Inner Ear Swelling... Vertigo

[gate_pourri]

First off, I have seen a doctor about this, just curious if anyone has any experience or home remedies.

I have been having a couple of weeks of minor vertigo (only really when I change positions from lying down, to standing up, or flipping around while sleeping, etc.) It is not terrible, but definitely annoying. I went to a walk-in clinic last week and the doctor said that the tubes in my inner ear were swollen and weren't letting the liquid in my ears drain. He gave me prednisone and meclizine and said it'd basically have to run its course. As recommended, I followed up with my GP this week and he said the same thing. It has to run its course and keep taking the meclizine for the dizziness.

Well, here I am, 14 days later and I feel just as bad as I did 14 days ago. Even worse today. I did some research and found out that hydrogen peroxide helps ear problems, so I tried that last night. Today, my ears hurt a bit more than they have been and I can hear my ear popping when I chew. I also feel more dizzy all around. I also have been having a minor burning sore throat for the past few days. Does this mean that the swelling may finally be going down and the liquid is draining? or is that just the hydrogen peroxide swishing around?

Anyone have any experience in inner-ear swelling or home remedies? I leave for a month long European vaca next week and although the doctor says this won't effect flying, I REALLY want it gone before I leave. I already get sea/car sick and will be taking boats/busses/long car rides quite a bit and really don't want to feel this dizzy, etc.

Thanks!

 

[Christine]

I have had labryinthitis which is basically vertigo that results from a sinus infection or cold. The episodes of vertigo can last for up to 18 months and, for me, that was true, although they weren't as bad.

My coworker had to stay home from work the other day due to vertigo probably caused by the high pollen count.

What your doctor gave you is a good start but you need to work to keep the swelling down. That means that you also need to be continually taking something like Claritin-D, Zyrtec-D, or some type of antihistamine AND decongestant. It will take awhile for the swelling to get better. If it is caused by allergies, then you need to work on treating the allergic reaction.

If none of this works, you should see an ear, nose, throat specialist (ENT). You could have a different condition called Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV) which really has nothing to do with swelling of the inner ear and more to do with "crystals" in the inner ear moving around.

 

[MainStMandy]

I have suffered from Vertigo since I was about 18 or 19...knock on wood I haven't had it in a few years. The first time though...whoa. I couldn't even drive my own car...couldn't roll over in bed. It was bad.

I have tried dramamine and meclazine. I find my allergies make it worse so I also take daily allergy meds.

Drink lots of fluids too. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Pakey]

I had the exact same thing with the exact same situation (European vacation on the horizon). I have severe sinus problems/allergies anyway so I assumed that my allergist was correct but when it did not get better (I've taken prednisone frequently over the years) I went to an ENT.

He told me that I had Benign Positional Vertigo. He instructed me to sit on my bed, turn my head to the side and lay down on my back with my head hanging off the bed, keeping my head tilted to the side for 15 minutes. Then I repeated it on the other side. I was to do this twice a day. My vertigo began to improve within about 3 days. The other symptons that have to do with my sinuses remained but the vertigo did go away.

 

[KitKat_Tink]

If you have really bad ear pain with it try warm washclothes. It relieves the pressure and allows some of the fluid to escape.

 

[gate_pourri]

I have had labryinthitis which is basically vertigo that results from a sinus infection or cold. The episodes of vertigo can last for up to 18 months and, for me, that was true, although they weren't as bad.

My coworker had to stay home from work the other day due to vertigo probably caused by the high pollen count.

What your doctor gave you is a good start but you need to work to keep the swelling down. That means that you also need to be continually taking something like Claritin-D, Zyrtec-D, or some type of antihistamine AND decongestant. It will take awhile for the swelling to get better. If it is caused by allergies, then you need to work on treating the allergic reaction.

If none of this works, you should see an ear, nose, throat specialist (ENT). You could have a different condition called Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV) which really has nothing to do with swelling of the inner ear and more to do with "crystals" in the inner ear moving around.

Thanks. I am already taking claritin, but not the "D" part. I don't like taking decongestants because they make me rather jittery. I guess I will try one today, since it is weekend, so I can be a little jittery here at home.

 

[gate_pourri]

I had the exact same thing with the exact same situation (European vacation on the horizon). I have severe sinus problems/allergies anyway so I assumed that my allergist was correct but when it did not get better (I've taken prednisone frequently over the years) I went to an ENT.

He told me that I had Benign Positional Vertigo. He instructed me to sit on my bed, turn my head to the side and lay down on my back with my head hanging off the bed, keeping my head tilted to the side for 15 minutes. Then I repeated it on the other side. I was to do this twice a day. My vertigo began to improve within about 3 days. The other symptons that have to do with my sinuses remained but the vertigo did go away.

Thanks! I am going to try this head positioning. Is your head hanging off the bed?

 

[Christine]

Thanks! I am going to try this head positioning. Is your head hanging off the bed?

You need to look up the maneuvers for BPV on the internet. There's a name for them (I forget it) but they are very specific maneuvers that help adjust the osteoliths in the ear. You don't just hang off the bed. Try to google BPV and the word maneuver. I've seen detailed instructions for these moves.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Thanks. I am already taking claritin, but not the "D" part. I don't like taking decongestants because they make me rather jittery. I guess I will try one today, since it is weekend, so I can be a little jittery here at home.

If it's been that long & that bad an ENT would most likely put you on a round of steroids...I experienced this in the last few months.
Just to let you know I let it go to long & had to cancel a trip to Portugal because I had so much inflammation which was causing the dizziness I was a high risk for blowing out my eardrum.

My DH on the other hand gets bouts of vertigo due to movement of crystals in his ear. Medication doesn't work for this it just puts a band aid on it & knocks you out. He deals with certain exercises to move the crystals & accupuncture.
Good Luck

 

[gate_pourri]

If it's been that long & that bad an ENT would most likely put you on a round of steroids...I experienced this in the last few months.
Just to let you know I let it go to long & had to cancel a trip to Portugal because I had so much inflammation which was causing the dizziness I was a high risk for blowing out my eardrum.

My DH on the other hand gets bouts of vertigo due to movement of crystals in his ear. Medication doesn't work for this it just puts a band aid on it & knocks you out. He deals with certain exercises to move the crystals & accupuncture.
Good Luck

Thanks. I am just finishing a round of steroids right now, which doesn't seem to be helping. I am trying to get an appointment with a ENT for next week, but all the calls I made on Friday were telling me appointments in 2+ weeks.

 

[gate_pourri]

You need to look up the maneuvers for BPV on the internet. There's a name for them (I forget it) but they are very specific maneuvers that help adjust the osteoliths in the ear. You don't just hang off the bed. Try to google BPV and the word maneuver. I've seen detailed instructions for these moves.

Thanks. I've found a few websites with pictures. Will be trying this tonight.

 

[GoHogs]

I have had the same issue. It was caused by fluid in the ear that could not drain. The only thing that works for me is MucinexD. Regular Mucinex will not work. I would HIGHLY recommend it. It loosens the fluid and allows it to drain. Claritin D and Allegra D did not work for me. Mucinex D works like a charm.

 

[gate_pourri]

I have had the same issue. It was caused by fluid in the ear that could not drain. The only thing that works for me is MucinexD. Regular Mucinex will not work. I would HIGHLY recommend it. It loosens the fluid and allows it to drain. Claritin D and Allegra D did not work for me. Mucinex D works like a charm.

Thanks. I will try this too. Just took a Claritin D, so I will try the Mucinex D tomorrow.

Not to downplay you suggestion because it was one I was thinking myself (the regular Mucinex, not the "D") but... at this point, if someone rec'd I hop upside down on my head... I would probably try it. I will try almost anything at this point to get this to clear up before I leave on this trip.

 

[GoHogs]

Mucinex D contains Guaifenesin and that is the magic ingredient for me.

I hated taking meclizine. It made me feel out of it and very sleepy.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works. Have fun on your trip.

 

[diskids2]

I had the exact same thing with the exact same situation (European vacation on the horizon). I have severe sinus problems/allergies anyway so I assumed that my allergist was correct but when it did not get better (I've taken prednisone frequently over the years) I went to an ENT.

He told me that I had Benign Positional Vertigo. He instructed me to sit on my bed, turn my head to the side and lay down on my back with my head hanging off the bed, keeping my head tilted to the side for 15 minutes. Then I repeated it on the other side. I was to do this twice a day. My vertigo began to improve within about 3 days. The other symptons that have to do with my sinuses remained but the vertigo did go away.

I had the same exact treatment...in fact DH just went to the emergency room today. He was at work in NYC and got off the bus and WHAM it hit him. They treated him the same exact way in the ER.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

i had horrible vertigo for about a year. THis started in 2005. Every once in a while, the room would spin, felt like I was falling and then felt nauseaus. I was scared, went to specialists and noone found anything wrong with me. I was so scared that it would happen when I was driving. THank god it didn't. But one day it just stopped. And it hasn't happened in years now.

Hope you feel better soon and it just goes away!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I had the exact same thing with the exact same situation (European vacation on the horizon). I have severe sinus problems/allergies anyway so I assumed that my allergist was correct but when it did not get better (I've taken prednisone frequently over the years) I went to an ENT.

He told me that I had Benign Positional Vertigo. He instructed me to sit on my bed, turn my head to the side and lay down on my back with my head hanging off the bed, keeping my head tilted to the side for 15 minutes. Then I repeated it on the other side. I was to do this twice a day. My vertigo began to improve within about 3 days. The other symptons that have to do with my sinuses remained but the vertigo did go away.

I want to try this I had another exercise my dr gave me it was to lay back and turn my head from side to side. All it did was make me more dizzy. So let me see if I get it right. You sit close to the edge of the bed with your head facing the head board? I do not understand how you get your head to hang over the side if you are laying on your back. If I lay on my back I have to twist my shoulders and they are not flat before I can get my head to hang off.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Thanks. I've found a few websites with pictures. Will be trying this tonight.

could you post a link? I have bpv too.

 

[Jynohn]

I'm another one who suffers from BPPV. It took over a year to be properly diagnosed, but once we figured out what it was, those excercises made a world of difference. They're called Epley Manouvers, if you want to google them. It might also be a good idea to make an appointment with a physical therapist, who will do the manouvers for you and show you how to do them correctly on your own. I do remember that I was told not to lie flat on my back for 48 hours after having them done, and had to sleep at an angle for the first couple of nights. Thankfully I haven't had a flare up in over a year, but I'm so grateful that now I know how to easily fix it if it does happen again.

 

[Hillbeans]

Gosh I feel your pain (literally) as I went through the same exact thing early last winter (2007). I felt dizzy all of the time, ear was popping, couldn't hear much, etc. Went to an ENT who found out that I had some hearing loss in my eat and lots of swelling and inflammation. I think I messed up my ear after learning how to scuba dive in 2000 and the ear infection I had in 2007 just didn't go away.

I found some relief from nasal sprays but it took me about 2 months for whatever was going on to finally go away. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, it was very hard to function after awhile.