Meniere's Disease Support Group

Hi all, I'm new to the group and for my first post, I thought I'd share my path with MD and where I am now - a place of general stability. By the way, thanks for reading and being supportive. This looks like a great group of people.

A year ago (yesterday was the anniversary actually), I woke up to a spinning bedroom. Like I'd taken 10 shots of tequila. No warning signs, no sickness nothing. Just a bolt of major vertigo out of the blue. Spent the day on the floor of the bathroom. Probably vomited 20 times.

The next day I got a prescription for Meclizine that just put me in bed. No more spinning, but vertigo has no effect when you're dead asleep. I had to work the next day, so I prayed I'd be OK.

The entire next week was fine although I felt dizzy here and there. Also noticed a ringning in my right ear. Faint but there.

Two weeks later I had another vomit day. Horrible vertigo, couldn't lift my head without running to the bathroom. The next day I was fine again. The ringing had become louder. Noticed some hearing loss also. That was it for me. In a year I've only had two attacks and they were relatively close together.

So in the last year I've seen three doctors (Family, ENT and Audiologist). Given all their input, I've become a new member of the Meniere's club.

I've had an MRI (clear), a round of steriods (no affect) and taken every diuretic, supplement, vitamin and herbal remedy known to man. Nothing has made any difference.

The hearing loss had become so bad, I was fitted for a hearing aid on Friday. A little humbling for sure, but the tinnitus is much better and I can actually hear pretty well on my right side for the first time in a year. I think my wife is more excited than I am... somehow I was missing all her instructions!

So, thanks for your comments and suggestions. I joined the group because I know this journey isn't over. The hearing aid is probably only a bandage on the larger problem that doesn't appear going away.

By the way, I'm 38, a father of 3 and husband of 1. Thanks again for being here and blessings to you.

PS - I've become a runner. Since February, I run about 10 miles a week and I firmly believe the activity has improved my dizziness; corrected whatever inner ear thing that caused the outbreaks of vertigo.
Posted on 07/15/12, 01:37 pm