How serious is everyone about salt, caffine. smoking, antivirals? I really need some help here. I'm trying to advocate for myself, and I'm willin to try just about anything to help myself get a grip on my health. The vertigo attacks make my smokes taste like pure poison, but I still crave a drag or two every couple hrs. I'm ready to quit, I tried the patches, they made me pass out. I hardly ever drink, but I do like a bourbon seven or a shot or two of tequila every now and then. I don't drink soda, don't care for the carbonation, but I like my coffee in the morning. One time just before a vertigo attack, I had some coffee and some bacon, I was getting ready for work and BLAM...a vertigo attack, pucking ensued for hours, I couldn't drink coffee or stand even the smell of bacon for about six months. I'd like to think I'm not a big salt fan, we always cook at home, my husband uses salt in most recipies that call for it. Sometimes I get a terrible craving for pepperchini's I have devoured two jars in a week. And as far as the antivirals, I knew nothing about them until I joined the group the other day...do they really make a difference? Please anyone reading this give me your two cents or three if you've got them.
Initially I went "all in" with watching my sodium and I immediately eliminated all caffeine. My blood pressure is typically on the low side anyway and it dropped to a level after reduction of sodium to a number that concerned the doctor - so that went back to "with moderation" for salt. Caffeine I was diligent about not consuming for over 2 years - then slowly tried and honestly for me there was no connection to my bertigo attacks. I don't smoke so no feedback for you there. Rarely drink so no input. Anti virals have seemed to help me quite a lot. Within a couple of months the pressure in my ear was gone - which was the first time ever. Stress and fatigue/lack of sleep are two major triggers for me. I do still make sure to focus on those two things as best as possible.
my advice is: try an antiviral is helps many people I have been vertigo free for over 2 years because of an antiviral but need to follow the dosage for Meniere's (I smoke, I don't drink alcohol or drink coffee) 2. Look into MAV to see it it applies to you..great thread about it in our database 3. Don't eat food higher in arginine than lysine..arginine promotes HSV lysine suppresses it. 3 Keep a log of what you ate and drank the day of and a day or 2 before an attack to help find your triggers. 4. Read the threads in our database and search forums for information.
Ever since I have been diagnosed, I have really watched my sodium intake. I probably have between 1000-1500 mg of sodium/day. There are lots of loso cookbooks out there and if you want recommendations, let me know. Once you've started eating a low sodium diet, you get used to it and you can find some ways to eat your favorite things, like pepperoncini. The times that I've had attacks are when I eat more sodium. One benefit of the low sodium diet is weight loss. I think going low sodium has helped me. I also have stopped drinking coffee and that seems to help too. I drink tea or decaf sometimes. I drink alcohol a few times a week, but have been staying away from red wine lately. I try to drink tons of water.
Hi Tammy, The standard medical treatment for Meniere's is low salt diet and then a diuretic. I have seen on the forum that these have helped people. Low salt isn't that hard to do and is better for you anyway! I too wonder if you also have 'Migraine without the Headache' or Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV). I'm not sure why you are taking Sudafed, but I don't think it will help Meniere's and it will contribute to migraine. 'Heal Your Headache' by Stephen Buchholz was recommended to me by a forum member and we have adopted the diet he recommends. Too soon to tell if it helps. Cheryl
gonna give the antivirals a try...gotta through this sick first, I can't even leave the house at this point. Hopin to return to work by midweek,,,we'll see
Good luck! Tammy, if you have any questions please ask. Try to get valcyclovir it seems to work better than acyclovir for some. For MM the recommended dose fo valcyclovir is 3000 mg (3 grams) for 3 weeks, 2000 mg (2 grams) for 3 weeks 1000 mg (1 gram) for maintenance dose If when you decrease and symptoms return increase again and try to decrease in another few weeks. Keep us posted..fingers crossed
So far I have seen no relation of salt, caffeine, smoking... to my symptoms. In five and a half years since my first vertigo I changed nothing in my lifestyle and was symptom free between the total of ten vertigo episodes. Remission periods until recently were as long as 15 months and as short as three months. If any of those were relevant, I guess I would have more problems. And yes, I still have good hearing. I used to smoke up to 20 cigarettes a day, but am trying to half the quantity. I used to drink 4-5 granulated coffees a day. Just in case, I am down to one regular in the morning and up to two "light" during the day. I do not care about salt much, I think I take small amount of salt anyway.