Hello everyone I have had Meniere's Disease since 2010. My symptoms had been full ears for a few months and so I went to the ENT who said there was nothing he could do. Then I had a vertigo episode where i thought I was dying and my husband called the ENT who I had just seen and he diagnosed Meniere's over the phone. The episode lasted awhile but I was able to get out and walk that afternoon. My sister who knew someone who had reduced her salt intake and reversed her MD pointed out that I had eaten tons of salt the night before but I ignored that and went about my business. I was also pre-diabetic, and had Hashimotos too so I was keen to reverse the pre-D T2 diagnosis and was focusing instead on a paleo type diet but not watching my salt. I reversed the pre-Diabetes T2 from an hemoglobin A1C of 6.0 to 5.4 in 10 months beginning in Dec 2016 by eating a ketogenic diet. I have since learned that blood glucose numbers that are running high can cause other diseases and mine had been running high for 20 years. So I wonder if that is how I developed Meniere's and Hashimotos? Fast forward to this summer when I developed shingles and with the shingles had a lot of vertigo. Went to a physical therapist known in my area for treating vertigo and she said for Meniere's there is little she could do for me other than tell me to get moving as soon after an episode as I can. I am resolved now to try John of Ohio's regimen and reducing my sodium intake. I also just this week weaned off caffeine. I am at a good weight and have pretty good energy. Before the shingles I probably had Meniere's episodes 1 time per month. I am hoping I am over the worst part. Since my ketogenic (low carb/high fat) diet is pretty high in sodium, I am again having to make adjustments to my eating. It is a process of letting go on many levels for me. I want to keep eating that way but must try reducing my sodium. I'd love any suggestions from you if you have any insight into my situation. Thank you!!!
Seek, So you've had MD for 7 years. (It's called MM on this forum, but like you I prefer MD). Have you had relatively consistent dizziness during those 7 years? Or just the monthly episodes? What does an "episode" entail for you?
I have pretty regular tinnitus (a slight case compared to some people, I guess) mainly in my right ear, which is the ear with hearing loss. My left ear is still good. I wear a hearing aid which doesn't help me that much. A meniere's attack for me is big time vertigo, with major nausea and/or diarrhea and light ringing in the ear (not loud). Before shingles, I was having these roughly once a month or so. With shingles I was having way more episodes. Thanks for asking. Somehow it is healing to tell the story.
Man, just so much variation among MM sufferers. Never ceases to amaze. No daily dizzy, that's good. Kind of explains why in 7 years you haven't sought more dramatic procedures. But still, I'm always taken aback by how people go years without deciding to get injected or operated on. I guess I'm impatient. "Just cut me doc" is my motto. Hope you find relief. I assume after 7 years you know all the good educational websites. If not just ask.
Shingles is caused by the Herpes virus . Look into getting on anti-Virals . Search these forums for success stories treating MM with Ani-virls.
I too struggle to keep my sodium intake down. I think I did best when I ate no processed foods, ate an egg or oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, salad at lunch but not just lettuce and tomato (I'd put in left over vegetables, beans, berries, fish, meat. At night I cooked a grain like couscous or quinoa (enough for a few days) and mostly vegetables, small amt. of meat or fish. I've enjoyed eating dessert too cuz instead of munching on cheetos I allow myself banana bread, cookies even cake. I've been lax lately and feel crummy when I over do salt. We went out to eat Friday night and Saturday morning I had a hangover. As an aside since starting lo sodium diet (and antiviral) in February I've lost 12 lbs. I'm 5'3" and 128# I wonder if the virus was making me overeat, he he.
I currently keep my daily sodium level below 750mg. I was hard at first but I now find it manageable. I do not eat anything processed, just fresh food. I also eat peanuts and almonds (unsalted of course ). I barbecue all my proteins and use no condiments. Besides my mm symptoms, I feel mush better health wise.
tdoak happy for u. Another benefit I've recieved is less episodes of depression than b4 lo so and AV.
So you went from hard to mush? So sad. Kidding. Man, you're exercising some impressive willpower there. Not even condiments?
It takes very little will power to do something that prevents vertigo attacks, which for me is being on a super low sodium diet. When I was at 1500mgs daily I was still having attacks. I thought I might be one of those people who it seemed sodium intake did not make a difference. But when I got down to around 500mgs a day it made a big difference.
tdoak do you avoid dairy i'm not sure exactly how many mg of sodium I'm getting I guess u know cuz u eat nothing processed I'm thankful I've only had dizziness and no vertigo (with vomitting) since starting AV and lo so
Yes, I do avoid dairy. I have a food diary that track everything I eat and do each day. Getting a way from processed food was a big change for me health wise. I could never go back to eating that way again, even if I was cured of MM.
Low sodium has also helped my symptoms. I found 500mg to be a bit too low, especially when I was pushing Vit C. I now strive for 750-1000mg and I cheat on occasion. Once you get used to the new life style, it's not such a big deal. I miss adding a ton of salt to my sweet corn most of all. I can still add the butter, but it's not the same.
These last 2 posts are inspiring and I'm on track so far today. I'm thankful to the people on this site but I'm struggling to change. I feed myself well for a while then eat a granola bar or cheese. I'll keep trying cuz i know i felt great when i ate well. My best to everyone.