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Very stressed past few weeks

Posted , 7 users are following.

maryduff
maryduff

Hi I have been very stressed for the past few weeks does anyone know if this would aggravate my meniere's symptoms? I had problems with it a few years ago and then it stopped so I stopped my meds. It started again recently but has got worse the last couple of weeks and more frequent. Could it be due to the stress situation?

2 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • eleftherio33095
    eleftherio33095 maryduff

    Posted

    Stress/anxiety and the vestibular system do communicate, so one could affect the other.

    Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

    Clinical Neurophysiologist

    Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

  • peter16657
    peter16657 maryduff

    Posted

    Hi, I have written on this forum several times although not recently, when my Menieres was at its worst I read every book and article in an attempt to learn how to control it, I cut out salt, sodium, alcohol i avoided stress, exertion tiredness and guess what, it still struck at totally random intervals, so I reintroduced all these potential triggers into my lifestyle, no change, just when I wasnt expecting it I would get an attack, as a man who travelled a lot in buisness it was pretty difficult to cope as I only got 5 to10 minutes warning before a debilitating attack.

    My daughter in Oz sent books " Menieres Man." and the like. I guess if we or the Medical Profession knew what triggered it or what caused it in our ears, we all would be a lot happier, as it stands at the moment its guesswork even catorgorising the Illness, people on this forum have all sorts of advice medicaly, none of which seems sound, or works 100%. My wife has Breast Cancer, the treatment is Chemotherapy, thats it, so in an awful way Menieres is worse as no one can yet actually offer that kind of treatment. However dont get too down as people on this forum dont stay to long indicating it has ceased in thier lifes one way or another, but usually by chance rather than medical help,or they would be anouncing the fact they had been cured by this drug or that implant.

    It is very nice to see a medical expert participating on this forum, thank you eleftherio33095 and goood lukr Maryduff

    • maryduff
      maryduff peter16657

      Posted

      Thank you for that Peter I appreciate it. I too had problems a few years ago and meds eventually got it under control to the point where I no longer needed them. Then out of the blue it has come back over the past few months. So far meds are not really helping it has been almost daily that its occurring but I have had a very stressful situation  going on and thought it may have made things worse. So the replies I have received have been really helpful. Thank you. I wish your wife well in her Breast Cancer fight. Stay well. Kind regards Maryduff 
  • JMJ
    JMJ maryduff

    Posted

    Hi Mary

    That's a really tough question! For me, I would a say that stress definitely increases my chances of having an attack....  I don't think stress caused my Meniere's to come on in the first place, but I've noticed that when I'm really upset and going without lots of sleep, that I've had more episodes.  I've also noticed that when I drink too much water at once, it's a set up:  After about an hour, the room starts turning.  That said, I've had Meniere's episodes that came out of the blue, when I was actually feeling pretty good.  It's so frustrating, and difficult to figure out what triggers attacks.  Just having a Meniere's episode is so stressful!  I've had to cancel important plans several times, as the result of an "out of nowhere" episode.  And that in itself was stressful!

    I've read that for many people, the nature of Meniere's is sporadic...They can go for months or even years without an episode;  It's like it goes dormant, and then boom...it wakes up again.  Perhaps that's what's going on with you.  

    Well...I wish you the very best.  Let's hop science with have some answers for us soon.

    J

     

    • maryduff
      maryduff JMJ

      Posted

      Hi JMJ thank you for your input. It is a horrible condition with as you say no apparent rhyme or reason to it. I had a bad attack last week and it took about 3 days before I felt fully better. Yesterday was great got up feeling really well then today felt like I had taken a step back again. neutral
    • JMJ
      JMJ maryduff

      Posted

      Hi Mary, I know how badly you must be feeling.  That's how it was for me during the first several months with Meniere's;  I'd just be feeling better from one attack, and another would hit me.  They seemed to just run into one another.  But hang in there.  It can get better.  We may not be able to cure it yet, but people tend to find triggers to avoid, or things that actually help them to feel a bit better.  Definitely be gentle with yourself, and take very good care of yourself.  Sometimes it helps just to hear from people who are going through the same thing.  Hope you feel better soon.  And I wish you the best of luck.

      J

  • Ear_Today
    Ear_Today maryduff

    Posted

    I used to keep a diary of my vertigo attacks to see if there was any pattern to them.  I learned that my primary trigger seemed to be when I had consumed more sodium than normal, but the secondary trigger seemed to be stress.

    I went on a low sodium diet, but I also took steps to cut stress.  My work was the most stressful thing in my life, so I ended up taking early retirement.

    I haven't had vertigo for near two years now, so, for me, this approach seems to have worked,

    I know it may come back in the future, but, for now I'm very well.

    As Peter says, people only tend to post on this forum when they are ill - when they are well, they are busy getting on with their lives. I haven't posted on here for ages.

    Meneries does appear to be episodic, so there's always hope that things will get better

     

    • maryduff
      maryduff Ear_Today

      Posted

      Thank you Ear Today. I do try and watch my sodium intake maybe have to keep a closer eye on it. The stress issue I had was caused by a really bad experience with a garage who kept our car for weeks lying to us about what was being done with it and consequently being unable to work. Hopefully getting back to normality over the next couple of weeks. Thank you again and I am pleased for you that you are keeping well x
    • JMJ
      JMJ Ear_Today

      Posted

      Hi Ear Today,

      You're an inspiration, to have gone about keeping a record of your attacks in such an orderly way!  By the time it's over, and then I endure the "vertigo hangover" for about 24 hours, it's the last thing I want to think about.  But you did the right thing!  Also, I think it took a lot of courage to realize that your job was your prime stressor, and to retire early. 

      As I said in an earlier post, I too have found that there's a stress related component.  I have begun to listen to self hypnosis recordings in order to learn to deeply relax, and I can honestly say they're helping me to modify my "knee jerk" stress/negativity responses, and so I'm finding myself to be generally calmer and more optimistic. There are a lot of very weird ones out there, but I've found a wonderful site founded by 2 psychologists from Scotland.  And I think there's a lot to a person's voice.  Once of the two guys, helps me to relax more than the other.  I guess we have to treat ourselves in many ways, until Science finally cracks the mystery of Meniere's. 

      I enjoyed reading your post.  I understand how people only post when they're I'll, and want to get on with their lives when they feel better.  But it's nice when people who are fairly stable hang around to help those of us who aren't quite there yet.  We all need hope.  Otherwise, I think acutely I'll people often end up feeding each other's panic and sense of hopelessness.

      Thanks again,

      J

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  • amyt86
    amyt86 maryduff

    Posted

    Yes. stress with me is a trigger. My work atmosphere recently improved, and with keeping on my low salt diet, my symptoms improved👍 I had a recent episode last night unfortunately, extreme vertigo,with vomiting. However, I broke a rule Friday night, ate what I wanted and had drinks. So I paid the cost. But I'm back on track and hopeful. Hang in there!
    • maryduff
      maryduff amyt86

      Posted

      Hi a

      Amy thank you for your comment. I had put myself on lo sodium diet before but gradually let the salt creep back in so that with the strewss issues may have added to the issue. Hope you are over your recent episode and keep well in the future x

  • terry48784
    terry48784 maryduff

    Posted

    I was a bit stressed at work when I had my vertigo and dizziness attacks in March/April 2015 and was diagnosed with MD. I cut back sodium to 1000mg per day, had already given up alcohol 9 yrs earlier, started betahistine settling at 48mg x 3 times daily and started running 3 x per week. Kept a diary of food and vertigo episodes which was useful as I felt like I was doing something and was useful for reference. Couldn't find any correlation between attacks and food. Haven't had any vertigo or dizziness since but hearing loss in right ear and fullness and tinnitus is ongoing. Became more stressed earlier this year and after going to doctor went on medication for while. Was able to come off the depression medication, in part due to a book I found while holidaying with my wife in Sydney. It is called 'Stop Thinking Start Living' by Richard Carlson. I couldn't put it down and it just rang true with me. Enjoying the present is a central theme and with MD any day you do not have vertigo and dizziness is a great day!! I was thinking of reducing my betahistine medication but didn't want to do it when I was on the depression medication. Now I have actually increased my sodium levels as I found I was more stressed trying to avoid takeaways and restaurant meals which are just about impossible to keep under 1000mg. Have decided to relax my sodium intake and keep on current betahistine levels. I don't know whether the betahistine is keeping my symptoms at bay or whether the attacks just went away. When i am brave enough i will reduce my medication and find out. Maybe later this year closer to next summer. Stress may be a factor and I agree with some other people on this site that I am probably healthier than I was before MD because I have a great incentive to change my lifestyle. So work out what it takes to reduce the stress in your life as it can only help and I hope you can get your symptoms under control again. Regards Terry.
  • maryduff
    maryduff

    Posted

    Hi somenone mentioned in a reply to my post that they had been taking vitamins B5 & B6 to help with their Meniere's and their health had improved dramatically. I can't find this post now if that person is reading this could they contact me again please biggrin

     

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