Hello, fellow people. You probably don't remember me but I posted in this forum last June and wanted to give an update. In May of 2013 I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease. At that time I'd had one vertigo attack and I had the constant ringing for weeks. An audiologist took several hearing tests a few weeks apart, and since nothing else was wrong with me that he could see he gave me a brochure on MD, told me to use less salt in my diet, and sent me on my way. Last summer I had vertigo attacks and muffled hearing, ringing, etc. Well, I figured it was Meniere's Disease flaring up again and I'd just have to eat less salt and ride it out. I waited FOUR weeks before finally going to the doctor. Turns out I had a violent infection of my outer ear, aka Otitis Externa in both ears! By the time I went to the doctor I was bedridden and could not even turn my head. I did not have much pain---I was so dizzy all the time that whatever pain was present was overwhelmed by my fear of dizziness and vertigo attacks. I had been totally convinced it was MD. Anyway, my doc gave me antibiotic ear drops with hydrocortisone in them, and it took about a month to clear up completely (took about three months for the woozy-feeling to go away). I still have trouble with my ears---they hurt every now and then, and I've suffered two more otitis externa bouts since then, and I still have tinnitus. I just wanted to give an update. I know I felt so desperate and hopeless last year, and the posts/people on this board were very helpful in getting me thru a rough time. Thank you, and I wish you luck in sorting out ear problems. They really are the worst!
Glad you were able to figure out the problem and get some resolution! Ear problems are so frustrating and hard for others to understand!
Thanks for your post and I agree about this being a supportive site. I've been undergoing tx for Meniere's for about 13 weeks now and feel much better. Still get a little dizzy and nauseous sometimes but no vertigo or vomiting in over a month. Was your temp elevated during the ear infection?
Otitis Externa is an inflammation of the ear canal. It is not associated with symptoms like tinnitus and vertigo. Meniere’s doesn’t always operate alone, and it is possible that you were dealing with two separate and distinct conditions at the same time. I wonder if clearing up the inflammation may have freed up your immune system’s resources to combat the beast more effectively?
Hi Paloma. It's been a year for me as well. Next week will mark the trip we made where I spent my nights dizzy and puking in the toilet. While this was not the first of the dizzy spells, it was the most depressing and debilitating. It took me three months to get into an ENT. After a series of tests, the MD diagnosis was delivered. I found this site in November of 2016 and started JOH as the diuretics, steroids and other crap medications had no positive affect. My flares have reduced in severity to the point where tinnitus of various intensities is all that remains. For now, I am blessed with this period of remission as I figure my next move. I agree this is a encouraging site. Lots of good info as well. I am glad you are sorting things out.