The success rate of symptomatic suppression resulting from the proper prescription and administration of antiherpetic drugs such as acyclovir (and some others) is now overwhelming. Nonetheless, most ENTs and family doctors have either never heard of antiviral Meniere’s therapies, or simply reject the approach when they first hear about — quite often from Meniere’s patients themselves. Given the profound successes of antiviral Meniere’s therapies, Meniere’s patients who are rejected or refused such therapies are legitimately frustrated or angered. Many, here, have presented to their doctors legitimate medical papers that clearly show the profound (and safe) results of acyclovir and the others. But the self-righteous doctor turns right around and makes a few claims, both true and false: a) “I don’t believe Meniere’s is caused by a herpes virus, so this therapy will not work.” (The doctor is telling the absolute truth. He doesn’t believe it, so, it’s gotta be the truth.) b) “Chronic administration of antiherpetic drugs can be dangerous, so I won’t prescribe them.” (The doctor’s belief, which is false, trumps the facts of the case; where chronic administration has proven to be safe, and effective.) c) “This is not how I treat Meniere’s.” (Again, a true statement, dismissing the validity and superiority of antiherpetic Meniere’s therapies over any of the conventional ones the doctor might be familiar with.) d) “No, this is bogus. Meniere’s is clearly an idiopathic disease. The thought that it’s caused by herpes infections or lesions in the middle ear is simply and ignorant hopefulness. Popular foolishness.” (The physician is plainly ignorant on the matter, and/or wishes to retain his frames of references learned back in medical school.) If you wish, take the time to read an account of a study of why physicians reject, or are slow to accept, new medical treatments, here: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-10/nu-pdt102714.php The seminal sentence in the article is this: ‘"It's difficult to get doctors to adopt new therapies because you are invading people's comfort zones and the way they usually do things," said lead author Curtis Weiss, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH.)’ If fellow doctors have difficulties getting their colleagues to use successful new therapies, what hope do we have, as amateurs walking into our physicians’ offices? –John of Ohio
good article. I would suggest to ask resistant physician to order a HSV test and if positive(which the majority of the population will test positive whether they have MM or not) ask him to prescribe the AV based on that. I know not everyone will test positive but the majority will, and prescribing an av for a positive hsv test would not be out of their comfort zone.
Even with a positive HSV test, many physicians will still prescribe too little antiherpetic for too short a time (if any would be prescribed at all --- the doc will say that perhaps a majority of moderns would test positive for HSV, so all those should then have Meniere's and don't, so HSV isn't a root cause. "Here, take a diuretic and restrict your salt. See me in six months."). --John of Ohio
Help your doctor cover his ass by providing documentation about the use of antivirals in places like House Ear so he doesnt feel like he is way out there on a limb. Also avoid getting into a contest of wills by making it seem like you know more thanhe does about menieres and ears. My dr said to me that she didnt see any risk for me and if i wanted to try it she would prescribe it. Put it on that footing, asking if they see risk for you and that you both know it is a shot in the dark but at least it is a non destructive one and one that some people are known to have had great success with, that is gaining acceptance int he medical community and. Whale of a lot safer than things like prednisone.
Yes I went in well armed and had been communicating with my Dr all along challenging things, sending links to research etc. When I walked in with a file full for her, she calmy stated her skepticism and I listened and then asked for her support and suugested that even trying something was better than sitting on the couch waiting for things to turn worse. I think alot in life is how you approach it.
The cogent printout to take to your physician is here: http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=557.0 Item No. 1. Print out all 17 pages of data supporting antiherpetic Meniere's therapy. But as noted, don't hand the 17 pages to the doctor at your next appointment. Get them to his nurse or office person at least a week ahead, asking that the doctor take the time, perhaps over a lunch, to peruse the information. -John of Ohio
I did send a link to my MD about a week before going in. She had printed it and read it. I also had a printed backup in case she didn't have time for that. Cover all the bases.
I gave my ent the studies backing up a viral cause and it did not help me get antivirals until I showed them to my pcp and her response was I cant prescribe acyclovir for Meniere's but if you test positive for hsv I will prescribe it at the doses recommended in the studies. That is why I suggested what I did in my previous post.
I'm probably stating the obvious here, but for those looking for relief perhaps the family doctor can help. My oto is a bit arrogant and I left him a message a few days ago about the antivirals and haven't heard back. I just called my primary and explained the siutation and he called in a Valtrex prescription on the spot.
Great Teesdale for not taking no for an answer! Keep us potsed on your results. Be sure you look at the Gacek protocol which seems to be essential in hoping for results.
Thanks, Hollyflo, but the good news has been tempered. When I picked up the prescription it is for Acyclovir but only 800 mg per day for 10 days. I intend to go see him with the Gacek protocol in hand.
I think it all depends on the Dr. Some ar more up to date with new treatments, some aren't. I went to an Oto and asked how they treat Menieres. He said with Meclizine and Valium. I asked about antivirals and he said he doesn't do that. My primary found it very interesting and said he doesn't see a reason why I shouldn't continue taking them. I doubt he would have given me the script. Now my new Oto seemed interested in the antiviral treatment. He said, "that started in China, didn't it?" That didn't leave me feeling like he was knowledgeable on Menieres as he should be. However he did give me the script and in the dosage I wanted. I have printed out three copies, John. I will send one a week before my next appt. when the office calls to confirm, I will remind them that I sent information that I'd appreciate him reading before the appt. Hey, don't forget we pay these DRs. And one I will send to my primary because he was very interested in the treatment. Good Luck to you Teesdale. I hope it works out for you. With this disease you need to be your own advocate! I will bring one with me just in case.
hallo from Germany, Here the antivural therapy for MM in negligeable. Nobody even really talks about it even if MM Forums. Can you please tell me how an HSV test is done, from the blood or from an ear smear? thank you in advance oxygen
Tests for various herpes viruses such as mono, chicken pox etc are blood tests. They are not exactly yes no tests, they tell if a virus is or has been at some point in the life in the body and indicate if it is active now and if it is likely a primary infection. No one knows which one (s) of these viruses is involved in mm so most doctors do not test. They do not know where exactly in the body the virus is most evident. Rather they try antivirals and if they work, the assume a herpes virus is involved. Kind of like they try prednisone and see if it works and if it does, they assume an autoimmune factor. The testing if more a cover your ass thing for doctors and they can almost always find some herpes virus in the body because they are ubiquitous.
Erm, sorry everyone, as you know I mentioned about my current journey with Valtrex in: http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=619.0 And would be going to the hospital on coming Tuesday to convince the ENT to prescribe me for Valtrex for: 1 more week of 3000mg daily (Currently on the first week) 2 weeks of 2000mg daily 2 weeks of 1000mg daily Are the above correct recommended as I have read this somewhere? and is there a specific article or URL for Valtrex to show the doctor to convince him to prescribe the above dosages? Thank you in advance.
I think the dosage is page 104 http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf