I got little mini spins all day off and on and when I move my head I get a tad dizzy like when I look behind me so I can pull to another lane while I'm driving. That's been going on and off the few days now and I've been working on my balance issues with some exercises. Now my eyes are have started flulttering and my vision is getting blurry. This is usually a sign of on impending attack. I've been doing so good since the gentamycin. I hope it hasn't decided that to start again.
feeling for you, Have you been able to get to Physio who specializes in Vestibular balance training or just using what you found on web sites. I hope you have a specialist close to you who can help you through this recovery
Thank you all. The doctor is pretty confident in the dx of Meniere's. On my most recent hearing test I had low frequency hearing loss in my bad ear. It is strange though. It also happens when I am just sitting too but mostly if I move or turn too fast. I'm just doing some exercises I found online. There are several youtube videos I found. There were several exercises sitting and a few standing. I can do the sitting ones fine. I have a difficult time standing without holding on to something. That was one of the exercises...to go to a standing position with out supporting yourself on something. I can sort of do it with my eyes open. When I did it with my eyes closed, wow, I never even made it to standing. I can't do any of the standing exercises at this point even with my eyes open. If I try to do it with closed eyes I can't stand. I'll still work on them when my husband is home to spot me. I'll ask the doctor about the vestibular therapy when I go back. Honestly, I don't think I can afford to do the therapy every week. I have good insurance but the MM has caused about $2000 in medical bills. Anyway, I'll keep at them at home. I'll get there eventually.
This sounds so familiar . I had similar situations happen to me as I was going through the gent shots . I can tell you for sure that I wish I had never done the shots and went directly to the Laby because it gave me my life back . Of course no one but you can make this decision and I am not encouraging you at all . I only want you to know that there is a way out that truly works . When you have tried as many fixes as possible , without wasting to many years , have a good oto neuro do the Laby then get on with your life . I only visit the forum from time to time now to help as many as will listen . Good Luck Larry
I agree with everything Larry just posted. All of your posts indicate that you are not able to live your life to the fullest. You are not able to work and your days are impaired by the constant fear of vertigo, mini spins and being dizzy. No way to live. I had one gent shot and felt like crap for almost a year. I too had the laby and continued on with my life. Like Larry said it is a decision only you can make. You are young and have a whole life ahead of you think about it.
I'll do some more research on the laby. He gave me a choice at first between the shunt surgery and gent shots. I went for the gent. I have been able to go back to work and drive most days, but yes, I do still have dizzy spells, don't feel terribly confident that I won't have an attack, afraid one will happen at work, etc. I go back to my oto at the end of the month. I'll see how I do between now and then and go from there. Will a doctor jump straight to a laby after gent shots or does he want to try the shunt surgery first?
I don't think a responsible doc will jump to a laby. You should find an Otolaryngologist in your area. Most ENT's are not as well trained in this area as the OTO. I was fortunate enough to live near Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary so I feel as though I received good information and good care. My OTO advised me to try the gent shot but he only will do 2. He feels if after 2 you still have symptoms it is not going to work. I know Larry had 9 of them so you can see why he would not do them again. I also had dealt with MM for 12 years so I was ready to do anything to stop the dizzies and the vertigo. Only you can decide if you have reached that stage or not. I believe a good OTO will do a laby only after he/she believes there is not other way out of the hell you are living. Do your research and I really hope you find a way to get on with living. No one wants to live with a "monkey on their back." Good luck. And if you do decide to have the laby we who have had the laby will help you through it.
I met to use the term neurotologist. What is an Otologist or Neurotologist? Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is a specialty devoted to the care of adult and pediatric patients with problems of the ear, nose, throat, and neck. These doctors are commonly known as ENT physicians. Training to become and otolaryngologist includes 1 year of general surgery and at least 4 years of otolaryngology training. These doctors have acquired the skills necessary to manage sinusitis, allergy, mouth and throat cancer, masses of the neck, voice and swallowing problems, trauma to the face and neck, ear infections, dizziness, hearing loss, and many other problems arising from the structures of the head and neck. After completing residency training, these doctors must take a written and oral examination to become board certified. The American Board of Otolaryngology has the role of assuring professional standards of training and knowledge. Within this broad specialty, there are several subspecialties wherein otolaryngologists devote their practices to one or two specific areas of Otolaryngology. These subspecialties include pediatric otolaryngology (children), allergy, sinus surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, head and neck cancer surgery, laryngology (voice and swallowing), otology/neurotology, and skull base surgery. Many doctors in these subspecialties have spent 1-3 extra years of special training in addition to the general otolaryngology training. Often, research is included in the subspecialty training and these doctors become leaders in research related to the field of otolaryngology. An otologist/neurotologist is a board-certified otolaryngologist who provides medical and surgical care of patients, both adult and pediatric, with diseases that affect the ears, balance system, temporal bone, skull base, and related structures of the head and neck. The neurotologist is knowledgeable of the basic sciences of hearing, balance, nerve function, infectious disease, and anatomy of head and neck. Their diagnostic, medical, and surgical skills include treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus, dizziness, infectious and inflammatory diseases of the ear, facial nerve disorders, congenital malformations of the ear, and tumors of the ear, hearing nerve, and skull base. As part of a team with neurosurgeons, they manage diseases and disorders of the cranial nerves and skull base
You could have more than one thing going on in addition to Menieres. I had a period almost 2 years ago where I was off balance 24/7, not vertigo just "dizzy", moving my head suddenly was a problem. I was holding on to walls when walking because it looked like I was drunk. If I tilted my head up a certain way I had a mini spin. I did that for almost a month and then remembered that I had meclizine (which does nothing for my full vertigo thus the reason I forgot about it). I took that and it helped almost immediately (within hours). I did have to take it several times in a day for a few weeks but then all was well again. Might be worth a try again to see if meclizine can help you at all. That said though, i stated in an earlier post that if/when this thing was impacting me 24/7 and I could not work, have a life, etc that i woud push for the surgery. By that I mean VNS or Laby. Shunt surgery does not work for everyone - and for many even if it works it is short term. VNS or Laby you are fixed for good with that ear. You are already relearning balance so the recovery shouldn't be anything different for you!
Thought about this all day, especially after a 20 minute vertigo spell. Thank God no nausea or vomiting. Just nystagmus, blurry vision and vertigo. I did some research and if the gent shots don't work I will push for one of the more extreme surgeries. Screw the shunt surgery, just take the crap out and be done with it. I'm 42. I can't live the rest of my life with a few good months followed by a few bad ones forever. Nope, Can't do it. I'm definitely willing to trade my hearing in my right ear for this crap to be over. My husband will strongly disagree I'm sure. If it comes to that I'll cross that bridge then. I am willing to do one or maybe at the most two more gent injections and if that doesn't work then surgery here I come. I have some meclizine so I'll give that a try. While I am now back to work I am not at full capacity. I have had to make some adjustments to my job. I groom dogs and am constantly on my feet, moving around a table, bending over with my head practically upside down to see what I'm doing under the dogs. At every turn today I was getting dizzy....leaning over to pick something up off the floor, moving my head sideways to look at what I was doing, walking around the table, turning around to talk to someone behind me. Then when I got home was when I had the 20 minute spell. I pray this was an isolated incident and it's over.
I had the shunt surgery and turns out it was a complete waist of time . The Laby for sure was the best thing I had done foe the menieres monster . I had my surgery done by dr Douglas Mattox emory university Atlanta Georgia . For me the decision was made easy because my hearing was really bad and I started having drop attacks , plus I felt like crap everyday due to the effects of all those gent shots I had . the recovery took 3 to 6 months and I was playing golf tourneys after a couple months . Keep fighting , try whatever treatment you want . just remember there is truly a way out . I can introduce you to many many ex-menieres patients just like me , so good luck and a big thank you to all my brothers and sisters on this board that helped me with my fight .
Hurricaneone, you must live near Atlanta? I do too. I'll look up that doctor. The doctor I go to is affiliated with Piedmont. I know Emory is supposed to be really good. Had to leave Walmart in the middle of getting groceries today. Vision went blurry and wavy and didn't feel so hot. Came directly home and watched the walls move around me for a few minutes and then it slowly subsided. I took a valium when I got home so I'm supposing that it helped it to stop. Hopefully no more episodes. Please, no more! It sucks to get in the middle of the store only to have to leave.
But on a positive note (what I try to focus on!) you were feeling well enough to leave the house and go to the store. Good for you. I know that you had to leave, but you still were able to go in the first place. Not enough, and certainly not perfect, but embrace every positive and 'better" than the worst moments!
Thanks, Nicmger. It does help to look at it that way. I'm still pretty new to Meniere's and not adjusting very well undoubtedly. I'm not depressed and crying all the time anymore so that's progress. This forum is a God send.