One of my earliest posts this year was about how I couldn’t swim very much because of the Meniere’s, the thought of getting water in my ears, and then having an attack keep me mostly in shallow water. It seems that Meniere’s disease puts many limitations on your activities.
Besides swimming, driving long distances, especially by myself isn’t a good idea. My daily commute to work isn’t bad because it is only 45 minutes and the route is very familiar with me. Last year I had a couple of attacks going to work, luckily I was able to get help because I wasn’t that far from home or work. A long trip would be another story, especially if I was far from home and it took a long time to get to me.
My eight year old son loves to go on the rides at the amusement parks and the carnivals. I am definitely not going to do that. I can’t imagine what would happen if I attempt to go on some spinning, stomach churning ride. My son even though he is eight years old is starting to understand that his father can’t do some things because of my problem. And of course his mother is a good sport and tries to ride as many rides as she can.
The Meniere’s disease has also made me less flexible when I move around. I really noticed it a few years ago when I was at the beach and walking in the water. Even the smallest of waves seemed to knock me around. There are times when I feel like I am a hundred years old! Maybe some of that is my own fault for not trying to keep as active as I should.
I would like to hear from anyone on what activity meniere’s has affected in their life.
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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10 comments:
I'm a librarian by nature and by trade so I'm not exactly known for being extremely active. But I do go to the gym and also take yoga and the occassional ballet class. I haven't been doing yoga since the vertigo attacks became more frequent becuase even the simple pose like up-dog (where you form a triangle with your hands and feet on the floor and your butt in the air, in case you're not familiar) is hard to do when you are afraid the world will start spinning. It's embarrassing enough to have a vertigo attack at work; even worse to be at the gym. Best to avoid it and stick to the treadmill.
I have even had trouble with the treadmill!
thanks for commenting!
David
I was eventually diagnosed with Menieres disease about 1979. Until I discovered SERC the fear of vertigo was always present. I started taking Serc about 1995. It was purchased in Mexico or Canada. Now i buy through Canada Pharmacy. The enables me to be free of vertigo. In October I began to see a local ENT, young and trained at the California ear institute and who specializes in dizziness. Since September I have had increasing tinnitus that make my deteriorating hearing worse. He is treating it and told me to change from 24mg Serc once a day to 16mg twice a day and probably going to 3 times a day as SERC has a short life of 3 to 5 hours. He is the first doctor in over 30 years to know anything about this disease.
Tell everyone you know you have the disease so they don't call an ambulance. Tell them to stuff you in front of the Porcelain God and when the vomiting passes to give you a sip of water. No-one will believe you until it happens. Then they are grateful you told them and feel good they could help. I can go on about this chronic disease and plan to start a diary later today on my blog to record the current "problem".
Monica,
Thanks for the comment! I am glad to hear that you have found some relief with Serc.
David
I am now 56. I have lived with menieres since I was 25! I believe I got it on a amusenment park rride. The sytompms didnt show up til about 6 months later! Be very careful of the valium becase it is highly addictive. I have now lost hearing in both ears and have a strange staggering walk and trouble with depth perception and falling this is a terrible diesase
Luckily I only take a small amount of valium each day. Thanks for the advice and comment.
David
Was just thinking about this post and then got to thinking about Meniere's and jury duty. I wonder how other long-time sufferers handle things like jury duty. I've been called and am worried I'll have an attack. It wouldn't be safe for me to drive or ever cross the street. But I'm not sure how kindly the courts look on somthing like MM. I'm wondering how your readers deal with situation like jury duty.
I was on jury duty last year, luckily I didn't get picked for any trials. I told the court clerk ahead of time that of my condition just as a head's up.
I am very lucky that I have overcome many of the worst symptoms of Meniere's. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and I am now 24 years old.
Unfortunately my only remaining symptoms affect my deep passions and hobbies the most - gradual hearing loss and tinnitus along with "tinnitus attacks" is what I like to call them. My hearing is slowly dimishing in my left ear. My passion and hobbies include audio engineering, recording, musicianship, acoustic design, etc. There is no other hobby or industry that depends on your hearing more than mine. I have to really get creative when trying to balance and fine tune audio when I only have 1 good ear. I'm starting to question all of the time and money I'm investing, and have invested, in this passion of mine - I probably won't be able to continue at the rate of my deafness. Not to sound to depressing but it's quite dream shattering.
I wish you and all the commmenters the best.
I am so sorry to hear about your tinnitus and the effect it has had upon your life. I know you must be going through a lot right now and my heart goes out to you.
please keep in touch and hang in there.
David
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