This might make me seem stupid but going to ask the question. How or why would herpes cause a problem if you have no pain or blisters anywhere. It would seem if a person is having herpes in the ear or nerve one would feel some major pain or a doctor could see a blister. Like the way a fever blister looks on the mouth. I could completely understand if a blister was in the middle ear or on the nerve how it could cause problems. Like having shingles on the face or inside the head. I read something about it being on a cellular level and how that causes symptoms. Not sure what that means. If its on a cellular level why isn't in every cell in the body and causing havoc everywhere. I guess I picture if you have the virus it has traveled all through the body goes where ever our blood goes since antibodies are present in a persons blood. It's not like the virus or antibodies are just showing up in blood from the ear. Does anyone understand what I mean? Still taking the acyclovir and waiting to see what happens. Nothing new to report yet.
The herpes viruses are ubiquitous. Usually we get them as children and have few symptoms but sometimes we get 'the disease' like mono or chicken pox. Then we usually get immunity though viruses can re-emerge like cold sores or shingles. And some people like me seem to lose their immunity And start through the list again. I dont think anyone yet knows exactly how the herpes virus causes or exacerbates our MM. All i know is antivirals worked wonders for me and a lot of other people. TABLE 1 HERPES VIRUS TYPES THAT INFECT HUMANS Herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1) Herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV-2) Epstein Barr virus (EBV) Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Human herpes virus 6 (exanthum subitum or roseola infantum) Human herpes virus 8 (Kaposi's sarcoma-associate herpes virus)
I have no doubt the antivirals are working for people. Just don't completely understand how it all comes about affecting balance. I kind of get it but not in a way that is solid in my mind. Thanks
I am not sure the doctors know exactly how it works either. I do not know if the virus attacks the 8th nerve, or the inner ear or perhaps causes the body to produce an immune response that affects the ear. Thise spaces are so tiny .... Anyway, good question, dont know the answer, just know what seems to work. Truth be told, there are a lot of disorders doctors dont completely understand.
This is Dr. Gacek's explanation as told by angrychicken who was told by Dr Gacek during one of his appointments: not sure it answers you question completely though. • The different forms of the disease depend on which end of the nerve they are active on - if the virus is active on the “brain end” you suffer from the vertigo without the hearing loss. If it is active on the other end you suffer from the hearing loss / fullness etc. without the vertigo. If it is active on both ends, you suffer from all of the symptoms.
So according to Dr Gacek's explanation the virus I have must be active on the brain end because I had vertigo but no hearing loss due to MM.
I was wondering why my doctor chose the dosage 400 mg 2 times a day. Reading it says Chronic Supressive Therapy for Recurrent Disease 400 mg 2 times a day for 1 year and then reevaluate. But for other illnesses like Zoster its 4000 mg a day and 1000 for herpes 2. So don't know why doctors wouldn't want to give a higher dose for those wanting to take it like Gacek suggest. The 4000 is only for 7 to 10 days not long term. But people do take a much higher dose when needed. The fact there are other are other chronic recurrent diseases Acyclovir is prescribed for it isn't an off the wall a treatment.
The reason is acyclovir is not approved for the treatment of Meniere's and most doctors do not accept a viral cause for MM. But there are long term studies done 5 and 20 years for the safety and efficacy of acyclovir you might want to show your doctor. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12353186 Valacyclovir for herpes simplex virus infection: long-term safety and sustained efficacy after 20 years' experience with acyclovir. Abstract An extensive clinical trial program combined with 5 years' postmarketing experience with valacyclovir provides evidence of favorable safety and efficacy in herpes simplex virus (HSV) management. Valacyclovir enhances acyclovir bioavailability compared with orally administered acyclovir. Long-term use of acyclovir for up to 10 years for HSV suppression is effective and well tolerated. Acyclovir is also approved for use in children, is available in some countries over the counter in cream formulation for herpes labialis, and has been monitored in over 1000 pregnancies. Safety monitoring data from clinical trials of valacyclovir, involving over 3000 immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons receiving long-term therapy for HSV suppression, were analyzed. Safety profiles of valacyclovir (</=1000 mg/day), acyclovir (800 mg/day), and placebo were similar. Extensive sensitivity monitoring of HSV isolates confirmed a very low rate of acyclovir resistance among immunocompetent subjects (<0.5%). The incidence of resistance among immunocompromised patients remains low at about 5%.
Throughout my life if I am out in the sun for a long time, 4-5 hours, I can pretty much be guaranteed a cold sore. So, too much sun was a cold sore trigger for me. So, I'm thinking this virus has been living in me all my life and only reacts to this one "sun" trigger. And, relating to your post----why does this virus's reaction only show up on my lip. Why not on my nose or neck or big toe,etc..... Now, I, very likely, am subjecting myself to another trigger that is causing this virus to react in my ear.
If you have MM and if it is caused by a herpes virus, then more than just the sun is triggering it or you would not have MM symptoms as much IMO. Oral herpes which is HSV-1 is what causes cold sores and enters the body through the mouth I believe, and also can cause MM but other HVS can cause MM as well. The herpes virus attaches itself to a nerve. In the case of MM I would think it would be attached to a nerve in the inner ear. I highly doubt a virus attached to a nerve in that area can affect your big toe. Shingles (Herpes Zoster) outbreaks run along the whatever nerve the virus is attached to