I apologize in advance, I am going to be repeating some things that I have posted multiple times in previous threads. Sorry to be repetitive, I just wanted to put some background about me in here for anyone that doesn't know. I am starting to believe more and more that hormones have a huge affect on my symptoms. Thinking back, my CH first started just 3 weeks after stopping birth control pills. I had previously wondered if that jump started my CH, but then I thought "eh, doubtful" and forgot about it. However, my symptoms greatly improved when I got pregnant last year. It started improving right at the beginning of the 2nd trimester. Estrogen levels go way up during pregnancy. I felt great for 6 months but then started getting symptoms again in the last month of my pregnancy when I had gained a bunch of water weight. I felt ok for a week or so after the birth but then the symptoms came back and they have been worse than they were pre-pregnancy, even now, almost 6 months later. My nuerOTOlogist suggested that breastfeeding may (or may not) be contributing to my symptoms. He said he has had a few patients feel better after weaning. I started reading about breastfeeding and hormones and learned that estrogen levels go down while breastfeeding. I am starting to wonder if estrogen levels really affect my symptoms. I read that estrogen can sometimes go WAY down and honestly I have a few other (TMI type) symptoms of that. I struggle daily trying to decide how long to continue breastfeeding. I love doing it. I love the bond. It is good for my son. But I am miserable. I hate how unknown everything is. I think it is making my symptoms worse but I don't know. It would be an easier decision if someone were to tell me I know this is the problem. I know you all can understand better than my family how frustrating that is. I wonder if when I finally decide to stop breastfeeding and maybe I start to feel a little better if it would be a good idea to go back on birth control to try to level out my hormones or a bad idea? Who knows. I don't even really know what I am looking for here. Mainly I just felt like typing out my thoughts. Its nice having a place to go where I can do that.
Hi RedBird, you and I have had a lot of the same pattern of symptoms and possible hormone connection. I don't have ANY great answers for you, but thought I'd quickly share what has happened with me. My symptoms also greatly improved/disappeared during most of my pregnancy with #3. After giving birth they slowly came back. I BFed him for about 15 months and can't say that things suddenly improved when we stopped. Things kind of went up and down in waves, regarding MM symptoms. After we were done BFing, I did go back on the pill about 5 months later because my hormones were a hot mess. My MM symptoms did get waaay worse during certain times of the month, and my monthly stuff was ridiculous. I'd never had issues with hormones before then. Not sure if it's my age (newly 40 at the time) or it being my third kid or what. He's also the one I BFed the longest, by far. Anyway, I've now been on the pill where you get a period every 3 months for almost a year? I'm back in a bad downswing of MM symptoms at the moment, so clearly the pill doesn't fix things magically. Hope I'm not being a big downer here Just thought I'd share what i know up til now. We were thinking my issues were actually MAV but that is proving to be not the case. I'll have further confirmation when I see a new (to me) neuroto for a 2nd opinion later this month.
No, not being a downer. I appreciate all feedback! Especially since your situation is so similar to mine. Thank you for your response. You know what would be awesome... if they could just figure out exactly what makes some of us improve so much while we are pregnant and find a way to make a magic pill to take that makes our bodies act as if we were pregnant and make all our symptoms go away. Right? I know some people get worse while pregnant, but from what I have read it seems like A LOT of people feel better.
That WOULD be awesome, I'd take that magic pill in a heartbeat. Hell, I'd even take back on most of the yuckier pregnancy symptoms. Anything to keep the MM at bay! (Except one more baby LOL! We are done in that department... I actually had an IUD removed thinking it was the cause of the onset of my MM. Hello #3.)
Just want to add, this is all very familiar to me also. For me, cochlear hydrous started within a month of going off the pill. Took a couple of years for me to get pregnant, and during that time my symptoms got much worse and progressed to full menieres with vertigo. I finally got pregnant, and had my last menieres episode 3 months in. Had a great few years, including birth and breastfeeding with no issues, but now the vertigo is back. For me, I am sure hormones play a part - I always feel worst mid-cycle as well as end. But I also think it has a lot to do with my immune system - which was super charged during pregnancy, never got sick, now it's back to normal. I would love a pill also to make me feel like I did when pregnant! I did hope going back on birth control might be some sort of solution for me, but I'm on it now and does not seem to be the case... So frustrating if I only knew what caused this would do anything to keep the vertigo away!
I had the same things happen during that time of the month. Tried everything including hormone shots. Nothing worked so I went drastic and had a hysterectomy. Sorry to report that it didn't help the menieres at all. All it did was put me through surgical menopause which is a hundred times worse than regular menopause. I had my ovaries out too.
BumbleBea...... So sorry to hear about your surgery. I know it's brutal, being thrust into these hormonal changes so harshly. At least going through menopause, which I have, it's a slow process albeit unpleasant. Just know, as bad as it is, and will be, it will pass. There are plusses once you get on the other side. Takes time, but it will get better. Laney
Alynn75, that is interesting that your Cochlear Hydrops started within a month of going off the pill also. I am even more convinced now that that's what triggered mine to start. That's disappointing though that going back on the pill didn't help. I would think it would help but I guess not. You would think there would be something that those of us that have hormonal issue with CH/ MM could do... so frustrating.
I'm sorry if it sounded like this was recent. In fact it was ten years ago. And yes, when I finally leveled off, I felt so much better, menopausal wise. I never took any hormone drugs, either. Aren't the night sweats the worst! Glad to be done with all of that!