I haven't been on the board for awhile - too painful for me. I caught a nasty viral infection in February (probably from my gym--everyone had it and the virus lasted for a month in almost everyone who caught it). The virus settled in the inner ear. Prior to that, I swam 12 miles a week religiously, getting ready for my first summer off in about 30 years! My summer was going to start each day with a 3000 yard swim, some yoga, walking, maybe tennis. I had planned to take a few lessons to refine my strokes and hoped to swim with Masters. It is now almost August and I am still not able to swim. At first, the backstroke and freestyle resulted in severe motion sickness. Eventually, even breastroke and fly caused it. At first, the motion sickness only happened when I was swimming (almost the entire time), but I was fine when I got out of the pool. Then I became equally imbalanced even out of the water. Has anyone ever gone through this? My ENT says it can take months, or even years to recover from an inner ear inflammation. He also said it could be permanent damage. I am terrified, and needless to say, very depressed. I'm sorry to be a drag, but I know you all can understand. Thanks for listening.
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Former Member
I've never needed more than 12.5 mg of Antivert, which doesn't affect me when I swim. Benadryl would affect me a lot more, I'm sure.
Mine was vestibular neuronitis (also known as vestibular neuritis). I saw a neurotologist about it (an ENT who specializes in vestibular disorders) at a local university teaching hospital. He couldn't find a cause for mine but said that it was probably a virus that I had had at some point.
I went through a bunch of bizarre tests. An ENG confirmed that it was my left inner ear that was the culprit. The doctor did tell me to be patient, that the brain can learn to adapt when one side of the balance system is weaker than the other. I was diagnosed 13 years ago and mine has gotten a lot better. I rarely have an attack of vertigo any more.
Another thing I tried that does help me is I made a concerted effort to limit my sodium intake to 1500mg/day. I did this based on a study that my doctor did on Meniere's Disease patients. The balance system of the inner ear, as you probably know, is a fluid-based system. You probably also know that sodium intake causes fluid retention. His theory was that excess fluid retention affected the fluid-filled balance system of the ear. He found that the Meniere's patients had fewer balance problems if they limited their sodium intake. I decided to try it and it does seem to help me.
Thanks again. :bow: I was dx with VN as well. I've had all the required tests in 2006 which showed weakness in one ear. I recently saw a neuro otologist but was disappointed because she reviewed the old tests and said she thinks I have Meniere's. Yet all the ENTs I've seen said it's not Meniere's, its either Labrynthitis or VN. Maybe I should try the Antivert again. I'm sure I will build up a tolerance over time. I have cut down on the salt and eat raw ginger every day which not only helps motion sickness, but is very anti-inflammatory.
How long did your VN imbalance last? Mine started end of February. I really cannot put my head in the water - one can only do so many kick drills.:waiting:
I've never needed more than 12.5 mg of Antivert, which doesn't affect me when I swim. Benadryl would affect me a lot more, I'm sure.
Mine was vestibular neuronitis (also known as vestibular neuritis). I saw a neurotologist about it (an ENT who specializes in vestibular disorders) at a local university teaching hospital. He couldn't find a cause for mine but said that it was probably a virus that I had had at some point.
I went through a bunch of bizarre tests. An ENG confirmed that it was my left inner ear that was the culprit. The doctor did tell me to be patient, that the brain can learn to adapt when one side of the balance system is weaker than the other. I was diagnosed 13 years ago and mine has gotten a lot better. I rarely have an attack of vertigo any more.
Another thing I tried that does help me is I made a concerted effort to limit my sodium intake to 1500mg/day. I did this based on a study that my doctor did on Meniere's Disease patients. The balance system of the inner ear, as you probably know, is a fluid-based system. You probably also know that sodium intake causes fluid retention. His theory was that excess fluid retention affected the fluid-filled balance system of the ear. He found that the Meniere's patients had fewer balance problems if they limited their sodium intake. I decided to try it and it does seem to help me.
Thanks again. :bow: I was dx with VN as well. I've had all the required tests in 2006 which showed weakness in one ear. I recently saw a neuro otologist but was disappointed because she reviewed the old tests and said she thinks I have Meniere's. Yet all the ENTs I've seen said it's not Meniere's, its either Labrynthitis or VN. Maybe I should try the Antivert again. I'm sure I will build up a tolerance over time. I have cut down on the salt and eat raw ginger every day which not only helps motion sickness, but is very anti-inflammatory.
How long did your VN imbalance last? Mine started end of February. I really cannot put my head in the water - one can only do so many kick drills.:waiting:
