I had the gentamycin, but not as a shot. The Dr. did a perfusion in my right ear wherein he made a small incision in the ear drum and put the steroid in. I then had to lay on my left side for awhile. I had an antibiotic perfusion prior to the gentamycin, but that didn't help as I continued to experience vertigo and vomiting. The gentamycin or steroid did help, although not right away. But I haven't had the vertigo and vomiting since January of this year. I do have fullness in my head, lack of balance and tinnitus, which are difficult to deal with at times.
My dr is doing the low dose of it. Have to takd 3 shots over three months, got real sick with a mm attack 2 days later and still dont have good balamce
I also had to lay somewhat on my side for 30 mins after the shot, Dr said I might need to go to Vanderbilt for more treatment is this dont work
I had 9 shots over a 18 month period. Honestly I wish I had went straight to the Laby because I still had all the symptoms of menieres even without the vertigo. I was always off feeling and now sense the Laby in 2011 I am near normal. Good Luck Only you can decide what to do next. Do not let menieres control your life without a fight.
I had one gent shot, it was a band aid for 8 months. During that time I felt like crap every day. It helped me decide to go with a laby. One of the best decisions of my life!!
My ent us wanting to hold off of the laby right now. Wants not to take second shot if gentmicin and see what that does. He told me he has had only one case the gent shits did not work. Got to do a MRI to get ready for a possible referral to Vanderbilt University. They are wanting to try and save the hearing in the affected ear. I have some hearing left in it. I plan to fight this as long as I can. Thanks for your alls input
Hello Redwing, Hurricaneone and Bulldog. You three were so much help to me in the last forum. I'm wondering if you're still thankful you had the laby in the end? Is your life back to normal?
Yes I am very thankful that I got the courage to have the Laby. I spent many many long dark days suffering with all the symptoms of menieres before the surgery. Now I am near normal. I play golf , fish hunt whatever I want to do. I have very little ear noise and almost no symptoms at all. I do have a little funky feeling when I am in a store like Walmart. We are like everyone else in the world and we do have other problems like colds , flu , viruses ect. I do tend to pay more attention to these types of things due to the journey I have traveled. I suggest that you have no Gent because it will further damage your hearing and lessen your chances of having the VNS. The VNS will spare your hearing and give you almost the same result as the Laby. Once your hearing is gone the Laby is a no brainer. Dr Mattox will tell you that the Laby is the gold standard with the VNS a close second. Now I realize that a lot of people on here say no never do the extreme surgeries, but I say why suffer year after year when we know there are things on the shelf that will work? Why is it that we never hear from most of those that chose the Laby or VNS? If you have been to many doctors and know you have the so called menieres you owe it to yourself and family to put a stop to the madness . The age old question of what if I get menieres in my good ear is always in our minds. If this happens then it would have happened anyway. If it happens to me I will have the VNS on that ear and get a cochlea implant in the Laby ear . I have a friend that had this done last year in Savannah and he is doing fine. He did not have menieres in his good ear , his hearing got bad in the good ear so they put a cochlea implant in the Laby ear. I did not know this could be done but he is living proof of great advancements that are coming. I hope I have helped you in some small way. Just remember that only you can decide , so have courage and move forward. Larry
I will never regret having the laby. It gave me back my life. I had meniere's for 12 years, and the last 2 years before the laby were pure hell. I can not believe anyone in my shoes would have done anything different. When you have tried to beat this and you can't live a normal life and someone offers you a way out why wouldn't you take it? I had lost hearing in my MM ear, I had developed drop attacks, my quality of life was affected by the beast. I am a very active, positive person. I remained active during the worse time with meniere's but did have to give up some of the things I love. Today I am back doing all the things I love to do. I use the phrase "the monkey on my back is gone." It truly is gone. I live a completely normal, active life. I do have tinnitus and believe I always will. It is something I am use to and does not interfere with my lifestyle. If I go into a really loud environment the tinnitus will get louder so I try to keep away from those situations. I have a hard time figuring out which direction sound is coming from but that too is easy to live with. Thankful for the laby, absolutely. Life back to normal,you better believe it. Best decision of my life!
The Laby Saved My Life. If I had to get another one and hear with a cochlear implant I would do it. I can live wobbly, using a cane ect..... I cannot and will not live in fear afraid to go out with my head in a toilet barfing. That is not a life IMO
It's been just over 1 year since my laby - this was after a VNS in 2010. As hurricane said - some folks on here question the decision of having an irreversible operation done. But for me - it's been totally worth it. As some of you know, I'm one of those who VNS was not completely successful. That is why I went back for a laby 3+ years later. I have absolutely no regrets in doing the surgeries. The past year has been 100% symptom free.