Labyrinthitis

Goulah

My previous message disappeared as I was typing it so will try again.

Labyrinthitis can be a lot worse than the medical professionals say (and understand). The most important thing is to believe in yourself and don't put up with them saying it is not as bad as you make it out to be. I was advised it would pass in a week or two and I still get it after seven years. At first I literally thought the floor had collapsed as I could not stand, kneel or even crawl and I was violently ill. I finally managed to crawl to the bedroom and was horrifically ill and not able to move for 48 hours. Eventually I managed to ring someone and was taken to the doctor who gave me an anti nausea injection and sent me on my not so merry way.

Hint 1: Don't panic. Weird as it sounds, I found that swearing got me through because it to a certain extent gave me something to concentrate on so I did not hyperventilate.

Hint 2: Make sure you keep a bucket next to you at all times because your system takes over and you have no control over your bodily functions. Sorry to be gross but I was so sick for four weeks that I lost 10 kilos a week for two weeks and then five kilos for the next two weeks. I learnt that the best thing for me was to lie on the backroom floor with a doona around me and a sports water bottle next to me.

Hint 3: There are some self help groups around. I found a site that was based in the UK and it opened my eyes to what goes on and how to cope. The most helpful thing (after I had "recovered" enough to sleep in my bed once more) was that there is a form of physiotherapy that can help. You do have to persevere but it will eventually help.

Hint 4: Sod other people. Besides the being taken to the doctor and food being bought for me by my work colleague the first week, I had absolutely no help from anyone. Between the "woe is me" and the fear induced by the lack of bodily control, I did what felt better for me. For example I stayed in bed not moving for as long as possible but I forced myself to have a sip of water every hour even though I knew it would make me ill. I set my phone alarm to go off every hour for that sip and to make myself move as my body was "closing down" and not wanting to work. Having managed to ring my family (who live an hour's drive away) they said they would stay away as they did not want to catch what I had.

There are various levels of the sickness but they are all debilitating. If your legs don't work then crawl if you can. My problem was caused by a virus in my ear but it can be many other things that cause it.

Hint 5: See an ENT (ear nose and throat) balance specialist (mine was at a public hospital and surprisingly I did not have to wait long at all). Even after all these years I still get affected by nausea every so often and my balance is poor. Having had a couple of broken bones (nose, finger and two ribs) in separate accidents I also had to attend a balance clinic at another hospital

Hint 6: make up your own physio program when you have been "dismissed" by the doctors and specialists. I started doing my own exercises at the beginning of the year and it is finally starting to pay off. I don't fall flat on my face (or behind) as much as I was six months ago and can walk down the street and look in a shop window now.

Pardon if my ramblings are not quite as coherent as they should be but the main thing is that you should not let other people make you feel "small", do something for yourself and not what others say you "must" do.

Never doubt yourself and when you feel absolutely dreadful with nausea and lack of co-ordination, think of something absolutely ludicrous and laugh.