Menieres Disease

[Eve]

Maybe one for Sqad and might be interesting for a few others on here with Menieres.

I was wondering if there are been any updates to treatment, any new drugs they are trying etc... save the usual betahistines and stemetil.

The pressure in my ears has been awful and all the time for a while now (save about 5-10 minutes during a thunderstorm a few weeks ago when my hearing came back - with a bang, don't realise how bad it has got til it comes back for a bit!) and being off balance and near constant clicking, feels like the pressure is continually trying to pop itself but it won't so it keeps on and it's driving me a bit mad!

My mum has been suffering even worse with it.

Thought it was worth an ask to see before I bite the bullet and get back to ENT and get a hearing check to see about hearing aids.

[Buenchico]

Current treatments are listed here
http://www.menieres.org.uk/about_md_treatments.html
but, possibly more importantly for you, that page has a link to 'Managing Ménière's disease'.

[Sqad]

Well.......IF and a big IF you can convince your ENT surgeon that your vertigo is so severe that you cannot leave your home and continue your work, then surgery is available....Endolymphatic sac decompression........BUT...pick your surgeon carefully.

Drugs? No new drugs...Serc (beta histine).........I am not and never have been a fan.

[Eve]

Thanks both.

Ahh I had hoped there might be something different about. Was hoping it would give me more of a push to go back to a consultant as a bit hospital'd out with getting other bits sorted.

What is it the betahistines actually do? Or how do they work?

[Buenchico]

>>>What is it the betahistines actually do?

"Betahistine dihydrochloride works by reducing the pressure in the inner ear . . ."

http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=M%C3%A9ni%C3%A8re%27s%20syndrome&medicine=betahistine%20dihydrochloride&preparationBetahistine%208mg%20tablets

[Sqad]

Betahistine dilates blood vessels in the inner ear and works on the basis that Menieres is an allergic phenomenon.I am not of that opinion and i don't think that Serc (betahistine) works........just a personal appraisal.

[Eve]

Thanks both. Hmmm, they don't do a great job for the pressure in my ears though they do help settle down some of the clicky popping (think Rice Krispies having a party") :)

Out of interest (don't worry, am going to be soon!), does migrane medication work in a similar kind of way, like Migraleve? Obviously not on your ears but on your head.

[Sqad]

No ....Migraleve does not contain any pharmacological agent that acts on blood vessels

[Eve]

Thanks.

It is interesting, something I should learn about more really. I remember the brilliant specialist I was referred out to at another hospital who diagnosed me. She thought I could have allergic rhinitis as well (maybe linked in when immunology did their screening as trees and grass came up on that) and they were toying with aural migraines too.

[Eve]

Deskie, I did a long post on one of your other threads for you.

It's horrible though I've learned to live with it a lot as been a while now, had my first vertigo collapse (trying not to use drop attacks any more sqad ;)) at 17.

I find wearing headphones listening to music helps distract me from it a bit and just keeping generally busy with sound around - I guess living in a busy city helps with that as it's never really quiet - I forget until I go back to the country where I'm from, amazes me how quiet it is there now!

I also found meditation techniques can help. I went to some classes back in my gym days and learn some techniques of how to feel more grounded which does help with the dizziness - things like keeping my feet flat on the floor, concentrating on controlled breathing and the tip of my nose etc... Doesn't take it away but helps me feel a little more in control when a bad attack is coming on.

[Eve]

I get migraines too. I find early action helps best, take some Migraleve (the pink ones) and get somewhere dark and quiet, sleep if possible.

There are drugs which can help if you are getting very bad frequent migraines if you ask your doctor. I was on amitriptyline for other reasons and it is said to help with migraines and I have to admit, mine did calm down a lot.

I also try and identify triggers. Artificial sweeteners give me near constant headaches, similarly Dianette (contraceptive pill).

Stress is another factor too. I try to have time out during the day, get out of the house for some fresh air, usually in a coffee shop with my book or a friend. Relaxing techniques can help here too. My occupational therapist taught me some good ones like a ragdoll (just going limp and letting the tension out of your body) and a CBT therapist I saw a few years back (take a big breath in then breathe out slowly until the final puff when you do a finally big breath out - it actually makes me laugh so effective in another way :)).

I also have massages, to release tension and help me relax and have relaxation techniques for getting relaxed in bed. It can help with tummy symptoms too when stress aggravates that.

[elizabeth ho]

I think it is a good idea to have a hearing test, most opticians do it,if your over a certain age it's free