Gacek prescribed me valacyclovir for my recurring vestibular neuritis (I've had 3 attacks within 21 months) You're supposed to start with 3 a day and then taper down to 1 a day My understanding is that valacyclovir can make you more dizzy at first before it makes you less dizzy, because as the virus dies it "tries harder" to survive and spread, thus attacking your nerve a little more I have 2 regenerative procedures coming up, where they draw your bone marrow, concentrate the stem cells, and then inject into a joint. Valacyclovir MAY effect bone marrow generally - there definitely have been a few adverse events in the literature. So my plan was to do 1 procedure before starting the valacyclovir and then the other after and the doctor could compare my stem cell and platelet counts, so we can see if there's any effect in the future. If I start the valtrex on the day after the bone marrow draw, is it risky to START it first time in my life ever at just 1 a day, rather than "killing the virus as much as possible" at 3 a day at first?
That sounds like a good Dr. question. I did the valtrex just as Dr. Gacek suggests. I started it in late October last year, and finally felt better mid January. Once I felt better, it was amazing and happened really fast when it happened. Good luck!
I would ask Dr Gacek. Keep in mind you aren’t killing the virus, you’re suppressing it and knowing Dr. Gacek he’ll probably say that the reason for three doses a day is because very little medicine gets into the inner ear because of limited blood flow. The only way to know is to ask him though!
I would go with prescribed dosage. Seems counter intuitive to go against a professional with his reputation.
Wow, those symptoms (rashes, headache, autoimmunity) sound so much like what Dr. Wahls discusses in her encyclopedic and groundbreaking book, The Wahls Protocol. Symptoms of inflammation like that might respond to the "heal your gut" dietary changes Dr. Wahls outlines, which worked for her in her own life. I suggest you get the book.
I started Dr. Gacek's protocol 4 months ago and I think it's helping. Below is a link to his study. I had no idea he still practices, I'd also like to know where. Recovery of Hearing in Meniere's Disease after Antiviral Treatment - PubMed
Interesting to read in that study, though, that patients with longer-term hearing loss were unlikely to get it back after antiviral treatment. Sounds like you have to catch the damage early on.
The author of these papers, Dr. Richard Gacek, is no longer in practice, however the Dr. Gacek that you often hear about people seeing is his son, Dr. Mark Gacek. Mark is knowledgeable in his own right having practiced for decades and is based out of Mobile, Alabama. He does virtual consults, which is what I did, and although that is not as good as in person, anyone who has Meniere’s knows there’s not much to see anyways. Despite being virtual, I found my virtual consults with him to be the most informative and best of the 5 (yes 5) ENTs that I’ve seen over the past 2 years. Sadly, antivirals didn’t do anything for me, but it might be different for you. if you do a virtual consult just be prepared. I had audiograms and had documented my case history so I didn’t forget anything.