I'm Cindy and new to this group and new to Meniere's :-( Found out I had it February 2016. After having my knee replaced and I got home, I was having severe dizziness, headaches, nausea, couldn't function, tired, etc. Went to the doctor, she said I was dehydrated. Sent me home to drink water and more water. Went back a few days later dehydration was better but I wasn't. She gave me a shot of steroid. Still wasn't better so went back a few days later. Gave me another shot of steroid and set me up for a neurologist. Went and seen him and he THOUGHT I had BPPV. So he sent me to an ENT. Seen her and she said it wasn't BPPV but she THOUGHT meniere's. After several test including chasing dots around a computer screen with my eyes, black out goggles, and air blown in my ears she confirmed I did have meniere's. She put me on Hydrochlorothiazide/Triamterene 25-37.5 mg. No caffine, no alcohol, low sodium diet. Do I feel better than I did in January, February? Yes. Do I still suffer? Yes just not as bad sometimes. Still dizzy at times and balance is off most of the time. Still able to work but that's usually when I feel the worse because it's so loud and all the movement of things, and lights. I just deal with it the best I can. I haven't had time to read everything here yet, but what else can I do, take? What else can I expect? Thanks for reading.
Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of good info here, and many of us have found complete relief through various protocols. Hope you do as well.
Welcome. This forum has really helped me. I have had Menieres for about 3 - 3 1/2 years now and there is a lot info on here that I never knew before. I know how you feel. It started the same for me when it came to seeing a doctor and getting an actual diagnosis. I take meclizine when I desperately need it, lucky that usually isn't to often. Is there someone at work that knows about your situation? If you don't feel comfortable telling your boss, at least make sure there is a co-worker that you work everyday with and trust that knows you situation that way if things ever get to out of hand and you need help, they know what to do to help. That's what I did. I always carry my meclizine with me, even if I haven't had any episodes, just in cause it was to unexpectedly flair up on me. I usually have a couple months of epidoses every so often and then I will have a couple months of no episodes at all. My hearing has also slow gotten worse over time. I don't think it is to the point that I need a hearing aid, but I definitely see one in the near future if my hearing keeps going the way it does.
Welcome, Cindy, and I hope you are feeling better with the continued use of the water pill and low sodium diet. If not, you may want to read about the John of Ohio (JOH) vitamin regimen. I started it back in January, 2009 and by March, 2009 I was feeling much better. I had some bad spells along the way since then but that was usually attributable to not following the regimen conscientiously. Recently I have started getting many of the symptoms back and noticed that I had fallen off the regimen dramatically. I'm back on it for the past two weeks and I am hopeful to start feeling better soon. Many people have also found relief with anti-virals but that would have to be prescribed by your doctor. I wish you all the best.
Welcome Cindy! I also find that if I back off on the joh regime especially the l lysine, things go sideways, I can't go below the 3000 lysine or here comes dizzy/vertigo. Making sure someone else at work knows about your situation is very important! If you dont you have a major attack along with an ambulance ride and hospital bill you dont need or want. Keep a list of your medications, supplements, etc with you in case, it does comes down to a ride to hospital. I hope you all the best, I am lucky enogh to be able to stay home, and a family that can drop and run for me. Luckily it doesnt happen often for me.