I have a feeling I am became like that too. One ears ring but at time s both ears ring. It does not happen a lot but it does happen. It is scary but hang in there. Receive an hug from me.

The doctors are limited in their options once you go bilateral. The fear is in destroying whatever hearing you have left so only conservative treatments are usually suggested. The course of treatment at this stage is really symptom based, control salt, caffeine intake, take medications to control vertigo and other assorted ailments. Many folks try homeopathic or other treatments like chiropractor or acupuncture. It is hit and miss on most of these but many will try anything at this point and some claim to get results.

God bless!

Rich

Thanks Rich, for your reply. The thing is, I have already tried all the conservative treatments which didn't work for me. The only thing that gave me temporary relief was 3 gentamicin injections and now I can't have any more due to becoming bilateral. And I am having a rough recovery from Friday's steroid injection. I guess I could consider acupuncture if the steroid injection doesn't work, so thanks for the suggestion. But it would be nice to read some research about acupuncture and Meniere's.

Your rough recovery from your last injection should pass soon. Do not forget that they injected fluid into your inner ear, even though it is a steroid it takes some time to absorb. Have you been on prednisone yet? Have you been tested for allergies? If you got some relief from the shots you maybe autoimmune.

God bless!

Rich

Rich, do you mean a course of oral prednisone? My ENT did mention that as a possibility for a month. As for being autoimmune, my ENT said he thinks my Meniere's developed as an autoimmune reaction to the antibiotic treatment I had for Lyme disease. The Meniere's started within a month of the antibiotics which I took for 3 years (my Lyme was entrenched because it went undiagnosed for many many years). Then when I stopped the antibiotics, the Meniere's symptoms went into remission for a year and a half until I got a middle ear infection and had to take antibiotics again (short term). But since that time, my longest remission has only been 5 weeks, until the episodes start up again. So I guess my question is: If one is suspected as being autoimmune, are there tests that people are given for that and a different course of treatment? Thanks.

There are specific blood test to check for autoimmunity but they are very low in actually confirming it (less than 70%) the name of the test escapes me but your doctor would know. I don't think in your case it would be worth taking it, sounds to me like your doctor has got very good reason to suspect that your treatment with antibiotics for Lyme disease is what has set you on your current course. You had some reaction and or destruction of the inner ear because of the antibiotic. This is a fairly common cause among people who have hearing problems and your doctor will advise if you should be on prednisone oral.

I hope this helps some, God bless

Rich

I was concerned with having to use cipro ear drops as after I had an ear infection and used them, I lost some hearing...When I got another ear infection, I refused to use them tho that's the only thing this DR would prescribe. I had to wait 6 months for the infection to resolve but luckily, it didnt take out the rest of my hearing!. This Dr had the nerve to say to me "well You are already deaf"!!

Calady50

Cipro is one of those antibiotics you need to be informed of its side effects. In the United States warnings have been issued and litigation filed because of suspected side effects. This drug dose not do good in the liver and has at times neurological complications. I would have gotten a second opinion on your infection. Often times infections can be the beginning of the death of the tissue, in the head untreated it can lead to meningitis. I am frustrated that your doctor didn't do you better. His remarks were unprofessional at the very least.

God bless!

Rich

Hi Maine,
First there is no harm in accupuncture. It is not guaranteed to help but it won't hurt the condition at all. I did it for a while until my accupuncturist moved. It did a lot to lessen the intensity of the attacks.
I did a short course of oral steroid for my fibromyalgia and had mood swings and I am on a mood stabilizer. I was hoping it would help the fibro and the MD but i will not take them again. I have been having the rouring and ear plugging in my other ear lately but my hearing loss is not bad and so far the vertigo is not worse.
Kerry

Moonpie/Rich, thanks for your concern. It was 2 different Doctors at 2 different insurances too so that's what they all seem to prescribe for ear infections...And I tried telling the 2nd one but he wouldn't budge! I really should have written him up tho...I was just so intent on trying to get better! I'm glad some people on here can take the prednisone as that stuff is really scary!
BAck To maine:), I tried Nucca chiropractic and it really helped my vertigo tho not the hearing. There is a chiropractor, Dr Burcon who's going all over the world saying that whiplash 15 years later can contribute to meniere's and this helps! (Dr Sharon on this website says it cured her!) Between that and taking a ginger capsule first thing in the AM, i'm able to function again...Thank God! tho I'm not saying it's easy...NOt hearing is hard and tiring...

I also have bilateral MD..have tried many different treatments and I'm also 95% deaf in one ear and 50% in my other ear. Have had tobuy hearing aids. I gave been using the menniet device now for 5 months and gave had lits of success with it..no more episodes of vertigo vomiting..the hearing loss is bad but can live now without worries of getting sick every day. I would recommend the mennet to anyone...
Hope this helps
PJ

The ginger capsules sound like a good idea because I am so sick (no pun intended) of feeling sick to my stomach every day. I will definitely start on those today. I did try the Meniett's device last spring but it did not help. Medtronics said it only helps about 50% of the people and I appreciated their honesty in saying that. I also have hearing aids and would like to let people know about the CROS type hearing aid if they don't know about it. The hearing in one of my ears is so far gone that a standard hearing aid on that ear did no good. I still have useable hearing in my other ear. So here's what a CROS aid does. You wear a hearing aid in each ear, but the aid on the bad ear just picks up sounds and voices on that side and in a fraction of a second it transmits those sounds/voices to the aid on my better ear where I hear much better, despite having lost some hearing in that ear. The technology is incredible and the system works extremely well. It still is somewhat difficult determining which side sounds are coming from but that's what eyes are for. So if anyone ever tells you that you that a hearing aid on your bad ear won't do any good, ask them to fit you with a CROS type aid on a trial basis and see if it helps. And make sure you go to an audiologist because the audiologists are the ones with master's or doctorate degrees and really know their stuff. Meanwhile, I have had vertigo episodes 4 days in a row and wish I knew how to break the cycle.......

Hi there! I see I'm a little late to this thread, but I just wanted to say a little something.
I've had Meniere's for about 4 years now, not nearly as bad as you have had it though, although I believe I am also bilateral. I have also been vegan for a little over a month, and I can say with confidence this has dramatically improved my symptoms. I bet you've done the whole control your diet thing already, but I'm still amazed at how well I'm feeling after becoming vegan.
I would also like to say that chiropractors have been able to help some people with symptoms, even though I am not one of those people.
Most of all, I would just like to say that I really understand your frustration. Its not easy, that's for sure. I'm a college student so I've had it good when it comes to being able to lay around when you don't feel well. I contemplate what working a real job will be like when you just feel like throwing up!

Best of luck,
Rachel

Yes Rachel, the nausea is the pits, isn't it?! But I'm glad to hear that becoming a vegan has helped your symptoms. Have you tried any anti-nausea meds? There are some good ones out there.