His hearing hasn’t been diminishing over the years in the one ear but only by very small amounts. We live in the northeast near Philadelphia, Pa (go eagles). Spoke with him today after getting the second steroid shot yesterday. He said he felt improved as it relates to pressure and emotions. Still wobbly and ringing though. Today I gave him the lemons lysine and vitamin C from JOH. We have pretty great hospitals by us, Penn, Jefferson etc. we are seeing someone at Jefferson in the dept of otolaryngology. If things remain terrible after third steroid shot and vitamins I guess we gotta go antivirals, then think about the more drastic measures. Keep praying
I’m wondering about many of the symptoms I read on these threads being different than my dad’s. He has the fullness, the loud ringing, emotions. But not huge vertigo spells. Just a constant state of fog, wobbliness, unstable gate, and hard to focus.
Maybe a second opinion? Ask people here for neurotologists in your area that they like. Neurotologists usually have mainly a surgical practice and lean that way. That is a good option but it is good to have input from a dr with different perspective too.
SMB--how old is your Dad? I only ask because I am 80--and have been dealing with this for 10 years now. My Mother also had Meniere's. She had the hearing loss and mild balance issues and talked often about the 'roaring' in her head. Well, I didn't understand then--but do now! I have the bad hearing loss--one ear mostly 'gone' and the other very poor (wear bilateral hearing aids). They really help but clarity is a problem when listening to folks talk or to TV--phone and Music (music that I love to sing and listen to is now so distorted--a real loss for me). My main issue now--since I don't have vertigo anymore (had a shunt surgery in the bad ear in 2012 and no more vertigo), but I have daily pressure/in the upper portion of my head that causes 'brain fog', makes it hard fro me to listen on the phone--and talk or watch TV at the same time--definitely have to do 'one thing at a time'. Alot of adjusting for sure. My Neuro/ent says the Meniere's has gone as far as it's going to--and nothing more can be done at this point. So--some days are better than others. You do have to adjust and try to 'keep on keeping on--and it isn't easy. Your Dad is fortunate to have a son who is really trying to help and seems to understand, like you do. That's what helps more than anything. Tell him--to not give up--and keep asking questions of the doctors to get help. Keep us posted please.
Yanksgirl, My dad is 58. Although he doesn't experience the vertigo that most do, he has pressure, ringing, brain fog, and is sick to his stomach, probably from feeling wobbly all the time or just anxiety or both. I might look into some hearing aids. We go in for the third steroid shot this Tuesday. Dr. says typically three rounds can help people. Like I have said before this all started after and extremely painful bulging disk he dealt with for like 3 weeks. Hard for me to ignore that coincidence.
So--has the disc pain gone away and was he seen for that? He's very young (though many here are) for all this to be going on. Personally, my doctor didn't recommend the shots or the anti-virals. Many here have had one or both and some do well--some don't. It's really individual for the most part. Just like meds--some help some and either don't help or actually hurt others. You might want to pursue the disc thing--even if pain has gotten better, it may still be adding to his symptoms. Do hope he's better soon. My symptoms didn't really get bad until I had turned 70! I go to a gym everyday with my husband--just started that this year--but have to rest often during the day and deal with the symptoms I have mentioned. Do hope your Dad gets the answers and help he needs. Tell him not go give in, to take it one day at a time--
Boy, sounds like many migraine symptoms. Did you look into that? I apologize if i have missed something you already said above.
Sure I would try a few of the options mentioned above , but if you are not careful months and even years go by with no good results . This happened to me , but I finally had the Laby after chasing my tail for a few years only to discover that I should have went straight to the surgery . Time is important so for me the answer is simple , go to a good oto neuro doctor and ask for the gold standard , have the surgery and get on with the life you once enjoyed . I had this surgery in 2011 after suffering for 10 plus years and now I have a 98 % normal life . You can to , Don't let this monster control every aspect of your life . PM me anytime . Larry By the way there are many many of us that hardly ever visit here anymore because we beat the monster . Right Joe . Good Luck my friend .
Amen Larry!!!! If the doctor told you that you had cancer and needed to remove an organ you could live without you would remove it immediately. That’s how I look at mm....you have cancer of the ear. Take it out. In the words of David. “Boys let the old man take it from here”. A few weeks after his laby climbing latters and sailing masts in the middle of the ocean.
Now we are comparing MM to cancer? Last I knew, you don't die of MM. It's not clear if this person even has MM.
I quick reference to not dieing from mm; I had a drop attack last November and broke my neck. I required emergency surgery. I was extremely close to being paralyzed. Clearly I did not die, but easily could have. Mm can cause you to have an injury that can kill you, or someone else.
I have gone thru hell and back dealing with a broken neck and mm. As my neurosurgeon said, I experienced a catastrophic injury. I will be providing a more thorough update once I have something more concrete, in terms of my future treatment. But suffice to say it had been a very humbling experience. Travis