This is my first post in the forum, so i'll explain my situation to y'all. I've had MD in my left ear for about 12 years. I've lost a lot of hearing in that ear but I always had one "good" ear. About 3 months ago, I woke up and I couldn't hear out of my right ear. I had vertigo once, and the hearing fluctuation began. At some points, I couldn't understand anything in that ear. I started having bad anxiety, thinking I was going totally deaf. I went to a specialist, and he did one dex injection into the right ear. The hearing came back to about 90% normal and has stuck now for about 6 weeks. I still feel a little fullness and I'm having a little tinnitus in that ear now, which I didn't have before I lost the hearing. But, I couldn't be happier with the results of the injection. They said I would need 3, but I only needed one. The doctor said it worked so well, he wants to save it for when/if it happens again. I haven't had vertigo since either, but I do feel a little off balance at times. I can live with that as long as my hearing stays pretty good. Did anyone else experience this? My NP think I had SSHL, but I was also tested and diagnosed with bilateral.
snuka - I have had Menieres for about 15 years. The first 10 or so, I would take an oral steroid pack with every flare up and my hearing came back - until they quit working. I then started on the injections you mentioned. They too worked great (for about 5 years) - until they didn't. Sometimes I needed one and sometimes I had all three, but my hearing always came back and I always had relief. I was getting the shots a couple of times a year and over time unfortunately I had to get them more and more often. This past April, I had two rounds of shots two months apart and the hearing never came back. I was really disappointed. Not to say that will be the path you will take, just giving my experience. If they still worked for me, I'd still be getting them! Good luck.
Thanks for the reply TLB. I'm hoping I have a little more luck with the dex injections. I know everyone is different and I'm sorry they stopped working for you. I'm getting one in my left, "bad" ear on the 15th because the tinittus is so bad and the Dr thinks this will help. It was really bad in my "good" ear before I had the injection in that one. Good luck in finding some relief!
I have taken many injections and they still work for me. I see my doctor once a month and I always get the shot. My doctor works for the U of Miami hospital. The majority of their clinics are "hospital" based so my insurance has a field day if I get a shot at a hospital based facility. They claimed the shot as if it was a "procedure" like a surgery. The cost is $250 (my responsibility) per shot. So to avoid the $250 I go to a free standing clinic my doctors opened in Boca Raton which is not considered a "hospital". There, I only have to pay my $30 copay for the shot. The only problem is that my doctor only goes to Boca once per month. In the past I have needed the series of 3 shots and was forced to go to the hospital based clinic. This left me with a huge bill
I hear ya Karina - I had my last few shots at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and paid over $1,000 for each! The previous doctor was at an office and only cost me a co-pay! It is so infuriating!!!
That's good news Karina. I'm glad they still work for you and that's encouraging to me. Mine is done at a hospital and costs me about $250 after insurance, which I will gladly pay. My hearing is priceless and I'll pay anything to keep it.