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Living Alone With Meniere's in Old Age

Discussion in 'Your Living Room' started by BillsEar, Mar 19, 2017.

  1. Mar 19, 2017 #1
    BillsEar

    BillsEar Member

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    I'm 65, recently retired, and living alone in a townhouse with Meniere's, which unfortunately antivirals have failed to keep in remission. I'm thinking that I need to change my living arrangements somehow to make life safer when I'm having dizzy spells. I'm wondering what other seniors with Meniere's disease do to accommodate the disease.

    I'm thinking about moving to an independent living facility or someplace that will give me some support. I detest these places, but it may be necessary. If it weren't for Meniere's, I probably wouldn't be thinking about this for at least another ten or fifteen years because I'm otherwise in good health and longevity runs in my family. My father lived to 97.
     
  2. Mar 19, 2017 #2
    yanksgirl

    yanksgirl Member

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    Are you having 'vertigo' and if so, often? I would say, either have someone who checks on you regularly and/or have one of the 'alert system' things you wear to call for help as a first thing.
    You still have a long life ahead of you probably, unless you have other serious health issues. This could get better and then you'd be wondering why you hadn't given other options a try.
    If you are financially able to go into an assisted living sort of place--where you are checked on daily and have transportation, etc. and you feel comfortable with that--by all means, check it out.

    But, don't give up on your independence without exploring all options.
    Maybe you already have.

    Do you have family who is available to call or check in on you? I do hope so. If not--and your doctor is saying things are not going to improve--but that is not usually the case, you need to really think about this and talk to a trusted friend/family member/and your doctor. Hope you get it all worked out. Keep in touch please--Yanksgirl
     
  3. Mar 20, 2017 #3
    BillsEar

    BillsEar Member

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    Unfortunately, all the family I have left is 400 miles away, and they are busy with their own lives. I'm just trying to think ahead. I wouldn't dream of moving into a retirement home at my age if I could avoid it. I'll probably end up holding out for a few more years, until I have no choice. I'm just trying to imagine what life with Meniere's at 80 or 90 is going to look like.
     
  4. Mar 20, 2017 #4
    buglady

    buglady New Member

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    I got the Medical Alert button and lockbox on my door. It has provided much peace of mind in the years since I've had it. I have never had to use it, but it's there and that reassures my mind that I could get help if necessary. Mine costs just under a dollar a day.
     
  5. Mar 20, 2017 #5
    Bulldogs

    Bulldogs Well-Known Member

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    why not get a laby and live a normal life?
     
  6. Mar 20, 2017 #6
    scott tom

    scott tom Active Member

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    Bill, you mentioned a couple of months ago that you were back on northstar and it seemed to be working. What happened after that?

    If you can get a laby, it's certainly the next best thing.
     
  7. Mar 20, 2017 #7
    June-

    June- Well-Known Member

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    I would talk to several specialists about your options. If surgery is an option and not risky, i would defintely consider it. I would also look for opportunities to make things easier. I am not dealing with vertigo but i am changing my world from three stories to one, i have bought a bike that is designed to be easier to ride and made a lot of modifications to support my independence as i approach my 69th birthday.
     
  8. Mar 20, 2017 #8
    dolfan

    dolfan Member

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    I think its a great idea Bill, if you can afford it. You will meet a girl or girls and be busier than usual and you will forget you have mm
     
  9. Mar 20, 2017 #9
    dolfan

    dolfan Member

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    hi june
     
  10. Mar 20, 2017 #10
    dolfan

    dolfan Member

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    I'm back darling
     
  11. Mar 20, 2017 #11
    redwing1951

    redwing1951 Well-Known Member

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    I would definitely get a laby before going into assisted living. Get your life back and live the life you deserve in your retirement. Don't let this dreadful disease rule your life. The laby is the way to go when all else fails. Sounds to me you need to seriously pursue this option. Good luck!!
     
  12. Mar 21, 2017 #12
    BillsEar

    BillsEar Member

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    At first it seemed that switching to Northstar valacyclovir was working, but my dizziness problems soon came back. I've been working with doctors to fix my chronic insomnia problem to see if that will help Meniere's. I've recently started doing CPAP for my sleep apnea. The jury's still out on that effort.

    I probably won't go into a retirement home at this point. I think that might be worse than death at my age. I'm just trying to figure out what I will do in the worst case, if I become completely helpless.

    If I can't get this thing back into remission with antivirals this year, I may go for the destructive options like a gent injection or a laby. I've been avoiding going down that road for eight years, hoping that antivirals would work forever. They did seem to work well for several years. I don't think it was my imagination or a placebo effect, despite what the doctors say.
     
  13. Mar 21, 2017 #13
    scott tom

    scott tom Active Member

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    If a doctor will give you a laby, then that's what i'd do. No point in wasting anymore time hoping for something else to work. There are a lot of people who have gotten their lives back to normal with labys. Just make sure it's not MAV, because a laby won't do a damn thing for that.
     

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