Anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with the debilitating depression that comes with dealing with MM day in and day out?? I was feeling SO good for nearly three months and now feel like I'm back to square one. I'm doing the JOH regimen, full dose of antivirals, diuretics, low sodium, plenty of sleep, etc. etc. yet nothing is working. I already take an antidepressant, but can't seem to make myself exercise, socialize or even want to leave the house because the hyperaccusis is terrible! I feel like I'm headed down a rabbit hole that I won't be able to pull myself out of!!
I'm sorry to say that I have no solution for you but I can identify with feeling depressed. I do a lot a lot of the same stuff that you do to try to treat it and I talk about and write about it. I try not to rely on any one person to heavily. I read on another forum where this person wrote their depression a letter and sent it up in a balloon (I think it was) which he/she felt happy after. Right now I'm staying out of the doldrums but if that "I don't want to move, life sucks feeling comes back maybe I'll try it.
Vitamin D3 can help if your levels are low. You want them in the 50s. When I had hyperacusis, they gave me a $60 hearing aid that simply blocked out loud sounds. It helped a lot.
I recommend suspecting a neck issue. As I understand from what you've done so far, two key things seem to be available from my view - cervical approach and temporomandibular / tooth approach. Both are considered causes of MM in my theory. Recent study shows that 90% of depression comes from a cervical issue according to Dr. Matsui who discovered cervical neuro-muscular syndrome (CNMS). This includes MS/CFS, fatigue and feeling like you don't want to do anything. Not every neurologist can fix this cervical issue, so my bet would be to find the best neurologist who may articulate treatment for depression. At the same time, I would go see the chiropractor who has ample experience with Meniere's patients. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/nmc/52/2/52_2_75/_pdf As for the dental path, Gelb or MORA appliance is the one to consider. Feedback from the users are bipolar - some are extremely satisfied, some are extremely dissatisfied, could be partly due to high cost. https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-gelb-center-new-york-2 There are other dentists who articulate remedy to Meniere's symptoms. You can refer to the document below for some more details. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4smSaYBVJ9gaXN6aVJiRHRFUXM/view?usp=sharing Good luck.
TLB, I am right there with you. I've had many good days over the past few months and now I'm getting hit with disequilibrium several times a week. I'm tired of the ever-moving environment, nausea, brain fog, endless squealing in my ear. I am recently retired and very healthy in all other aspects of my life but this beast is incredibly debilitating and depressing. Hiro's post here is very encouraging. If everything is caused by hydrops then preventing hydrops has to be the focus. I had so much success with JOH and then recently with anti-virals that I thought I was going to be good to go. But maybe all the years with these attacks has left my ear more susceptible to forming hydrops. And maybe the pain in my neck over the past year is now the contributing factor to forming hydrops. I guess what I am saying is that maybe the virus and cervical causes are not mutually exclusive. Maybe both contribute to the formation of hydrops and therefore both have to be combated. A lot of maybe's in the above paragraph which just adds to the overall frustration and anxiety of this disease. I'm sticking with the JOH regimen, antivirals, and adding the NUCCA/QSM cervical treatment into the mix. I'm hoping that I do not have to add dental occlusion into the mix but I am standing by ready to incorporate that if it becomes necessary. Hang in there. The good days are worth it.
This may sound very old-fashioned, but I find that reading the Bible makes me feel a lot stronger mentally when Meniere's or anything else gets me down. It makes me realize that I'm just lucky to be alive at all, no matter how sick I maybe, and that everything is transitory, including my illness and my life.
For me I made my mind up early that I wasn't going to let the beast run my life. I keep a positive mental attitude that the way I'm feeling today is only temporary and to get through it because tomorrow could be completely different. I try to do things that take my mind off what I'm feeling, read a book, work on the house, write, anything but focus on what's going on inside my head. Be defiant, let nothing upset your positive attitude and always remember the sun will rise tomorrow. There are others fighting the same battle as you and we are here to lean on. Good luck!
TLB, I am so there with you to the point where I thought seriously about ending my life. But I have changed despite losing most everything I hold valuable--music, traveling, socializing, restaurants, talking with friends, casinos, and talking on the phone. So many people on this site have helped me. Yes, sometimes the roaring and screeching become so difficult it is hard to take, and I get upset when I can't hear a movie and I am getting use to closed captioning, but I look for the small things. Yes, birds make me smile, and watching relatives and others on Facebook. I walk which helps, and I still work on my flowers and bromeliads. Just three months ago, I spent most of my time sitting in a chair facing depression and brain fog. I cried most of the day, and really did feel sorry for myself--something that is fine for those that have this disease can do...don't feel guilty about it. My disease has put me on a downward spiral for five months, and each time, I think it can't get worse, it does. I thought I could avoid long term vertigo, but I found out several days ago, I wasn't going to be so lucky. I am fighting though, and now force myself to go into restaurants and it is getting better. It is scary but I am going to fight...I might go down, but I will rise again. I want to love life again, and I am not there yet, but trying. Here are some things I tired which you can think of: 1. Went to a psychiatric drug monitor. She put me on Zoloft each day (three .5 milligram tablets), and I take Xanax when it gets bad, but just .5 milligrams, it helps a lot! No brain fog now, and much less depression. 2. Seeing a counselor which helps mightily. He gives me ideas on managing this illness. At first I thought some of this was crazy but it has helped....breathing, meditating, writing a children's story etc. 3. Using sinus medication and steroid rinses to help me through allergies which exacerbate this condition. 4. Plan an activity every day, even something simple like walking and planting something. 5. Talk to people who love you and ask for their help. 6. Post updates on this site so that we can help you. 7. Join me to fight against this disease. I am just like you, I retired in January of last year and feel so disappointed that I only had eight months before my life crashed. Yes, I am pissed off! I worked 38 years for this? 8. I can't much hear the way I sing now, but this morning I let it rip in the shower and got a nice compliment. Maybe I can still sing....Sometimes it sounds horrible and distorted, but maybe it sounds good to some. 9. Keep reaching out to new doctors and ideas.... 10. There are people here who don't know you, but love you because we share something pretty bad and special. We know you better than most because we share the traumatic events. My counselor told me one thing that helped. He sees a woman who has lost most of her vision and hearing, but she still loves life and manages. He told me that if she can do it, so can 11.....If things get bad and I loose my hearing, I hope that I will give it a shot....I will try.
Thank you everyone. It's so hard for others to understand and I feel guilty for constantly making those around me adjust their life because I can't cope. There are days where I literally can't stop crying when I think about living like this for the next 40-50 years. It feels insurmountable. Being able to just vent to others who understand does help. I wish everyone lived near me in Cincinnati so we could form a support group in person.
I've been there--depressed, also panicked. One thing that helps me is thinking about the things that I can do, especially the simple things--I can't travel easily, but I'm lucky to live in a beautiful place and I love my house. I really notice what I can hear, and that makes me happy. The other "thing" that helps so much is my little dog. He is a real comfort. Being outside (which the dog supports) helps, too. And coming here helps, also. It is great to know I'm not alone. I used to get panicked that it would never get better, but now I remember to trust that the really bad times are temporary. They always have been. I do have one local friend with MM (or something like it). He and I take walks together occasionally. We always feel like we could talk for hours. I hope someone lives near you in Cincinnati. You could start a thread called "Anyone from Cincinnati?" to make it easier to find you. Good wishes to you, TLB.
TLB, I am so sorry for what you are going through. I use to sit in my half bath at 3 in the morning and just cry my eyes out with my ears roaring away--totally alone. I needed to do that because of what I lost. At some point it does become old and you have to move on. Today, my ears hear my voice that sounds like a cheap science fiction movie with a filter on. I use to panic when this happened, but now it leaves me after a while, only to return some other day possibly in some other form. For one hour today, the roaring stopped only to re-ignite tonight. Sometimes I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride from hell. I am happy that I have you all there with me on this coaster.
Depression is often associated with (partially caused by) vitamin D-3 deficiency. Try taking 5000 IU per day for a few weeks and see what happens. Perfectly safe. --John of Ohio
I’m bumping this thread. Even though i “should” be on the verge of happy hope, having had my 2 gentamicin shots, I’m in the doldrums. It may relate to other things going on (aging demented parents, adult son moving back in, at loose ends with no job or courses, out of routine with friends away for vacations, may be heading into another week or two of not driving because of the gentamicin effects...) This thread has some good reminders - get active with what I can do, even in little bits. I’m reminding myself -think of someone else who might be lonely and need a phone call -gratitude list -forced optimism - I gotta shout down my habitual negative thought patterns! -paint -knit -get outside -watch funny shows -re-read Eat Pray Love -free hugs -give the cat some catnip
I can relate to all of this. And thanks for bumping Anne. We are in the same boat. I’ve taken up fishing. It’s hard but I find calm and feel so close to God while doing so. Off the shore since a boat would probably kill me. But I also have found writing and art projects helpful. I feel lonely a lot of the time. Even though I have a full, busy family. This board has given me new friends who know EXACTLY how I feel and it’s awesome. I’m going to post my number here. Anyone. Please text or call me if you feel alone or need a friend and can’t wait for a response on here. Much love and hugs.
That's very nice of you. I won't call but I may send you a message through the board sometime. There are times I really need someone to talk to and I try not to bother my husband with this too much. He's a really good guy but being emotionally supportive isn't one of his strong points.