Menierre's & Nursing school
Posted , 9 users are following.
I'm in my 1st semester of nursing school. I've been battling Menierre's for 10+ years now. Up until recently, the vertigo and spacey twilight feeling only came when I was sick. Twice a year I would get sick, it would hit & linger for about a mo th. I discovered vitamin C & D helped me not get sick. So with my newfound trick gave me the confidence to finish my dream of becoming an RN. Apparently this disease is triggered by stress. Stress I wasn't aware I was having! Nursing school is hard, but I've been on cloud nine to finally follow my dream. Menierre's hit me over 6 weeks weeks ago out of nowhere! My classmates and instructors have helped me this far. I'm very worried I will not make it. I have a final Wednesday and this makes it impossible to focus or study. I'm so spacey! some days I'm spinning uncontrollably. My Dr. increased my HCTZ, Meclizine, and Potassium. I started taking vitamins that help calm stress and CBD oil. I'm watching my sodium, even though I'm not convinced that is a trigger. salt has never bothered me in the past. Does anyone else have stress that triggers theirs? If mine is from stress, having this right now is only making me more stressed! In fact my hair is falling out and I don't have any to spare. My Dr. told me to give it 6 weeks then he was sending me out of town to a specialist. My Dr. now is an ENT and he doesn't specialize in Menierre's, but he thinks this new dose will work. I've been on this new dose almost 2 weeks. I'm just so confused as to why it's here and won't go away. Help!
Desperate in NC!
0 likes, 12 replies
sarah87228 tonia95847
Posted
hi there.
my menieres hit during my training and especially in my final sign off placement. i got through thank goodness and qualified. i then when on to my first RN job on an acute ward and managed that for 6 months until it hit me severly again and i ended up bed bound for 2 months. unfortunately stress is the nature of our job and when i have a particularly stressful day at work my symptoms and the dizziness reak havoc but its something i can largely battle through. being the only RN on duty does put more strain on me but ive found a place i feel safe if something were to happen.
I wish you the best of luck in reaching your dream
Sarah
tonia95847 sarah87228
Posted
Thank you! This gives me hope!
Guest tonia95847
Posted
HI. I have menieres disease also. In my experience, stress and high sodium are major factors in worsening episodes/symptoms of it. It is important to see an ENT specialist or other practitioner who specializes in this disease. You seem to be taking many of the suggested remedies that should help quite a bit. As the disease worsens, more oversight may be required. I recently had the sac decompression surgery of my right ear because nothing was controlling the violent attacks. I am still on a diuretic and valium, as needed. I am happy to have not have vertigo since June. I have substantial loss of hearing in the ear as a result though. I continue to look into other remedies to prevent reocurrance or bilateral issues. There is no cure as you know . My best to you with your studies.
tanney tonia95847
Posted
Tonia, you should be on Betahistine and Ativan. Since your ENT does not specialize in Meniere's Disease (MD) he probably does not know that Betahistine is effective in controlling vertigo in the majority of MD cases. Ativan is also usually more effective in vestibular control and stress reduction than meclizine for MD patients and is the med normally prescribed by neurotologists (ENT who specialize in inner ear diseases). You also must try to be more successful in controlling sodium (salt) intake. The reason your doctor prescribed the additional diuretic you are now taking is so your body can eliminate sodium more efficiently. By adding salt to your diet you are negating the benefit of the diuretic.
Stress is absolutely a trigger for MD episodes. You may need to see a psychiatrist who could help you better cope (via anti anxiety meds, etc.) with stress and anxiety brought on my your school and illness.
Regarding Betahistine.....if you are in the USA the prescription will need to be filled by a compounding pharmacy. Maintenance dose is normally 16mg three times/day but many folks need a higher dose. It's recommended to start on 4mg three times/day and increase dose every 3-4 weeks. Betahistine normally takes 6-8 weeks to be effective so be patient with it. If you want more info on this let me know and I'll be glad to message you privately. GOOD LUCK!
tonia95847 tanney
Posted
Thank you, this is helpful information. I'm going to request seeing the specialist out of town with my next ENT visit. I will definitely ask about these. I've been very strict with my sodium intake. I'm not seeing a difference, but I'm determined to get this under control. I appreciate the information.
sarah87228 tanney
Posted
regarding diuretics, my ENT in the UK refuses to prescribe diuretics as they believe it is not beneficial.
i have looked for evidence that says otherwise so any you may have would be greatly appreciated so i can take this with me in february.
Sarah
Guest tonia95847
Posted
Hi again. If you obtain a prescription for betahistine (serc). It can also be filled through Canada pharmacy . They are efficient and cost is reasonable. I took them for a while but did not work for me. As stated by another person, they are effective for the majority. I live in the US.
tanney sarah87228
Posted
Hi Sara. Is your ENT a neurotologist? Most ENT are not and unfortunately do not have great familiarity with meniere's disease. In the USA neurotologists (ENT that specialize in inner ear diseases) almost always prescribe diuretics as first line of treatment for MD. If diuretics and salt reduction prove ineffective in controlling vertigo, the next line of benign treatment is usually betahistine. For those that find Betahistine treatment unsuccessful (even at high doses) and continue to have frequent vertigo episodes, usually the next level of treatment is surgical which could include gentamicin injections which are almost always successful when done by an experienced neurotologist.
I have had MD for over 40 years and for the past two years I've had bilateral MD. I had gentamicin injections in one ear 38 years ago and never had another vertigo episode from that ear. I now take diuretics and betahistine to control vertigo from my other ear and have not had a vertigo episode at all in two years. I use Ativan and BusPar to control the anxiety/stress that all MD sufferers have....
Guest tanney
Posted
Hi. Your course of treatment practically mirrors mine before my sac decompression surgery. I am now trying a course of antiviral treatment to prevent further deterioration of my hearing in addition to continuing the diuretic and valium, as needed. Unfortunately, betahistine did not work for me. I am under a specialist ENT and a neurologist. . I have menieres disease in my right ear. I live in the US.
deborah47758 Guest
Posted
hello I see you mentioned getting serc from Canada. I'm getting it from a compound pharmacy over here in long island NY. my neurontologist mentioned to try and see if I can get it from a Canada pharmacy. may I ask what pharmacy in Canada did you get it from and how did you contact them as well as do they except a prescription from a NY doctor?
chipp tonia95847
Posted
Hi toynia I have meniere 's disease an I have been battling this since 2008 I have had 3 ear perfusions I take fluid pill I take valium 2 times a day I have sum hearing loss in my right ear the tinnitus dont ever go away I dont use salt I had a ear perfusion in April 2018 I haven't worked since june 2018 my family doctor just prescribed me a anxiety pill an it seems to help just letting you know your not alone I hope you get it under control good luck
judy2018 tonia95847
Posted
I had Meniere's disease for 5 years now and yes STRESS is what effects my systoms the most. Like you i dont feel stress but my son got married in MAY and that started my vertigo and then my mom and dog died in JUNE so the dizziness continued. A very low salt diet helped me the most and not traveling. I just had the operation where they go into the sac area behind your ear and drill holes in the bone to give more room for the extra fluid to go. Its been a month now and so far so good. Good luck with school and try not to stress. This disease stresses you out enough s