Had an attack near end of our holiday which left me unable to walk un aided for 2-3 days. 8 days on I’m lots better but still a bit wobbly. How long does it take to get fully back to normal?

It’s not an experience I wish to repeat!

Last September I had it bad, took me 10 weeks before I was riding my bike again. Sounds like you’ve got off mildly. Personally, I think the drugs the hospital gave me prolonged the condition.

I had it earlier in the year for the first time in my life.
The dizziness got really quite bad, any sudden movements like standing up sitting/lying down even turning my head would bring it on – not great when working up a ladder 😕
All gone now though thankfully, lasted a couple of months I would guess.

Months of that would be terrible! I am ok with gentle things now but biking or any sort of active sport isn’t possible yet.

The first time I rode the corner with the drop when the drop was visible (now overgrown with bushes) near the end of the Cwm Carn trail I was left hugging the mountain.

Fixed with 6 pints of lager and Gammon & chips at the Railway pub, Afan.

Lol. This came out of nowhere tho I suspect the 10 days of swimming and snorkeling could be the culprit. Managed to see the funny side as a greek nurse gestured to me to roll on my belly so she could give me an anti vomiting injection in my butt!

6 weeks for me, Labyrinthitis in my case, but they are similar. Came back after a month but not as badly. Horrible condition. Mine came on after a flight. Have my second ENT appointment in next couple of weeks.

Did you have to push your docs to get an ENT appointment? Nurse at my surgery was worse than useless last week. Going to try and see the docs tom to try and work out what caused it.

My GP was very sympathetic, she’d had it. Had Nurse ENT first for hearing and pressure check, this is now the follow up as it showed a negative pressure in my left ear and a reduction in hearing.

I’m not sure what they can do though, it’s caused by a virus, but I will attend. This all kicked off in April, I’m just getting back on the bike now, it took a long time for me to be able to look down, or to my right (for some reason).

Maybe I should count myself lucky then! Such a frustrating feeling nit being able to move around suddenly, feel like an oap 🙁

When I had it all I could do was lay flat on my back. As long as I did I felt fine, but the slightest movement and everything started spinning and I felt sick as a dog.

Anyone with it, force yourself to move, go for wobbly walks, you’ll improve quickly then. Apparently the brain needs to re-train the balance bit, the only way is to give it something to practise with.

It’s a foul disease though. Sympathies to anyone with it.

Not vertigo, I know (fear of heights) – but was 18mtrs (60ft) above the entrance to one of the Mersey Tunnels the other day – in a strong breeze and a rather wobbly cherry picker.

It was twitching, was all I will say!

Vertigo, or not – it was high and I didn’t like it – fine when it feels safe, absolutely let one go when it doesn’t.

I always associated it with heights too until I read up on it. The special forces should create a weapon that targets your inner ear… they probably already have!

I was diagnosed with a vertigo attack 3 years ago but after making no improvement after 2 weeks (unable to stand up unless supported) it turned out I had an inner ear infection! I lost some of my hearing in one ear and damaged my balance nerve to the point where I needed ‘physio’ for 10 weeks to retrain my brain to regain my balance. Overall took a year to get back to normal although my (existing) tints seemed to get worse even tho0ugh the specialist says it’s unrelated!

If it doesn’t clear up get it checked just to be on the safe side.

Viral labyrinthitis earlier this year. The onset was amazingly fast but evidently that is normal – completely regular Saturday morning, drop a slice of bread in the toaster, and by the time it pops up I’m pinned to the hall floor with the room spinning like the view through a washing machine door. Drenched in sweat, slightest movement felt like a bucket of water was sloshing inside my skull.

Home visit from Dr and six hours on the same bit of floor and I’d improved enough to crawl to bed (with a few stops on the way to throw up).

I got off lightly and was eating and very gingerly out of bed the next day. Back to work after 5 days but didn’t drive or bike for a couple of weeks. When feeling a bit more human you need to get moving and when properly improving start to wind back the medication so your system can take over again.

Amazingly no relapse so think I got off very lightly (was still horrible and wouldn’t wish it on anyone).

Not quite sure how they differentiate diagnosis between viral / bacterial labyrinthitis / vertigo etc.

Mick that sounds roughly like my experience. Hope I can make a decent recovery like you did. 🙂

My Dad did, took him years to get right after the attack – had to get the right drugs that suited him.

Even now he still gets attacks the best part of 10 years later, so hasn’t driven in that time either.

Viral labyrinthitis last year, laid me up for 6 weeks after 2 days in hospital, having to be stretchered out of my house wasn’t fun!

Took a few months afterwards to stop having wobbly moments but been fine since. On a bike my balance even seems to be better, maybe down to the excercises I did.

Were the exercises part of your rehab or did you seek them out yourself?

Don’t know much about it, strangely one of Britain’s greatest mountaineers Don Whillans suffered bouts. Not sure how true, as there were many myths which surrounded him.

Did Don Whillans not develop a cure for it?

Or were his harnesses that uncomfortable they just took your mind off it.

Did Don Whillans not develop a cure for it?

No, but he did invent a type of tent so he could have a lie down half way up the crag.