1. Community
  2. Ears, nose, throat and mouth
  3. Meniere's Disease

Bad attack. Is this MD or vertigo or what?

Posted , 4 users are following.

chris48721
chris48721

Hey folks

Any help appreciated. So basically I have been symptom free for the past week or so and then today I went out at lunch time while my mate got a smoke and bang. Really weird sensation overcame me. Like being on a rollercoaster which was proceeded I'm pretty sure by a high pitched sound. So panic, nausea, really really unsteady on my feet. Could barely walk in a straight line. I go back up to my desk and the sensation of feeling really not right continues. I say to my manager I'm going home and I ring a taxi. Taxi arrives and again it's a struggle to walk to the taxi because of sea legs. I get in the taxi and helpfully I have 3 more attacks in the 20 minute journey. I was very nearly telling the driver to take me to casualty. I get home and take a big diazepam and cyclizine and it mainly stopped. Just kinda lingering and I'm very tired.

Fed up with it now and considering paying for a private ENT consultation and treatment. Has anybody in the U.K. went private? Any idea of a ball park figure? I've emailed a few places to see what they say

Thanks

Chris

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • angela84522
    angela84522 chris48721

    Posted

    You had a vertigo attack. Was it your first one? My first one scared me. I had no idea what was happening. I am in the USA . They have a few drugs there that we don't have hete. But first limit Salt, caffine, and red wine. Make the ENT appointment. Good luck

  • NeddyO
    NeddyO chris48721

    Posted

    Private consultation is likely to cost £150 to £200 and if you have an MRI scan privately (almost certainly necessary to exclude causes other than Meniere's) expect to pay £600 - 800 for that.

    Have you been previously diagnosed with MD? Is your GMP helping? Suggest you ask to be put on Betahistine, a very safe drug, at a dose of 32mg tds (you may need a much higher dose if you do not get full control back) plus something like Buccastem to deal with fresh attacks. Betahist takes at least 4 weeks to become fully effective. It is designed to reduce the fluid pressure in the inner ear as well as dampening down tinnitus and reversing some hearing damage.

    Good luck

    • chris48721
      chris48721 NeddyO

      Posted

      Hi NeddyO

      Thanks for the reply. No haven't been diagnosed. A locum GP said it sounded like MD and referred me for ENT and put me on beta histine about 6 weeks ago at 16mg for a trial. Up and down and sometimes worse on the beta histine. I saw my proper GP last week and she said that 16mg was the strongest strength (knew it was bullsh*t) and she said that cinnarzine is really the same drug.

      I've already had a clear brain MRI as they think I have epilepsy even though it doesn't fit. I contacted a private hospital who have replied that it's £150-£230 for the private consultation but that's excluding any tests e.g. Blood work and scans. If i have already had an MRI what other tests would need done and any idea how much roughly?

      Thanks

      Chris

    • NeddyO
      NeddyO chris48721

      Posted

      If I have understood correctly your gp thinks that cinnarzine, an ANTIhistamine used to treat travel sickness, is the same as betahistine a histamine analogue!! ??

      The consultant as part of the examination is likely to look very closely at your eye activity and put you through some physical manoeuvres to exclude other inner ear disorders such as BPPV. I do not think you will need blood tests.

    • chris48721
      chris48721 NeddyO

      Posted

      Yup lol she's not the greatest GP in the world.

      That's great I'll give the hospital a ring now and see what they say as I'm not even bothered now what it cost. Went to the shop there now and once again rollercoaster effect where i had to drop my shopping basket and grab onto the shelves lol

    • chris48721
      chris48721 NeddyO

      Posted

      I rang up and I'm booked in for the 21st for a specialist ENT consultant. £150 for the consultation and if any tests are required then it will be extra. What tests did you go through to get diagnosed?

  • jacki999
    jacki999 chris48721

    Posted

    Sounds familiar - sadly in U.K. You go from one NHS appt to another 3 or 6months apart. Different drugs to try to control the attacks - some drugs to prevent the attacks - the research doesn't hold up to much. It's all a bit tria and error - one persons trigger will b different to another's. Likewise with treatment and outcome. Some burn out, some don't.

    I've had for past 30yrs! First 25yrs had probably one attack a year!

    This yr has been life changing - unable to function. From drinking eating talking coordination and speech affected. Currently on no meds had a grommet fitted and have been symptom free for past wk. Sorry I can't offer any resolution - betahistamine 42mgs 3 times a day controlled everything for 6mths - I think!

    Im very grateful to the NHS - x Private doctors don't have any better suggestions from what I've researched

    Good luck x let's hope it settles for u - awful illness x

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.