Hi all, I'm Eric. I've had a whopping 3 attacks with 1 of them almost 6 months ago, and then 2 within 2 days of one another. It apparently started out with me thinking I had an ear infection sometime in August.(and it COULD have originated when I stopped taking allergy medicine a few months before that). The doc looked at my ear, said I had an infection, gave me a prescription for antibiotics, and I took them religiously but the infection didn't really seem to go away as my ear still felt full. Then 2 weeks after being done with the antibiotics I was sitting and suddenly felt like I was being propelled through space at 1,000 miles an hour but not like the world was spinning as it was with my previous vertigo episodes. It came on fast and hard and within seconds I was dry heaving. Then it was over. I slept for a few hours but the next day everything was gone(or seemed to be). After that I'd get a few symptoms when the weather would change or I would go over mountains but I didn't pay any attention to it until 3 weeks ago when we went to Savannah, GA, which involved driving over mountains. Within hours of arriving my wife tested positive for COVID so we had to drive back, and my ear got worse. Two days later I tested positive for COVID(had very few symptoms and only for a few hours)....and then my second attack happened when I thought I was well. I initially thought it was due to COVID but then it happened again 2 days later. I mentioned this to my friend who said "I hope it's not Meniere's" which caused me to do some research and I have all the symptoms. I'm seeing a doc on Monday about this to get a positive diagnosis but figured I'd be proactive about this... Now, I immediately started using vinpocetine because I'd already used it for vertigo a few years ago and it treated it just fine(I know for a fact they were those "crystal rock slides" due to the symptoms, and the fact that they were "curable" with the Epley maneuver) and then I got some L-Lysine, B5, B6, and the vitamin E that was suggested in the regimen or forums here. I've been using it for almost a week and the first couple days I had light symptoms but no nausea/vomiting or anything really debilitating and now I'm 3 days almost entirely symptom free. We're currently experiencing rain and I have a little pressure on my ear but the tinnitus is almost entirely gone. I haven't been able to find the lemon bioflavonoid in stock yet so I'm in a holding pattern on it but right now I think what I currently have is working(though next week I'm introducing the MSM to my daily) Now, I know this will go against the beliefs of some people here but if you really want to cut down your salt, you might consider MSG. Yeah, I know a very small number of people are actually sensitive to it but the vast majority are not, and it's a naturally occurring chemical in meat, tomatoes, mushrooms, sea weed, etc. so if you are eating those things without problem, then your problem likely isn't with the MSG itself. MSG only contains about 12% sodium and it can cut your sodium intake by up to 2/3, so it's something to seriously consider. I barely use salt in my food as it is so this really helps with the flavor. I
A warning about B-6. A few months ago I started taking the maximum allowable dose of it, since some people said it has helped them with MD, but I just discovered this online ..and I do have peripheral neuropathy...yikes.... I am tossing my bottle...this info came from the Australian Dept. of Health. I just had my yearly blood tests and they showed a very high level of B-6. My doctor said nothing about this finding. This is a reminder that you have to be your own doctor....no one will do the research for you... ----------------- Peripheral neuropathy with supplementary vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) Published 4 October 2022 Summary Adverse event reports submitted to the TGA suggest there is a lack of awareness that vitamin B6, which is present in many multivitamin and mineral supplements, can cause peripheral neuropathy. In response, the TGA has strengthened labelling requirements so products containing daily doses over 10mg of vitamin B6 must carry a warning about peripheral neuropathy. What’s new in this article Until recently, only products containing vitamin B daily doses of more than 50 mg have been required to carry a warning about this risk. However, a review by the TGA found that peripheral neuropathy can occur at doses less than 50 mg, and when people are taking multiple products containing vitamin B6. The risk appears to vary between individuals, with no minimum dose, duration of use or specific patient risk factors identified. To raise awareness, the TGA has updated regulations so that all products containing a daily dose of vitamin B6 above 10 mg require a warning about peripheral neuropathy. To limit exposure to excessive doses, the maximum permitted daily dose of vitamin B6 in products has also been reduced from 200 mg to 100 mg for adults, with lower daily dose limits in place for children depending on their age. What should health professionals do Healthcare professionals should consider vitamin B6 toxicity in patients presenting with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. A review of the patient’s vitamin B6 intake is recommended paying close attention to potential sources such as multivitamins and magnesium and zinc products, particularly when taken in combination. Background Peripheral neuropathy is a known side effect of vitamin B6 and is characterised by tingling, burning, or numbness, usually in the hands or feet. Delayed diagnosis and continued exposure can lead to progression of neuropathy. Because of this risk, medicines containing daily doses of vitamin B6 over 50 mg or equivalent have been required to carry the following statement: “WARNING - Stop taking this medication if you experience tingling, burning or numbness and see your healthcare practitioner as soon as possible. (Contains vitamin B6)”
Thanks for that. I'll watch for those symptoms but so far I've got nothing. That said, I think the L-Lysine and vinpocetine are doing most of the heavy lifting right now.
So an update. I have finally seen an ENT, and while I think he didn't listen to my responses quite the way he should have in regards to how long my episodes last, he does think something is going on because I have an MRI on Monday and a follow-up with the ENT on the 29th(where I'm going to clear up his misconception about my episodes). That said, I've been almost entirely symptom free since I started taking vinpocetine and L-Lysine. He seems to think I may have had some form of damage to my inner ear. I guess we'll see. I know they hate hearing from someone who "graduated from google university" but they do gotta learn to listen a little more.
Well, my ear started getting clogged about a week ago which was fortunate because as I said, I was about to see the ENT. He looked at it, saw it was clogged, said my MRI suggested my inner ear was normal but I had some minor inflammation on my "dural" and then referred me to a neurologist despite the fact that I keep telling him it all starts in my ear. Well, last night I had another attack(I'm expecting another in the next day or two if the old pattern holds). I'm going to be shopping for another ENT. I already paid waaaaay too much money for this guy to not be listening to my concerns. I mean, I get that inflammation on my dural could be an issue BUT unless it's an infection of some sort, I'm at a complete loss how that results in my ear getting clogged, which then causes all these symptoms. I could see if it was an ear infection causing inflammation to the dural but he's not trying to treat an ear infection of any sort at this point. Best he's done is prescribe steroids, which I couldn't pick up because someone at his office dropped the ball on sending the prescription in for 2 days.... Yet another reason I know to shop for another doc. You could be the best in the field but if your office staff can't do simple things then it'd be better to go to someone average who had a good team because at least things get done. I learned that from a friend's experience and so far it has held true.... Sorry if I seem to be venting...it's a bit frustrating to say the least...
During allergy season ( that's in spring for me) I get flareups of inflammation. Flushing my sinuses with a sinus rinse helps, as does taking quercetin and bromelain twice a day on an empty stomach, and Claritin.
I'll look for quercetin and bromelain tomorrow. I was half-afraid of using a neti pot because the previous set of flare-ups happened right afterward and I was left wondering if somehow water was getting through my Eustachian tubes....but at this point it's definitely not that causing it so I'll probably give it a shot tonight...
Well, it came today. I have officially been diagnosed with MD though I'm now trying to find out if it could possibly be vestibular migraines since I have photophobia but it seems that the effect is still the same. Hope I can help someone as much as I've been helped here.