Two Things Janet Jackson and I Have in Common

a) Age

b) This

I am telling you it is no fun at all. I just woke up one day dizzy like nuts. A certain dizzy that was aggravated when I my head was at certain angles. I then went to the kitchen and boom it hit me hard. I hung on the middle counter of the kitchen for dear life. I felt like I was in Dorothy's house in Wizard of Oz.

So yeah I feel bad for Janet Jackson or anyone that has ever gotten this. You just feel so helpless. Bet you were scared that b) was going to be wardrobe malfunction? But I digress. I remember this happened once to Ken Dayley I think. A set up man for the St. Louis Cardinals/ Toronto Blue Jays. My boss at the time, Pat Coffey was nuts about anything Toronto. His tone of voice suggested Dayley's dizzy spells were of his own doing. I kept revisiting that conversation when I got this 6 or 7 years later.

You know the cliche I am not a doctor but I play one on TV. Here is some info on what it is and as you can see ,it 's still a bit of a mystery. I hope you or anyone you know does not get this. In case you do, let me tell you it's no joke and learn so if happens to anyone you know you it may be in their head but not in their head.

Ed

http://www.vestibular.org/vestibular-disorders/specific-disorders/labyrinthitisvest-neuritis.php

Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis

Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are disorders resulting from an infection that inflames the inner ear or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve (the eighth cranial nerve), which connects the inner ear to the brain. Vertigo, dizziness, and difficulties with balance, vision, or hearing may result.


Infections of the inner ear are usually viral; less commonly, the cause is bacterial. Although the symptoms of bacterial and viral infections may be similar, the treatments are very different, so proper diagnosis by a physician is essential. Such inner ear infections are not the same as middle ear infections, which are the type of bacterial infections common in childhood affecting the area around the eardrum.


Neuritis (inflammation of the nerve) affects the vestibular branch of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve, resulting in dizziness or vertigo but no change in hearing. The term neuronitis is also used. Labyrinthitis (inflammation of the labyrinth) occurs when an infection affects both branches of the nerve, resulting in hearing changes as well as dizziness or vertigo.


An inner ear viral infection may be the result of a systemic viral illness (one affecting the rest of the body, such as infectious mononucleosis or measles); or the infection may be confined to the labyrinth or the vestibulo-cochlear nerve. Usually, only one ear is affected.


Symptoms of neuritis can be mild or severe, ranging from subtle dizziness to a violent spinning sensation (

vertigo). They can also include nausea, vomiting, unsteadiness and imbalance, difficulty with vision, and impaired concentration. Sometimes the symptoms can be so severe that they affect the ability to sit up, stand, or walk. Labyrinthitis may produce the same symptoms, along with tinnitus (ringing or noises in the ear) and/or hearing loss.


The onset is usually very sudden, with severe dizziness developing abruptly during routine daily activities. In other cases, the symptoms are present upon awakening in the morning. After a period of gradual recovery that may last several weeks, some people are completely free of symptoms. Others have chronic dizziness, if the virus has damaged the vestibular nerve.


No specific tests exist to diagnose vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis. When other illnesses have been ruled out, medications are often prescribed to control nausea and to suppress dizziness during the acute phase. Examples include Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Antivert (meclizine), Phenergen (promethazine hydrochloride), Ativan (lorazepam), and Valium (diazepam). Other medications that may be prescribed are steroids (e.g., prednisone), an antiviral drug (e.g., Acyclovir), or antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin) if a middle ear infection is present.


If treated promptly, many inner ear infections cause no permanent damage. In some cases, however, permanent loss of hearing or damage to the vestibular system can occur. If symptoms of dizziness or imbalance persist for several months, vestibular rehabilitation exercises (a form of physical therapy) may be suggested in order to retrain the brain's ability to adjust to the vestibular imbalance, in a process known as compensation. A key component of successful adaptation is a dedicated effort to keep moving, despite the symptoms of dizziness and imbalance.


From VEDA publication F-9, Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis: Infections of the Inner Ear

http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/labyrinthitis-topic-overview

Labyrinthitis - Topic Overview

What is labyrinthitis?

Labyrinthitis (say "lab-uh-rin-THY-tus") is a problem deep inside the inner ear. It happens when the labyrinth, a part of the inner ear that helps control your balance, gets swollen and inflamed.

The inflammation may cause sudden

vertigo. This makes you feel like you're spinning or whirling. Labyrinthitis may also cause temporary hearing loss or a ringing sound in your ears.

What causes labyrinthitis?

The cause of labyrinthitis is not clear. Labyrinthitis can happen after a

viral infection or, more rarely, after an infection caused by bacteria. It is often triggered by an upper respiratory infection, such as the flu or a cold.1 Less often, it may start after a middle ear infection.2

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of labyrinthitis is vertigo. Vertigo is not the same as feeling dizzy. Dizziness means you feel unsteady or lightheaded. But vertigo makes you feel like you're spinning or whirling. Symptoms of vertigo and dizziness may be caused by many problems other than labyrinthitis.

With labyrinthitis, the vertigo begins without warning. It often starts 1 to 2 weeks after you've had the flu or a cold. It may be severe enough to make you vomit or make you feel sick to your stomach. Vertigo slowly goes away over a few days to weeks. But for a month or longer you may still get vertigo symptoms if you suddenly move your head a certain way.

Labyrinthitis may also cause hearing loss and a ringing sound in your ears (tinnitus). Most often, these symptoms don't last for more than a few weeks.

How is labyrinthitis diagnosed?

Your doctor can tell if you have labyrinthitis by doing a physical exam and asking about your symptoms and past health. If you have vertigo, your doctor will find out if it is caused by an inflamed labyrinth. Your doctor will look for signs of viral infections that can trigger labyrinthitis.

If the cause of your vertigo is not clear, your doctor may do other tests to rule out other problems.

How is it treated?

Most of the time, labyrinthitis goes away on its own. This normally takes several weeks. If the cause is a bacterial infection, your doctor will give you antibiotics. But most cases are caused by viral infections, which can't be cured with antibiotics. Your doctor may give you other medicines to help control the nausea and vomiting caused by vertigo.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/janet-jackson-to-resume-tour-after-bout-of-vertigo/14203?nc

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http://edrlopez.blogspot.com/