This is just a brief statement about where I was and where you could be . The Laby gave me 99 % of my life back period end of story . I went through everything most of you are talking about everyday , so my advice is dont wait for years like I did just bite the bullet and get rid of menieres . Have either the gold standard Laby or the next best thing VNS . I can tell you that I do whatever I want . I play golf go to carnival rides ect and you can to . If you are uni-lateral there is no need in suffering anymore . As a close friend once told me DON'T LET MENIERES CONTROL YOUR LIFE . Good Luck to evertone Larry .
My ONLY concern with this is the possibility of the MM going bi-lateral. I'm gonna try some alternatives for now, but will consider that route for myself if none of the alts work. Appreciate the comment and glad you're free of this nightmare. Stay well! RWJ
Larry, How long did you deal with MM? Did you have any hearing left pre labby? How old were you (sorry to ask) ? Thanks!!
It's always good to hear success stories. Unfortunately, the laby is not an option for everyone given the cost and most surgeon's reluctance to do a laby when hearing is left. Having said that, i would do it as well if all else fails.
I was 54 years oldwhen I had the Laby and I had suffered for 10 years to some degree . I have tried everything from shumt surgery to 9 gemt injections amd trust me none of it worked . When I progressed to drop attacks my mind was made up it was Laby or die period . I now have my life back . A word about this going to the other ear . My view is that if menieres is goimg to move to the other ear it is going anyway . I know people that have no balance nerve and they live a tolerable life .
Thank You David!!!! Larry knows who I am talking about. A great influence on our lives. The two best quotes of David to a doctor "you can care of it or I'm going to take care of it" And post Laby.... David out in the middle of the ocean climbing a sailing rig. "Boys let the old man take care of it" Many many on this board living without both balance nerves. AKJIM and Sjwo1 to name just a few. They don't come around often because they are busy living their lives, traveling, and doinget what normal people do.
thank you for the updates , I am scheduled on Dec.7 for my surgery and was told that it will stop the dizzeness but what about the other symptoms of the drop attacks fogginess of the brain ect. is that still a issue ? and what was your recovery after surgery like what to expect . the nerve section surgery I had in 2014 was horrible !!!!! the brain trying to compensate every thing . I threw up for weeks had to learn how to get my gait back step . was like a infant after wards horrible horrible
I went in for my laby on a thursday morning for a 2:30 surgery and WALKED out of the hospital Friday morning. first 2 weeks just walk walk and walk on different types of surfaces and when you are tired and don't want to do it anymore walk a little bit more. The laby will stop all dizziness and mm related symptoms expect there are time i notice i still have some residual tinnitus. It tends to show up in loud and noisy places but subsides to basically nothing the rest of the time. As far as activity, after two weeks of walking and letting my brain compensate, i was able to drive down the hwy at 85 mph and not think twice. At two months i was basically normal and back to surfing, water skiing and doing anything i wanted to do. The first thing you will notice is that you will not be fatigued, your energy will come back and all the anxiety about when my next vertigo attack will hit will all go away. You will no longer have dizziness, vertigo eat...... You will be deaf in your laby ear but you will notice you actually hear better because all the pressure, hypercussis act.. will be gone. After the surgery, your inner ear will feel large and weird but that is just the inflammation from surgery and will go away in a week or so and you will feel as normal as any other human walking the earth in a few months except you will be deaf in one ear. And Yes, if you ever need it you can get a Cochlear Implant in a Laby ear. Several people on this forum have had Cochlear Implants in their Laby ear years after their surgery. My advice get the best Doctor to do your surgery and i always recommend a surgeon from a top notch Teaching University like an Emory, Harvard ect...... Larry and I and several others share the same Doctor at Emory University and many on here are patients of Dr. Rauch at Harvard. Good Luck and Enjoy getting your life back. I predict after your surgery you will no longer come around because there will be no need, you will be back to living a normal life.
thank you , I have one of the best Neuro Ent specialists around, Dr Mark Gacek , Dr. Richard Gaceks son . I have been seeing him for about 20 ish years now . He has done my last 4 surgeries for this ear . he has also told me there is a new implant bone conduction hearing aide they are going to implant as well. New thru medtronics called the Sophono . the magnetic part is screwed into the skull behind the ear and once healed the outter part is magnetized to it . pretty cool device . I have looked at it in his office . I have had a mastoid abliteration , 2 tumors taken out , and the singular neurectomy done as well with another couple of procedures.i am fixing to be 48 and just ready to get back to normal for what ever normal is anymore . Thank you for your insight on this .
I just want to add that while surgery is tempting, because it can be a quick fix, it may not be the way to initially start one's journey. I've had two surgeries and six painful injections. And I'm still as dizzy as before. My advice would be to thoroughly study all non-invasive options, and listen open mindedly to those with experience. But yes, I agree, one shouldn't wait "years" before taking action. I'm really happy for you Hurricane. I love how thrilled you are about it. Hope to join you one day.
That's really great news for you Larry! Glad to hear you were diagnosed accurately so that this worked for you. Unfortunately most are not. Diagnosis is pretty much a crapshoot and so many people have been damaged with procedures meant for something they did not have. It's especially tricky with something similar to meniere's since there are other disorders that share the same symptoms and the approaches to managing them varies greatly. Even within the same disorder there can be a hundred reasons as to what aggravates it and how it manifests itself with each individual, so treatments are just as individual. Never rush into any method especially if it is irreversible. I've known some who's lives went to hell afterwards much worse than it ever was before. Still, big kudos to you for getting your life back!