Labrynthitis and cycling

mrfpb

I have suspected labrynthitis - inner ear issues that causes nausea, dizziness, vertigo. This has been going on for 4 weeks now and I've stopped doing long bike rides. I'm back at work after three weeks off, and occasionally cycling 1-2 miles to the shops. I feel fine on the bike for short distances.

I'm signed up for RideLondon in 10 weeks and don't want to cancel (I'm fundraising for a small charity that has helped my family a lot). Anyone here had this problem and any advice on getting back into longer distance cycling without making myself worse?

LegendLust

mrfpb wrote:

I have suspected labrynthitis - inner ear issues that causes nausea, dizziness, vertigo. This has been going on for 4 weeks now and I've stopped doing long bike rides. I'm back at work after three weeks off, and occasionally cycling 1-2 miles to the shops. I feel fine on the bike for short distances.

I'm signed up for RideLondon in 10 weeks and don't want to cancel (I'm fundraising for a small charity that has helped my family a lot). Anyone here had this problem and any advice on getting back into longer distance cycling without making myself worse?

I've had it. It took a few weeks to fully get over it - and then after I resumed training I had a mini 'flare' up so I rested again. With me it was not so much the symptoms of the labrynthitis that cause me problems (although they were pretty horrendous at the time) it was the lingering post viral fatigue that meant I couldn't train hard.

My advice is slowly build your rides up - both in distance and intensity

Lookyhere

when I had it, it lasted for about 12 weeks, vicious attacks that would leave me unable to get of the floor.
but in between attacks I was fine and could function and ride normally, the gap between the episodes got longer, it was as if my brain learnt to compensate with the imbalances.
I was given medication for it, thinned the inner ear fluid and did ease the symptoms...however it didn't completely go away, I was left with deafness, fullness and tinnitus in the left ear.. which are the symptoms of Menieres Disease (can occur after labrynthitis) which I was diagnosed with, eventually!! strangely, I don't ever notice it, its just there, the deafness, however is a pia...for other people in my life

If your symptom free and have no other issues then I can t see why you shouldnt go back to gradually increasing your riding but these things usually have underling causes ?

I would, initially, do this on a turbo, as a recurrence when out on your bike would nt be good at all.

mrfpb

Thanks for the feedback. I don't have a turbo, so I may justvdo the shorter loops near home to start with. The problem I have is I feel with low level activity (housework, walking with the kids) then I suddenly get tired and dizzy out of the blue. I also dropped the Parkrun I do on Saturdays. I may try doing a single lap to get started,.and move up to the full 5km if it works out.

innocenti

Like Lookyhere I suffer from Menieres as well. Like any ear disorder it can be an evil f*cker at times but its has its ups and downs. I am of the theory that staying active, fit and healthy can only make things better. If you mope around the house feeling sorry for yourself and chuffing chocolates you will end up worse off.

Lookyhere

mrfpb wrote:

Thanks for the feedback. I don't have a turbo, so I may justvdo the shorter loops near home to start with. The problem I have is I feel with low level activity (housework, walking with the kids) then I suddenly get tired and dizzy out of the blue. I also dropped the Parkrun I do on Saturdays. I may try doing a single lap to get started, and move up to the full 5km if it works out.

if you cant manage basic tasks you r a long way from resuming bicycle training, rest and stay off alcohol and caffeine, have a good diet & see your gp and get a blood test to rule out or in viral infection.
re read what you ve written and forget about the ride til next year, these things take time to get over and believe me, you don't want to make it worse..

innocent - spot on attitude, though I found that once the attacks stopped a glass or 2 of red is a great antidote its been years since I had a dizzy spell, its just the deafness that drives my GF crazy, esp when im driving and she is talking!!!! silver lining I guess

mrfpb

Lookyhere wrote:

if you cant manage basic tasks you r a long way from resuming bicycle training, rest and stay off alcohol and caffeine, have a good diet & see your gp and get a blood test to rule out or in viral infection.
re read what you ve written and forget about the ride til next year, these things take time to get over and believe me, you don't want to make it worse.

Yep, I think you're right. I'll try and get a deferment to next year. Fortunately only three people have sponsored me so far. I got through on the ballot, so no issues around minimum sponsorship etc. Dropping out will be a big pressure off.

innocenti wrote:

Like Lookyhere I suffer from Menieres as well. Like any ear disorder it can be an evil f*cker at times but its has its ups and downs. I am of the theory that staying active, fit and healthy can only make things better. If you mope around the house feeling sorry for yourself and chuffing chocolates you will end up worse off.

Agree.I've done my best to stay active, even if it's just walking around the block once a day. Just physically getting out of the house makes me feel better. Not sure I can stay off caffeine altogether though - did you get that advice from a doctor?