How do you know if the gentamicin has worked?

Nathan
Yes sea level to just under 4000 feet elevation in Calgary. I don’t usually notice worse aural fullness but feel tired and huff and puff up hills until my hemoglobin readjusts!

Thanks Marta!

 

Yup.

Though she did say to expect unsteadiness and use of a cane... just figured any vertigo would indicate the Menieres was still active. But like I said here, this post gentamicin vertigo is very different.

It’ll be interesting to see how our conversation goes Monday. It’s just scary that she may make recommendations based on false interpretations. I’m making notes, to make sure I can be as clear and concise as possible.

 

Yup that’s how I felt. Eventually the slow spin was only with rolling over in bed. Check out my thread “Bppv after gentamicin?” if that seems to apply to you. It settled gradually, but the Epley maneuver and sleeping propped up with my head not turned, really helped.

 

Pupper
My family update: the son dropped his courses and is back in his old job, and feeling better. My mom is in a transitional rehab ward for 1-3 weeks pneumonia gone. I get to fly home tomorrow and get away from all the emotional intensity tomorrow morning. Hurrah! Crazy town... but I’m surviving!

I’m mostly walking/wobbling without the cane, except when I’m around moving crowds.

Thanks for the info re: 2 shots. I’m up for that... let’s kill this thing with fire.

 

I made it through another flight without problems. Home sweet home!

I DROVE a few minutes to my meditation meeting. Turning my head left and right in the car feels gross, so I’ll stick to slow roads for now. My buddy there said she couldn’t tell from my walking that I have any balance issues!

Using the computer still makes me queasy.

 

Ok, so I saw Dr Hwang today, 6 weeks after the first shot.

Hearing test shows my hearing is stable, with maybe slightly better word recognition.

She was very open to hearing about my gentamicin adventures- stated she is still learning (she’s young and keen - personally I prefer a doctor with that attitude over one who maybe knows more but unwilling to listen and learn). We discussed the options of “wait and see” vs doing a second shot today. I told her I’d prefer to just go for it, because
1. I’ve had a few “pre-vertigo” momentary feelings the last few days
2. My understanding is that 2 shots boosts my odds of staying vertigo free
3. I’m here anyway and I’m in it to win it!
(Not to mention my dread of vertigo returning and facing another long waitlist.)

So Gentamicin #2:
There was scabbing on my eardrum that she had to remove. That hurt, but then the freezing didn’t hurt this time.

No caloric induced vertigo like last time.
I only swallowed once.
My throat doesn’t hurt as much - or maybe I’m just overall less freaked out, knowing more what to expect.

I’m assuming and hoping that the vestibular crash and compensation will be less profound this time.

Emotionally I’m happy and hopeful to get back into life, but frankly not really sure what that’d even look like. After so long in the belly of the beast... gaining confidence and direction may be... I don’t even know what!

 

Ha Pupper,
The bar is low for “rock star” status in our menierian world!
it was saera who said I was looking like a rock star, because my buddy said she couldn’t tell I have balance problems from how I was walking.