Meniere's and Getting Old

I have to smile at you youngsters in your 50's, 60's, and 70's thinking you're elderly. I'll be 84 in July.

Since the perfusion with gentamycin a few years ago, no more vertigo or vomiting. Am almost totally deaf in the MM ear, have hearing loss in the other one and wear hearing aids. I do have balance problems and brain fog, and the tiredness and fatigue. I use a cane but have to be very careful when walking. I have fallen and realize how dangerous it is, so it is a constant concern for me.

 

Some folks here are making me feel young as I approach 67 in a month.

It has been 13 years now since this thing felled me. I spent the last 10 a virtual recluse it was so bad, even though I had a baby in 2003. It felt like I was walking into a live battlefield every time I left my home, with all the balance stuff, noise sensitivity, eye issues, you name it.

Turns out some of that wasn't due to MM, indeed the part that caused me to have several blackouts/falls, leading to my 7 broken ribs and 3 fractured vertebrae. But I took care of all of that.

So, a month ago my wife and I moved from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Within days, things changed radically. Yesterday was the big plunge. My wife was gone to visit her Mom and attend an engagement party for the daughter of a childhood friend in Southern California. I was left to my own devices.

Something possessed me. I decided, I'm really sick of this stuff. So I set out, sans walking stick. Walked about three miles to a light rail station. No problems. Took the train to our downtown here. Again, no problems. Walked all around our state capital, toured the Capitol Mall gardens and memorials, had a great late lunch at the best sushi restaurant I have found here, walked around some more, took a cab back to where we are staying.

Today, the only effect is that I am very tired and my feet hurt a bit. But consider: I walked 7+ miles. That is more than I have walked in one day in 15 years, since a hike I took with one of our daughters on a vacation. I took a train, for the first time in over 20 years. I wandered around alone, and ate in a not very quiet restaurant, for the first time in at least 13 years. I took a cab for the first time in well over 12 years. I talked to people, and understood, or at least lip-read to catch most of, what they said.

I am not "cured." I never will be. I am still almost entirely deaf, totally in my left ear. The tinnitus roars and rages. I am still sound sensitive. My brain fog remains. I get light-headed. The fatigue hangs on me like a shroud. My eyes still play tricks. BUT the real biggie: no vertigo, no nausea, just some residual dizziness. I can't turn around quickly, or move my head too fast, or I WILL lose my balance. But that is manageable.

Now, I did this as a form of rebellion against my illness, and in the process frightened my wife and our daughters half to death, as they could not have helped me had anything gone wrong, and I gave them real-time reports and photos of what I was doing. But why did it work out? I can only guess. Sacramento is a very quiet city compared to Los Angeles. The people are pleasant to a fault, contrary to the aggressive, rude, obnoxious style that has conquered L.A. That means my stress level here has dropped maybe 1000%. And stress has ALWAYS been my biggest trigger. So yes, the doctors (especially Dr. Derebery, and the doctor who did my labyrinthectomy) have helped. Medication (especially dyazide and the JOH regimen) has helped. But in the end, it has been environmental change that has made the biggest difference. I literally feel reborn, or like I have gotten out of solitary confinement in prison.

I share this because I have shared so much of my misery on this site that it is only fair to share its opposite. Because if a depressive, near-suicidal type like me can find hope and, dare I say it, happiness after so many years wandering in the bleakest wilderness, then maybe others here will take some heart from this, and know that perhaps, if they find the key, or a key, so can they.

This is Mother's Day. And while mine is long gone, my wife has been a glorious Mom to our daughters, and a stalwart friend, lover and partner to me. I honored her today with a card and a gift, as our daughters have. And want to wish my best to all of you other Moms here on this thread and the forum. I am just grateful today, to all of you, and to all the non-Moms on the forum for the help you have all been to me over the years. This is a superb support community, which I salute, today and every day.

 

Brown I am so happy for you. I joined this forum 3 years ago when I was down and out. I read each of your posts for 3 years still do. I thought for sure you were by far affected by this disease harder then anyone on this board. Now look how far you have come! This is such a wonderful testimony. Never ever give up. You my friend have done a 360 in terms of living life with the beast. I commend you and wish you the very best in the years ahead. Stay on the board and continue your message of hope for all. God Bless!!

 

Yes you would...you're too ornery to die...

Getting old certainly ain't for whimps.

Had a laby on my right ear in '09, and then in '11 my left ear decided
to join in. So far no lengthy vertigo spells from the left ear, but the
fullness and tinnitus (in both ears) makes life miserable at times.

As we get older, other parts of our carcasses start breaking down, too.
At the moment my diabetes is under control, but the thyroid disease
can't seem to make up it's mind, so I'm frequently adjusting meds for
it.

Still, it's get up every day and do what must be done. Although I spend
the majority of my day sitting on my arse, I do try and get out for a walk
a few times a day, and once in a while I'll feel good enough to go out to
a local creek and do some gold panning.

 

I wouldn't consider myself old yet--59 but little by little my hearing is going so at work when I have to scream at my patients who leave their hearing aids at home (I am a bedside nurse in a hospital) I think in 20 years someone will be screaming at me!
by the same token though I take care of folks my age and younger who would give anything just to be off balance a little and have tinnitus and wear a hearing aid--they won't live to see the year out.
so in that respect my job sure is a good leveler for me
I don't so much worry about what MM will do to me in old age is to try to keep healthy and be thankful for my blessings
that's all any one of us can do because you don't know what tomorrow will bring