Damn!, I'm running out of the valacyclovir and trying to get more. I just read the label on the bottle of valacyclovir that I am just finishing up. Here's the Kicker. My Dr didn't quite follow Dr Gacek's Protocol If valacyclovir is selected (in those who fail to respond to acyclovir), use 1 g t.i.d. for 3 weeks with taper to b.i.d. for a further 3 weeks and then 1 g daily as a maintenance dose. My Dr. decided to give me one week of three times per day and two times per day for twenty one days. Damn! When I got the bottle I didn't even read what my Dr had said. I am going to his office tomorrow and plead my case to follow Dr Gacek's protocol. I'm pretty sure he will give me the appropriate protocol, but if he doesn't I will find another Dr.
I have been on valacyclovir for four weeks. My aural fullness cleared and I did have some bouts with vertigo. I was doing great last week until Friday when I was working out at the gym. I was on an aerobic exercise machine and about 15 minutes into the exercise I felt the fullness come back into my ear. It wasn't bad. I could still hear my fingers rubbing outside my ear. Then a low pressure system moved into the area on Sat. and it's still here today. When I woke up this morning I had complete aural fullness and very distorted hearing and loud tinnitus. I cannot hear much at all out of my left ear. I tried to reach my Dr and get a refill on the valacyclovir as I believe it was really helping.
Those big pills can disappear fast. I've been there, trying to get that new prescription quickly. I hope you have success with your doctor.
Holy shamoly, I read Dr Gacek's protocol wrong the first time and now I'm hoping my Dr read it wrong this last time. I hope he reads it right this morning and goes with it. I do believe the valacyclovir can beat this virus into remission. My ear is still full and I feel almost deaf. I have to talk to hundreds of little kids today as "Santa"
Right there with you! I had to correct my MD's prescription which I was able to do before I picked it up. This is my last day on the most intense dosage and I have a hearing test in a few hours. My ear is wanging today some although when I speak on my cell with my headphones, my ear doesn't seem that distorted. Kinda thought to put it off and keep on the highest dose for another week. There is no question that the JOH and valacyclovir is helping immensely. I just wonder since the fluctuations are still ocurring, if it makes sense to drop doses. I was also on the highest dose of acyclovir for 4 weeks before switching AV's. I am noticing my attachment to being 'right' by smoking the hearing test. Anyone care to comment, advise?
The low pressure system has passed and the sky is clear. And, SO IS MY EAR!!!!!! Tinnitus is screaming but, hey it's the least of my worries. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
My hearing test yesterday showed 'statistically relevant' improvement! Since it was the worse ear day I've had since starting the Valacyclovir, this is great news! I just emailed my MD, who congratulated me on the improvement, to inform her that I planned on staying on the 1 gm 3 times a day for at least the next couple of weeks. It seems that more improvemnt might be possible before finding my maintenance dose. Yes Happy Thanksgiving indeed!
For me Valacyclovir is the best thing that is attacking this virus. For me acyclovir put up a good fight, but the virus won in the end. With Valacyclovir I feel this is the medicine that is going to beat the virus into submission/remission or else wipe it out totally. I am still taking Lysine 3 times per day. I also believe this is helping. Though not as fast or effective as Valtrex ( valacyclovir) I have been taking pine bark extract for about two months. Hasn't done anything for the tinnitus. Taking vitamin D3 - 2,000 units..............which today I just bumped it up t0 6,000 iu I told my wife, who is a teacher of a combined 4th and 5th grade class, that we need to take 6,000 iu's of vitamin d3 every day. She says, "I've been taking 6,000 iu's for a long time. Well........guess what?.........Everyone at her school, students and teachers have come down with some kind of virus. Except Her. Happy Thanksgiving. I give thanks every day when I read the obituaries and my name is not there.
I don't quite understand your question, June. I took acyclovir and lysine for about three and a half months. I only had aural fullness clear up in the beginning and then it went full again. With the valacyclovir I have been clear ear since starting it. Except last week when it rain four straight days. My ear was full until the low pressure system passed.
That will happen even if the antivirals are working. They do not immediately undo all the damamge a virus has done. A body takes time to heal and some things never heal 100%. But they get better and better over time. Think of mono of pneumonia etc. You may be on the mend for a long time yet you may always have delicate lungs for instance. Our ears are like that too.