My ENT who specializes in Meniere's told me that my bilateral Meniere's disease was caused by the varicella (chicken pox) virus that had resurfaced during a time my immune system was weak. Anybody else told this?
Some doctors believe Meniere's is caused by the herpes virus that attaches itself to the nerve in the inner ear and chicken pox is a form of herpes. Your doctor is impressive. I started taking an antiviral, acyclovir 1 year and 6 months ago and I have not had a vertigo attack since starting it. Many have gotten symptom relief from taking antivirals. AV's help many but not everyone. Did your ENT prescribe an AV for your Meniere's?
I have had shingles, cmv mono and e-b mono, all herpes viruses in and around thee time I had hydrops of the ear. Antivirals brought me great relief. Allergy shots also helped. I have the same question, is your doctor prescribing antivirals (acyclovir, famvir, etc) for you?
I wondering if people who get Shingles experience any ear issues as we'll shingles being from having chicken pox after all.
i did not but i was given valtrex immediately and the shingles was on my deaf side so who knows. it was on the back of my ear, head and neck though. i would have been very scared if it had been on the hearing side.
I had a very bad case of shingles 2 years before I lost my hearing suddenly in one ear, and it was on the face--opposite side of the hearing loss. Took Valtrex and alot of other meds too. But didn't get C.H. (cochlear hydrops) until 2 years later! Then 3 years after that developed full blown MM! My doctor says it had nothing to do with the shingles and does not support the theory that a virus has anything to do with it. Thus I got a script from another doctor--and it didn't help me either. I had the shunt surgery---and no more vertigo but have daily head pressure/dizzy feeling and could be migraine or MAV as is posted here, but shouldn't be everyday like I have. So, anyway, glad to be rid of vertigo for 2 years since shunt surgery. Just hate this daily dizziness and the tinnitus is louder in the bad ear lately--but I can live with that--just hate the pressure and dizziness. That is something you just have to keep on keeping on in spite of and it does definitely takes a positive approach to do it--and I'm 'working on that'! Some days I do better than others. My story. so hoping you get help soon for your symptoms.