My best advice is that you keep reading all the posts. Especially the ones that deal with meds and surgeries. Different parts of the countrydeal with MD differently. I live in Fla and my doc has focused on the diuretic. I also saw the doc who is considered the expert on dizziness and he confirmed the diagnosis and treatment. My next step is to talk to my ENT about his treatment plan. Everyone is at a different place in severity. So talk to your doc and then compare it to the results that people here have gotten. I hope this helps.

Hi Jeff,
Excercise! Right along with eating/drinking right. For me it is yoga, especially the upside down and inverted poses. But I know someone who runs. Somehow the effort made helps with the overall balance. I know I feel worse if I miss it. And drink lots of water. Get plenty of fiber and potassium in the foods you eat. Avoid stress! (hah) and get plenty of sleep (hah).
In other words, be kind to yourself in the best possible ways.
Sorry that you are having to deal with all of this. God's blessings.

Sleep and resting when you are tired have become important to me. I know your reaction is probably I don't have time to. I understand but I have forced my kids to understand that I need rest time. I also try to exercise 4-5 times a week. If I'm feeling dizzy I go for the stationary bike. The other thing my ENT told me about (his mom has Menieres) is that to watch out for wood smoked items. Especially wines that have been aged in an oak barrel.
All the best and if you have any questions always feel free to ask!
Leslie

Thanks all. I've been trying to force myself to eat healthier for a few months now, but I'm a very picky eater and have trouble with it. I used to be an athlete a long time ago, and bought a treadmill to try to get myself going again, so I'm hoping that helps as well. I'm hoping the injections can calm everything down enough to live a normal, functional life. With a wife and 2 small children, I don't want to be the father that misses out on everything because I'm always having to lay down. I'm going to take a very proactive approach to this and fight it with everything I've got.

Jeff

I'd add that it helps to get to know your system and your personal triggers. When you notice something beginning to change, even subtly, make a point to rest or sit in a dark room and close out the world. I can't remember where I read this analogy, perhaps on another site, or I'd credit the doctor who said it. But he explained an attack as being in water up to your nose so that any additional triggers pull you under. If you lower the water to waist level, your system can handle more. The point is, lower the trigger level as much as possible. I wish you the best as you work through the changes.

Hello Jeff, you're wise to make changes now. Everything your doc prescribed makes sense, but I absolutely would not miss a dose of the diuretic or potassium and would keep the salt intake low. That really helps; but it did not help enough for me, so I have a shunt in my bad ear to help keep drain the fluid. As for other treatments, what helps one might not help another. Most people have to limit caffeine, but for me it makes no difference at all. I do try to avoid msg and preservatives whenever possible. Fresh food is always best, though not always possible. You'll probably learn by trial and error what your triggers are. So sorry you've been hit with this as young husband and father. Praying you can manage it well and with the least impact possible upon your life.

Thanks. The diruetic isn't causing me many problems, but the potassium gives me indigestions so bad it feels like I'm having a heart attack. He gave me Zantac for that but it doesn't work. I'm thinking of just eating a few bananas during the day and skipping the potassium pill. The steroid just makes me feel bad overall but maybe I can tough that out. I've never been a good medicine taker, lol.

Hi Jeff,
Besides the bananas, acorn squash, white beans, dried apricots, raw or cooked spinach, yogurt, salmon,...... lots of choices for potassium.
Enjoy.

Thanks Rachel. I need all the options I can get cause I'm not having another day of this indigestion, lol. My wife finally gave me some water with baking soda to get rid of it

Hi, did the dr test your potassium levels or did he just assume you would need it? I'm on a quite high dose of diuretic (the reason for the potassium supplement is because diuretics can deplete your potassium). But as long as I eat a banana and drink a glass of orange juice very morning, my potassium stays high enough that I don't need to take another pill. My doctor tests every now and then to make sure, and it's been ok.

If you have allergies, make sure you are getting them under control as well. Allergies are one of my major triggers for meniere's episodes. A daily antihistamine (zyrteck) is an essential part of my meniere's control.

He just assumed because the last time I was on a diruetic I got leg cramps. I think I usually stay low on potassium because I don't generally eat too healthy, which I'm in the process of changing. Its just been a wake up call for me. The doc said for a few days after the procedure I might be worse, and he wasn't lying. I can feel the buzzing from my ear in my teeth, lol. and my balance is way off. But I have faith I'll get better. Thanks for all the replies!
Jeff

Hey, Jeff, you're in good hands with this forum. As you no doubt have noticed, not every one reacts the same either to the disease or to the medications.
As for potassium, if you find out that bananas can only go so far in supplying the necessary mg's, here are a couple of options: First of all, you can break the little potassium tablets in half, or even smaller and as you get used to it, go bigger and bigger until you can tolerate a full tablet. Also, potassium comes in a shaker and can be used much like salt. There is "Salt Substitute" by Morton Salt Co., and also "Un-Salt". Both are usually available in most grocery stores.
As for exercise, do what you can. It may be different on different days, but you want to keep the body happy. I'm not too sure about standing on one's head, however. If I did that, this forum would never hear from me again.
Another point made in a previous post, be kind to yourself. There will be times when you want to excuse yourself from a conversation, or from mingling. DO IT!!! You don't need to stand on ceremony. If you are not up to what's going on around you, take a break. It's part of doing what ever you need to do to be as comfortable as possible.
I'm in my 16th year of MD, so I know what I'm talking about.
Best of luck to you and your family. Stay tuned.

Good morning Jeff,
Hope your day today is better.
Read the label on the baking soda.... Very high in sodium. That's one of the reasons I try to avoid cookies and other baked items now too...

I think, for me, I would rather eat foods with potassium in them, then take a supplement. Potatoes...even potato chips are very high in potassium. I take maxide along with robinul everyday and dont take the supplement and have never had any problems. It is definitely trial by error for everyone. You will learn what makes you feel worse and what doesn't affect your MD.

Keeping a dialy diary of how you are doing say on a 1-10 level, possible triggers, actitives, can help figure out if there is a pattern to the disease. Helpful to have the data written down when talking with the doctors as well.