I am a 27 year old male who has been having episodes of dizzyness and vertigo since last November, following a flu-like viral infection. The accompanying symtoms include a dull, deep headache, an extremely frustrating sense of pressure or "fullness" in the head, a stiff, aching neck, lightheadedness, "whooziness", a "spacey" feeling like I'm drunk or medicated, and occasional slight nausea.
I was diagnosed by an ENT as having viral Labrynthitis. I am told that this can last for up to 6 months. It is now May and going on 6 months, and my symptoms are still present. They are not present constantly, they wax and wane. Since their onset, I have also had frequent bouts of sore throat and fatigue that also wax and wane.
My doctor has tested for HIV (I'm negative), immunoglobins, and white blood cell counts. Everything seems normal. We've also discussed the possibility of a relationship between my symtoms and an antidepressant (Prozac) that I've been on for a year and half. He thinks not. He seems to think its viral and should pass, but I think that by now I should be feeling significantly better and am concerned. I take good care of myself, eat well, exercise, take vitamin and herbal supplements.
Could the sore throat, fatigue, and lightheadedness be connected to the Labrynthitis? Do you think its viral? Is it normal for it to continue this long? Should I continue exercising? Is there anything else I should be checking for? My greatest fear is that this will never go away. Please help me as I'm desperate and starting to lose hope of ever recovering.
Thank you.
Reply: ---------------------------------
One of the limitations of modern medicine is the inability to determine a specific test result or finding that provides a definitive diagnosis in every case for patients with the subjective complaint of dizziness. Dizziness has a large and wide range of possible causes. Vertigo is a type of dizziness that describes the sensation of movement. In many patients vertigo will be related to an abnormality with the inner ear. Unfortunately, almost 50% of the time in patients with vertigo, the characteristics of the symptoms and test results fail to fit nicely into any known and well-established clinical entities (diagnoses). Fortunately, it is possible to confidently establish with various tests whether the symptoms are related to serious or life-threatening conditions such as brain tumors, etc. It is also possible to concludewith various tests that the problem is related to inner ear dysfunction. While the physician may be able to rule out serious or life-threatening conditions and may be able to conclude that the problem is with the inner ear, he/she may not be able to prognosticate the duration of symptoms with much precision in the 50% or so of the time when a specific clinical entity cannot be diagnosed. This does not mean that nothing can be done about the symptoms - in the vast majority of cases, the symptoms will resolve with the passage of time during which medical therapy can be offered to control the symptoms. In the very small number of patients who have chronic vertigo due to an inner ear condition that fails to resolve over very long periods of time, surgical therapies might be considered which can eliminate the problem.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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