Feeling completely inadequate..

Well done to replying to all.  this is a very positive step.  The vestibular rehab ~ I like to call this simply balance retraining/balance training~ has helped me to recover faster when I was having symptoms in the early stages.  It helped me have the confidence that I could move my head, bend down.  It has been such a confidence booster.  I still go for a swim, go on holiday, do yoga, run, taken up badminton recently.   But hey you have to jump your hurdle.  Menieres is certainly a challenge and moreover I always have an ear full of wax which doesnt help but thanks to olive oil I manage 

I feel the same I really do.

I could have written that also.

Sad, I was wondering if I was the only one that slurred at times when I speak, and the mental confusion is awful and my vision gets so bad at times is that part of it ??

The tinnitus is awful I know mine started in July also I'm learning to adjust to the new life changes.

Can't let it get us down!!!

Still have to participate in life, and remember true friends will love you no matter what.

Good luck sweetie you're never alone ?

One thing I found that helped with the mental fog was to start taking essential fatty acids with DHA. I still have days but find less issues with the slurring and trouble finding words. Now if I could only train the husband to stop being so frenetic and noisy. ; )

First of all, I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. It can be a horrible illness that can change all aspects of your life until it is managed. 

Betahistine- I tried a low dose (48mg/day) for 4 months and then a high dose (192mg/day) for 3 months. I didn't notice a change so I'm working on cutting back with my doctor's approval.  

Steroid injections were what really helped. I recieved 4 during a 3 week period and that seemed to stop the episodes of vertigo. (I haven't had any since, knock on wood). Soon after that I had another sudden drop in hearing and was prescribed 10 days of prednisone (50mg/day) to see if if would help reverse the loss. It helped somewhat but I still ended up getting a hearing aid. I can still function without it, but it helps me to hear better and keeps the tinnitus at bay. 

Once the vertigo stopped I started vestibular rehab. I was told that when your vestibular system has been damaged, you tend to depend on your vision to make up for it. V rehab is to get your body (proprioception system - muscles/joints/feet etc) to learn to take over so that you rely less on visual input. It has been helping. 

I highly suggest you focus on finding something that will stop the episodes of vertigo. They're so draining on the system. Like you, I was exhausted all the time, slurring words, living with mental fog etc. I was ready to have surgery and that's still on the table for the future if/when the vertigo comes back. It's really important to have a good ENT.

I find this is the type of illness that you can't just lay on the couch waiting for it to go away, you have to go out there and start throwing things at it to see what works. I started with low sodium, betahistine, steroid injections... next step would have been an endolymphatic shunt or sack decompression.  

I really wish you the best. 

Kenny, Your story is all our story, this disease does take prisoners. It tries to rob you takeaway things you were doing, fear of falling the endless days of ear fullness, and ears ringing. Do not look for a lot of understanding because no one has a clue to what u are going through. I have had cancer, asthma , burned home, loss of great job, sickness of child. This disease a lot of people do not understand is hard doing and being who u were. As people said on board you must take it head on get beta-histamine, drink water, no salt, do blind walking as recommened BY Shea Clinic. Walk house , outside, stairs with eyes closed. Do head movements side to side eyes open eyes closed, do movents head up and down eyes open eyes closed. Read this forum because u see what is working for everyone. I let it ride me to a bout depression only to make things worse. And please if you need anti-depressant or anxiety med's get them again if needed. You can beat it all just be active and stay informed. Menniers is tough and it's okay to do whatever u need that's what we all can do encourage each other. Blessings

hi know exactly how you feel. becareful you fall into deep depression.I also was diagnosed with menieres since june 4th.you totally described me.i was taking betahistine injections,the pills also did nothing,notjing worked.i am in vestibular therapy since september it helps with balance.I PRAY an keep moving around my therapist says it helps a lot an it does.when i began to feel depress i snap out of it quick with something positive.I have applied for disability cause i have no choice i am a bus drive/dispatcher which requires you to have a commercial drivers license so this is totally unsafe.I just turned 51 an my life did a turn just in a days time.I know its difficult and there are many of us suffering an the doctors doesnt have many answers so,keep your head up an just try to stay focus an stay in forums where we understand.BLESSINGS

I really sympathise with you. I was having episodes of vertigo up until May when I went to a physiotherapist, who has stopped the vertigo. Absolutely no episodes since then. We are all different, so who knows if it applies to anyone else, but just thought I should say. The doctors say my vertigo cannot have been caused by the menieres if it was fixed by a physiotherapist.

Hi,

I have had to give up work as a result of my menieres.  Perhaps not what you want to hear but i went from 4/5 attacks a year to 57 since August.  Altough the Bethahistine and stemitil and a diuretic are getting the attacks back under control, I constantly feel hungover or sick.  I cant walk in a straight line and I keep driving to a minnimum.  Shopping in supermarkets makes me feel ill now so am looking at online shopping.  the menieres does go through phases and no two people are the same as you may have found.  What works for one wont work for another.  My advice is to cut your stress right down.  I was signed off work which made me feel guilty and stressed then signed off again so felt more guilty and stressed and so it went on till I came to the descion to stop working till I could get my health back to a managable point.  I have joind the menieres society and that is really helpful too as well as this sight.  Keep going with the meds as others have said they can take a while to work.  I am hoping to have either grommits or steriod injections as a next step, but not sure I will get them.  It is a very lonely and depressing disease if we let it become so I have good days and rubbish days.  It is important to listen to your body sometimes I take kids to school and come home and sleep for 3 hours I must need it otherwise I wouldn't sleep!  Not sure how much help I have offered but didn't want to not reply!