New forum member with unconfirmed Meniers

I just found menieres.org and signed up.

In 1995, while riding in a car, my hearing in my left ear blinked out for about 10 minutes and then came back. When it blinked out, I became nauseous and extremely dizzy. About an hour later my hearing went our again, never to return. I went to an ENT and he did the hearing test and sent me for an MRI. The hearing test revealed that I had lost 60% of my hearing in the left ear only, but 100% of my comprehension in that ear. My right ear has been completely unaffected. The MRI revealed only that I do have a brain, but no abnormalities. I was told that a hearing aid would not help me, it would simply amplify the unrecognizable noises that I do hear. In addition to the hearing loss, I now have the exquisite experience of tinnitus 24/7. It never stops. I notice it sometimes more than others. Extreme sound conditions cause it to get worse. When it’s so quiet you could hear the proverbial pin drop and loud sound like a car race, sports event or rock concert both make the tinnitus so bad I can barely stand it. Needless to say I have not been in many of those situations since.

My general health is poor. I suffer from atherosclerosis, keratoconus, high blood pressure, angina, vestibular migraines, neuropathy and a host of other issues. My doctors have attempted to discover the reasons for my poor balance issues, and in the last 60 days I have fallen twice and ended up in the ER with concussions, but thankfully no hematomas. The doctors have uncovered a lot of issues I was not aware of, but nothing to explain the sudden loss of balance. I’ve asked them if it could be Menieres, but none of them were willing to say that’s what it is until recently.

Yesterday on a video call with my Neurologist, I asked again what could be causing me to fall. His answer was, “Your neuropathy coupled with the Menieres and your vestibular issue are probsbly causing it.” What? Had I actually heard a doctor admit a diagnosis of Menieres?

So, I am again searching out what my options are.

I have found that for hearing, I can get a BICROS hearing aid, if I’m willing to shell out $4-5,000. The jury is still out on that.

I have taken up walking with a cane, and it’s saved me twice that I know of.

When I have a bout of dizziness, I sit down or lay down until well after it passes. I’ve found that pushing on only makes me nauseous or worse, end up on the ground.

I’ve eliminated all caffeine and as much sodium as possible. In fact I’m on the HMR Weight Loss program and it seems to have had no affect. My blood sodium level on a fasting test was at 320mg, which is the minimum on the acceptable range.

Finally, I have found this forum. I’m not expecting any miracle cures, but at least I already feel better just talking about it.

I’m a 69 year old male and am married with one daughter and two grandchildren. I still work full time, but hope to change that soon.

 

I had not considered that diagnosis. I don’t have a vomiting problem, so would it still apply? My symptoms associated with my ear are dizziness, loss of balance, nausea, loss of hearing, tinnitus, and photophobia.