I had a decadron shot on Monday Aug 31st - usually I feel crappy for 4 - 5 days after but this time I felt great right away. I went to work that day.. it was month end - Labor Day was coming up and I had a concert on Sunday the 6th - and my financial statements were still due on the 10th - we didn't get an extra day. For the past 15 years I pretty much have worked every Labor Day ( and Memorial Day and 4th of July - at least a half day - because its always month end and I always want to stay ahead of the game) but for the first time I actually went away for the weekend so I didn't work. SO I busted my ass the week leading up to Labor Day and then also when I got back.... getting up at 6 am - and working til 7 at night then working some more at home and getting to bed between 11 and midnight. Then we had some company in from out of town this past weekend and I worked all day Saturday and was up past midnight Friday and Saturday night again. I had started to feel dizzier than normal ( I am always dizzy but you know- there are certain levels - every day is between a 3 & 5 - but the weekend was creeping up to 7's)..... By Sunday morning I could barely get out of bed to go to the bathroom - I started feeling nauseous so my bf got me my bucket and I went back to bed til noon. I tried to get up and made it to the couch to do an ear treatment with my Minette Device - took a valium and some vitamins and ate an egg sandwich.... my bf said he would go do the grocery shopping and could I just come into the kitchen to help him make the list- so I walked into the kitchen and in no more than 5 mins I felt the spinning start - he got me back over to the couch and I laid down ( with my bucket) and slept off and on for about 3 hours.... I never really got off of the couch the rest of the day/night and then went to bed early. I didn't throw up this time ( thank you baby Jesus)....although I did get diarrhea.... and went to bed early. But what I realized once again - bcuz I always forget when I feel good - is that I can never stop being vigilant about my sleep - my diet - my vitamins - etc.... I am always super vigilant whent it comes to the low sodium diet - but rest...well - I just don't seem to be able to discipline myself to get enough. I was going on 7 months without an episode... so glad I was able to stave off the vomiting. Be ever vigilant and take care of yourselves.
Try antivirals. I did the meinette for 10 years and lo so diet. The antivirals were a dramatic improvement. You may not have to be at a 4-5 dizzy anymore. Just my opinion. I am glad it didn't get REALLY bad. I know even what you went through is bad. Miserable.
I have an appt on Tuesday with my ENT for my 4 month check up - hearing tests etc.... I am going to talk to him about them - he has no problem putting me on them.... I just thought that I was doing so well for so long.... But I am willing to try anything and so many of you seem to have had such great results with them. SO you did the Minette Device for 10 years with no results? Or just got better results with the AVs?
I have found that not only do the antivirals make things better, but they make things perfectly normal again. I cannot tell the difference between now and before i was initially sick. It took about 6 months, but i now have ZERO symptoms. And when i have a bad day, i now know i can increase the AVs for a day or two and beat back the virus fairly easily.
Diet changes did not impact my vertigo in any fashion, negative or positive. Stress and/or lack of sleep are definitely triggers for me. Loud environments as well. Been doing pretty good since I started a/v last April.
I thought the meniette was working and that I did get results. Until I got very bad again while using it. AVs were a "real" result. I still stay somewhat lo so bc it's a such a habit. I have loosened up a little on the diet with no I'll effect.
Interesting that salt was never an issue with you Vicki after taking anti-virals, maybe I had better stop watching my salt intake as my sodium levels are still low, even after stopping the hydrochlorathiazide, and of course low sodium can also have a side effect of dizziness. I was trying to follow a low sodium diet and maybe I shouldn't worry about it. I am still not completely free of dizziness since starting acylovir but it has gotten way better and my hearing improved even after my ear drum broke due to an infection! I am taking a decongestant Claritin D for my ears and Zithromax for my infection. It did seem like the tinnitus got worse in my ears when I was drinking powerade 0 to help bring up my sodium, it just seems I am fighting 2 things, low sodium, and supposed to eat a low sodium diet for Meniere's. I never know which to do.
I reduced my sodium initially but then dr told me to go back to normal because my blood pressure (which runs normal to low anyway) had dropped too much for her comfort level. Even if I go crazy and eat something crazy high sodium (pizza) it doesn't impact me. When I was taking Sudafed early on (before diagnosed) that seemed to make my pressure and vertigo worse - don't take it any longer. I do use Flonase and Astepro to help control my sinus issues - which are a trigger for me. I also stopped all caffeine cold turkey after diagnosis and did that for about a year before I tried a bit here or there...no difference or impact either way.
Linda salt was never an issue for me before antivirals either. We are all different but low sodium is not a good thing. My suggestion would be too eat a normal amount of salt and see how it affects you. I think normal is 2000 mg a day. Then you can adjust from there if needed. Also some of the allergy meds exacerbate MM symptoms. You can search the forums to see who uses which one and which to avoid. I would tell you which ones but I don't recall
Also if by chance you have MAV which many of us do, most antihistamines are not good for MAV except for Benadryl and meclizine.
Vicki--I tried the Benadryl--doctor said it was'ok' to try it to help with sleep and restless legs and also I told him that on this forum, someone had said it can help with vestibular problems. This was my cardiologist. He said 'try it'! Anyway, I took one benadryl before bed Sat. night--and slept soundly and no leg cramps---but--was so nauseated and more dizzy all the next day, I felt just awful. So, didn't take it Sun. night--and felt much better Monday. So, no more benadryl I truly had a horrible Sunday after taking just that one tablet at bedtime. Felt like I'd been 'drugged'! Hope it does help others but with me, that is what happened
aww sorry to hear that yanksgirl maybe try half a pill. Was it a 25mg pill you took? If so try half if you want to try again.
Benadryl gives me restless legs! I find Benadryl works for some and others it has an opposite effect. Good luck
Yes, Vicki--I got 25 mg, but capsules! And to Carissa--yes, years ago--before Meniere's, I got relief with Benadryl--then I tried it a few years later when having it again--and it brought it on more so! Go figure. This time it helped--even slept well but nausea and drugged feeling much worse all day next day. Trial and error as we all go thru!