as I mentioned in another thread, my wife and I moved to a far quieter, more pleasant and less stressful city three weeks ago, and a number of my symptoms started lessening. I could walk without a walking stick. I could go to shopping malls and restaurants. I could do ordinary grocery shopping with my wife. I could walk around outside without feeling like I was in a combat zone. I could understand a lot more of what people were saying. So, yesterday mid-morning, sitting at my computer happily doing some financial paperwork, I got the high whining tone that always presages a huge attack, then the felt helmet came down over my head. Within minutes, the hearing in my right ear (I am totally deaf in my left) was almost entirely gone, and what was left was a horrid echo chamber where my own voice sounded like it was coming from hollow tubes underwater. Tinnitus about doubled, and I got a brand new sound--rather like the triangle in a symphony orchestra, but with no predictability as to frequency or intensity. And, of course, immense fatigue and brain fog. It was my worst attack since my very first big one in 2002, though because I have effectively no balance function left at all, at least I did not have a vertigo attack. Still, it was very depressing. I tried a Valium, which did no good. I suffered a few more hours, and then my oldest daughter finally went out and got me the only thing that ever works. Alcohol. Downed a fifth of vodka, slept for about 14 hours. Awoke today determined to adjust to the new symptoms, and not to let the Beast win. So I haven't, and won't. I fully expect to continue improving, and refuse to let this setback return me to the miserable state I was in three weeks ago in our old city. I guess I am posting this as an encouragement to others. MM is a progressive disease. That means it will get worse over time. "Burnout" from what I have seen in the literature does not refer to any remission or recovery. It just means the disease has gone as far as it can go. I had thought I had reached that point. Obviously, I was wrong. But I can deal. For my wife and daughters, and frankly, for myself, I am going to fight to get a few years of as much normalcy as I can handle, thank you very much. And if the price is the occasional haymaker of an attack, so be it. So I laugh at you, Beast of Menieres. I laugh. You do not get to win.
I'm sorry to hear this. Maybe instead of alcohol you could ask a Dr to try antivirals? I'm not pushing anyone to go on antivirals. I'm just saying that after trying so many other things, that's what's been working for me. Although for the past few weeks I have been having some dizzied, cognitive impairment, and nausea and vomiting. BUT not the episodes that landed me in bed for days and clutching the walls to walk down the hall. Now, I'm not saying a few drinks doesn't help on occasion. I'm just saying it's not a cure for symptomatic Menieres. Between the alcohol and the stress on your brain from the mixed signals it gets, all it does is put you into a sleeping coma!! Good Luck to you. Sorry this is happening again.
Well thanks for the "encouragement" lol as my dr explained to Me this is an individualized disease . I do know of someone Who had several attacks and within a few months it settled Down for her it has now been 2 years and never returned although She is careful with her diet. Not to say that will be my case But for anyone reading this just a few words of hope
Thanks all. To Bumblebea--I went three rounds with antivirals over the years, different dosages, different lengths of time. Did me no good at all. I use the JOH regimen, have for a few years, and I believe it moderated some of my symptoms, so I stay with it. Did a bunch of other things over the years. Nothing did much except the labyrinthectomy I had in 2003. So in extremis, I resort to a big jolt of alcohol. Fortunately, I appear to have the "alcohol" gene; my blood tests always show my liver and other internal organs as being in great shape. And Lisa, you are right of course. This ailment is unique to each of us, and something that helps one of us can be a trigger for someone else. So we have to keep experimenting and researching. In large part that is what this forum is about too. Comparing symptoms, ages, other conditions, medical and surgical treatments, lifestyle situations. All of it is potentially useful information in coping with this thing. Which is why so many of us find this forum indispensable, and so much appreciate that Ray created it and has maintained it all these years.
So very sorry to hear you have had such a bad experience after what you felt was a very positive start in your new home. That is really disappointing. Funnily enough it happened to me also, six years ago we moved house, prior to which I was having some very distressing attacks, requiring me to be off work for weeks at a time. However, since retiring and moving house I had very few attacks and was leading a very normal life again. That was until the beginning of this year when everything came back with a vengeance. I am now bilateral and have been struggling daily to try and get some peace. However, three days ago I decided that the medication prescribed to me Betahistine 16mg X 3 daily and Buccal 3mg also 3 daily was doing me no good, so stopped taking them. Guess what? - no more dizziness, less fullness of the ears, no nausea. Hearing still poor but tinnitus has eased slightly. Yesterday I washed the car, mowed the lawn and did loads of other wee jobs. This would have been unheard of 4 days ago. I am not saying it will last but by golly I have enjoyed the last few days and feel as though I got some of my life back. So hang in there brownrecluse, things can change. Like me a wee tot of alcohol (mines Navy Rum) does the world of good. All the best hope things improve for you and you get back to enjoying your new surrounds.
Brown Recluse--I have never heard of anyone here that has endured as much as you have and can still have a bit of a positive attitude. You are an inspiration--and I know you'd rather not be in this 'club' to inspire! But--since you are and since you do---I hope you know it means alot to know that you 'hang in there'---well, the Vodka would promote that! LOL Seriously, I don't drink--at all, but when younger, tasted--alcohol at times and it made my head feel like it does when I have bad symptoms. I feel like someone coming off a night of drinking! Hung-over, as they say. Lately my head pressure, dizziness and nausea (no vomitting) have been so bad. I had sort of just hung in there and have kept going and yet lately, the head pressure has caused my head to ache--not a horrible headache--just enough to make you feel 'bad'! And, after a very bad head pressure, bad day yesterday--I fell asleep in my recliner--where I go for 'respite' time. Woke up and my head was so clear--until I get into an upright position! Then the pressure returns and my Ent has no explanation for it. Says some of his patients--not many, have this and he has no answer. I asked if my 'shunt' that he performed in 2012 could be clogged and he said 'no', that does not happen. I don't have 'vertigo'! Thank God--haven't since the surgery. But this awful pressure is not a 'once in awhile thing' but daily and lately is so bad. I don't have allergies and I've tried Anti-viral meds and everything else. Xanax helps me deal with this but even it can add to the 'off balance' and dizziness. So--I say all this to say to you and everyone here--we can 'do this' and just be kind to each other--by encouraging words like you put here today. God Bless!
BrownRecluse - the simple act of moving is very stressful. It is quite possible that you finally started to take "a breath" and then it hit - a buildup of the weeks prior. The good news is that you woke up feeling good again! I know that a couple of years ago while my ear pressure and ringing would be "less" after an attack, I was so darn drained and everything else was still there....never did I have a full "good day". But all we can do is to wake up and prepare for today. It absolutely could be a good one.
Im so sorry to hear about your setback, but happy to hear you feel better. Have you noticed if you ate foods high in histamines or arginine before your attack? Food triggers play a big part in MM and MAV w/o us even realizing it at times. Stay well HUGS!!
hi there, Glad to see that you are inspiring yourself and having the no quit attitude. Good that alcohol is working for you now. As a concern, there are times when the attacks come, one of the symptoms is being nauseous, so drinking alcohol might aggravate it. Hope you get well soon.
So sorry to hear of your relapse. I was just going to post on the other thread in which you stated you were doing better. I had been wondering if perhaps, in addition to decreased stress, the move to Sac took you away with something environmental that was causing sub-clinical allergies.