Greetings! I need advice -- had a very scary attack in the ocean yesterday, on vacation. I am new to the forum. I got diagnosed in June 2014 after a very severe full fledged drop attack that woke me from sleep & ended me up vomiting w/severe vertigo in ER for 13 hours. Have hearing & ear symptoms too. Got Meniere's dx & have been extremely strict about no salt/low sodium ever since. Only had 1 more drop attack, not as severe, plus a few episodes of dizziness after indulging in salty restaurant food. We arrived for a long postponed trip to Hawaii a few days ago. I have rheumatoid arthritis that limits my walking, so the waters of Hawaii are heaven for me. This is my first trip post-Meniere's & to tell the truth, I wasn't even thinking about how it might be with Meniere's. I was fine being in the water for an hour the first day, but within 5 seconds of putting on a snorkel mask things were spiraling out of control. Then, I became seasick from motion of waves, just trying to get out of water. Next day, yesterday, I got very car sick on way to beach, took 50 mg of meclazine. Tried snorkeling again (saw a sea turtle!) and got an extreme attack -- not a drop attack, but my husband had to bring me out of the water and I was very sick for a couple of hours. We were scared it would be full fledged drop attack but it subsided. Worse than not being able to snorkel is if I can't swim again! After the first snorkeling episode, I have not been able to even be in gentle waves w/out motion sickness, even on 50 mg of meclazine. I guess snorkeling is out for me, which is kind of devastating. We are not rich & saved $$ for a long time to be able to come here. We are here 11 more days. Any advice just on ocean swimming w/meniere's? Any help appreciated to salvage this vacation!!! We've had a rough year w/me having some life-threatening health crises & we were so hoping this trip could go smoothly. Thank you so much, in advance. Hope everyone is having a dizzy-free day. Thanks, xTina
So sorry about your experience you sound Very strong to continue swimming. Good for you I'm tryi g to learn to be that way After Reading so many post I think of how the people Here keep pushing along and it makes me try To be Strong as well . People here truly inspire Me. Maybe you can inquire about the patch Behind the ear. I forget the name you will Need a script but my son uses for vertigo Andirons severely ion sickness and it wonderful. Good luck enjoy Hawaii
I haven't tried it but I believe you are talking about the Scolpalamone patch. Sorry no answers here but I am a snorkels and scuba diver so will be interested to see if you find help with this! Good luck
The patch may work.... How about trying to swim in a pool first? I'm sorry that you aren't able to snorkle.... I hope you can enjoy the rest of your time there.
The patch my son uses is transderm scop 1.5 mg last for 72 hrs I believe it's what Was mentioned above
Sorry I don't have any quick solutions but I highly recommend valacyclovir I believe it will in time make it so u will not have to worry about vertigo Last year was a nightmare for me. This year I could go on roller coaster. I still get the occasional feeling like I am going to go into a vertigo episode but I don't and it only lasts about 5 seconds
I love the ocean but for about a year I too was a little hesitant to surf, water ski, boogie board, fish ect.... But after the lab I have zero fear and in the last few years I have passed on my passion for those things to my kids and now we can enjoy them together as father and sons. I did just break my Femur wakeboarding but that had absolutely nothing to do with mm. Just a freak accident where I was jumpin g the wake and landed wrong.
I would try the meclizine for the off-balance days. I am not sure what you mean by first "drop attack" when you were asleep? A drop attack by nature occuirs when you are walking and it feels like you are slammed to the ground, it is instant, there is no prewarning. a lot of times after a drop attack there is not vertigo. I would have full vertigo (room spinning) attacks that started when I was asleep. Those are horrible. Not a drop attack but horrible none the less. I have ativan that is prescribed for me to place under my tongue if an attack starts. It will shorten the attack from 6-8 hrs down to 2 hrs or less. anti virals are a good option. Many have found relief using them.