transtympanic steroid injection
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi I am 30 years old man suffering from meniere's disease on the right ear for the past 4 months. I have had 17 episode of extreme vertigo attacks where the whole room starts rotating and I start vomiting, which lasts for an entire day. The vomiting was so extreme that one time it made wound in my stomach inside and I kept vomiting blood too. I have been to A and E 4 time where twice I had to be carried on an ambulance but they keep saying everything is normal and keep discharging me . I also have slight loss of hearing, ringing in the ear and ear fullness feeling. These symptoms intermittent which means in between attacks I have normal hearing perfect balance no ear fullness.
I cut down salt and avoided caffeine cheese alcohol and am currently having 32mg of betahistine 3 times a day(96mg dailiy) but it has no effect on the attacks
I had all sorts of blood test MRI unrine, stool sample, Xray, blood pressure, sugar, ultrasound everything was normal. However my ENT consultant after doing my audio test told me I was most likely suffering from meniere's disease on my right ear, so he booked me for a caloric testing which is tomorrow. He also said that he will be giving me only one transtympanic steroid injections to the ear. (I live in england and we have NHS and I had to wait 3 months to get and appointment with the consultant since its free).
Sorry guys for this long explanation but here is my question finally.Has anyone had steroids injections to their ear which has stopped their vertigo attacks? If yes did they go back to their normal life work driving etc? I can live with the hearing loss ear fullness and tinnitus symptoms but not the vertigo and vomiting.
I was an engineer on site I lost my job, I cant go out of my house so it has ruined me physically, emotionally and financially.
0 likes, 31 replies
judy2018 Gurung
Posted
i feel so bad for you, free always sounds good until your freedoms are taking away and you cant just go see a doctor. Mine is in my right ear and stress is a big factor with me. I couldnt handle it so i went ahead and had the sac operation where they put like a hole in the sac area to open up the flood gates to give the fluid more space. So far so good . I have to sleep on my sofa sleeping sitting up. I hate this disease so bad and once again so sorry
Gurung judy2018
Posted
Good luck judy with your recovery I hope you do not suffer any more vertigo attacks in the future, it will also give me hope and courage. How much hearing did you lose after doing the sac operation? because my hearing loss in my right ear is not very much. I will do it if the injections dont work.
judy2018 Gurung
Posted
A lot of people also talk about TMJ which is a problem with their jaw and when they got that fixed by wearing like a mouth guard it really helped their vertigo. So sometimes its more then a problem with the ear.
My hearing didn't have any effect when I had surgery, my doctor did not put any shunts in my ear because they say they can get clogged and then you are back to having issues. But what ever my doctor did it has been helping me over a year now. I just pry every night it never comes back. Like all of us we just don't want this terrible disease and can't understand why there isn't a real cure out there. It seems like such a simple thing getting rid of fluid in that area. Praying for a cure.
Gurung judy2018
Posted
Thank you judy when I went to see my consultant yesterday I could not tell him anything because I started getting attack at 5am in the morning and my appointment was at 10:30. He has rescheduled for urgent matter so I will discuss about this TMJ. I cant stand, walk or even open my eyes properly during the times of attack, however he did tell me that possibly a surgey if the steroids didnt work for me. I will keep you updated.
tanney Gurung
Edited
Hi Gurung....apparently you have tried most of the basic things recommended for MD: eliminating salt, caffeine and alcohol and taking betahistine. I'm very surprised that the 96mg of betahistine is still ineffective. There are some folks that need even higher doses. Have you discussed increasing dosage with your doctor?
Regarding steroid injections.....I've found them to be only temporary and most neurotolgists (ENT doctors with sub specialty in inner ear diseases) do not recommend them more than a few times.
Another procedure that I have found to be totally successful in eliminating vertigo is Gentamicin injections. This antibiotic will kill your dysfunctional vestibular balance nerve in your bad ear. This procedure is effective in eliminating MD vertigo in about 90% of patients who undergo this in-office surgery. There is a small chance that your hearing could be negatively affected...my hearing actually improved a year or so after the procedure. If you want more info on this procedure let me know.
Gurung tanney
Posted
Hi tanney thank you for sharing your experience about the gentamicin injections, removing vertigo and not losing too much of the hearing would be ideal for me. My ENT told me that is the maximum he can prescribe to me in the UK. I will ask if he can give me the gentamicin injections so we can save time if the protocol is not steroids first. Thanks
tanney Gurung
Posted
be sure your ENT has done many gentamicin procedures. If he/she has not ask for a recommendation of someone who has. If you would like any more info about this procedure private message me and I'll be glad to tell you what I know....the very best of luck to you on whichever option you select.
Gurung tanney
Posted
sure tanny I will ask the consultant about this option of gentamicin. thank you very much I will message you if I need more help getting back my life.
judy2018 Gurung
Posted
In the states we can't even get betahistine , I have been to three specialist and they say it just mask symptoms and not FDA so they can't prescribe it. I take Meclizine and it is like a traveling sickness pill. When I feel a little off I take it but when you are in full blown vertigo attack it doesn't help at all. Only sleep for me.Tanney did you ever hear people talking about TMJ? I don't think I have that but they say if you do it really relieves the Menieres
Gurung judy2018
Posted
Judy thank you for letting me know about TMJ i could not tell my consultant anything yesterday because I was having a vertigo attack in the hospital. However he rescheduled another appointment to see me asap I will discuss it with him and call my GP tomorrow if they can book me an appointment with TMJ specialist and I will keep sharing my experiences.
Ali_is_my_name Gurung
Posted
Hi there.
I know how you are feeling right now. Menieres hit me last year March and I had a terrible last year, I was subscribed with Betahistine 3 times a day which I believe did nothing. I also tried John of Ohio to control the symptoms. I lost approximately 60% hearing in my left year in just 1 year.
Then I started looking at other options, I booked a TMJ trained dentist (Not every dentist is TMJ trained) and also worked with chiropractor and within 2 months I started noticing the difference.
I started TMJ in Feb this year and I had my last vertigo in March, since then no VERTIGO.
I have stopped taking Betahistine, had a hearing test few months ago and as per results my hearing has returned to near normal, my ENT was also surprised with the hearing test result.
So, its been 9 months now and I don't have vertigo, no fullness or anything, I still have tinnitus but that is in background and does not bother me. I am back to normal salt, cheese, caffeine etc. no restriction at all.
Advice: Give TMJ and chiropractor a go.
Good Luck.
Gurung Ali_is_my_name
Posted
Hi Ali I am surprised so many of you suggested me about this TMJ. I will start to look for a TMJ specialist I had an attack yesterday 5am in the morning so the whole day and today was wasted in the bed.
I am so glad that you have been blessed and vertigo free for 9 months I hope it never hits you back I will see a TMJ and chiropractor.
Thank you very much
NeddyO Gurung
Posted
I see you have had 31 replies already so this may be repetition.
Betahistine takes at least a month to become effective and if the dose you are taking is not working it needs to be increased to a level that does. I am on 64mg tds ie 192mg daily - and suffering no symptoms other than those caused by irreversible damage - background tinnitus and 40% hearing loss in affected ear. It is worth persevering with this drug for at least 3 months. I know there are some patients taking significantly higher doses. Once control is established and maintained for at least 5 months you can gradually wean off the drug. If at any point symptoms return go straight back onto the highest dose that worked previously and get a review arranged with your consultant. This regime has worked for me on 3 occasions now and I am still able to drive and lead a pretty normal life.
I trust things will improve for you soon.
Gurung NeddyO
Posted
HI Neddy I just had a 7mg steroids injection to my right ear yesterday. It was done in a theater under anesthesia. So, I am recovering as I am replying to you. I had singing sensation in my ear. I suffered from vertigo and nausea right after the injections yesterday. My doctor has told me that I should carry on taking the betahistine 32mg 3 time a day i.e. 96mg everyday. I have got a follow up appointment in 2 months time and he also told me that gentamicin injections will be next if these does not work. So I guess I will have to follow what he says and like you said it takes a month for the betahistine to kick in so might be after 3 months of betahistine I might get back to no vertigo.
Thank you for your input and I will keep you updated.