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So do I have it 8 years later, did I ever have it, or what?

Discussion in 'Your Living Room' started by RetiredTeacher, Feb 16, 2020.

  1. RetiredTeacher

    RetiredTeacher New Member

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    Feb 16, 2020
    Eight years ago, I received a live-virus Shingles vaccine and woke up the next morning with a severe hearing impairment in my left ear, I got in quickly for an audiogram & to see a neurotologist, who dx Meniere's. That hearing impairment (it also had a tinnitus component of a very tinny sound when I listed to a dial tone on the phone, but no vertigo or dizziness) resolved, then a few weeks later, moved to my right ear but with not as severe a hearing loss! This also resolved over a short period of time but I started taking L-Lysine and following a low salt diet, just in case.

    I still feel this was related to the Shingles vaccine, & I did press that issue with the specialist, who said it was unlikely, but it could be maybe.

    Since it resolved rather quickly & I have had NO symptoms of Meniere's for 8 years, until last Tuesday after my very gentle chair yoga for seniors class. In my car, in the parking lot, I noticed a sudden onset of buzzing like an electrical wire. I figured construction was nearby & we had been hearing noises all the time in class, and thought the buzzing would go away after I left the parking lot.
    Nope.
    I determined the buzzing was coming from my left ear, got home (and there was no tinny sound, like last time, when I listened to the dial tone on the landline) and saw a NP that day, got referral to for a hearing evaluation last Thursday (my evaluation results were perfect!) and a Rx for prednisone. My left ear felt... funny/odd.... like not quite perfect, but no pain or sound attenuation etc.

    I do have BPPV but NO dizziness or vertigo when walking or sitting or driving etc, other than BPPV happens being in a specific position in my bed so I'm careful about my positioning and I had to make that clear to the NP (on Tues) and the hearing evaluator (on Thurs)--it seemed they so wanted to note it as a symptom to support a dx of MD.

    The electrical buzzing resolved Tuesday afternoon, with no feeling of hearing loss or being underwater, although if I pushed my finger in my left ear, and then pull it out, the funny/odd feeling I had went away, then came back again--although it's almost 100% resolved now. It was as if it was related to my Eustachian tube?

    Is it possible that I did have MD 8 years ago, and that MD is back now, with the symptoms I've described above?

    I stopped taking L-Lysine a couple of years ago. Is it possible that the Shingles virus is having a wonderful time replicating in and around my auditory nerve or brain or wherever? I have an appt with a NP who is in the ENT specialty area, but that's just one more hoop for me to jump through to get to a neurotologist!

    I'd appreciate any help and input--please help! Thank you for reading this, I know it's long!
    RetiredTeacher
     
  2. wendy

    wendy Member

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    May 18, 2019
    I do yoga too and you do need to move your head and gaze even in gentle chair yoga. Perhaps this is related to your BPPV? I think with the beast Meneires, there is nothing clear or the same for any of us. Since Lysine seemed to help you in the past, maybe it would be useful to try again.
     
  3. Sheryl

    Sheryl New Member

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    Feb 15, 2020
    I am currently attempting to teach through Meniere’s. Last year I was exposed to a student who was not vaccinated, and she had chickenpox. Two weeks later my principal had shingles, and two weeks later I suddenly went deaf in my right ear. Two months later, I began having horrific vertigo attacks and was diagnosed. To say the least, my life has changed dramatically. The sudden attacks have often sent me to the hospital, and I struggle daily with tinnitus and hearing loss. I am trying to work on stopping my anxiety, and fear of panic attacks as I mostly have been staying at home. I am taking the SERC, along with a diuretic. I am strictly following the no salt regimen. Any suggestions how to move forward without the fear and debilitating symptoms?
     
  4. wendy

    wendy Member

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    Chickenpox and shingles is caused by a variation of the herpes virus. It would make sense that if meneires can be caused by a herpes virus that can be attacked with the JOH and antivirals, including the natural ones like monolaurin and olive leaf extract, it might be worthwhile for you to try this approach.
     
  5. California Sun

    California Sun Active Member

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    May 23, 2019
    It's possible that Meniere's can resurface after a years-long remission. Since you found the L-lysine to be helpful before, try it again and see if it helps. What you describe doesn't sound like "typical" Meniere's, but then the disease is so variable and so unpredictable, there really is no "typical"--meaning that it could be Meniere's, or it could be something else. I wish you well.
     
  6. RetiredTeacher

    RetiredTeacher New Member

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    Feb 16, 2020
    Thank you for all who read this, and special thank you for those who responded.

    Wendy, I have not had an episode of BPPV for over 10 years, as I'm really careful about my "positioning", although that can be a challenge at the dentist's office. Thanks also for the suggestions!

    Sheryl, I don't know if you teach in a small or large district, or if you have a strong teacher's union, but I would encourage you contact the union and (if only for documentation purposes and I encourage you to document, document, document) to file for Worker's Comp. These health issues you describe could have far reaching consequences that would impede your ability to do your job. At my former school, working with the special needs population, a number of teachers were exposed to active tuberculosis, traced back to one child!!

    California Sun, thanks for your input and thoughts! It's a darned mystery, isn't it?!
     
  7. meemil

    meemil New Member

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    Hey! Had to reply as I've had very similar symptoms! After an infection, got low frequency hearing loss in my left, which got better AND 2 weeks later to my right but not as bad as left. It's been doing that for a while now but gets always normal in the end. I also had a remission which ended in a funny full feeling in my ear without hearing loss. (Wasn't on l-lysine etc. back then)

    This was diagnosed as cochlear hydrops as no dizziness is present.

    I saw improvement with l-lysine, c-vitamin and olive leaf extract, and will be on that from now on. If you saw improvement, I really recommend continuing with it.
     
  8. RetiredTeacher

    RetiredTeacher New Member

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    Feb 16, 2020
    Meemil, thank you so much for your reply! I'm back on my l-lysine regimen and am waiting for my lemon bioflavonoids to arrive (Are they still giant pills? Can I cut them in half and take twice a day instead of one giant pill?). I will do more research about olive leaf extract as I have other health conditions.
     
  9. California Sun

    California Sun Active Member

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    I have been wary of trying some of the supplements mentioned on this forum for that reason. I have other health conditions and take Rx drugs and am concerned about possible interactions and didn't find much info online and when I asked a pharmacist, she told me that she couldn't advise me because they don't learn about those things in pharmacy school. I hope you have better luck finding information than I did.
     
  10. wendy

    wendy Member

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    Retired Teacher. I am a horrible pill swallowed so I chew up my Lysine and swallow with water. I break my bioflavinoids in half and let them dissolve a bit before I swallow. I don't find the taste negative for either.
     
  11. RetiredTeacher

    RetiredTeacher New Member

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    Feb 16, 2020
    California Sun, I have not had much luck with info from my specialist about supplements--nope, they didn't study this kind of thing in medical school. So far, googling has not yielded any specific information one way or another. Also, just because something doesn't cause a problem, doesn't mean it won't cause a problem. As for naturopaths etc, I think they have huge gaps in their knowledge base relative to specific diseases and the disease process--not their fault, they took a different road and have a different focus.

    Wendy, my L-Lysine comes in pull-apart gelatin capsules (NOW brand found on Amazon) and thankfully, I'm an ok pill-swallower--unless the pill or capsule is huge, like the bioflavonoid is, so thank you for mentioning ou break them in half and let them dissolve a bit! I'm hoping they taste like lemon rind, without the acidic stuff in lemons & such that removes enamel from teeth, y'know! I'll be trying out the lemon bioflavonoid tonight. Do you take it with food or on an empty stomach, or doesn't it matter?

    Thank you both!:)
     
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  12. Cheryl

    Cheryl Active Member

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    L-Lysine does come in a citrus flavored chewable tablet.
     
  13. wendy

    wendy Member

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    With the bioflavinoids I do not take them with food. The Lysine I follow the guidelines of at least two hours after eating and wait at least 20 minutes after taking to eat.
     
  14. RetiredTeacher

    RetiredTeacher New Member

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    Feb 16, 2020
    Thanks, Cheryl, I didn't know l-lysine came in a chewable tablet. Is there any specific brand that's recommended?

    Is l-lysine the same as lysine?

    Wendy, I follow the guidelines for taking l-lysine as you mentioned, but had no idea about the bioflavonoids with or without food.
     
  15. wendy

    wendy Member

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    I think you can take the bioflavinoids with or without food. They really help my fullness.
     
  16. RetiredTeacher

    RetiredTeacher New Member

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    Feb 16, 2020
    Thanks, Wendy!
    I just found this info, might be of help for someone with the same question.
    L-lysine is the form of lysine your body can utilize.
     
  17. California Sun

    California Sun Active Member

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    May 23, 2019

    I'm glad you've found them helpful. I've taken them at various times over the years. They never helped me at all.
     
  18. Cheryl

    Cheryl Active Member

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    RetiredTeacher, I shouldn't have called it L-Lysine. I think that and Lysine differ in structure. I had been looking on Amazon for something to treat cold sores and saw that there is something called L-Lysine ointment. Having that on my mind and then seeing a discussion here about Lysine, I mistakenly called the chewable tablets, L-Lysine.

    Also, I don't know that there is a recommended brand of chewable Lysine. I've never seen anyone talk about it here. I just happened to see that it was available from Amazon while I was looking for the ointment. I've never tried a chewable form.

    Here's one brand. I have never taken it and can't vouch for it. There are others available from Amazon.

    Lysine Balanced - Chewable L-Lysine Supplement - Natural Lemon Flavor
     
  19. Cheryl

    Cheryl Active Member

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    Well, now I see that the brand is Lysine Balanced, but it's called an L-Lysine supplement. I don't know if there is a difference. JOH, can you help?
     
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  20. Rich

    Rich Member

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    If you have to have a chewable tablet looks like this would work but may be a little cost prohibited. This takes 2 tablets per serving to get 500mg, to get the minimum of 3000 to 5000 per day needed to effect the herpes you would have to take a least 6 pills a day. One bottle would last 20 days.
     

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