I am.still amazed at how the medical community and respected ENTs and Neurologists do not speak with a single voice when it comes to what causes Maniere' s. I cannot find a single doctor that agrees it is from a virus. I am having many tests redone including brain and ear MRI, VNG and autoimmune blood work. I did try JOH and it did not help as well as just lysine without success. I hate the vertigo and I am so sick of it. I am grateful when I am upright and I am grateful it is not cancer. I really hope that the medical community gets its act together and help with these awful symptoms.
Not everyone's Meniere's has an HSV involved. I am sorry you still are not feeling well. I hope your tests reveal something that can help relieve your symptoms. Fingers crossed for you
Reality is that there is no proof on exactly what causes the Meniere's. Some people respond favorably to a/v, some don't. to me that is the hardest part of this thing since there is no real rhyme or reason behind it so most doctors simply wash their hands of it.
The first thing my doctor did ask me was If I had a cold sore or shingles right before The onset of menieres symptoms. Then he Continued to ask if I had joint pain Or a head injury. None of the above Except for thyroid issues which he said "No , that wouldn't cause it". Lol Not what I wanted to hear since that can Be corrected . But he did recently say he Wasn't familiar with thyroid and maybe a connection. I keep calling him every time I get vertigo like Attacks and canceling when I see my thyroid Is off again. I know some people here Speak of fungal infections as a cause as well. Such a weird disease.
That is because there is no profit in treating the virus. They spent a lot of money and time going to medical school. They feel they deserve to get rich after that "sacrifice". Who cares if it's us who suffers as long as they get paid for the labys, shunts, etc. You might find better luck talking to a primary care doctor.
I am investigating everything. As I have said before in 2005 in this forum there was a lot of talk about how valium was cure all. Fast forward to 2014 when my symptoms returned the talk was all about anti-virals. This time my symptoms have stayed around for two years now. Last time it was six months and they were gone. So I am.getting discouraged, upset and naturally anxious. The good news is, I haven't scratch the surface of possible symptom cures. We shall see. I love this forum for the knowledge and the understanding. Other than cancer, I think this is as bad as it gets. Thanks for listening and responding.
Valium does ease the suffering some, but for 90% of the tough cases, antivirals is eliminating the suffering.
Lisas doctor asked cold sore or shingles...I received the shingles vaccine two weeks prior to my first and only oneset.. went totally deaf in left ear same side as vaccine...docs will not put it together as a possibility but I think it is the root cause..
Snoopy did you have the shingles? My friend had the shingles and Lost her hearing in one ear from it. I was thinking of getting the vaccine Myself, now maybe not. Do you also Suffer from vertigo? Sounds like a connection For sure.
My doctor said there are 3 possible causes- virus, trauma, hereditary. It made sense to me when he compared Meniere's to high blood pressure. There are many causes of high blood pressure. No matter what the cause, doctors use the same hierarchy of treatments to lower blood pressure. So, most docs use the same hierarchy of treatments to alleviate the symptoms of Mm. I don't know why, but he doesn't prescribe anti-vitals for mm, even though he concedes that it is sometimes caused by a virus.
That's bc there's no money in it for him. Many doctors couldn't care less about you. They just want to be paid. Find a doc who cares.
I think it even goes a step further. Most doctors are so full of themselves that if THEY don't think something can or should work it doesn't matter how many studies you present, how low of a risk to try something, they will just immediately negate the idea. For Meniere's but also for just about anything. Go to a different doctor for something that you have been treated for successfully and 9/10 times the new doctor will immediately disagree with the medication, dosage, even diagnosis. In my experience, each doctor seems to believe that only "their" opinion can be true.
You definately need to find a Dr who you feel comfortable with and who cares - that is HUGE!!! I'm sorry you are struggling.... valium definately helps me when I need it - doesn't always stop an attack - but I have only had 1 bad attack in the past year ( whereas before I knew what my triggers were I was having 3-4 a week) - my triggers are definately sodium ( I stay between 1200-1400 mg a day) , lack of sleep and pushing myself to hard and working too many hours a week...so assuming you know what your triggers are finding a Dr who is willing to keep trying different things is the best - I got really lucky with mine and he is open to trying anything I want - I have printed off so many things from this forum and he saves all of them....If what I am doing now stops working he will absolutely try AV's etc... Feel better !
I had shingles 10 years prior to having menieres, so I think that the herpes virus presented itself when I was stressed off the scale with divorce, seeing my kids twice a week instead of every day, moving house and changing from employed to self employed all at the same time. Only this time the virus attacked my inner ear. Would love to know why the inner ear. Of course if I relay that to an ENT or doctor they look at me as though I am insane. However we know our own bodies. Every time I think about doctors and specialists I get quite annoyed, not just associated with menieres but more the majority of them are arrogant but are in reality buffoons. I don't mind arrogance if someone has a great talent. Obviously not all specialists and doctors but definitely more in those occupations than in others. I went to see a GP recently who didn't look up from his computer whilst talking to me. For all he knew I could have grown another head. After letting him know how rude and arrogant he was I walked out and went to the chemist who were very helpful.
It seems it is the case with me. Once I managed to augment my stress threshold, not only I am vertigo free, but I also have a much better life!
I keep an eye on this page, and a few others on the site, as they seem to keep up-to-date on the topic. http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/menieres/men_eti.html