Labyrinthitis
Seriously - it's a thing!! So over the past week I have had ringing in my left ear. I had had a migraine so I figured it was a product of that, but it hasn't gone away. There are two tones - F#5 and G#5 that it switches between, constantly. I've also felt a little off. Not terribly - I'm not having dizzy spells like vertigo at this point - but I can't quite get my footing right over the past few days and I can't tell where sounds are coming from. Then a quick test at the doc's today (the follow-my-finger-with-your-eyes test) apparently proved that I am "off".
With no sign of a bacterial ear infection or fluid build up, his assumption is something called Labyrinthitis: which is essentially inflammation of the inner ear labyrinth that can cause vestibular issues as well as ringing in the ear and a bunch of other symptoms.
But there's another problem: steroids.
Apparently steroids are the most effective way to treat it - and since I have had issues with steroids over the past few years (severe blinding-pain migraines), he administered nerve blocks on each temple and at the back of my head to try and prevent the migraines.
My whole head is numb!! It feels so weird!!
So whenever I pick up my medication, I have to do an 11-day steroid taper and see if it helps. Unfortunately, symptoms may not improve significantly for a year.
Why can't things just be simple? You know - go to the doctor for a troubling symptom, instant diagnosis, easy treatment, and in a week - bam! Gone! No. My body doesn't do that. It's a troubling symptom and a likely diagnosis (which is simpler than normal), but then four needles to block the nerves in my head to prevent horrible side effects for the actual treatment, and a potential year before things are back to normal.
BUT - it is treatable. So I will thank my lucky stars for temporary, treatable, though weird-sounding, inflammatory diseases. Better than something new and chronic!
Labyrinthitis - add to the list of weird things my body has developed. 🙈🙈
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