justsickofit
21-09-13, 01:04
Hello everyone,
First time poster- This post belongs in health anxiety, anxiety, panic attacks and depression...so I've just posted it here. If its more suited elsewhere, please let me know.
My story is fairly long, but I'll try to summarise as much as possible. I am 23, male and just finished uni. For the past 4 months I've been suffering from 'lab' (labyrinthitis) with varying degrees of symptoms inc. nausea, vertigo, dizziness, light headedness, anxiety, panic attacks, breathlessness, vision problems etc.
I've recently had MRIs and blood tests done - all came back okay so it's nothing serious. After a long long long wait, I also had an appt with an ENT specialist who (after a few coordination testes etc.) said that there was nothing wrong with my ears and he actually thinks its NOT labyrinthitis though most of my symptoms match it. For this reason, I have now been asked to come in for further tests in another 6 weeks or so.
During these 4 months, I've had some horrible panic attacks. I've suffered from all 'lab' symptoms and all anxiety symptoms. I have noticed that my 'lab' symptoms have reduced while at the same time my anxiety has completely taken over.
I don't know which is worse.
Right now, I feel like I'm in a constant on-the-verge-of-an-attack feeling and I am also hyperconscious about my breathing. So its fair to say that my priority is to deal with the anxiety until my next ENT appointment.
I need help.
Current symptoms
-Blocked ear/pressure in ear head feeling (no earwax issues)
-Popping ear everytime I swallow/yawn
-Feel lopsided when I walk, usually on the left hand side
-Recently- issues with vision, strained eyes feeling- cross-eyed feeling. See flashes of lights and movements that arent there. Sensitivity to bright lights.
-Brain fog, drowsiness, drunk like feeling
-Head movements causing diziness
- A feeling of...I can only best describe it as slow reaction or lag. For example if I move my head to look at something...it feels like my eyes registers it slowly after a few seconds. Its really hard to explain.
Depression
At this point, I should have been employed after graduating. Instead I am stuck at home, in fact my life has been put on hold for 4 months and it is very depressing. I know 4 months is nothing to chronic sufferers, but it seems very unfair to me that this has happened while I'm still so young and it feels like it will be there forever. Just makes me feel like I wont be able to do anything I want.
I have been unable to meet friends, socialise, drive...do anything at all!
Anxiety
I feel like if I can control this, most of my problems will disappear. My 'lab' symptoms are still DEFINITELY there. I can feel them 24/7, they aren't as bad as they were at the start but it still has a detrimental effect. The current symptoms include sudden jerking movements like I am about to fall. Sudden dizzy spells even when I am sitting still. Ofc whenever I get these symptoms they cause my anxiety to flare up massively!
And anything can trigger it, from hot showers, hot weather to bright lights etc.
I can go on forever describing every little detail but I doubt it will do much good. The lab symptoms definitely trigger the anxiety but as I cant do anything about that till my next ENT appt, the only thing I can focus on is controlling my anxiety.
Questions
So, in addition to any points or comments anyone would like to make on my essay (sorry) above, I have some questions,
1- Has anyone been in a situation similar to mine? If yes, how are you coping?/ how did you cope with it? and how long did it last?
2- Can anyone give me any pointers or lead me to material that will help me control my anxiety?
3- Has anyone had symptoms similar to mine, if yes how did you manage them?
4- Does anyone have any opinions on what it is that I am suffering from? Is it just anxiety?
5- Will this problem only resolve once my 'lab' symptoms go away? Because it seems like they'll be with me for ever, in which case what can I do to battle the anxiety?
6- Any other hints and tips?
Thank you in advance,
Justsickofit.
First time poster- This post belongs in health anxiety, anxiety, panic attacks and depression...so I've just posted it here. If its more suited elsewhere, please let me know.
My story is fairly long, but I'll try to summarise as much as possible. I am 23, male and just finished uni. For the past 4 months I've been suffering from 'lab' (labyrinthitis) with varying degrees of symptoms inc. nausea, vertigo, dizziness, light headedness, anxiety, panic attacks, breathlessness, vision problems etc.
I've recently had MRIs and blood tests done - all came back okay so it's nothing serious. After a long long long wait, I also had an appt with an ENT specialist who (after a few coordination testes etc.) said that there was nothing wrong with my ears and he actually thinks its NOT labyrinthitis though most of my symptoms match it. For this reason, I have now been asked to come in for further tests in another 6 weeks or so.
During these 4 months, I've had some horrible panic attacks. I've suffered from all 'lab' symptoms and all anxiety symptoms. I have noticed that my 'lab' symptoms have reduced while at the same time my anxiety has completely taken over.
I don't know which is worse.
Right now, I feel like I'm in a constant on-the-verge-of-an-attack feeling and I am also hyperconscious about my breathing. So its fair to say that my priority is to deal with the anxiety until my next ENT appointment.
I need help.
Current symptoms
-Blocked ear/pressure in ear head feeling (no earwax issues)
-Popping ear everytime I swallow/yawn
-Feel lopsided when I walk, usually on the left hand side
-Recently- issues with vision, strained eyes feeling- cross-eyed feeling. See flashes of lights and movements that arent there. Sensitivity to bright lights.
-Brain fog, drowsiness, drunk like feeling
-Head movements causing diziness
- A feeling of...I can only best describe it as slow reaction or lag. For example if I move my head to look at something...it feels like my eyes registers it slowly after a few seconds. Its really hard to explain.
Depression
At this point, I should have been employed after graduating. Instead I am stuck at home, in fact my life has been put on hold for 4 months and it is very depressing. I know 4 months is nothing to chronic sufferers, but it seems very unfair to me that this has happened while I'm still so young and it feels like it will be there forever. Just makes me feel like I wont be able to do anything I want.
I have been unable to meet friends, socialise, drive...do anything at all!
Anxiety
I feel like if I can control this, most of my problems will disappear. My 'lab' symptoms are still DEFINITELY there. I can feel them 24/7, they aren't as bad as they were at the start but it still has a detrimental effect. The current symptoms include sudden jerking movements like I am about to fall. Sudden dizzy spells even when I am sitting still. Ofc whenever I get these symptoms they cause my anxiety to flare up massively!
And anything can trigger it, from hot showers, hot weather to bright lights etc.
I can go on forever describing every little detail but I doubt it will do much good. The lab symptoms definitely trigger the anxiety but as I cant do anything about that till my next ENT appt, the only thing I can focus on is controlling my anxiety.
Questions
So, in addition to any points or comments anyone would like to make on my essay (sorry) above, I have some questions,
1- Has anyone been in a situation similar to mine? If yes, how are you coping?/ how did you cope with it? and how long did it last?
2- Can anyone give me any pointers or lead me to material that will help me control my anxiety?
3- Has anyone had symptoms similar to mine, if yes how did you manage them?
4- Does anyone have any opinions on what it is that I am suffering from? Is it just anxiety?
5- Will this problem only resolve once my 'lab' symptoms go away? Because it seems like they'll be with me for ever, in which case what can I do to battle the anxiety?
6- Any other hints and tips?
Thank you in advance,
Justsickofit.