My friends, Many of you followed my story 18 months ago when I had my VNS at the House Ear Clinic. I kept you guys posted following the surgery and told you that the VNS changed my life. I was a new man, back on my feet, doing everything I wanted. Well.....unfortunately, I had my first vertigo attack caused by my good ear yesterday. I know it's my good ear turning bad because of the classic symptoms ( pressure in my ear, sensation of fullness, tinnitus, distortion/loss of hearing in low frequencies....and then vertigo attack...pressure off, no more tinnitus, back to normal..). Exactly how my left ear started 20 years ago. However, the attack was not as bad as my first attacks in my left ear 20 years ago. Maybe it's normal because my brain adapted or because I already loss my vestibular function on the left side ( VNS)...I don't know. Or maybe it's just because it is only the beginning and attacks will get worse over time....who knows. Obvioulsy, I'm afraid I'm going to lose the hearing in my good ear as I lost almost 100% in my bad ear. I really hope cochlear implants work miracles!! My only hope now is the new surgery developed by my ENT here in Montréal called ''the clip''. In a nutshell, it's a titanium clip placed on the endolymphatic duct preventing the hydrops from causing damages to the cochlea by forcing the liquid( hydrops/overpressure)to stay in the endolymphatic sac. Success rate in very high ( over 95% for vertigo control ) and the good thing about it is that it saves the hearing. I hope it's going to work with me! I'm meeting with my ENT on July 22nd, probably to schedule the surgery. It has to be done quickly before the attacks cause anymore damages to my hearing. I should be down on my knees crying like a baby knowing that I'm back in hell after only 18 months of pure happiness but, for some reasons, I'm relatively ok...don't know why. Maybe it's because I think the Clip is going to work. Anyway, I'll keep you posted. Take care. Alex
Hi Alex. I’m so very sorry to read that you’re experiencing vertigo again after living all of those wonderful months without it. I truly hope this latest procedure will help you. It sounds very interesting but I must admit I’m a little confused. Fluid and pressure in the endolymphatic sac are the causes of vertigo so I’m not sure I understand correctly how forcing the fluid to stay in the ES helps to relieve one from having vertigo attacks. One of the first things an ENT or OTO will sometimes suggest is sac decompression surgery and this sounds like exactly the opposite to me by keeping the fluid inside rather than trying to release it through the insertion of a shunt. Does blocking the duct prevent MORE fluid from building up in the sac and therefore acts to sort of depressurize it so to speak? I really do wish you all the best and I’ll be following your progress as I’m very interested in learning more about this. Sending good thoughts and best wishes to you! Lulu
Good luck! Keep us posted. If not this, there may be other medical/non surgical approaches that will work for you. A positive attitude is a key to being able to sort out and find the right treatment.
One should consider that if one's case of Meniere's is caused by an inner ear herpes virus infection (for which there is now abundant clinical affirmation, as per the physicians successfully administering antiherpetic drugs for such), slicing a vestibular nerve (VNS therapy) can in no way suppress the underlying, symptom-causing virus. The infection in the affected innder ear can be segregated by the VNS surgery and as long as the virus never migrates to the opposite ear, all will be well. But antiviral therapy, in my opinion, should also accompany VNS, to help preserve hearing a balance function in the remaining (for the time) good ear. --John of Ohio
I hope it helps you Alex! I was just coming here to post much the same - going bi-lateral after a VNS. I'm not sure yet, I have my appointment with the specialist (excellent doctor!) next week. I am not getting full rotational vertigo but more of a "bouncy house" sensation. But the rest - tinninuts, full ear, brain fog...it's all there and back. Have had a few falls, one of which was bad. It's been four years since my VNS, so I'll see if they've come up with new stuff. For me the VNS was rough as I never did regain full balance again. Now I look drunk half the time, plus I have this new spatial thing where I'm walking into door frames and walls. So I'm doing the "zombie walk" in the house to not hit them. : Let me know how your appointment goes.
Hi so sorry it went into your other ear. I have never heard of the clip keep us posted and let everyone know how you make out. John Ohio has a point following a VNS if one believes menieres is caused by a virus then meds should be given to prevent it from going in the other ear. You will never spin the in the operated ear once the nerve is cut. I had a VNS 2002 so far I have been 100% ok but I still worry. I also went to the House in LA Dr. Brackman. Joan
Dwayne this is he surgery Alex is referring to as the clip surgery http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=903.msg28098#msg28098
Thank you, Vicki! Do you know if it was successful for Alex? I'm assuming it was if he isn't having around here anymore.
I don't really know, but my guess is if he is not around the forums that probably means he is doing well, just my guess.