Hi all, new member here. In 2006, hearing in my left ear slowly deteriorated. Stabilized at -70db at 1000hz. No side effects/tinnitus, it just happened. ENT could not find anything, "just live with it". Which I did. Then, September 2022, woke up with lot of tinnitus and hearing loss also in the other ear. Went to ENT, audiogram showed -60db at 1000hz in right ear. ENT gave me heavy dose prednison, hearing slowly improved over 2 weeks to -30db. Thereafter I had repeating short episodes of hearing loss, which mostly improved again after a few days or even same day. Improvement always came with a low tone in right ear that slowly became higher and higher until it went away and hearing was OK again (about -5/-10 db on an audiogram on a good day). Hearing loss during episodes is always combined with diplacusis (double hearing) and a bit of hyperacusis. Last year the bad hearing episodes became longer. I've had bad periods of of 1-2 months. Good/bad about 50% of the time. No vertigo until then. Until end of December, at which time the hearing loss became really bad, could hardly hear person next to me in the car. At the end of that episode I was sitting behind my PC and suddenly became very very dizzy. Could just walk to the couch and had to lie down for 2 hours, almost threw up. After this, hearing OK again. When hearing is improved between episodes, I still have a loss at low tones and constantly hear a humming noise like a running fridge. On Feb 20 new episode started and still continues. Started Lysine 3000mg/day and bioflavoids 1.5 week ago. Will call the ENT coming week to request antivirals for 6 months to see if that helps. No vertigo after the December one. So, officially it's not Menieres (yet) as I did not have 2 vertigo attacks. Am wondering if other people also have these longer episodes? Most stories I see are more short-lived ones until a vertigo or drop attack. Will keep this thread updated when I have something to add.
Hi - Welcome to the forum! These inner ear problems seem to affect everyone a little differently but a lot the same. It will be interesting to see if your ENT prescribes the antivirals for you. I'd bet that he won't
In addition to looking at the viral possibility, I'd suggest asking what could be causing inflammation in your body. Allergies? Autoimmunity? Impaired Carbohydrate Metabolism? All three of those conditions have been found in a higher than normal proportion in MD patients. Controlling inflammation is very important in managing this disease.
Wow, it's so odd that in between your hearing was ok or better. Good luck and do please update. Knowledge is power for those of us who suffer these symptoms. You are lucky in a way that you aren't plagued with vertigo on a daily basis. It's hard to describe but I worry constantly about driving and when the next one will hit.
I have Menieres . Both ears are affected.. mild/ moderate in left ear and moderate/ severe in right ear. The left ear started with dizzy attacks back in the 80’s. I had vertigo thaf woukd sometimes last 2-5 hrs. The attacks seemed to happen around my menstrual cycle. They lasted for about 2 years. Stress also was a factor. Fast forward to 2010.. my attacks started in my right ear. Vertigo would last 5 hrs or more. Many times in ER because vomiting would throw me into A-Fib. My husband notice I would sometimes get attacks after hiking in woods. I also had a very stressful job at that time. I was able to find an ENT allergist and found out I was allergic to basically ever tree in my yard. J started receiving allergy shots. Attacks stopped after 2 yrs and I haven’t had one in 13 yrs. However I have constant tinnitus. Weather changes( barometric pressure) affects how I feel. I continue to take allergy shots, limit caffeine and salt. Although mg attacks have stopped I continue to loss hearing and need tk read lips and have subtitles in movies and TV. All that being said I will accept the things that affect my life and pray the vertigo doesn’t come back, especially when driving on an 8 lane interstate. Keep track of when your attacks happen and look for patterns. Limit salt and caffeine. Wishing you well.
I wondered that too. But I noticed I was losing my ability to understand people when they talked. People had to face me when talking to me as I was reading lips. I asked my ENT about this. He told me that even though the attacks have stopped the Ménière’s continues and some people continue to lose hearing. He said some people may go totally deaf. It is a slow progression, I used to be a soloist in my church but I had to stop because I am unable to hear the initial pitch of the organ/ piano. Even when I sing in our choir I have to wait to hear 2 measures before start singing and I usually watch the pianist’s fingers to make sure I’m keeping up with the group. I once had perfect pitch but now my musical ability is hindered because of tinnitus. Accents are horrible for me to understand so I had to get a caption call phone to help with that. They are free if your doctor says you have a hearing loss. They are paid totally through ADA funds. I even have it in my cell phone. It has been very helpful especially when making plane reservations
Welcome! Basically 16 years until the vertigo & dizziness hit ya? When I got the ear fullness and hearing loss/tinnitus, dizziness hit me once in awhile. My hearing in the bad ear would come and go. Not so much anymore. I still did everything normally including eating. All over the West fighting fire. End of year two the super bad tumbling vertigo hit. No more fires for me haha! Your story is very interesting as the vertigo took so long to manifest along with the ear issues. I hope you get it figured out. So tough to find experienced Docs in regards to this stuff. I pray you get it figured out soon. And....Welcome again! Good folk on here!!
Yeah that's basically what happened, although the events might not be related. The "old" issue was my left ear but now my right ear also is bad. It could be that left ear is also a bit worse during an episode, hard to tell as this was already not really functioning. Tinnitus comes and goes and is in both ears.
Oh forgot to tell in the first post, I also tried hyperbaric oxygen therapy about a year ago (20 sessions of an hour). As at that time it was looking like sudden deadness. Somewhere during the therapy hearing improved but that was likely a coincidence as it became worse again a few weeks later.