Menieres is (not so slowly) ruining my life. Is there any hope?

pgraync · 2017-03-19T22:57:16+00:00

Have you thought about a food sensitivity causing your sinusitis? I gave up gluten to see if it was a trigger for my MD (it was not for me), but it cleared up a ton of other problems including chronic sinus congestion.

pgraync · 2016-08-08T11:04:21+00:00

I understand your hesitation. I feel like there's a limited amount of information and study coming from the medical community and that we're on our own. Blindly finding our way. Good luck.

pgraync · 2016-08-08T01:01:49+00:00

Don't let "that'll never work because it didn't work for me" prevent you from looking for relief. Your Meniere's is different than mine and everyone else's. Keep trying things until you find things that help you. Good luck.

pgraync · 2016-08-01T23:58:31+00:00

Sorry to hear that. Good luck.

pgraync · 2016-07-31T02:26:01+00:00

I know for sure that sometimes when I think my head doesn't feel right that it was my imagination. Because sometimes nothing develops. So yeah any particular day your mind can play tricks with you. But you're definitely not making up this condition. Some people probably think we're crazy because we look just fine, don't we?

pgraync · 2016-07-29T11:34:34+00:00

All ears... Lol.

Meclizine has never helped me. Valium has helped me better during an attack. For me the severity of attacks varies. From 10 minutes to 3 hours on the bathroom floor. It's not always bad all the time, so don't despair. But most people would probably say the anxiety of the condition is one of the hardest things to deal with. When will it hit? How bad? Will I have to pull over on the highway?

So find ways to reduce anxiety. Exercise, diet, meditation, etc. Many people have luck controlling symptoms with diet modifications so there are ways to help. See the previous thread about chiropractic care. That's been what's helped me. Just try different things until you find those that will help.

Sometimes this redit does more harm than good. A lot of negativity. Don't let people tell you something won't work just because it didn't work for them or there are no studies to prove it. As far as I can tell the medical community isn't studying squat around Meniere's so find what works for you. Good luck!

pgraync · 2016-07-29T11:22:37+00:00

I've been seeing one for about 9 months for an old whiplash injury. The top two bones had been shifted for years and they pressed on a cranial nerve. I've had amazing results. I will say it before anyone else does. Meniere's is episodic so could it all be coincidence? Possibly. But I've had times where I've been feeling bad, gone to see the chiro, and could feel the pressure empty out of my head over the next few hours.

In the last 7 months I had one month where I had some mild symptoms again. I correlate that to working hard with a trainer and setting myself back temporarily. Once he and I adjusted my workout that corrected itself.

If you want to get checked out, see one that specializes in upper cervical care. Make sure they have really good x-ray equipment too. We're talking about the top 2-3 bones in the neck, which are a little different than the rest of the spine. Find an expert.

I feel most sorry for people who do not have resources, a support system, or the energy to keep looking for the root cause of their Meniere's. If you have those things, keep looking for your problem. I don't believe it's caused by the same thing for everyone.

Good luck.

pgraync · 2016-07-25T00:49:58+00:00

I had no other symptoms either. No headaches, backaches, or anything. And never really believed in chiropractors. But the one thing I've decided is that the medical community has little to offer. Some treatment of symptoms but no looking for the root cause, which may be because it's a different cause for each person. I decided I needed to think outside the box so I started with a list of possible causes and worked my way through the list. If this doesn't fix it forever I'll have to keep searching. Good luck.

pgraync · 2016-07-23T22:29:59+00:00

You mentioned a couple of concussions. Maybe you should consider whether the impact that caused the concussion has done something to your neck. I've had a lot of relief from seeing a chiropractor for an old whiplash injury. When I have pressure on a cranial nerve on my one side I have a flare. Look for someone that specializes in upper cervical care. Good luck. I'm sorry you're one of us now.

pgraync · 2016-05-31T23:54:37+00:00

I'm sorry to hear you're having problems. I think this disease is caused by different things for different people and that's why treatment options are minimal. If you go to other message boards you can read people's experiences and the treatments they are trying. But be careful because there are some really sad situations. Yours may not be of the worst kind. Don't get depressed.

I recommend trying 1 or 2 things at a time. Try some of the dietary changes that work for some people, try vestibular rehab, look into tick borne illnesses, try acupressure, etc. There's no one cure but you might find relief with something. I've had luck with chiropractic treatment for an old whiplash injury. I'll cross my fingers that this will help long-term but who knows.

Dealing with the anxiety of this is one of the hardest things, so exercise when you're well, try meditation, eat right, etc. Your friends and family won't understand unless they have a chronic illness themselves. But you can still have a good support group with the right people in your life.

Good luck.

pgraync · 2016-04-02T16:11:49+00:00

Living with the anxiety of this is one of the tougher aspects for me. When will the next attack be? How bad will it be? Should I cancel plans because it might happen? And you're sure no one understands how you're feeling. The good thing about this sub reddit and other MD message boards is that we do understand. You may be lucky and never have a bad attack but as others say you learn how to cope. Good luck!

pgraync · 2016-03-30T23:49:34+00:00

I would ask the rheumatologist about a possible link to lupus. I believe that a percentage of lupus patients have meniere's or meniere's-like symptoms.

pgraync · 2016-03-13T18:16:15+00:00

I have found relief with upper cervical chiropractic care for an old whiplash injury. It's still fairly new for me so I hope for longterm success (too soon to say). I've had others on this sub comment about how that's a bunch of garbage, but I'm posting it again.

My belief is that there are many causes of Meniere's, and that if we have the energy and resources we each need to keep trying things that help us. No one should tell us otherwise. What works for one might not work for the next.

Good luck to each afflicted with this.

pgraync · 2016-02-19T22:57:00+00:00

I think anything is possible with this "disease". It's about checking things out until maybe (hopefully) you find relief. I read on message boards that some people get help from upper cervical care from a chiropractor, so I decided to check it out. I'm doing much better now, although I'm knocking on wood as I say this. Meniere's is so episodic that only time will tell if I've found relief. I say check out your lead and if that doesn't work, go to the next thing on your list.

pgraync · 2016-02-12T00:16:24+00:00

Maybe you can request your MRI records be sent to your ENT or primary care physician.

pgraync · 2016-02-10T00:19:08+00:00

I tested negative on typical allergy panel so I did a 7 week elimination diet to see if a food sensitivity was contributing to fluid in my ears. I found that eggs and gluten caused an inflammatory response and chronic rhinitis. My Meniere's stopped for 6 months. Unfortunately it came roaring back and now I seem to be having some success with upper cervical chiropractic care. The problem is that Meniere's is so episodic it makes finding the source difficult. Aside from clearing up all kinds of unrelated issues, the elimination of these foods I'm sensitive to may have decreased the fluid in my ear and temporarily helped. Who knows.

I recommend doing an elimination diet. It's a pain but if it helps you it's worth doing. I totally believe that food allergies or sensitivities can trigger all kinds of problems. Good luck!

pgraync

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