Autoimmune Inner Ear Disorder?

I am a 20 year-old woman. For the past year I've had weird symptoms. The worst are the dizziness and nausea. I had an ENG test done, and found out last week that my right inner ear is functioning 37% less than my left. My doctor said that this could be indicative of an inner ear virus or inflammation several months ago when I was my sickest, but also that it could be an ongoing problem. He said it can't be Meniere's because my hearing is perfect. I would think it's an ongoing problem because I'll feel okay for a few weeks, then start getting really dizzy again.

What's strange is that I have other symptoms such as recurrent bladder infections, recurrent swollen salivary glands and have battled a sinus infection and pleurisy/costochondritis. The research I've done looks like these are characteristics of autoimmune disorders. I'm currently awaiting blood tests for Sjogren's Syndrome, but I was wondering about the possibility of Autoimmune Inner Ear Disorder. From what I've read, it looks like hearing loss is a must for this, but I'm not sure. I've been tested for Crohn's, Lupus and Celiac and all three were negative. I also had a CAT scan that was normal. I have an appointment to get my hearing retested in a few months and am currently on Serc.

If anyone has more information on this and could help me out I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Well, you need to have your hearing tested while you are having a dizzy eppisode. Until this is done...  one can not really rule out mynieres.  

It does sound to me that you have an agressive doctor that is looking for the answers, which is pratically a miracle. Your theory of being an AI type disorder is vallid, and I think there are blood tests for that too.

[mikee2]

I have had the same.  I think it's a virus infection in the inner ear.  I used to get nausea but now I only get dizzy, especially if I breath in thru my nose rapidly or drink cold, cold liquids....do you have any new news.

[sunflower007]

My doctor originally thought it was a virus, too. But my symptoms have been going on for over a year now. I still get dizziness and nausea. I'll have a month or so where I'm not too bad, then a month or so where I feel terrible. My dizziness seems to get worse as the day goes on.

My blood tests came back negative for Sjogren's. Did your parotid glands get really big also? When I get really dizzy, they seem to be huge. I'm trying to figure out where the swollen glands and the lowered immune system come into play. How long did the worst of your inner ear problem last? I've now been on Serc for a few weeks and it doesn't seem to be helping.

[mikee2]

[mikee2]

No, my glands are ok.  And somedays are not as dizzy as others.  But I can really feel my nose and upper nose area pressure.  Lots' of it.  I have been reading this column a lot and I see a lot of people are taking Prednisone.  What about taking that?  or Benadryl D?

[sunflower007]

It's been over 4 years and I'm still dealing with these symptoms. When I'm really dizzy, my parotid glands are huge. Have you found out anything yet?
I had a biopsy for Sjogren's and it was negative (though it did show some inflammation).
Do you have a lowered immune system, too? I seem to get a lot of infections still. I have also gotten a lot of fevers in the past few years, some explained by infections, some not.
Let me know if you've heard anything.