I had a Meniere's flare up at the end of last year when I was under very high stress for a long period of time. The anti-virals were working so well for me, I forgot such a thing was a threat and did not increase my dose to the maximium. If that ever happens again, I will. I had a drop in my hearing at the time and just took a hearing test last week. I must be getting good at compensating because I was shocked and sad by how bad it was--a drop of 20 db across the board (so down to 80 db in the low ranges). My speech recognition in that ear was 16% at 100 db--it was shocking how loud it was in there and the words still sounded like mush. Fortunately my hearing in my other ear remains good--I am not losing track of how fortunate that is. My ENT is recommending a round of steroids to see if I can get some of that hearing back. I've never done the steroids before. Getting some hearing back seems like a good thing. If I do this, I'll do the oral ones because I don't want to risk permanently injuring my ear drum (which has already ruptured twice). I wonder about a couple things: * Has anyone else had steroids while on anti-virals? Any thoughts about that? * Do the steroids impact the tinnitus and how? I'm worried about the tinnitus because it's going pretty well right now, and I hate to disrupt that. Though I guess if I knew that would be just temporary that would be worth it to possibly improve my hearing. Thanks for reading this and for any help.
Personally, I was placed on three rounds of steroids by different doctors within a one year period. The last round was the 12 day prednisone regimen. Aside from making me feel like superman, steroids did nothing to relieve my Menieres symptoms. I will not fill another steroid prescription for myself. Not for my Menieres.
Sometimes rhey even make steroid injections right into the ear. There is some risk with that but i dont know of risk with oral steroids. I have taken oral steroids numerous times. As long as you taper them correctly which your dr will do, i dont think there is much risk in short term use. I just took them for an upper respiratory problem. I always feel great in thr beginning, a little tired coming off them but have not had any problems.
Thanks for chiming in folks. I've avoided steroids in the past, but am considering it this time because of the chance to improve my hearing. I appreciate your support on that, June. I am not going to do the injection because there is a risk the ear drum won't heal, and, for me, it would be a big loss if I couldn't get my ear wet. I don't want to take that risk--especially because my ear drum has already ruptured twice. Scott, thank you for letting me know about the immunosuppressive effects. I did not know that, and if I take them (which I'm leaning towards), I will be extra caring with my immune system and careful about germ exposure.