have been on the pill for over two years and i'm wondering if i go off it, if it may help? NO idea.. what do u think?

Hi Dizzygirl,

My symptoms tend be the same – dizziness, off-balance and ringing/hissing sound in my ears. I don’t think that’s changed. Being off medication (Serc-16) hasn’t made things worse (they’re already so bad). I do feel more off-balanced in the last 2 days but then that anyway keeps changing so can’t really put that down to Serc.

I haven’t been on any birth control pills so I’m afraid I can’t be of much help. Not sure if your GP would be able to advise you. I would suggest seeing an Otoneurologist maybe they can give you a diagnosis. The ENG tests you do in May should provide you with some answers. Till then I would suggest taking Serc and physiotherapy. Physiotherapy did me feel little better than I was 2 months ago.

I will let you know how the balance tests go on Monday

Take Care

Hi Fern,

Just wondering how your tests went today? Where they terrible? Did they give you any of the results yet?

Just wondering, how long has it been since you have had this ear virus now?

Please let me know,
dizzygirl

Hi Fern,

How did the balance test go??? were you super dizzy? TEll me all about it.

Btw - I was looking up reviews of the neurolgost i saw, and all comments were negative. I may have to find someone else.. do u think it's worth doing an mri? My cat scan was clear?

let me know.

Hi Dizzygirl,

I had a series of balance tests done on Monday – Posturography, VNG, Caloric Testing etc. (Log onto google and check more about these tests), these tests are usually designed to check out vestibular disorders. The good news is all tests were negative and the bad news is no sure diagnosis.

The consultant then did a thorough check in my ears and came up to the conclusion that I have a mild build up of fluid in my inner ear. Probably it was high on the onset of my illness and then as I was taking Serc on a regular basis that has brought down the fluid level. The balance tests were negative as the fluid level is mild. He has put me back on Serc. I have another appointment with him tomorrow.

It was be good to do the MRI Scan as it rules out any other major problems. The CT scan won’t give you a picture of the softer tissues while an MRI scan produces more detailed images of the brain than the CT scan. In fact, I would have thought your neurologist would ask you to do an MRI scan first. The caloric testing you have in May will give you an indication of any vestibular disorder. Did you manage to find an Otoneurologist? In the meantime, don’t stop taking Serc (3 times a day), it’s an answer to some problems, you may feel it’s not working but this drug takes it’s time.

Take Care,