Too dizzy to move, eat, sleep or see

[Delusion]

I'm posting on the behalf of a friend of mine. I'll be as detailed as I can but it's largely second hand information.

She's around 5''1, average body mass and 24 years of age. In around 2008 she caught some kind of throat infection which somehow 'spread' to ears according to doctors. She started becoming extremely dizzy and nauseous, eventually become house-bound and finally bed bound. The situation at present is that the pain and dizziness in her head is so profound that she can't see. She rarely stands up and is rarely able to sleep. She throws up and screams constantly from the level of dizziness and says that her dizziness becomes exacerbated 10 fold just by moving her head a few degrees in any direction. As of today she hasn't slept in 6 days.

Doctors have absolutely no idea what is wrong with her and are getting pissed off with her pleas for assistance. A specialist in 'something' told her to try some kind of 'head movements and special breathing' exercises which are physically impossible for her because she passes out from the pain. Antibiotics and all kinds of different pills and tablets have been tried. Nothing works. Furthermore various over the counter drugs that she was fine taking previously now make her throw up almost immediately. She can't take anything for the pain at all.

I don't want this thread clogged up with sympathies I want advice and assistance from anyone who may know what this is. Doctors have said it's completely unique and subsequently abandoned her.  

[Grumblies]

Aw man. I am super late.

[Grumblies]

Sounds like labyrinthitis. It is a deep inner ear infection that causes a ruckus with the inner ear fluids. She could be out of commission for 3-8 weeks if so, and might have some residual symptoms. Give her some benadryl maybe to see if it relieves any pressure, or at least helps her sleep. I agree that she should be taken to an audiologist, or an ENT (Ear nose throat). Chocolates, alcohol, and taxing activities should be avoided. Try to make sure she is eating, drinking enough water, and getting way more rest than she would usually need. Those exercises are to help retrain the brain on how to cope with the vertigo, and hopefully wont be required unless her case is more permanent. Figure out a way to keep her from throwing up all the time, ginger was a good suggestion. Perhaps ginger ale as it is more readily available. I recently thought I had a case without the vertigo and did a ton of research. Most of the doctors I went to had to look up what I was talking about. It seems to be a fairly widespread condition without much research on the matter because people often recover within a few weeks. Good luck

[ellenyl]

It may be helpful for her to see an audiologist (ear doctor) to check her ears, if she has not already done so.  I hope by this time she is feeling much better.

[ellenyl]

It's called vertigo and yes, it can be totally debilitating.  Ginger tea helps with the nausea and vomiting.  Here is a small list of things that are supposed to help, but make me very sleepy.  At times, it is the only thing that let me sleep, as just turning my head caused the world to spin and my head to ache.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/vertigo/page9_em.htm#vertigo_medications

Another possibility is Meniere's disease.