I have only been diagnosed recently with MM and have had two bad attacks within a 5 day period. On one of these I dropped to the floor without any prior warning. This resulted in me injuring my head, nose elbow and knees, as well as all the other MM ssymtoms. My stress levels were slightly higher than normal a I seemed to get wound up and agitated on the Sunday before returning to work on Monday. My wife, god bless her, when the attack elapsed , dressed my wounds, and told me how confused I had been and the rubish that I was talking about. I could not return to work on the Monday as I was so fatigued, tired, worn out & sore. I only started taking prescribed medication over one week ago, and can only pressume that they are not yet taking full effect. This not knowing, and just dropping and confusion has concerned me, with having had no form of advanced warning that I was going to have an attack. With being new to this problem, can anyone of tell me if you have warning signs before an attack, and what signs you may have? Sunny regards Stevesafe
Hi Steve, Sorry to hear you are experiencing drop attacks. They are dangerous in the fact you can get hurt as you already did. I have had 3 drop attacks in the many years I have MM with no warnings before hand. AFAIK there are no warnings with drop attacks. The rotational vertigo attacks can come with warning signs before hand, but that is an individual thing and you may notice certain sensations etc before an attack. You mentioned taking medications, what are they? You may want to try antivirals, myelf along with many others have gotten good symptom relief from them by stopping vertigo attacks and dizziness. You can check out the antiviral threads in the new and old databases. Please be careful since you are experiencing drop attacks, hopefully you will not get anymore.
Hi Vicki, Thank you for your reply and for your kind concern. The medication that I am taking is from Europe and called Arlevert. They contain Cinnarizine 20mg and Dimenhydrinate 40 mg, one to be taken three times a day. My ENT Consultant has informed me that it is a fairly new drug and has shown some posotive results. Not on me apparently as yet. I will look for the antiviral thread in the datbase. Thank you for this . Sunny regards Stevesafe
HI, I am so sorry to hear what you are experiencing. This happened to me several times..had to take a 6 month leave off work. Sometimes I could relate it to stress, a little too much salt or at Christmas eve service having no salt, stress etc had an attack in the middle of the ceremony. All I can recommend is to have...1. Zofran dissolvable tablets (under your tongue) so you will not throw them up and will stop any vomiting. 2. Prescription to Xanax, Valium or Clonopin...anti anxiety drugs but help stop the attack...( I am in the medical field so I would always carry all 3 of these w/ me at all times...) and 3. Meclizine (Less drowsy dramamine)....The combination of these products is what several neurotologists prescribed..and as long as I could them in my mouth crunched up and swallow before the vomiting occured, it works...Also I was on blood pressure medicine as most of us are on ...and went on Dyazide (used for people climbing extreme mountains) my drop attacks stayed at bay. I did surgeries, Meniett Device, you name it..i tried it. That is why I just said why I am I going to live in fear (I am on the road a lot with my medical job) The VNS is the end of the road but I did not want Gent injections that don't have 100 rate proving they will work and still lose my hearing. See how avoiding foods, stress, etc can help ...for me after 7 years I had enough and so did my company. I have a life now I never recognized...7 years of bandaids...1 surgery..still no hearing now and you will have the fullness or tinnitus..but so worth it for me. I was falling down stairs and unable to care for my daughters..but take it in steps. You might do well with just getting a tube put in your ear. That worked for me for the first year and 500mg a day of sodium...other than that, some of my drop attacks had no warning. I choose the surgery after a state police officer pulled me over for "drinking and driving" as I pulled into CVS to pick up my "rescue meds" I didn't get a ticket, but I went in for VNS surgery 2 days later here in Orlando. A Meniere's only specialist saw me the next day and 2 days later was having my VNS surgery. I couldn't control my attacks and I had my 2 girls in the car with me. That is what scared me into saying "Screw you Meniere's and I can't put others at risk"...But try everything else first..just read up on Gent injections...some say it is great..but it is an extremely strong antibiotic and with VNS they literaly CUT the balance nerve so there is no way I can ever have a Meniere's attack again, ever with my left ear. Right ear, well I pray I don't go bi-lateral but neurosurgeon said has only seen it 10% to 15% at most and is controlled with out VNS. Best of Luck, Nicole Orlando
Hi, Thank you for your very interesting reply. It was very indepth and thought provoking. Hope all goes well for you. Sunny regards Stevesafe