Can labyrinthitis be congenital?

Labyrinthitis at school?

• I was diagnosed with labyrinthitis 3 weeks ago. I am 15, and revising for my exams in may/june. I find reading for periods of longer than 10 minutes makes me feel really sick, a symptom of the labyrinthitis. The thing is I have a book review sppech at school coming up. It was supposed to be in two weeks, but I spoke to my teacher and he said I could wait until after my exam. The thing is, I know I will have to spend all available time studying, and it takes me at least 3 weeks to read a book anyway. By night I am so exhausted I can't read anyway, and feeling too dizzy on my feet to do a presentation. I know it is in 6 weeks, but it has already been a month with the condition, and I can't speak to my teacher again, as I think he feels I am just buying for time. What should I do???

• Answer:

  My husband and I both suffer from labyrinthitis and when we have a flare up (the dizzy spells) we take Sudafed. Get the 12 hour kind and it has to be the kind that you sign for at the drug store. The over the counter is missing the drug that clears the ear canal. Sudafed dries up the ear canal. Fluid in your labyrinth is what causes this disorder. Take a 12 hour in the morning. We both find the 24 hour does not allow is to go to sleep. By the time we come off of the 12 hour does we are home and it is close to bedtime. Please check with your parents/doctor first. Good luck with your exams and I hope it clears up for you soon.