Relapse After 16 Weeks
Posted , 8 users are following.
Thanks to steroid injections, I've been free of vertigo for 16 weeks. But last night, I had a relapse. I was in the basement doing laundry when suddenly, it was like I was in a centrifuge - the room spinning at 200mph. I had no warning signs, so I wasn't able to get to my rescue meds. I reached out for something to hold onto, and the next second I was on the floor, wretching. It was a doozy.
Looking back, I should have paid more attention to my body. For a few weeks, I've been experiencing increased ear fulness, increased tinnitus, my hearing has been increasingly difficult, and I've felt a little "spacey". . When it first started, I assumed that perhaps I'd been getting lax with my sodium intake, so I really paid more attention. But apparently, that wasn't it. I think the effectiveness of the steroids simply ran its course. Hopefully I can get an appointment on Monday, for another injection.
I'm wondering if other people who have had success with steroid or gentamycin injections have experienced a relapse, and what that was like. Did you experience a gradual increase in ear symptoms before it hit? Did it feel like something was trying to "break through"? Did you wait for the vertigo to return before getting further injections, or did you get them as soon as you felt increased symptoms?
I have only experienced one episode that was worse than the one I experienced last night. Most of the time, I've had some warning sign, but this was completely without warning, and the spinning was relentless.
Thanks so much for any input!
Take good care...
J-
4 likes, 121 replies
JMJ
Posted
For those of you who are interested in going the steroid route, here's a quick update on my response to the my steroid injection after a relapse:
Nine days after my injection, I had a much better day: Yesterday was the first day I didn't wake up with dizziness and nausea! No vertigo! My ear also felt less full, and the tinnitus was a little more quiet. About 9 hours into the day, my ear symptoms began to increase, but still no dizziness or vertigo. So, I'm hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of this crisis. We'll see.
I can't help but admit that I wish it were a faster process, but it's the best answer I've found so far.
Wishing you all a vertigo-free/dizziness-free day!
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
HI J. Thanks. I'm going to reply to you in this thread instead of the one I started.
I gave in a bit to feeling low - I do have health and other problems of my own - and didn't feel like posting for a while. It's really good to hear from you.
Yes, my friend had her appointment in December; I could start a new thread describing the tests and what happened if people think it might be interesting or at all helpful? But she is still waiting to hear from the hospital so there is nothing to tell you at the moment. She gets regular unpredictable attacks but is fortunate in usually having serveral weeks in between in which she feels normal. Sometimes the attacks come in clusters over a week or so , and sometimes there is just the one with an MD "hangover" the next day.
How are you doing? Are you getting your injections monthly? I hope they are having an effect and that you are feeling a bit better again. I felt for you so much when it hit you again after that good long period of being ( nearly) yourself again. I know you still had other symptoms, but being free of vertigo must have been wonderful for you.
I hope your Christmas and New Year were happy. My friend had a good Christmas but got an attack on New Year's Eve. It wasn't too bad this time and she was staying with me so she just went to bed early and slept it off. Woozy the next day but ok by the day after that.
Let me know how you are?
M
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Dear Misti,
It's so good to hear from you! I'm very sorry to hear that you've been having a rough time. No matter what the problem, it stinks to have health problems...that's for sure. I can understand your wanting to take some down time. I hope you begin to feel better, soon.
I'm sad to hear that your friend continues to suffer. I always read about MD "spontaneous remissions," but I've yet to actually know anyone who had one! (Hope springs eternal!) I'm glad she has a few weeks in between attacks, but still...the unpredictability will drive you insane. I look forward to hearing how it went and what the hospital ultimately recommends for her. Yes! When you feel up to it, I think the forum would be very interested in a thread describing your friend's tests and what happened! There's always something new to learn.
I've been feeling down as well. I'm still receiving the injections, but I just haven't experienced the "bounce back" that I had expected — That sense of well-being that I experienced before, just hasn't found its way back to me, yet. I've been hypersensitive to weather changes, and to exercise or any type of exertion. Both things seem to bring about symptoms. Sigh. I'm just so tired of it all. I know the injections don't help with hearing and tinnitus, but both have gotten so much worse lately. I seem to have to keep coming to terms with the hearing loss, as it gets worse and worse. And, like you, I have other health issues, and it just gets to be a lot. Still, the MD symptoms are better than they were in November, so I'm grateful for that.
Again, I hope you'll be feeling much better soon. I'm so glad that you wrote! Please keep in touch!
My best regards to your friend. Take good care....
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
J
I can well understand that you are so tired of it. How can you adjust to the hearing loss if it never stays the same? I think you cope with more grace and fortitude than I would if it were me; you are always giving support to people on this forum and have kept a sense of humour as well.
Didn't it take some months of treatment for you to get to the stage of no vertigo the first time round? Maybe it will still come.
Have you considered trying French maritime pine bark extract for the tinnitus? I never know about these things - some people find it helpful, others not. It's expensive but maybe worth a try for 3 months?
Let's hope this new year of 2017 is the one where the researchers come up with some real hope for you and all the other MD sufferers in the world
M
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Hi M,
Thank you so much for your compassionate note. I so appreciate it. I suppose you're right that you can't come to terms with something that's continually changing! Perhaps then, I need to come to terms with the inevitable downward spiral of my hearing? Why do I keep feeling a sense of shock, when it gets worse? I KNOW it's going to get worse and yet, I'm continually shocked when it does! Somewhere deep inside, I must be harboring a belief that at some point I'll be spared: Because when I'm not? I get so rattled, and I feel so betrayed by my body! And that makes no sense! In the end, I'm just making myself more miserable. Sigh. I've got some work to do on this.
Perhaps one of these days when I get a little bit of energy back, I'll start a thread about sensorineural hearing loss. I would be interested in hearing about other peoples' experiences.
Thank you so much for reminding me that it did in fact take me quite a few months to be rid of my symptoms, the first time around. Back in November, my doctor led me to believe that I would probably just need an injection or two to get myself back on track, so I guess I've been operating out of that expectation. But that's just not how it's been working out....I must really be a "slow responder"! I just don't want to lose faith. It worked once — It can work twice. Right now, I just have to believe that.
I'm hesitant to try the pine bark extract. I've given 6 to 8 month trials to so many substances that promise increased inner ear circulation, I can't even count them. And not a single positive outcome... (but I did experience negative outcomes with a few! ) I've spent way too much money chasing down natural cures.
Again, I deeply appreciate your understanding note. I hate sounding like such a blob....I guess I'm just tired. But thank you for completely getting why! :-). And yes! Please God, let this be the year that some real progress is made on the cure for MD!
Take good care, and I hope you feel better soon, too!
I hope you'll keep in touch...
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
How you doing? I think you must have had a second injection by now, or even a third one. Is there any improvement? M
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Hi Misti,
Yes...I had my third injection on January 16th. And I have to say that just in the last few days, that I've felt the "shift" that I've been waiting for. i remember feeling it so clearly last time: Suddenly I'm not plagued with vague nausea and low level dizziness on and off all day, and it seems my ear has become more "resilient", when it comes to head movements. It's only been a couple of days, but I'm choosing to be optimistic!
Along with my hearing loss, I've been dealing with very low vision problems, and so my world has been getting pretty small — I've been feeling down. (It's been like looking at the world through the bottom of a shot glass!) Just last Friday though, I went to a new doctor and found out that I have rapidly developing cataracts in both eyes "that should have been taken out months ago!" The doctor was so alarmed that he called the surgeon himself, so that I could get into the system faster. I'll have my consultation on Feb 2nd, and hopefully both surgeries will be completed by early March. He says that I'll be able to see distance like a 15 year old! (Though I'll need reading glasses for close up work). It's the first bit of good news that I've had in a very long time, and I'm anxious to get it done. I can't tell you how many times I've thought of your friend, dealing with both hearing loss and low vision, along with the vertigo. It's becomes very difficult to navigate the world. She's very fortunate to have you to help her. How I hope and pray that she gets some good news, soon!
So, I guess I can honestly say that I'm finally making progress again! I hope that this is indeed the tipping point, when it comes to the effectiveness of the injections. Still, my gut tells me to request one more in 4 to 6 weeks, "just to be sure". Then I'll see if I can put together a run, like last time!
I'm grateful to be able to writie something more hopeful today. I continue to work on acceptance, gratitude, and feeling some compassion for myself. That last one is so difficult, because I often feel like a failure when my body isn't "doing its job", and I panic, because I'm so out of control. But when I can catch myself thinking/feeling that way, and replace it with compassion....life always seems to get a little more manageable, and I become more calm and able to see my options more clearly.
How are you feeling? I know you were going through a rough patch for a while. I hope this finds you feeling lots better. It's great to hear from you... Please stay in touch!
Take good care,
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Hi J,
Well, looking at the world through the bottom of a shot glass isn’t good. ( Unless you just drank what was in it.......). You poor thing – no wonder you are feeling so low, but it’s great that cataracts, at least, are a problem that they can help you with.
A neighbour recently had cataracts removed and has had a new lease of life, despite being in her 90s. I wonder if worsening sight has contributed to your vestibular problems as it’s one more positional “input” that has been reduced.
I’m really glad that you feel the fog is lifting a bit with the build up of the steroid treatments, and hope that your doctor is willing to work out a regime that will keep the vertigo at bay.
Speaking of fog, remember we were talking once about pollution and allergies maybe making MD worse and that we both live in areas with poor air quality? Recently, we have had “black” alerts of toxic air in London. Now it’s even getting harder to chew it before you can breath it!
My friend had her tests in December and she is now waiting for her appointment to see the specialist to get the diagnosis, and hopefully some more help. I started a thread, as we discussed, about what happened during the diagnostic tests in case it’s of some interest or help to anyone.
When do you get your next injection?
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Dear Misti,
You're absolutely right! Looking through the bottom of shot glass is no fun without the benefit of what was in it! LOL!
How encouraging to hear of your neighbor's success story! And in her 90's! I'm SO looking forward to this cataract surgery, I can barely wait! The cataracts are developing so rapidly that there's actually a noticable decrease in my vision, each day. It's gotten very bad. I'm so grateful for my Kindle App. I can increase the font to 3/4" an make it white against a black background, and actually see well enough to read a book without a thick magnifying glass! It's my one escape from all of this.
I've been wondering the same thing: My brain isn't getting accurate visual input, and it's not getting accurate auditory input. How could that possibly [u]not[/u] have some sort of impact on my vestibular system? It will be interesting to monitor over time.
I just looked up "black toxic air alert in London" and I can hardly believe it. The pics show a thick, dark gray blanket over the city. It's no wonder you can't even chew the stuff anymore!! Wow. And they're even telling children to stay in!. That can't be good for anyone. The poor people with asthma, COPD, sinus issues! (It wouldn't surprise me at all if the incidence of MD was higher in and aound our polluted cities.)
Nearly 40 years ago, I spent 3 days in London in the middle of April (it was the first time I'd ever left New England!) It was sunny and clear...no rain and no fog. (Every cliche about London weather? Busted! ) It wasn't like being in the mountains of Colorado or anything, but the air was definitely pretty nice for a busy city. That's not that many years ago, for such a radical change to have taken place. So, is must be increased population and traffic? Are there big plans in place to decrease emissions and improve air quality? Here in the suburbs of Chicago, I can often taste the exhaust fumes, but it hasn't gotten to the point where the air is chewable....yet. Sigh. We're suffocating our poor earth....the mother who feeds us!
My next injection is scheduled for Monday, Feb 16. I hope it doesn't conflict with the date of my cataract surgery (also only done on Mondays!) I'll know more after my pre-op visit on Feb 2.
Thanks so much for writing. It's great to hear from you! I have to go make dinner right now, but I'm looking forward to reading about your friends consultation back in December. She must be so anxious to hear the results!
Take good care of yourself and please stay in touch!
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Dear J
You seem to have been very unlucky with all this; your type of MD does appear to be very severe - didn't your specialist actually say that? And now you have these cataracts on top of everything else. I do feel for you, but I'm glad you can still use your e-reader to access books.
Do let us all know what happens at your pre-op appointment for the cataracts. Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for the operation.
Hopefully the resulting improvment in sight will help, as you say, with the positional input to your brain, although I suppose there is no way to know how much that helps when you are also back on your regular injections.
Is the injection on Feb 16 th going to be part of an ongoing schedule or is that not the way they do it?
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Thanks so much Misti. I was just thinking this morning, about my next injection appointment. I've got to have a good "sit down" with my doctor, and discuss the future. I'm not really comfortable leaving it dangling, like I did last time. Perhaps 3 months would have been my max amount of time away from injections, whether I'd had the flu or not? How can I know? All I know is, that I don't want to continue to have to crash so hard, before getting help. It takes me too long to get back to normal. He's continually telling me that the injections can not hurt me in any way, so why not try, for example, an every 8 week schedule for a couple of months? Then bump it up to ten weeks? And maybe h
JMJ
Posted
(I don't know what just happened there!...So...I continue...) And maybe, if I can manage 12 weeks, that would be a good interval to stick with. I don't love going for ear injections, but I really, really love being clear headed and without vertigo!! I just don't want to push my limits, so that it's always a roller coaster ride. If an injection every 3 months keeps me even and symptom free, and I can avoid a more destructive approach, I'll be satisfied.
Insurance is always has the last word, though. So we'll see.
Thanks so much for writing!!! (Tomorrow is pre-op consult for cataracts! Fingers crossed!! I can't WAIT to see again!)
Take good care!
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Regarding the pollution in London, it got worse with the ever growing population here and increase in car ownership, but also so many cars, taxis and buses ran on diesel instead of petrol and it was found to be a lot more polluting.
During this last really bad spell we had a toxic cloud arrive from the industrial heartlands of Germany (maybe it was a little comment on the Brexit vote...) which combined with our own pollution and hug around because we had a spell of weather that was cold and misty with very little wind to blow it away.
I don't know if it contributes / triggers MD. I did think of starting a thread asking people here if they lived in rural or urban/ suburban areas or if they felt worse or better if they holidayed in a different kind of environment. Be interesting to hear from everyone and see what their opinions are. My own sinus problem seem to get better if I am somewhere with cleaner air.
When I was a child - many many moons ago - we used to get thick fog / smog because of coal burning fires. A lot of people became ill because of the fogs but, to be honest, as a child I loved them. It was so atmospheric, like an old Sherlock Holmes movie, to only be able to see about four feet in front of you and just hear footsteps click clacking in the swirling gloom.
I am way off subject here so I will wind up but will just say first that I'm so glad your own personal fog is starting to lift and I do hope you continue to improve. You deserve some good luck, as so all the people who suffer from MD.
Best wishes . M
mistibluey
Posted
I just realised there are a lot of mistakes in the last post. It's 2 am here and I think my brain is on strike. I meant that the pollution hung around, it didn't hug around! lol.
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
LOL!!! I was just reading that! But I knew what you meant!! LOL!!! What are you doing up at 2am?!
Misti...You are very funny! I love the image of Germany sending you the cloud as their comment on Brexit! LOL!
I can understand exactly what you mean about how the thick fog must have seemed through the eyes of a child: The mood of it....the intrigue...the footsteps you can't see but can hear....VERY Sherlock!! :-)
But as you suggested, having it in your own head — having your own personal fog isn't so much fun. And I am so deeply grateful that it has lifted.
I wish for all our personal fogs to be lifted, in the least traumatic way.
Take good care,
J
P.S. Get some sleep!!! 💤💤💤
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
J – Hi, how are you doing? Sorry, I meant to reply a lot sooner but time seems to have got away from me! Apologies.
I do hope that you got your steroid treatment on the 16th and that you are getting back to where you were before the relapse. I think a lot of people here are interested in the steroid treatments and would like to know how it’s going, as well as wishing you well.
Has a programme been worked out? I’m not sure if the injections are going to be a regular thing for you. I think you said you thought that every 3 months would, once you have stabilised again , possibly keep things under control. Is that something your doctor has agreed to?
Any news on the cataracts?
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Dear Misti,
Thanks so much for writing! Yes, I did have my injection on the 16th and I'm feeling sooooo much better!! I had 2 mild episodes of dizziness and nausea early last month, but I haven't had even a hint of vertigo and in the last couple of weeks, my head has been very clear. I'm so grateful for these treatments!
I did have a lengthy discussion with my doctor and explained that I want to do everything I can to avoid another derailment. So, after my March 13th injection, if I've been 100% symptom-free, we'll increase the interval between injections by one week. If all is well after 5 weeks, I'll have another injection and then try to go 6 weeks. Then I'll just keep increasing the interval by 2 more weeks until I've reached the 12 week mark, when I'll recieve a "booster" injection. He's very comfortable with my having an injection every 3 months in order to avoid a recurrence, and so am I!!
I'm glad we had the discussion — I feel much more relaxed about everything, now. He was very clear that I'm not "failing treatment" if I need maintenance injections every 3 months — I simply have a severe case that needs to be treated more often.
And the latest news on my cataracts: I just had my first surgery on Monday! I can't believe the colors! Misti, I simply can't [u]believe[/u] the colors! I've been living in a very dim, gray world for a very long time!! And if I shut my left eye, I have great distance vision! It's really quite a miracle. I can't wait to get the other eye done on March 6! I'm so grateful for this surgery!!
How are you doing? How is your friend? It's so good to hear from you. I hope you'll keep in touch!
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Hi J
I could not be more pleased for you! When you said " I can't believe the colors! " , I just welled up and started to cry! Happy tears I mean. It really got to me.
You are in such a good place now compared with when you started this thread. I'm so pleased that you are on top of the vertigo and feeling so much more clear headed now. And your sight restored as well... You have been through so much, and you really deserved something good happening.
It's great that your doctor is so open to devising a virtually tailor made plan for you with the steroid treatments. I think your experience will also be invaluable to other members of the forum as so many feel so depressed when the the MD first starts, and they need to know there is hope and help out there.
My friend is actually doing ok at the moment (touch wood please) and I will post about that tomorrow. It's 2.30 am here so I am getting to bed now. I have to get better sleep habits...
I'm so so pleased for you!
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Dear Misti,
Thank you so very much for sharing my color-joy with me! It made me cry, too! I truly appreciate your support, your understanding, and your warm heart!
You're absolutely right re: where I am now compared to when I began this thread. It's like night and day! The thing about steroid injections (at least for me) is that it's a very gradual and a very subtle process — It's definitely not a dramatic, instant fix. (But then again, as far as I can tell, there are no dramatic, instant fixes out there to be had.) However, for me, it is well worth the wait.
I will definitely continue to try and encourage people to go the steroid injection route. There are a number of obstacles that I've noticed that consistently come up around the discussion (fear of needles, it takes too long, etc..) but I will keep advocating for this treatment. I really believe that it's the safest and most effective treatment that we have at our disposal, at this point in time, for people who just aren't seeing results with conservative measures.
I'm so happy to hear that your friend is doing okay right now! (I touched wood!) I hope that she'll soon have her answers, and I so look forward to hearing about it!
Thank you again for your consistent support. It means so much to me!
Take good care,
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Hi J
You asked about my friend. She has not had an attack since the 18th January, which is the longest she has ever gone. I hadn’t wanted to say because MD is so unpredictable that it has made me superstitious! It feels like tempting fate to say how long it’s been.
She is still using the pine bark supplement which has made a difference to her CVI and , we think, the MD as well. She felt that allergies and stress were her biggest triggers and has been taking antihistamines and working on various ways to deal with stress and be generally more calm.
She has also improved her diet hugely and lost a lot of weight over recent months. I can’t remember if I mentioned that she had developed diabetes? With the weight loss and improvements to diet she has now gone from having diabetes to being in the pre-diabetic range.
I read that there is a greater incidence of MD in people who have various conditions such as being very overweight, having diabetes and having circulatory problems, so she is hoping that improving her health in general will help the MD.
I was actually wondering if it was worth starting a new thread about whether or not members of the forum have other conditions as well as MD. I wasn’t sure if they might like to discuss that subject and compare notes. Also, perhaps another thread about what seems to have helped regarding conventional medicines, alternative therapies, supplement, stress reduction etc.
What do you – or anyone else - think about those two subjects?
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Hi Misti,
Wow! I'm so happy to hear that your friend has gone this long without an attack (knock wood! ) :-) I hope this trend continues.
It sounds like she's been working very hard to improve her health. Making dietary changes and losing weight is so challenging, even when you're feeling great! She deserves a lot of credit for having the will power to do it, even while feeling so sick. Please congratulate her for me! Going from diabetic to being in the pre-diabetic range, is a HUGE accomplishment!
She has every reason to be very proud of herself.
I couldn't be more happy to hear this news! The best thing we can do for ourselves is to work on our general health. I continue to be mistified with regard to what triggered my MD. When I was diagnosed, I was in the best shape I'd been in, in years. I went to the gym 5-6 x/week, I felt so strong, my weight was just right, I drank green shakes 2x/day, ate well....etc...etc... Why didn't it blossom in my younger years when I was overweight and dealing with wayyyy more stress? It's a mystery to me. After a year on the couch with MD, I'd gained 7 pounds and seemed to be falling apart! For me, I feel like the MD triggered everything else! Sigh.
Still, it makes sense to me that reducing/eliminating anything that could be causing inflammation in the body, might reduce the chances of inner ear inflammation. I'll bet allergies and stress are triggers in a lot of people. In terms of dietary changes, has she been trying to keep her system more alkaline?
You have some great ideas! I think that a lot of people would be interested in a thread re: having other conditions in addition to MD. I know I would be.
I could almost guarantee that there would be big time participation in any discussion of alternative therapies. I keep picking up from various threads that a lot people are using a number of different supplements and alternative therapies. It would be great to have that discussion in one place.
Again, thanks so much for the update about your friend. I know what you mean about being superstitious: But I think if you type it, it's different than saying it right out loud! ;-)
Take good care of yourself. And I look forward to seeing those new threads!
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Hi again J
It seems very unfair that you developed MD at a time when you had worked so hard at getting fit and healthy. I don't know why that happened except that if there is a genetic tendency to something in the body it often seems to emerge as we get older?
The prime age that MD develops seems to be about 40 to 60. So there must be a reason why it does not often affect younger people.
I have read that there is a slight malformation in the ears of people coupled with hydrops but that the MD does not occur unless there is a problem with blood flow, that it doesn’t happen in younger people who have better circulation, even if they have the malformation.
I can't remember if I mentioned that research before? I could post something that would get you to right page if I didn't do it before. I forget what I have posted sometimes!
M
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Hi Misti,
I've often wondered if something MD-ish was passed to me genetically. Although she was never diagnosed with MD, my mother was frequently dizzy in her 70's and 80's , and took Meclazine fairly regularly. And like me, as soon as she got dizzy, the nausea kicked in. My father used to say (in his 80's and 90's) that his head felt like it was disconnected and floating. He would often fall during his daily walks, and attributed it to the head-floating. (Amazingly, he was never hurt once — a tough old bird!) Again, no workup/dx of MD. Honestly, I wonder if they ever heard of Meniere's out on the east coast!
Fascinating research, and no you haven't mentioned it before! I'd love to read it. If you provide the key words, I'll go looking!! Thanks very much !!
Take good care! I'll talk to you soon!
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Hi again J
I hope you at least inherited the good tough genes from your dad, as well as the possible MD ones. It's amazing that he never broke any bones with all those falls.
You say that they had not seemed to have heard about Menieres out East, but I am always amazed at how few people know anything about it. It's not common, but it's not that uncommon either and the only people who know what I am talking about ( apart from medical staff) are those who know someone who has it.
I read somewhere that it's about as common as multiple scelerosis - and who hasn't hear of that?
The research at Colorado University seems to indicate that you can have the vestibular malformation but not develop MD if blood flow remains good.
If you google "Researchers may have discovered a plan to disable Meniere's disease" it should come up with the article in Science Daily,
Let me know what you think?
I'm happy to read comments from anyone else about it as well, of course!
All best wishes
M
mistibluey
Posted
That should have been "who hasn't heard of that".
I think I am having some senior moments! Well, my typing fingers are anyway.
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Not to worry. I completely "get" the senior moments! More than I ever imagined I would have to, at this age!
JMJ
Posted
Prior to this comment, I wrote a post that simply.disappeared when I hit the Reply button! I should know better than to use my tablet! Arrrrrgh!!! So, I'm going to have to continue tomorrow....I'm just wasted tonight!! Talk about a senior moment: I poked my eye with the jabbed plastic end of the snap off vial this morning.....Have not had a good day! I have to be better by Monday!!! So, I'm going to rest my eye now and continue tomorrow!!!
Take good care!
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Ouch! That sounds sore.
I suppose it's the depth perception problem that made you do that? You said you had some post op complications - I do hope they are settling down now.
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Hi Misti! So much for getting back to you last week! Turns out, I really hurt that eye and needed some strong anti-inflammatories and rest, to get it into shape for yesterday's surgery. But it was ready, thank God, and all went off without a hitch. I went for my post-op visit this morning, and everything looks good. I'm still blurry of course, but it's SO much better now that the left has the same correction as the right! I can't believe that I'm typing this with only drugstore glasses on!!! And colors are even brighter than before! I can't even express my gratitude for this.....And I'm so off-topic, the moderators will probably expel me from the group!!!
The article from Colorado University was fascinating. They're taking an entirely different perspective on the standard set of variables associated with MD. But fo rme, the most interesting part was the ischemia-reperfusion pathway resulting in prolonged vertigo and hearing loss. I want to see if I can find that original journal reference online, and see if I can learn more. I wonder what their plans are for trying to prove these new theories on cause and effect of MD. I'm anxious to see! Thanks so much for sending me the keywords to search.
I'm so glad to see that you did start the new thread about alternative treatments, etc...I knew there would be a lot of interest! I'm going to wait another week or two before posting about it (it might be just a coincidence) but I think I might have stumbled upon something that's decreasing my tinnitus. We'll see...I want to see if this continues. I've just experienced 2 weeks of much less tinnitus, which has in turn improved my hearing!! Since the onset of MD, my tinnitus hasn't receded....ever. The types and combinations of noises change, but the loud volume never does. This is quite a thing for me. So...we'll see! I hope it's not a fluke!
I hope all is well. Thank you again, for your support.
Take good care,
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Hi again J
That is wonderful that some of your tinnitus has receded! I am agog to hear what you think brought that about, but I do understand that you want to wait before you say what you think helped.
Regarding the Colarado University research, I find these things and try to get the gist of what they are talking about but I have to admit a lot of it goes over my head. I have no grounding in science or medicine. I think you said you used to be a nurse? You probably get a much better handle on it all than I do.
I found the original research. Do you want how I got there or have you already found it? I'm always wary of what I say these days as the salt mines continue to beckon..... One of my posts from days ago to someone else is still waiting moderation. I do try hard not to break the rules but I always want to pass on anything that I think will help or interest someone.
Do you find yourself more "at peace" with the world for having less tinnitus? How are your eyes now? I'm so sorry that you injured yourself and that you had post op complications. You have been in the wars J!
All best wishes M
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Hi Misti!
Yes! LOL! The fear of the salt mines! Okay.....I'll try this without any upper case letters. I found a december two thousand and thirteen journal article in medical hypotheses, by foster and breeze. Is that the one you're referring to?
J-
JMJ
Posted
Oh! Misti! It worked! So now we know....just use all lowercase and spell out the numbers!
Yes, I feel much more at peace with the world, with less tinnitus. It's not that it's gone completely, but this level is much more "ignorable" than my baseline! And, I feel like I can "hear around it." My usual tinnitus is huge and inpenetrable: It sounds like a major windstorm at sea, complete with booming steamboat whistles and crashing waves! Now it's this "skinny" very high pitched continuous tone...perhaps like a high tension wire. But it doesn't seem to get between me and the sounds around me to the degree that my "normal" tinnitus did. It's kind of unbelievable!! I would LOVE to know what to attribute this to!! But there's really no way to know for sure unless I stop the supplements....and I'm not so sure I'm willing to do that "for the sake of science." Not at this point, anyway....This feels too good! LOL!
Thanks so much for asking! My eyes are progressing. They go in and out of focus all day, I suppose because they're still healing, and the drops are supposed to cause some blurriness as well. But when they're "in", it's incredible! What an amazing difference!
Last night while I was brushing my teeth, I must have really been staring at mirror because I found myself thinking "Geez....these surgeries have really aged me! I wonder if it was the anesthesia?....." And as I continued to get ready for bed, it hit me!! I was really SEEING this old face for the first time in ages!! My cataracts had been acting as "anti-aging makeup"! LOL! I really did laugh out loud at myself, and it's still strikes me so funny! So..while I may not be celebrating the lines and wrinkles, I AM celebrating my ability to see them!! :-)
All in all, I have a lot to be grateful for. I am vertigo-free today, I can see all of the beautiful colors around me, and I can even see my lines and wrinkles! And such a short time ago, I was sure that nothing would ever get better. That shows you how much I know! LOL! It's my mission to never take any of this for granted!
I hope all is well with you! Take good care....
J-
mistibluey JMJ
Posted
Yes, that’s the one.
I will try that way of doing it next time. This feels a bit like a WW2 spy movie - So, you cracked the code Caruthers. Well done, old chap!
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Are you Night-Owling again?
JMJ mistibluey
Posted
Dear Misti,
I'm glad I didn't post my "miracle cure". After two and a half weeks with radically decreased tinnitus, it came back a few nights ago, although for just a few hours. Then it receded about 50% and returned again last night for an hour. After about an hour, it receded once again to about 50%. I can't explain it. Sigh. I'm having an injection this afternoon, so we'll see. I'll discuss it with my doctor.
This will be my first major driving experience since eye surgery, and it snowed several inches last night! Should be "interesting"!
Hope all is well with you!
J-