Hi everyone. I am in the beginning stages of being diagnosed with MD. I've read through some topics and have come up several questions. I feel I can't discuss this disease with my husband quite yet because he's just as new to this as I am. Any who here's my story. I have had reduced hearing and the feeling of fullness in my right ear for a couple years now, never was bothered by it so I never thought to see the doctor for it. Recently I have had many doctors visits for different reasons. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, and my most recent one was ringing in my ears and vertigo. My doctor's theory is Meniere's disease, she put me on a diuretic to reduce fluid and I'm not quite sure if it does anything else. What I do know is that it makes me more dizzy and nauseous. Has anyone found a way around these side effects cause I'd rather stop taking them it makes it hard to go about my day. I'm not familiar with how you get a good diagnoses for MD can someone tell me what I can expect moving forward? I've read from a few different topics on this forum that people have had success using acyclovir which surprised me because I have been taking it for years for a different reason. I've been trying to do research on MD but I feel like I still don't know enough about it and what I can expect from treatments. Any insight would be helpful. Thank you for taking the time to read my topic and any positive words you might have.
Welcome to the forum. What dosage of acyclovir do you take? It could be that it's helping some, but you're at a low dose for something else and it's not enough to fight both viruses. A long shot, i know, but worth looking into if nothing else works.
My current dosage is 400 mg to prevent herpes outbreaks. Have you taken diuretics before and did they help you? I'll ask my doctor about valacyclovir on my next visit.
I've been on Valcyclovir for 4+ months now and I do feel much better. It should be 1000mg. 3X a day. Have Dr write manufacturer Northstar on the script as people have had issues with other manufacturers. As for tests: I think you should have an audiogram so you can keep track of hearing loss. There are other tests either to determine Menieres or eliminate other possibilities. I had an MRI, too. Good luck fInding what you want. You could call Dr.s office and see if he prescribes Antivirals first.
The typical maintenance dose for Menieres is 1000 mg per day. But you want to start at 3000. Diuretics did nothing for me except make me sicker.
Sherry--I have always had 'side effects' from taking the water pills! In fact, the dizziness increases for me. But I have swelling of the legs going on now--big time, so am taking them but only 3 times a week for that--not for the hearing issues. You do need to see a Neuro-ent and find out if you do have Meniere's. The Vertigo sure sounds like it and the ear fullness--but unless you have hearing loss too you may have something else going on. For your sake--sure hope so. An MRI is needed to rule out other things too. As to the anti-virals--they didn't work for me but have for others here. Good luck and keep us up to date on how you are doing.
I also had side effects from water pills. For me joh regime has been a major help. Also I do low sodium, which has become easy, and find I have to add sodium or I get dizzy and nausea. A ent who knows about menieres will do an mri to rule out other possible problems, also you should also have a hearing test. I started with fullness in my ear, thought it was an ear infection or cold, until it went on forever. Then hearing sounded like the cars had a snow tires in summer. Certain pitches actually were painful, and volume was an issue as well. I have been using joh regime since april 2015. The fullness is gone, still a little tinnitus, most of the time easy to ignore. I have had a few vertigos, but usually it just dizzy that I can control with meclizine. I also take an otc clariton daily. I took my joh regime and research to ent and she was more willing to work with me. Hopefully this will help. Good luck