Hello everyone, I am very new on this forum and really appreciate the comments and feedback I have received so far. I have some questions about my condition, and see if anyone has similar stories. I developed symptoms in October 2013. Had received Zostavax shingles vaccine in November 2012. Any correlation? My symptoms have been plugged ears and significant ear pressure, hearing loss at low frequency, sound distortion (especially in restaurants with multiple people talking) and occasional vertigo (however very infrequent). After all the tests done ruling out things, was diagnosed as having Cochlear Hydrops at the Mayo Clinic in November 2013. Told me that could try low salt diet, but probably would not help. When I wake up in the morning, I have no ear pressure at all! Symptoms seem to appear arising and hearing the normal sounds of the day. In the evening the pressure and sound distortion seem to be the worse. I do take Benedryl at night for sleep and also take Allegra in the morning for all year allergies. Sudafed is of no help. My question is does anyone have similar onset of symptoms? I did go to another ENT in Minneapolis to get second opinion. His diagnosis was not CH, but just some inner ear damage possibly from virus and the symptoms due to the damaged hair cells of the ear when sound comes in. Does this seem rational? As you may tell, am very frustrated. Worried that it will develop further and get frequent vertigo attacks. I had one vertigo attack since developing symptoms that was very short lived. Any answers would be be great. Thanks, Randy
Hi Randy, welcome but sorry to hear you need to be here I have read posts from people who have said they wake up hearing fine and as the day progresses their ears symptoms get worse. Hopefully one will be around to respond. You may want to look into antivirals, and getting tested for allergies, many of us have gotten symptom relief from one or both. You can search the old and new database about info on antivirals. Some doctors believe MM is caused by a herpes virus embedded in the nerve in the inner ear. Interesting you had the shingles shot a year before your symptoms onset, shingle is caused by a herpes virus, herpes zoster, I am not familiar with what is in the shot but if it has a live virus, there could be a correlation I would think. Good luck and keep us posted.
Thanks for your response Vicki! I really appreciate it. As you can imagine, the Mayo Clinic is an evidence based institution and they have responded to me that antivirals have no proof of benefit. I will continue to talk with them or see another ENT. Be well Randy
Yes it is difficult to get some doctors to prescribe them, I suggest you print out the pdf files that shows all the studies supporting a viral cause http://www.papadisc.com/Menieres_Etiology_Viral.pdf and Dr Gaceks paper http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf and show them to your doctor. It might help.