Hello! I am a new member! I am a 53 year old female who was diagnosed with single sided Meniere's 10 years ago. Recently I started hormone replacement therapy (100 mg progesterone daily, twice weekly estrogen patch .025 mg) to combat hot flashes and sleep disruption. Within 1 week I noticed improvements for my menopause symptoms BUT also a slight increase in my tinnitus (static sound) in my affected ear. Three weeks in and tinnitus has gotten worse with hyperacusis (some sounds are extremely uncomfortable) and I need to get my hearing aids adjusted because they are now uncomfortable to wear. My ENT tested my hearing and it is unchanged.Prescribed me diuretics 3x per week. But wondering if it is the hormones that are causing this flare. ENT thinks it might be, but that symptoms of hormone should level off within a few months. Not sure if I should wait it out or not. Anyone else experience flare of symptoms with post menopausal HRT? Thank you! Also, any tips for managing the tinnitus?
Hello, I am in exactly the same boat! Hence logging in to the forum to see if I could find any MD ladies with similar symptoms... I'm 47 and just started estrogen patches, only 2 weeks in and my tinnitus increased dramatically!!! I ripped my patch off a few nights ago - I have an appointment to touch base with my GP in a few days... Are there any ladies successfully using alternative meds for peri-menopause symptoms???
I'm curious... has your tinnitus resolved since removing patch? I am still on the hormones waiting things out but not sure if I should be! ENT sees me in 6 weeks after trying diuretic which I just started.
It has been 5 days now, and it's still louder than usual, although over the weekend we did fly to a friend's 50th up north, so flying, socializing, drinking etc probably hasn't helped the situation... I take an antiviral tablet for my menieres and have now been vertigo free for 4 years. Previously tried diuretics and betahistine without success. I'll let you know how I get on with my GP...
I also recently tried HRT (.025 estradiol patch 2x week + 50 mg progesterone cap daily). The side effects including dizziness, nausea and the worst vertigo I’ve ever experienced, plus loud tinnitus and now hyperacusis, made me stop it after two weeks. Then I had a week of severe withdrawal symptoms that are still popping up a month later. I think I lost some hearing as a result of all this. Obviously not a fan of HRT!
Meant to follow up on my prior post. Glad you responded as it reminded me to do so! I did stop the HRT and my Meniere's did calm down. After a few weeks without the hormones my tinnitus returned to what is "normal" for me and my hyperacusis disappeared. Been of the hormones for months now and things are status quo. So, no HRT for me. Just dealing with the hot flashes unfortunately!