Hello Complicated case

You need to find a neuro otologist in your area. If you live near a teaching hospital that would be a good place to start. For instance in the Northeast Mass Eye an Ear Infirmary in Boston is an excellent place to find a doctor OTO who specializes in the brain and the association with the ear and vestibular system. I hope this information is helpful to you. Good luck!

 

Hi Finn. I am really sorry to hear about the horrible time you have been having. But try not to lose hope!

Definitely finding the right doctor may help. And certainly there may be physical/structural issues contributing.

But in the meantime, I think it is perfectly clear that your immune system is completely shot to pieces and you are running your body on a total state of depletion. You need to get to a state of building yourself up and returning yourself to health, brick by brick. Your immune system and overall health status is absolutely key to overcoming Meniere's Disease.

First, you mention you are hardly eating anything - what does your typical day's diet look like? You have to find highly nutritious things that you can eat.

Second, having too little salt can be detrimental to health too. Definitely no less than 1200mg/day.

Third, what vitamins and supplements are you taking, if any? There may be some that are very beneficial. Almost everyone on here is taking some sort of supplement regimen.

And finally - positive thinking! Easier said than done but you've found a great resource and support system here, which is a starting point! Anxiety with this disease is one of the worst aspects of it and detrimental to health. So whether it is through prayer or meditation or daily affirmations or whatever works for you - make it part of your routine.

You'll get to see your daughter graduate and much more! Hugs!

 

Welcome Finn
I am so sorry you are suffering so much. Do not give up please and stay strong. All the best

 

Echoing JonBubo's thoughts, there is 100% no doubt in my mind that one of the things that is affecting your heath is chronic Candidiasis (fungal/yeast overgrowth). With the amount of antibiotics that you have been on, there is no way that you have any "good" bacteria left in your gut.... it's been taken over by harmful forms of fungi (that also live there in a healthy environment but antibiotics only kill bacteria, not the multicellular fungal species). I am not saying this is your entire problem but I'm sure you could start to function again if you addressed it. I have personally seen "miracle" recoveries of people who dealt with their Candida.

I believe that there are many layers to your situation and you need to peel away things layer by layer (like an onion). I would suggest you consider the following:

1. Candida Overgrowth: As above but if you took antibiotics in your life before 2019 for various things (even as a child) this may have been going on for years. I also notice in another post you mentioned significant digestive issues - this is 100% related to poor gut health and Candida. Note too that the "good bacteria" are essential to help your immune system - if they are gone, even more disaster for your immunity!
2. Leaky Gut Syndrome and Food Sensitivities/Allergies: This goes hand in hand with Candida; most people have food sensitivities/allergies anyway... and this will impair your immune system and around we go in a vicious cycle.
3. Impaired Immune System & Chronic Inflammation: Clearly at play from what you describe
4. Chronic Viral Infection: If you have ever had a cold sore, chicken pox, or any other type of virus that lives dormant in your body....this seems to be a key for many of us here
5. Nutritional Deficiencies: You mention you hardly eat anything. Your immune system needs about 25% of your nutritional intake to function. Your body may not be getting what it needs to heal

All of the above can exist at the same time. And usually does, to create a "perfect storm" of illness.

Overwhelmed? I'm sure. The bad news is it takes work to overcome and it takes time, easily six months to a year. The good news is that often the type of things you will do for one will also be helpful for the other and that you should start feeling better within two weeks with steady improvement from there. (Note that in the first two weeks you might not feel any better, perhaps even a bit worse... but stay the course as your body readjusts!)

I will make some suggestions. The more you can do the better. I am not sure of your financial situation so I will put various things but you will have to do what you can afford of course.

Diet: Check out the "Candida Diet" online and you will get a lot of references. Bottom line is focus on proteins and non-starchy vegetables. The higher quality the better, meaning something like spinach over iceberg lettuce. Powerhouse foods to include are salmon, sardines, liver, avocados, kale, spinach, broccoli. Garlic is your best friend (kills yeast and helps immunity). Avoid fruits for now because of their higher sugar content (sugar feeds yeast). Making soups and stews and salads are best. Green smoothies (not with bananas and fruits). Anyway, there are a lot of resources online for this. The diet also has you avoiding wheat and dairy which are also top allergens so kiling two birds with one stone there. You can eat and you should eat! Just make sure you are eating the "right" foods to support your health and not the "wrong" foods that are going to run you further into the ground. I cannot stress enough to avoid sugar and refined carbs.

Salt is needed for life but stick to around 1500mg/day, give or take.

Supplements to start with (I get mine from Swanson Vitamins in the States who ship worldwide):

1. Probiotics: These are a must. You are trying to replenish the good bacteria in your gut to fight off the yeast and re-establish themselves in your system. I like the Swanson brand ones (like "ultimate" and "epic"...) but every company carries them. Look for a high potency one with mixed types of bacteria (ie. not just one named type on the label like "Acidophilus" or "Lactobacillus"). Also take a "Prebiotic" supplement which is a type of fibre that helps them to colonize and establish themselves in the gut. Take at the same time, I recommend right before bed so they can do their thing overnight without interruption (don't take as the same time as food).
2. Candida Formula: There are different ones on the market. Caprylic acid is the main ingredient. Take as directed... you can even double that (ie. instead of once per day take twice per day). I like the NOW Foods one ("Candida Support").
3. Garlic: Eat it, take it as a supplement. As a supplement, I like the Kyolic types. Kills bacteria, kills yeast, helps your immune system.
4. Vitamin C: 1000 mg, three times a day. If you get acid issues get Calcium Ascorbate as the type.
5. "High Potency" Multi: Must be taken with a good meal (or could make you feel nauseated a couple hours after)
6. Lysine (500mg): If you have experienced cold sores or other viral issues, then keep this under control with two capsules, twice a day.
7. Omega 3 Fish Oils: For chronic inflammation and boosting immunity. Get something that is around 1000mg/capsule and take 4 daily, spread out with meals.
8. Vitamin D (1000iu): Two a day. Almost everyone is deficient in this vitamin and it is crucial for many functions in the body. It's very cheap.
9. Zinc (50mg): One a day with food for your immune system and many, many other functions through your body.

Give all this (diet + supplements) six weeks minimum.

Then, as you start feeling better you can read more about:

• Leaky Gut Syndrome (online)
• The John of Ohio Regimen for Meniere's Disease (in these forums)

...and then you can add more/different supplements, modify the diet a bit, etc. as you need. But one thing at a time....

If you can afford it, look into having an IgG Food Sensitivity test done and and IgE Food Allergy Test done to help you identify foods that your body is reactive to.

Oh, I also recommend that you get your hormone levels checked via bloodwork specifically thyroid, cortisol, DHEA, sex hormones and aldosterone. So you've got that covered too.

Good luck!

 

You've tried many things relating to physical adjustment - have you seen a well experienced chiropractor? You could also consider craniosacral therapy and/or osteopathy too.... if there is anyone in your area that does that.... as part of a comprehensive "get back to wellness" plan...

 

Please let us know how you get on! Praying for a "miracle" update from you in the near future!