I am 70 retired man who has had long term problems with tinnitus, ear pressure and instability. Up until this year, I've only had 1 "attack". It was in response to a high stress health incident with my wife the previous day. This year, I had attacks in (tinnitus, extreme pressure, deafness and severe vertigo) April and July that had no stressful provacation. This past week, however, I've had 3 attacks in response to another high stress health incident with my wife. This has really scared me. Is this the start of a serious progression of the disease? How do I cope with the anxiety? I am scheduled for VEMP and ECOG tests in early October but how will they help? If things get worse, how do you build your life around the condition? I have a thousand questions and will ask more later. Thanks for any help and insight you can provide.
I cannot answer whether it is a progression of your disease. Many of us have stress triggers. To cope, some use meds, some use meditation. The mind and body are one. For me, I realized what I can control and what I am responsible for helped lowered my stress levels. Good luck.
I'm sorry to hear you're not doing well. I believe you will get some help here or at least people who understand. You do not describe any of the treatments you have used over the years. I've been dealing with this thing for 26 years and have tried the following: Low sodium diet water pill JOH vitamin regimen Anti-virals JOH regimen took 2 months to kick in but it gave me much relief. I practically ignored my lo-so diet and went symptom free for well over a year. I fell off the commitment to the JOH regimen and sure enough I started having issues again. I picked back up on JOH but then last year began getting disequilibrium quite often (without vertigo) and felt nauseous most of the day. Horrible way to exist. I actually yearned for the days I would get the vertigo because that was a brutal day followed by a weak day but then back to normal until the next brutal day which might be a week away or months away. Now all of the sudden this thing was becoming a constant companion. I read on this site about the success of some of the anti-virals and started on acyclovir 8 months ago. Was doing well but now suffering from drastic hearing loss and balance/vision issues. Acyclovir may not be the best anti-viral so now I will need to fight my doctor for a prescription for Valtrex and also battle him to get the right dosage. You'll have to make a major commitment to treating this thing because unfortunately, from my experience anyway, it will always be with you - either front and center or waiting in the wings. Just read a book entitled, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. And although I would never compare living with Menieres disease to living in a Concentration Camp, his basic thesis is finding meaning in life even with, or especially through, your sufferings. Hang in there.