I'm curios how people deal with the fear of having an attack while out of the house doing something? I've been dealing with Meniere's for 18 years now. All of my attacks used to be best described as "dizzy spells." I was able for the most part to function during these mild attacks. I even went about 2 years without any attacks or dizzy spells. Things have changed as of a few months ago, and with a vengeance. I'm now getting hit with violent vertigo attacks that I can not function through and find myself laying face down and flat on the floor for a couple of hours. I'm also getting the milder dizzy spells again. I'm getting hit now about 2 to 5 times a week, with 1 to 3 of those being violent attacks. I even had 2 attacks within 12 hours of each other. The problem that I am running into now is that I am afraid to leave the house for fear of getting hit with a violent attack. This has happened to me twice now while away from home. It's happened twice while cooking supper and I had to struggle to turn the stove and oven off. By the way, I'm also afraid to cook now out of fear of burning down my apartment because I set something on fire while trying to turn the stove off. So, how do you deal with the fear?
It's very hard to deal with the fear. Almost impossible without meds. I notice that you are new. Have you tried antivirals yet? If not, read this paper and all the threads on this forum about them. There have been a LOT of folks who have gotten their lives back to normal via this method. http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf
Actually, I'm not new, I used to be a regular on here several years ago. I've seen several threads on the anti-viral topic which is new. Unfortunately, I'm on medicare and cannot afford most medications out of pocket. I am on a low salt diet, no caffeine, JoH regime, etc, etc... The only thing that seemed to really help was a divorce... lol.
The laby takes all the fear and anxiety away, knowing you will never dpin or get vertigo again is a big psychological relief.
Falling down Man. Your story scares the hell out of me. I have only had three long-term vertigo attacks, but have very frequent dizziness and unbalanced episodes. My worse spell only lasted two to three hours. I hope to God my future is not more long term vertigo attacks. I am on Zoloft every day and that has helped me manage my fears better. The only thing that helps me right now is Xanax when things get bad. I have so many symptoms and to think about them depresses me. One of my symptoms has lessened and that is ear fullness which was driving me crazy. I think the ear tube and steroids did help this, but not much else. I can't listen to music now, which is difficult to deal with.
Falling, I get my Acylovir (antiviral) prescription filled at Winn Dixie for $4 a month. They have a list of meds that cost $4 per month. I stayed home and didn't drive 'til I felt safe.
My anti-virals are covered by medicare. No cost to me. I'm so grateful. They are a huge, huge help. Other than when I messed up the dosage (not upping it when under a lot of stress) they have completely taken care of the MM vertigo for me.
Now I'm not sure, maybe the cost of my Acyclovir is $10.00 per month at Winn Dixie. When the vertigo reared it's ugly head 4 1/2 months ago. I didn't drive when feeling dizzy. I was fortunate that I had someone drive me if I had to go somewhere. I also carried Meclizine and popped that as soon as I felt symptoms coming on. Now that I've been on Acyclovir for almost 4 months I don't take the as needed Meclizine or Hyoscyamine right away and thankfully a lot of the time just sitting still focusing on a single object for about 5 minutes makes my symptoms lesson or even go away.
Everyone deals with fear differently. In my youth I faced fear directly. My fear of heights was conquered with 10 years of sport jumping. Interestingly, as I age, it seems I attempt to conquer fear with denial which does not work for more than the short term. I'm going back to facing it and kicking it in the nut sack.
I just try to live my life as normal as possible and try not to worry about an attack. If I worry too much I start to stress and stress causes attacks. Meditate, exercise, do something to focus your mind on something else instead of what might happen. I keep Valium and meclizine close at hand when I get an attack and take them immediately and everything calmes down. Keep positive and be strong it will get you through and find a way to get antivirals they helped me immensely. Good luck!
Just take it one day at a time and try not to worry about having an attack. Don't let it overtake and ruin your life.
how do I deal with the fear???...I don't .... It won.... I don't go out anymore unless I really have to... I drag my butt to work everyday fearful that ill get an attack while driving to work... or fear that ill be at work and a drop attack will hit me and dealing with the embarrassment because not many know my situation. literally fighting every single minute until time to go home... but my home offers just the comfort that my family knows what to do if I have an attack and my bed is waiting for me to lay on not if but when my next attack happens. This disease is a mutha sucker and I ask God daily what I did to deserve this....
Recently I've only had attacks on lazy weekend afternoons, and nothing while I working and keeping my brain occupied. So keeping busy and active holds off the debilitating attacks (at least as of recent). If that fails and the other regiments I am on fail to keep me a functional human being then I have no qualms with going the destructive route. I'm still early in my journey and am a relatively young 34 y/o, so the the amount of options that are still on the Menieres treatment table plus the support I get from my girlfriend and coworkers do a lot to keep the fear from being too intense.