Two ENT’s Different MD Information

Hi,very confusing for you. I started with tinnitus, high frequency hearing loss and generally off balance about 20 years ago. Fast forward to 5 years ago and started with total loss of balance and spins and vomiting. Only just got the Ménière’s diagnosis which was arrived at after having the usual tests. I have lost most of my hearing in right ear and now have daily vertigo and sore ear with really intrusive tinnitus. I have found the medics do vary in their diagnoses. I have been on betahistine 16mg x 3 forthe last 20 years and Stemetil if I get sick. I have now asked to see a neurologist but as I am in UK You wait ages for appointments unless you pay privately.

Hey Walito - If you research the medical journals, there is a simple answer, they could both be correct or most probably both incorrect. If you cannot diagnose the cause, you most probably will be incorrect and there are so many causes that could exist. Was it viral, concussion, allergy, stress mutation, continuos high frequency levels, seasonal changes coupled with sinus or most likely nerve degeneration. So you have to give the ENT a break because whilst he/she is a specialist (and have to behave like a good one) they most probably do not know themselves. In my experience an Audiologist is better and a Neurologist the best!

So, then the trials and tribulation start - you find your kickers, normally salt, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, smoking etc. You find a balanced diet and do some exercise relative to the symptoms (normally around the head).

Thank heavens for Betahistine and anything that helps with nausea. 48 mg of betahistine should be the minimal dosage. There is a certain strain of hemp (only found in the States) that apparently works wonders and even regenerates the nerve endings to the cochlear (but still early stages).

And lastly, it seems to be different for everybody and how they manage it - I have great empathy for young people with MD and those that find themselves confined to their homes because loneliness is a far worse symptom.

And we have not even spoken about tinnitus!

Without the help of my Neurologist, I think I would have gone bonkers because so much is your mental state or attitude. I have very few vertigo attacks now, have lost 80% in right ear, ear feels full and I have bad tinnitus - he taught me how to deal with this and whilst I mask it a little, I have become very used to it by the way I think and it is not a worry. 

Yours is still fairly new, don't stress and know it will get better and you will lead a normal life. Just persevere and try new things (but also try and stay away from chemicals - if possible).

Pat, it is great that you are seeing a Neurologist!

By the way, I take no medication, find what I am looking for in plants and vegetables and also by the way I still suffer but enjoy life.

With kind regards.

 

Hi. This is as Pat says very confusing but Meniere’s produces a wide variety of symptoms in us. My first sign of an imminent attack is very loud tinnitus and distorted speech. Vertigo and vomiting follow later. I have never suffered balance problems except when spinning. Your symptoms could be some other vestibular disorder such as labyrinthitis so it’s vital that you see a specialist in vestibular disorders that you feel confident with. I am also in U.K. and I paid to see a neurotologist at a university hospital and have now been referred by my gp to his clinic on nhs. My dosage of betahistine was increased by him to 24 x 3 so symptoms are under control. Have you been prescribed betahistine or any other medication? 

Walito66,

Good that you are getting multiple opinions and I would agree with some of the other comments about seeing a neurologist. I've been dealing with MD for over 15 years and one of the first actions my ENT did was order an MRI as this helps rule out other issues that could have same symptoms ie. tumor, nerve damage, etc. I've tried just about everything and most recently went to an upper cervical chiropractor with success in treating my vertigo. However I've just recently lost majority of my hearing in both ears and tinnitus as well. Hang in there and fingers crossed someone can find a cure for this debilitating disease.

 

Thank you all for Great comments. Yes, Unfortunately I have been working for 9 months with two separated Neurologist They execute One MRI in my head and found nothing (Which is good). I also worked with one Cervical Surgeon for 9 months and executed two MRI’s in my Neck Cervical Spine. Two Cervical Dr.s Radiologic and Neurologists reviewed the results. They all concluded the unbalance is not coming from the Cervical Neck Spine or the head or at least they do not see anything that it may causing this. This is the reason they asked to check with ENT and this is where I am at this point with two ENT’s. Very frustrated and painfully.

1. Some of the meniere patients don't have hearing loss. 

Meniere patients loss their hearing slowlly...

2. Some maniere patients don't have vertigo.

3. Some maniere patients unbalance for 24 hrs.