Do you ever try to forget about Meniere’s disease? I know that sounds crazy since this disorder seems to take over your life. Or does it? I have had heard from some folks who refuse to let the Meniere’s disease control their life. But can you really forget about it?
Today I decided that I was going to plant a few things in front of the house. I use to do a lot of yard work before the Meniere’s disease came along but now I rarely do. I can’t really gave a reason other than bending down seems to make me a little light headed. It took me about twenty minutes to finish planting the flowers. I was exhausted and surprise, surprise, I was light headed. But I shouldn’t be because meniere’s isn’t caused by head movement, vertigo is. Has meniere’s taken over my life so much that I fear doing even the littlest chores.
In my case, the thought of an attack is always in the back of my head. Even if I am enjoying the best day where I feel great and I’m steady on my feet, somehow that thought of an attack surfaces and I catch myself. I guess I just not want to be caught off guard. I have been surprised a few times while driving (before my gent injections started to work).
Fear seems to be a big part of this coping with this disorder.
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Sunday, April 18, 2010
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12 comments:
I understand completely, this has controlled my life for almost 9 months now and I can't believe all the people I have found on line who have suffered with this much longer. I have to be having a real good day to even attempt to drive, but even then I do not put my grandchildren in the car, I had an attack while I was driving when this first started, I was able to get home safe, but I have went months without driving, some days you can feel bad and have an attack, and then a few days later feel just as bad and you don't have an attack, each day, each week, and each month can go so differently than another. I feel encouraged by each one of you that I read that are going forward and not letting this keep you from everyday living. Thank you again for your blog, it helps to get through all the down times.
As I read this I am getting so worried that I have this horrible diease! I am 21 years old and I have been dizzy on and off since I was 14...but then from 15 to 20 i was fine until one day i my ear was ringing an i felt a little "off" so i went to the doc. an they told me i had labrthyntisi? and i was soo scared and freaked it flipped me into a huge anixtey spell of worrying about being dizzy...b/c i was never truely SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL dizzy....it was alaywa sjust like a slight slight dizziness and onyl whn i would move my head down or up sometimes. soo i went to an ENT and he told me i could never have had labs....sooo idk...but from then on i have become obsessed and worried that i have an inner ear disorder...and especially menieres... do my symptoms seem like an early stage of menieres....i have dizziness only sometimes throughout the year but not horrible...an just wehn i move my head down or up...and it stops when i move my head up and straight. i dont think i have hearing loss...but i do have some tinitius but like it goes away afetr like 3 seconds. im soo worried i have this or will have it later in life?? if u could...could u let me no if this sounded like how it started for u???
i hope u get better soon :(
As I read this I am getting so worried that I have this horrible diease! I am 21 years old and I have been dizzy on and off since I was 14...but then from 15 to 20 i was fine until one day i my ear was ringing an i felt a little "off" so i went to the doc. an they told me i had labrthyntisi? and i was soo scared and freaked it flipped me into a huge anixtey spell of worrying about being dizzy...b/c i was never truely SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL dizzy....it was alaywa sjust like a slight slight dizziness and onyl whn i would move my head down or up sometimes. soo i went to an ENT and he told me i could never have had labs....sooo idk...but from then on i have become obsessed and worried that i have an inner ear disorder...and especially menieres... do my symptoms seem like an early stage of menieres....i have dizziness only sometimes throughout the year but not horrible...an just wehn i move my head down or up...and it stops when i move my head up and straight. i dont think i have hearing loss...but i do have some tinitius but like it goes away afetr like 3 seconds. im soo worried i have this or will have it later in life?? if u could...could u let me no if this sounded like how it started for u???
i hope u get better soon :(
hoboliv, I think you'd know if you had Meniere's - for most of us it hits like a train in the beginning and you're lying on the floor vomiting for hours...
... fortunately things often stabilise. To comment on your article David, I realised recently that the best day for for me is just one when I don't feel ill. That means it's better to do nothing and feel well than to do something (too much) and regret it later. I'm actually more likely to forget about it by doing nothing. Because of the constant worry about making oneself ill, the most enjoyable thing in my life is simply avoiding illness. It might sound sad but it's true. Meniere's really changes your perspective. Hope that makes sense!
Sherry,
I am glad that my blog is helpful, it is also helpful to me to write out how I am feeling about meniere's.
Hoboliv,
You should definitely try to find a doctor who is familiar with meniere's disease. Don't give up, there is hope.
please stay in touch and let us know how things are going.
Jeff,
I know what you mean, I try not to test the meniere's and just enjoy a simple day rather than worry that something that I am doing will cause an attack.
thanks again
David
yea i am def. gunna try and go see a doc. idk..i am soo worried...do you guys think thats what it is?? i hope i dont have it....i hope u all get better soon..and great blog!
Hoboliv
Try not to be so worried about. I know that it is difficult but the worrying might make it worse.
who know you may not have meniere's. I hope that is the case. Let us know how
David
hoboliv,
At the end of the previous comment I meant to say let us know how things are going
thanks for all ur responding....I no worrying makes everything soo horrible....
Do I ever try to forget about Meniere’s disease? Yes, but it is not easy. It has seemed to take over my life lately. I don’t really forget about it, but I know that life is too precious to allow it to overwhelm me. But I am only human after all, and sometimes it does. Then I remember that I always have that chance to become aware of how precious my life is and then start again.
Cary Tennis of Salon.com, on leave while recovering from cancer surgery, has been writing about his experience on his Open Salon blog.
While the Meniere’s journey is not the same as the cancer journey, it nevertheless is a rollercoaster of lows and highs. I like what he wrote about fear and living.
”Yesterday for the first time in a while I felt the mad rush of physical being. I felt the exhilaration of strength returning. I felt the sheer wonder of taking a breath…I realized a few weeks ago how much fear had dominated so many aspects of my life. It wasn't big enormous fear. It was little fears. Like little fears of being uncomfortable about stuff. And now, after all I've been through, after what I've faced, I just kind of don't have that. I don't have that complex of behaviors to avert little pains and such. So this is fascinating, and may be the biggest single change I've undergone in years. Not sure I'm describing it right, but it's a good thing and good things will come of it.”
My wife told me that before being diagnosed with terminal cancer she had wasted so much of her precious time in the past sweating the small stuff and worrying about little things. So I have changed and become less fearful and more grateful and in the moment. It is wonderful while it lasts. But I am only human after all. Then I remember and start again.
I have tried to forget it every day for the past 20 years. Somedays it only in the back of my mind... The ringing and constant imbalance do it for me. Fight through it.. be strong.. look for the enjoyment where you can find it... yeah, easier said than done.
Thanks everybody for the comments
David
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