Meniere's disease, My Story

January 15: Since this is my first post I should give a little background on my MM. I've had the meniere's for four years now. My first attack was after a car accident. I was told by the first
ENT that I saw that the accident didn't cause it. I don't really believe that. I started treatment with a diuretic and a low salt diet. It seemed to work for awhile and then the attacks were more frequent. In the course of three years I had about 5 attacks at work. Each attack I was taken to the emergency room. I was usually there for 4 or 5 hours they would gave me phenagan and a iv. I was exhausted for about two days after each attack. Finally after going to three different ENT I was given a reference to a specialist in inner ear problems. he suggested the meniett device but my insurance didn't cover it. So the next step was the gentamicin injections. The following link has a good descripton of it.http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/treatment/ttg.html
I had the procedure done four times in the course of two months. Most papers that I have read on the procedure say that it isn't that painful. I disagree.
But after the last injection I felt much better and I had no attacks. Unfortunately, that feeling only lasted a month. The day before I was to have cataract surgery I had a severe attack on the way to work. once again another ambulance trip. but this time it took much longer to recover. and from that point on whenever I was driving I felt like I was going to have another attack. Another month went by of missing work periodically when I had another attack on the way to work. After this episode I went on short term disability. My specialist suggested putting a shunt in my ear. I was agreeable with that until I did a little research. It seems that most doctors feel that type of surgery is about the same as doing nothing. (the above link also has information about the procedure).
So right now I am taking a compound medicine ( not proscribed by the doctor) and I am still taking a diuretic, a diazim and antivert when needed. I will continue to correspond about my progress or lack of it.