Can labyrinthitis be congenital?

Reoccuring Labyrinthitis?

• Partner diagnosed with Labyrinthitis in Feb. Dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, headache. Took about 5/6 weeks to pass. He was anxious and couldn't sleep. Returned to normal. Although mood low. His father died 4 weeks ago. 3 weeks ago headaches started. Lasted 2 weeks. Tinnitus started up. He says tinnitus worse this time. Anxious. Low mood, can't sleep. Anxiety attacks also. Went to see an ENT guy..said tinnitus will never go away and prescribed him nothing. Said he just had to deal with it said there was hearing loss and damage.. Find this disgraceful. I think stress and anxiety, coupled with low serotonin levels have caused a recurrence of labyrinthitis symptoms. He is worried that a T1 fracture in July of last year would have caused this. I doubt it as periods of ill health far apart. His GP is useless and wont prescribe anything. He has been to him re: anti-depressants because of recent bereavement and stress. Any clues?

• Answer:

  I have labyrinthitis myself on a somewhat regular basis, but have learned to live with it - avoid catching and hanging on to a cold for starters, as this is where most of the trouble arises. As for medication - an -itis is an inflammation of wherever, in this case the inner ear, and antibiotics coupled with pain killers may help. I was prescribed stemetil and serc for my dizzy turns many years ago. Clue - depression, anxiety, stress, etc... these all lead to immunosuppression, and it is at this point that the other things kick in. Get him to do something to take his mind off current issues. Bereavement is one thing, depression is another - we are all conditioned to ultimately get over bereavement, but need help with depression. One way to lose depression is to lose yourself in the service of others. I really hope this helps. People telling him to "pull himself together" almost certainly will NOT!