Grommets: Do they really work?

Hi Carly,

I'm so sorry to hear you're going through such a rough patch at the moment. I recently went to see a specialist and they told me that there isn't any point in me having grommets, I'm not sure why but they said that if I get really bad they would consider doing the injection (may cause permanent hearing loss).

In my experience betahistine and bendroflumenthiazide don't really help me at all, the only thing that has worked is the travel sickness tablets.

However, when o have hearing loss and tinnitus no matter what way i tilt my head it doesnt clear like yours.

It's good that you've found the forum as we're all here to help each other. I hope it gets better for you soon!

Hi Carly I was diagnosed last August with MD following six months of spins and various other symptoms. I had all the tests you have mentioned. My consultant suggested having a grommit and to be honest I would have tried anything!!! I had mine inserted on the 28th August last year and immediately felt the benefits I have had no spins and all my other symptoms lessened within a few weeks. I am really please to say that it's worked perfectly for me 😃 I got the odd swishing feeling & fatigue but no full blown spins. It's a very simple procedure literally takes a minute to insert, I would day definitely worth giving it a try and hopefully will be as successful as mine, good luck. If you need any more info just let me no Abby x

Hi, no i didnt have the steroid just the grommet. Basically started in february last year having really bad vertigo attacks, i couldnt walk was crawling around, vomitting, fulness feeling in my right ear with hearing loss, was unable to focus on things.  Following attacks which were nearly everyday i would feel exhausted, weak, loss of balance, headaches, neck & shoulder pain, i also had a fogginess in my head unable to concentrate and unable to read without sending me funny (i now know they call this nysastagmus, which i do still have problems with when iam tired). I was off work for 7 months and feeling like you very depressed, if this was going to be my life is it worth it!!! I had ct scan, eng, choleric test etc and diagnosed with md. The grommet is tiny, i went in as a day case, had some numbing cream in my ear then went to theatre, it hurt a little bit very briefly. I think some ent departments can also do it in a clinic rather than hospital. After the grommet the spins completley stopped.  It took about a month for me to start feeling normal again, my balance improved, hearing came back and slowly was able to read again. The have informed me the grommet does work its way out eventually but can last several years, children tend to have grommets for glue ear, and they work there way out quite quickly because children are still growing. Ive stopped all the medication i was taking, started driving again and returned to work.  I was having trouble working full time so reduced my hours to 4 days a week which really helps. And ocassionally i get a swishing feeling like iam gonna have a spin this is mainly when iam tired, stressed or got a cold and also at that time of the month!!  I work in a busy hospital for social services assessing people for social care support and a lot of my time is spent on a computer. Its also quite stressful but iam coping with it at the moment. For whats its worth i would reccommend just trying the grommett as it doesnt damage your hearing like the steroid can, its such a simple thing thats been life changing for me, ive read it doesnt work for everyone, but think its worth trying. My consultant has told me if the grommett comes out to ring ent and they will get me back in asap for a new one. Have a look on youtube you can watch a video on gromett insetion. Hope this info helps both of you let me no how you get on, good luck. Abby

Hi Carly. After 35 spins last year I had a grommet insertion july 14 in the affected left ear + dextramethasone steroid at same time (general anaesthetic but quick). Plus on a regime of 32mg betahistine x3a day + 1 x bendroflumethiazide tablet (diuretic). I can honestly say to anyone that is suffering that this has been brilliant for me. It hasn't affected the hearing, and hasnt increased the tinnitus. I had a cluster of less severe spins (7) a month afterwards and that could be because I was asked to reduce the betahistine after the op, I reverted back to the higher dose and requested a further steroid injection which I had done in December at the hospital in theatre and awake, it was brief, made me jump once and feels like slooshing in your ear but no pain at all. Surgeon could clearly see the grommet in place and squirts it straight in I think. No spins so far since September. Bad fluey cold in december and I had brief rushes of vertigo turning over in bed and getting up/laying down. In my opinion best thing my ENT offered me and I say go for it if they've recommended it for you, it made me so much better. I'm holding a 25hr/wk job down, and keep away from noisy public places I also have my food shopping delivered because being aline in a supermarket when they're so noisy is an anxiety fuelled occasion! Keep us posted. Good self help book Vertigo Vertigo by Meniere Man and youtube videos by Ed Cheung also grommet insertion video so you can see how tiny they are and how quick the procedure is. Good luck xx

My husband suffered from meneires for 30 years. he was offered an operation and grommets,never took the offer up.

He  used to take loads of tablets, some you mentioned.He used to suffer terrible bouts of sickness/ giddyness, even had to have injections to stop him vomiting Then a Dr told him to cut all caffeine and Salt from his diet. IT WORKED. Its worth a try, but may not work for everyone.. GOD LUCK