Hi Gang, I am brand new to this and need some help. First thing I need is direction to a concise, well written explanation to print out for my boss who insists I am just having an ear infection. He is hispanic too so it needs to be written very clearly. I drive a delivery truck and he thinks in a week I will be fine.
Have your doctor or probably his nurse or a nurse from the hospital you were at, send a written report of what you are dealing with. Give the doctor the name of the 'condition'--if you were diagnosed with Meniere's, and then go online or even here in the data base and print out the symptoms and treatment and description of what you have and take to your boss. Good luck!
There's a lot of information with concise wording you can print here and make copies for future use. I'm glad you found us and I hope we can help you figure this out. Be well and keep us posted. Don't be afraid to start a new thread when you need help with a particular aspect. There are people here with some very good information about a variety of aspects of this disease.
The above advice is great! Don't just assume your doctor is right. They throw out this diagnosis like candy now. Most doctors haven't got a clue what's wrong with you, they just need to diagnose you with something so they don't look stupid. Research this carefully before agreeing to any treatment. If you do have menieres, the best treatment now is antivirals. Again, your doctor probably won't know this.
The truth is about this shitty disease you might be fine after an attack for a week or a month or not. It is unpredictable. I hope you are able to see an OTO and confirm your diagnosis and then make a plan to get you through the days that require you to miss work. Lot's of good info here. Ask questions folks will respond good luck!
This shit is real bro. Not so sure driving a commercial vehicle, delivery truck is the best thing to be doing with the beast.
The internet can be your friend and your foe. Asking for advice will elicit a variety of responses. Meniere’s is usually diagnosed when all other causes of symptoms have been ruled out. It is therefore unlikely to be confirmed without further testing which may take some months. Until then, look after yourself and your immune system and hope that it is something more manageable. This site has a definition and plenty of useful advice. http://www.menieresinfo.com/start.html
What did they do for you in the ER? Did they give you any tests or were you just diagnosed based on your symptoms? At a minimum you should have an MRI and then see an ear specialist for further evaluation.
Just based on symptoms, but from what I have learned, the symptoms were all textbook Meniere's... Just got a referral to an ENT specialist yesterday. Waiting for a call from the ENT now.
David: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but driving a commercial vehicle is the last thing you should be doing. A vertigo attack while behind the wheel is "Hell on Earth", and even worse if you're driving a big truck (either semi or Class B). Since you have been given a diagnosis, you're employer is facing massive liability issues if anything were to happen. It does sound like you'll need to be the one to advise your employer of this. I can hear the lawyer(s) now.." What...you knew you had this problem and drove anyway?" It just ain't worth it brother.
DavidVanK - Welcome to the forum and believe the others when they say there are many great people who will give answers and moral support. Diligently try to "confirm" the diagnosis of meniere's, especially with your livelihood of driving for a living. Unfortunately if you hold a class A or B CDL, the FMCSA deems menieres as a disqualifying condition (do they understand better than most doctors?) and you will not be allowed to renew your medical card.