The History: Strep throat in 1983 that nested in both ears and started a degenerative process that was eventually labeled "Meniere's". Started having extreme symptoms in 2002 which started as severe vertigo and, eventually, "drop attacks". Drop attacks are quick and massive vertigo onsets that confuse the brain which reacts by putting you in a known state -- flat on the floor. They happen in just a few seconds, but the resulting vertigo and vomiting lasts for hours. There were so many episodes my MD performed a labyrinthectomy on the left ear leaving me deaf on that side. It took six weeks to learn to walk again, but it did the trick. My vertigo stopped. I faced balance problems from that point forward. The list of fall injuries: Broken left wrist. Broken rib. Torn right rotator cuff (surgically repaired). Snapped left humerus. Shattered pride. Unfortunately, the Meniere's is bilateral and I'm starting again with the severe vertigo in the right ear, which has about 50% deafness. I felt on the edge of vertigo the last six weeks or so, but yesterday it smacked me around pretty good. It lasted about two hours complete with vomiting. It was massively worse than I'd experienced before, likely because I'm left with just one gyroscope in my head and it was malfunctioning. I knew this was a possibility, but I was hoping I could outlive it. So, if you've been in this position I'll listen to any advice you have about avoiding a second labyrinthectomy. Appreciation in advance. Joss
Josh, This shit sucks, I had a laby in rt ear and would have another one and hear with a cochlear implant. To me life with vertigo is no life. God gave us 3 balance systems and fortunately we only need two to function. Stay strong! Joe
[PDF]living withouta balancing mechanism - Europe PubMed Central europepmc.org/.../brjopthal00391-0009.... by J Crawford - 1964 - Cited by 23 - Related articles lost my balance and fell sprawling on the floor. Unhurt but .... LIVING WITHOUT A BALANCING MECHANISM. Ten days ... A great read above^^^
Have you tried anti-virals? they work for quite a few people. Good luck. Sorry you are going through this.
I have, to no avail or effect. I've pretty much tried all the medical and holistic treatments out there.
Sorry you have to be back, but welcome. Though I hear you about trying just about everything, I wonder if you have tapped some of the more recent knowledge. I probably wouldn't even ask this if the stakes weren't so high for you. In particular, I wonder if you took the anti-virals at what is currently thought as the necessary dosages to have an effect. Valacyclovir(Valtrex) and Famvir are thought to be the best, but Acyclovir is working well for many people. You need to have an high initial dose: 3 grams/day for the Valtrex, 2400 mg/day for the Acyclovir, and I don't know for Famvir. Those dosages are spread over the day. And you take that dose for at least 3 weeks. I hope you find something you like that helps, and soon.