I have had Meniere's since my early 40's (now 58). The severe dizziness and nausea has subsided but I have lot almost all of the hearing in that ear. Trying a one sided hearing aid but still not able to discern sound location and speech clarity. Are you having luck with your bi-cross hearing aids? Meniere's has a lot of challenges to work through. I had lost a lot of hearing in my affected ear and then had a sudden onset of almost all hearing about a year and half ago. This has really been a challenge. Feel disoriented and slightly uncoordinated. Hard to explain. Open for suggestions.
@grannyjack I have had tinnitus for a long time recently I experienced balance problems and dizziness went to have a 2gr8 test ,Dr told me to do ear exercises I think these are helping my tinnitus ,not as loud Have you had these symptoms ? Talk with your ear Dr if so good luck
Interesting. Some of the NSAIDS can cause mild to moderate fluid retention. I wonder if that is why it makes your symptoms worse. I cannot tolerate NSAIDS for different reasons. Started taking turmeric 500 mg daily for joint pain. It is working pretty good. Not as good as ibuprofen but pretty good. You might try that.
Dear @phillipflippo, I certainly empathize with your situation. It took years to diagnose my Meniere's. Regarding your hearing test, my hearing would come and go for many years. I could have a hearing test and it would be fine and then my hearing would disappear. I currently wear hearing aides in both ears. I also was taken off of potassium and weaned back on. I went off salt completely and maintain a low-sodium diet but it was also caffeine that was a big culprit for me. And I didn't drink alcohol. Meds did not help me -- I was on an anti-nauseam med and diazepam, neither of which did anything. Changing my diet was the key. I hope the meds help you. Also, Meniere's can have a range of severity, Your appointment at Mayo will provide some insight into your situation. I've seen the ENT team in AZ and they are wonderful. Wishing you the best. Take good care of yourself.
Thank you so much for your information. Have had a Meniere's diagnoses by ENT but am eagerly awaiting my appt. at Mayo Rochester in June for further testing. The test they have avail here is simply a hearing test and then a test for vestibular problem given by a p.at.
Was hoping to flunk the vestibular testing but I didn't so was deposited in the Meniere column. I have cut salt daily intake to under 1000mg and seems to help, but still have had some momentary dizziness lately. Have not had a full blown Meniere's attack in over a month and appreciate any info at all about the problem. It does change your life and not in a good way.
@grannyjack I have had tinnitus for a long time recently I experienced balance problems and dizziness went to have a 2gr8 test ,Dr told me to do ear exercises I think these are helping my tinnitus ,not as loud Have you had these symptoms ? Talk with your ear Dr if so good luck
First, are you certain that you have Meniere's? About 80% of people diagnosed with Meniere's actually have some other inner ear disease. Regardless, you should keep a diary or calendar showing the kind of day you've had (good, so-so, bad, awful) and even the smallest thing you did that was different. Most Menierians have triggers that cause bad days and/or crises. Triggers can be stress, lack of sleep, inhaled allergens, food allergies (esp. dairy), lack of sleep, or low hormone levels (esp. if you're 40 or older). You can have more than one trigger, too. Over a period of weeks or months, you may be able to learn what your personal trigger is and do whatever you need to do to deal with it. I've had Meniere's for well over 50 years, but it only became a serious problem when I quit taking birth control pills (hormones) in my mid 40s. I spent 4 years working to find hormone replacement (HRT) considered safe for someone my age that kept the disease in control. During that time, I lost most hearing and balance function in my right ear. Over time, I was able to reduce the amount of HRT (you need less as you age) until I was taking a fraction of what I'd initially used. I did vestibular rehab every day and was able to function well, although age-related deafness increased in my left ear over time. Then, on May 24 at 6:45 p.m., my left ear quit hearing useful sound and roaring tinnitus moved in. So, I've just joined this group in the hopes of finding text-to-speech apps that will enable me to continue to live an active life at 77.
First, are you certain that you have Meniere's? About 80% of people diagnosed with Meniere's actually have some other inner ear disease. Regardless, you should keep a diary or calendar showing the kind of day you've had (good, so-so, bad, awful) and even the smallest thing you did that was different. Most Menierians have triggers that cause bad days and/or crises. Triggers can be stress, lack of sleep, inhaled allergens, food allergies (esp. dairy), lack of sleep, or low hormone levels (esp. if you're 40 or older). You can have more than one trigger, too. Over a period of weeks or months, you may be able to learn what your personal trigger is and do whatever you need to do to deal with it. I've had Meniere's for well over 50 years, but it only became a serious problem when I quit taking birth control pills (hormones) in my mid 40s. I spent 4 years working to find hormone replacement (HRT) considered safe for someone my age that kept the disease in control. During that time, I lost most hearing and balance function in my right ear. Over time, I was able to reduce the amount of HRT (you need less as you age) until I was taking a fraction of what I'd initially used. I did vestibular rehab every day and was able to function well, although age-related deafness increased in my left ear over time. Then, on May 24 at 6:45 p.m., my left ear quit hearing useful sound and roaring tinnitus moved in. So, I've just joined this group in the hopes of finding text-to-speech apps that will enable me to continue to live an active life at 77.
Hi @joyces, I extend a welcome to you as well. Such great advice for @susyq213.
Joyce, after living with Menieres for over 50 years, you certainly have learned to modify and adjust to the triggers and changes. Now you're faced with a new challenge of roaring tinnitus. You may be interested in these discussions:
As yet, there isn't a discussion dedicated to text-to-speech apps. I'm sure many in the Hearing Loss group have recommendations and experiences to share. Would you mind starting a new discussion about this? Here’s how to start a new discussion:
1. Go to the Hearing Loss group homepage here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/hearing-loss/
2. Click the START A DISCUSSION button.
3. Enter a title. Something like “Looking for suggestions for Text-to-Speech apps”
4. Write your message.
5. Click CREATE DISCUSSION
Hi @joyces, I extend a welcome to you as well. Such great advice for @susyq213.
Joyce, after living with Menieres for over 50 years, you certainly have learned to modify and adjust to the triggers and changes. Now you're faced with a new challenge of roaring tinnitus. You may be interested in these discussions:
As yet, there isn't a discussion dedicated to text-to-speech apps. I'm sure many in the Hearing Loss group have recommendations and experiences to share. Would you mind starting a new discussion about this? Here’s how to start a new discussion:
1. Go to the Hearing Loss group homepage here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/hearing-loss/
2. Click the START A DISCUSSION button.
3. Enter a title. Something like “Looking for suggestions for Text-to-Speech apps”
4. Write your message.
5. Click CREATE DISCUSSION
Re Meniere's: Those of us who were moderators of the Meniere's Discussion Group that was replaced several years ago by a FB group have come to believe that there may not be a single Meniere's Disease, but several slightly different inner ear diseases impossible to diagnose, so they're all give the Meniere's tag. Again, about 80% of those diagnosed with Meniere's don't fit the diagnosis, have something else:
A few really lucky people have, believe it or not, sticky platelets. This is alleviated by taking mini doses of aspirin every day, and all symptoms disappear.
Lots of folks diagnosed with Meniere's actually have MAV, Migraine Associated Vertigo, which is treated with standard migraine meds. These people do NOT necessarily have headaches, but they may have an aura precede an attack. They can live very well once they find an anti-migraine med that works for them.
Some people have BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), which can be treated with the Epley maneuver. As people age, most will get BPPV to a minor degree. Many Menierians also have BPPV. If you have very brief intense vertigo after moving your head quickly, it may well be BPPV. Lots of people notice it while waking up and turning over. I joke that you could tape $100 bills to the ceiling and I might not ever see them, because I can't look up quickly. I've only known of one person who was severely compromised by BPPV. BPPV does NOT cause classic Meniere's crises (hours of vomiting).
Regardless of what kind of inner ear disease you have, you need to do vestibular rehab (VRT) to learn not to use your second balance system. Your primary balance system (inner ear) no longer works correctly, so you will automatically try to use your vision (second balance system) instead. This leads to dreadful fights within your body because every time you move your head or drive around a corner, your focal point changes, and you don't know where you are in space. This is also what causes the crises of hours of vomiting; your eyes and your remaining inner ear function (yes, some is still there) are fighting, and your body's the battlefield.
VRT teaches you to use your third balance system, proprioception. In simple terms, if you're standing on a viewpoint and the wind is blowing hard, proprioception tells you how much to lean into the wind in order to stay upright. You need to learn to pay attention to what your feet tell you. The first exercise is to stand, feet fairly close together, eyes closed. Concentrate on what you feet say as you try to stay upright without tipping from side to side. (Have someone stand next to you when you first do this.) From standing, progress to walking short distances with your eyes closed, or in the dark, in a place where there's nothing to trip over, preferably in a hallway to begin with. When you walk "normally," concentrate on the messages your feet give you. If you've been staring at the floor or ground ahead of you, instead, glance down to ensure that there's nothing to trip over, then look ahead or even to the side as you walk the next few feet. Amazing what's out there in the world! If you practice VRT for 10-15 minutes every day, you will soon be more comfortable with your place in space. Once you have begun to practice proprioception, you should go out of your way to walk in low light situations, with "points" for rough, uneven ground. Again, always know what's ahead...be safe. I live in a spruce forest on a very hilly piece of ground where the mowed area is pocked with gopher hills. I walk outside in the dark (no ambient light here), either around in the acre we mow or on the gravel road between our place and the Pacific. If I skip VRT for even a day, I am less confident of moving around, and I have more trouble knowing where the things I reach for are...exactly.
If you have developed the "Meniere's walk where you walk with your feet a distance apart in an attempt to balance, make an effort to walk with your feet closer together (more normally). Don't "furniture walk" where you hang onto whatever you're walking past. Walk upright, looking straight ahead, with upright posture.
Another form of VRT is to dress standing up without touching a dresser or counter next to you. Women get extra points if they can don panty hose standing without touching a stable surface. You'll find that you're less stable when you first wake up, so don't try this until you've moved around for at least a few minutes.
You'll hear, as has been written by members of this group, about various things that must be avoided, salt being the most common. This gets back to what we refer to as "triggers," and they're different for all of us. Because my trigger is abnormally low hormone levels, salt has zero effect on how I feel. Trying to live on a strict low-salt diet can backfire when you are in a situation where you have to consume "normal" food. It's actually healthier to simply avoid excess salt; the normal US diet involves more than twice as much salt as anyone should consume. Again, we all have different triggers and what's a trigger for me may have zero effect on you.
The one thing that works for all of us is VRT, so learn to do it and do it every day.
End of lecture from someone who's done VRT every day for over 30 years.
First, are you certain that you have Meniere's? About 80% of people diagnosed with Meniere's actually have some other inner ear disease. Regardless, you should keep a diary or calendar showing the kind of day you've had (good, so-so, bad, awful) and even the smallest thing you did that was different. Most Menierians have triggers that cause bad days and/or crises. Triggers can be stress, lack of sleep, inhaled allergens, food allergies (esp. dairy), lack of sleep, or low hormone levels (esp. if you're 40 or older). You can have more than one trigger, too. Over a period of weeks or months, you may be able to learn what your personal trigger is and do whatever you need to do to deal with it. I've had Meniere's for well over 50 years, but it only became a serious problem when I quit taking birth control pills (hormones) in my mid 40s. I spent 4 years working to find hormone replacement (HRT) considered safe for someone my age that kept the disease in control. During that time, I lost most hearing and balance function in my right ear. Over time, I was able to reduce the amount of HRT (you need less as you age) until I was taking a fraction of what I'd initially used. I did vestibular rehab every day and was able to function well, although age-related deafness increased in my left ear over time. Then, on May 24 at 6:45 p.m., my left ear quit hearing useful sound and roaring tinnitus moved in. So, I've just joined this group in the hopes of finding text-to-speech apps that will enable me to continue to live an active life at 77.
Hi!!!! Thanks for your reply!! it is so encouraging to see that I am not the only one suffering from this. Yes I am certain it is Menieres, they diagnosed me 35 years ago.....I am 64 today, but when I was in my late 30s the kill the nerve in the left ear to stop the violent vertigo attacks that happened 2 to 3 times a week. I had young children then, and I needed help desperately. This was done at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC. So....with that unfortunately they left me completely deaf in my left ear. I had a cochlear implant done a year and half ago. It is not working, I only hear sounds not words. But now the right ear which I had 60% of hearing goes up and down, there is days where I a can't hear my husband next to me, it is awful. I just had the worst menieres attack last week, had to be taking to the hospital.
I also have another autoimmune that causes sudden hearing loss. I am in the hands of Dr. Vambutas at LIJMC in Long Island and Dr. Wanna at Mt. Sinai. I had done Anakinra injections, and I almost ready to start them again, it depends on the hearing test I am getting today. If they don't work , then they want me to start on infusions of rituximab...........to try to bring the hearing back in the right ear.........it's a mess, really.
Life it's not easy.......living dizzy it's not easy..
I wish you the best!!!!!!!
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@grannyjack I have had tinnitus for a long time recently I experienced balance problems and dizziness went to have a 2gr8 test ,Dr told me to do ear exercises I think these are helping my tinnitus ,not as loud Have you had these symptoms ? Talk with your ear Dr if so good luck
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1 Reaction@grannyjack Forgot to mention about the inflammation I take Golden Milk a combination of tumeric,ginger ,little black pepper everyday
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1 ReactionThank you so much for your information. Have had a Meniere's diagnoses by ENT but am eagerly awaiting my appt. at Mayo Rochester in June for further testing. The test they have avail here is simply a hearing test and then a test for vestibular problem given by a p.at.
Was hoping to flunk the vestibular testing but I didn't so was deposited in the Meniere column. I have cut salt daily intake to under 1000mg and seems to help, but still have had some momentary dizziness lately. Have not had a full blown Meniere's attack in over a month and appreciate any info at all about the problem. It does change your life and not in a good way.
Thank you. I will ask about the exercises- it sounds interesting and definitely worth a try!
First, are you certain that you have Meniere's? About 80% of people diagnosed with Meniere's actually have some other inner ear disease. Regardless, you should keep a diary or calendar showing the kind of day you've had (good, so-so, bad, awful) and even the smallest thing you did that was different. Most Menierians have triggers that cause bad days and/or crises. Triggers can be stress, lack of sleep, inhaled allergens, food allergies (esp. dairy), lack of sleep, or low hormone levels (esp. if you're 40 or older). You can have more than one trigger, too. Over a period of weeks or months, you may be able to learn what your personal trigger is and do whatever you need to do to deal with it. I've had Meniere's for well over 50 years, but it only became a serious problem when I quit taking birth control pills (hormones) in my mid 40s. I spent 4 years working to find hormone replacement (HRT) considered safe for someone my age that kept the disease in control. During that time, I lost most hearing and balance function in my right ear. Over time, I was able to reduce the amount of HRT (you need less as you age) until I was taking a fraction of what I'd initially used. I did vestibular rehab every day and was able to function well, although age-related deafness increased in my left ear over time. Then, on May 24 at 6:45 p.m., my left ear quit hearing useful sound and roaring tinnitus moved in. So, I've just joined this group in the hopes of finding text-to-speech apps that will enable me to continue to live an active life at 77.
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1 ReactionHello I suffer from menieres disease, any body to share experiencies?
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1 ReactionHi @susyq213, welcome to Connect. You'll notice that I moved your message to an existing discussion about Menieres Disease (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/menieres-disease-2/). I did this so that you can more easily connect with other members with a similar experience, like @morninglory @grannyjack @estrada53 @trishanna and others. Click VIEW & REPLY to see past posts and add a reply.
Susyq, how long have you been living with Menieres? What do you find the most challenging?
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2 ReactionsHi @joyces, I extend a welcome to you as well. Such great advice for @susyq213.
Joyce, after living with Menieres for over 50 years, you certainly have learned to modify and adjust to the triggers and changes. Now you're faced with a new challenge of roaring tinnitus. You may be interested in these discussions:
- Tinnitis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tinnitis/
- Controlling Tinnitus: What works for you? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tinnitus-control/
- Anxiety and disbelief over sudden hearing loss and tinnitus https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anxiety-and-disbelief-over-sudden-hearing-loss-and-tinnitus/
As yet, there isn't a discussion dedicated to text-to-speech apps. I'm sure many in the Hearing Loss group have recommendations and experiences to share. Would you mind starting a new discussion about this? Here’s how to start a new discussion:
1. Go to the Hearing Loss group homepage here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/hearing-loss/
2. Click the START A DISCUSSION button.
3. Enter a title. Something like “Looking for suggestions for Text-to-Speech apps”
4. Write your message.
5. Click CREATE DISCUSSION
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionRe Meniere's: Those of us who were moderators of the Meniere's Discussion Group that was replaced several years ago by a FB group have come to believe that there may not be a single Meniere's Disease, but several slightly different inner ear diseases impossible to diagnose, so they're all give the Meniere's tag. Again, about 80% of those diagnosed with Meniere's don't fit the diagnosis, have something else:
A few really lucky people have, believe it or not, sticky platelets. This is alleviated by taking mini doses of aspirin every day, and all symptoms disappear.
Lots of folks diagnosed with Meniere's actually have MAV, Migraine Associated Vertigo, which is treated with standard migraine meds. These people do NOT necessarily have headaches, but they may have an aura precede an attack. They can live very well once they find an anti-migraine med that works for them.
Some people have BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), which can be treated with the Epley maneuver. As people age, most will get BPPV to a minor degree. Many Menierians also have BPPV. If you have very brief intense vertigo after moving your head quickly, it may well be BPPV. Lots of people notice it while waking up and turning over. I joke that you could tape $100 bills to the ceiling and I might not ever see them, because I can't look up quickly. I've only known of one person who was severely compromised by BPPV. BPPV does NOT cause classic Meniere's crises (hours of vomiting).
Regardless of what kind of inner ear disease you have, you need to do vestibular rehab (VRT) to learn not to use your second balance system. Your primary balance system (inner ear) no longer works correctly, so you will automatically try to use your vision (second balance system) instead. This leads to dreadful fights within your body because every time you move your head or drive around a corner, your focal point changes, and you don't know where you are in space. This is also what causes the crises of hours of vomiting; your eyes and your remaining inner ear function (yes, some is still there) are fighting, and your body's the battlefield.
VRT teaches you to use your third balance system, proprioception. In simple terms, if you're standing on a viewpoint and the wind is blowing hard, proprioception tells you how much to lean into the wind in order to stay upright. You need to learn to pay attention to what your feet tell you. The first exercise is to stand, feet fairly close together, eyes closed. Concentrate on what you feet say as you try to stay upright without tipping from side to side. (Have someone stand next to you when you first do this.) From standing, progress to walking short distances with your eyes closed, or in the dark, in a place where there's nothing to trip over, preferably in a hallway to begin with. When you walk "normally," concentrate on the messages your feet give you. If you've been staring at the floor or ground ahead of you, instead, glance down to ensure that there's nothing to trip over, then look ahead or even to the side as you walk the next few feet. Amazing what's out there in the world! If you practice VRT for 10-15 minutes every day, you will soon be more comfortable with your place in space. Once you have begun to practice proprioception, you should go out of your way to walk in low light situations, with "points" for rough, uneven ground. Again, always know what's ahead...be safe. I live in a spruce forest on a very hilly piece of ground where the mowed area is pocked with gopher hills. I walk outside in the dark (no ambient light here), either around in the acre we mow or on the gravel road between our place and the Pacific. If I skip VRT for even a day, I am less confident of moving around, and I have more trouble knowing where the things I reach for are...exactly.
If you have developed the "Meniere's walk where you walk with your feet a distance apart in an attempt to balance, make an effort to walk with your feet closer together (more normally). Don't "furniture walk" where you hang onto whatever you're walking past. Walk upright, looking straight ahead, with upright posture.
Another form of VRT is to dress standing up without touching a dresser or counter next to you. Women get extra points if they can don panty hose standing without touching a stable surface. You'll find that you're less stable when you first wake up, so don't try this until you've moved around for at least a few minutes.
You'll hear, as has been written by members of this group, about various things that must be avoided, salt being the most common. This gets back to what we refer to as "triggers," and they're different for all of us. Because my trigger is abnormally low hormone levels, salt has zero effect on how I feel. Trying to live on a strict low-salt diet can backfire when you are in a situation where you have to consume "normal" food. It's actually healthier to simply avoid excess salt; the normal US diet involves more than twice as much salt as anyone should consume. Again, we all have different triggers and what's a trigger for me may have zero effect on you.
The one thing that works for all of us is VRT, so learn to do it and do it every day.
End of lecture from someone who's done VRT every day for over 30 years.
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3 ReactionsHi!!!! Thanks for your reply!! it is so encouraging to see that I am not the only one suffering from this. Yes I am certain it is Menieres, they diagnosed me 35 years ago.....I am 64 today, but when I was in my late 30s the kill the nerve in the left ear to stop the violent vertigo attacks that happened 2 to 3 times a week. I had young children then, and I needed help desperately. This was done at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC. So....with that unfortunately they left me completely deaf in my left ear. I had a cochlear implant done a year and half ago. It is not working, I only hear sounds not words. But now the right ear which I had 60% of hearing goes up and down, there is days where I a can't hear my husband next to me, it is awful. I just had the worst menieres attack last week, had to be taking to the hospital.
I also have another autoimmune that causes sudden hearing loss. I am in the hands of Dr. Vambutas at LIJMC in Long Island and Dr. Wanna at Mt. Sinai. I had done Anakinra injections, and I almost ready to start them again, it depends on the hearing test I am getting today. If they don't work , then they want me to start on infusions of rituximab...........to try to bring the hearing back in the right ear.........it's a mess, really.
Life it's not easy.......living dizzy it's not easy..
I wish you the best!!!!!!!
God Bless
Maria
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