When ever I hear about Meniere ’s disease and injections I think of gentamicin. Actually it isn’t a pleasant memory either the pain was terrible or it took awhile to take effect. But anyway there is another type of injection and that is with Dexamethasone steroids, I wrote about that awhile ago but recently someone wrote that they had some success with them.
Daniel Pancy was kind enough to tell me how the dex injections had worked for him…
David
I get my DEX steroid injection in my left ear every 6-8weeks but usually more to the 6 weeks side of the period. I have a tube in that ear with makes delivery really easy. I figure I have been on them for about a year now, as long as I get results my ENT will continue to have me get them.
They tried the Gent to deaden that nerve many many years ago and it failed to do that. The DEX is not intended to deaden the balance nerve, it calms down the vestibular system. I respond very well to steroids for Meniere's symptoms. The DEX stays inside of you middle ear and really has no side effects except it may lower blood pressure in women; at least that is what I have been able to find.
Take Care,
Daniel
I don’t think that my doctor ever mentioned steroids to me but it sounds like to can be effective for some folks. And I imagine that the tube in the ear would make the procedure a lot less painful that having a needle going through your ear every time you have a gent injection.
By the way, the past 2 days haven’t been too bad, although I haven’t done much and I haven’t driven that far. My gent an injection is on June 9th so that should be interesting.
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Sunday, May 30, 2010
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Hello David,
I too, have had success with Dex steroid injections. I have only had 2 total, and those were 16 months apart. I had success at controlling vertigo for 15 months with the 1st injection. I was not Meniere's symptom free for those 15 months but I had NO vertigo, which was perfectly acceptable. When the vertigo returned, it was a little more fast and furious than before, so I just had my 2nd dose yesterday. My ENT told me that 3-6 injections in a series are more typical and all that he would recommend and that if it did not bring relief, going to Gent shots would be the next plan of attack. It hasn't even been 24 hours since my injection, and I feel a difference already. Not foggy, no head pressure, none of the normal triggers that would tell me I'm in for a bad day. Best of luck to you with your treatment on the 9th and all the best, -Lita
Hi Lita,
I'll have to talk to my Doctor about steriods because lately I have been hearing some good things about them. I'm glad that they are working for you. With meniere's the big thing is always the vertigo attacks, I can live with anything but that!
I am definitely not looking forward to having the gent injections again. but I have to do it or something to avoid the major attacks.
thanks for comment and stay in touch
David
Hi all MM sufferers!! I have Bilateral Meniere's Disease. I have the shunts in both ears. I have undergone treatment since I was 21. Before the shunts the ENT tried hospitalization and strong diuretics. It was 3 days of agony and only gave me 3 days of relief. The shunts worked well and was immediate relief. I am now 36 and back in May 2010 had my 1st series of dex shots in the right ear! Wow! is what I can say to response! My only concern is by the time i had the 2nd injection, I started having seizures. My ENT assured me that it wasn't related to the injections. The seizures went away about 2 weeks after my 3rd and last injection. When I went back for my check up, I talked him into doing the left ear. I got my 1st injection Friday and go for the 2nd today. I started having seizures on Tuesday and having about 5-6 a day. The shots are really working and it is so nice to have my balance back and no vertigo attacks. I am going to question my ENT as well as my pcp today again if the shots have anything to do with the seizures. I don't want to stop them though! After the last spell, I was diagnosed with Pzuedoseizures. I don't think that is completely true, but wonder if anybody has had seizure or tremors with any of their ongoing treatments. I can't brag enough about how well the Dex shots have worked. I will keep everyone posted as to if the seizures subside. If they do, then this treatment is worth it and would do it again! I am looking forward to a year of no dizziness!! The shots worked for me, but as always might not work for you. God bless, Kristi
Hi Kristi,
thanks for the comment you really have gone through a lot! I'm glad that the dex shots have worked so well for some it doesn't seem to. The same way with the shunt surgery.
Let us know how things are going.
David
Hi, I'm considering the steroid injections too, having also heard good things about them. I'm based in the UK and recently found a newspaper article about how good they are. Here's the link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1205621/Dizzy-spells-Noises-ear-At-theres-end-torment.html
I want to know if anybody has tired them with improvement to hearing and tinnitus? This article certainly seems to indicate that, and with minimal risk and virtually no damage it doesn't seem like I have much to lose. I think the problem here though is cost, and I may end up paying privately (probably why no ENT has mentioned this before!)
My hearing over the last few weeks has gone down bank quite rapidly and I have roaring tinnitus at the moment. This has come suddenly following a period of 6 months with no vertigo and my hearing came back to almost a normal level. At the moment I don't have vertigo, but I do have some dizziness and feel like I could get an attack at any moment. So as you can imagine I'm very anxious and depressed about another cluster of attacks coming (previous to that I had about 9 months of roaring tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo). During that time my vertigo got less frequent and severe until it stopped completely. So now I'm waiting to see ENT (next friday) and I'm thinking about pushing for these steroid injections, on the basis that they might induce a remission before it gets hold of me. But then again I might not get the vertigo! Its very frustrating isn't it? I just hope my hearing comes back again and takes the awful tinnitus away! Don't get me wrong, I always have tinnitus, even when my hearing came back, but this was at an acceptable level for me. I wouldn't notice it during the day, just a little at night, however this roaring is on a whole new level!
I'm also waiting to have some blood tests from my GP as he wants to check my thyroid. I've read that many menieres patients have a thyroid problem, and in some cases when the hormone levels are corrected, the menieres symptoms also disappear. Interestingly research in Australia is looking at hormone problems as a cause.
I'll keep you updated and let you know how I get on. Hope everyone is doing ok.
Becky
That is so interesting about Menieres and Thyroid issues. I don't know if it's the case for me, but within a 5 month period I had the ear sac surgery for Menieres, then 3 months later, I wound up needing a partial thyroidectamy. I have Menieres on my right ear, and I had the right side of my thyroid removed. I cant tell if that's just coincidence, but it is strange.
Hi,
I had Dexamethasone injected into my right ear just today.
I have bilateral Meniere's but my surgeon wants to test one ear first.
It wasn't too painful but yes, it sped up my vertigo which was already bad and always is.
I have severe Meniere's - that is to say, it's constant. In all my years with it I have never had a single day of relief.
I have been my surgeon's Guinea pig for years now, which I don't mind because I'm happy to help others if I can, even if it doesn't really help me.
I don't know yet how this will work for me but I am anxious to see how the next few days go.
I will let you know how it goes.
Thanks for this.
Nina
Nina, I'm so sorry you're going through this. That sounds horrible. I remember when I had attacks every day for months, and it was awful.
I know what you mean about being willing to be a guinea pig to help further doctors' knowledge about Meniere's. And who knows? It might even help us, when they do hit on something that really works.
Good luck.
Hi Nina~
You have my sympathy and understanding!
Lately I have had ongoing vertigo, and it wears you out when you can't recover enough before another attack hits.
Question: Did I read your post correctly..did you say the steroid shot made the vertigo worse for you?
Also..I was wondering how long you have had Menieres?
Take care~
Lauri
Hi Nina~
You have my sympathy and understanding!
Lately I have had ongoing vertigo, and it wears you out when you can't recover enough before another attack hits.
Question: Did I read your post correctly..did you say the steroid shot made the vertigo worse for you?
Also..I was wondering how long you have had Menieres?
Take care~
Lauri
Wow so glad i found this, I had my first steroid injection into my right ear today, have 4 more to go and will get them every 2 weeks till there done my menieres has cause so much damaged that surgery is not longer an option for me and so this was my last resort, i sure hope it works really upsetting all this modern technology and nothing to help. I was lost between the cracks they say and so now 27 years into menieres this is a new thing for me . I wish everyone the best and will keep you post.
i too m surrering frm menires.planning to get dex shots in mid nov. lets see how it goes..will keep u guys updated
Good luck and let us know how it worked out
David
I recently had a series of 4 dex shots each a week apart...Wow what a a differnce...between night and day...before the shots i was suffering with 4 or 5 vertigo attacks per week.......the tinnitus is still terrible and my hearing is shot but without the vertigo my life is 100% better!!!!was wonrdering if anyone whos experienced relief with dex shots could post how long the relief lasts before another series of shots are needed..in advance thanks a million-Jen
Hi Jen,
I am glad that your vertigo attacks are down and hopefully it will stay that way for awhile.
I never had the dex shots, have the affected your hearing any?
David
I don't think the dex should affect hearing... it's an anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressant. That's interesting, since there are theories that MD is caused by an immune disorder of some kind. But whether it helps the pressure and therefore the tinnitus by reducing the swelling or by quieting the immune response, it should leave your hearing alone.
hello people/lauri
i had the following procedure: left myringotomy, grommet insertion and injection of intratympanic steroid.
that day and the following 2 days after, i thought i was cured, then on the third night this heavy tinnitus came about and my hearing went to vertually 0 and i was back to square one. i went to the dotor for a post op chat and he explained that this is normal as the grommit and steroids are in a battle with mr menieres. i have another five injections to go then they will evaluate. i do feel that the grommit is helping with my balance function, but its a bit early to say.
regards
i will keep you informed.
Ali~
Glad to hear from you.
Has it helped any with ear pressure or vertigo?
Was either one painful?
Since I can't have steroids done, I was hoping the tube itself might help.
I'm glad it went well for u! Hopefully the symptoms will continue to decrease, along with the tinnitus.
BTW..how often were you having vertigo attacks prior to this?
Lauri
Ali - I'm glad the early signs are promising and hope the grommet and steroids continue to make a difference for you. I found when I had one that it seemed to release some of the pressure for awhile. It was a nice feeling while it lasted.
ola
lauri
i was under local anesthetic, and it did not hurt one bit, very easy operation.
the tube seems to be helpful but you really have to put into consideration that it is temporary (they last up to a year).
i have not had a big menieres attack for years (since i was put on propanlol and made huge diet changes), but i am consantly kinda dizzy and if i have a buzy day or eat something wrong i can feel something bad would happen.
i will keep you updated with how i feel.
peggy
the grommit and steroids seem to have taken some pressure off, i really do wonnder if its temporary, as alot of research suggests that its is not a long term fix.
i have a feeling that one day i will have the gent shots. i know you and david have not had much success with these but my surgeon was saying that gent injections have a very high sucess rate. especially in terms of sorting out the balance issue.
regards
ali
Ali, gentamicin shots have a very high success rate, but they harm your hearing. Most doctors don't recommend these shots until you have lost most of the hearing in that ear. For me, the fact that the results didn't last long was a fluke, apparently. My husband says that the smaller the chance of something happening, the more likely it is to happen to ME. :p
hello peggy
based on what my surgeon said only 20-30% of the people who have gent shots, have hearing loss (honestly does not look like a bad gamble to get rid of the evil balance issues). thing with forums is that the people who are cured never come on them again, so all you get is the people who have had negative outcomes posting, and the ones who are still searching for answers regarding there menieres.
ali
That percentage (20 to 30%) was high enough that my ENT/surgeon didn't want to go that route until my hearing was bad enough to make the risk more acceptable. We wanted to try other, more conservative treatments until we exhausted those options. We were trying to preserve my hearing as long as we could, not that it lasted much longer anyway.
hello
to all people who have had the dex steroid injections.... did you have tinnitus and deafness after the op for some time,?
regards
ali
Ali, I never had any tinnitus or deafness after a steroid injection.
hello peggy
yes my ears are playing tricks on me since the grommit and steroid injections, but i think the balance function has improved on the whole, have one more injection (3 in total) then will give it 3 months to see how its working.
my surgeon said somthing interesting, and that was that steroid injections help people more with the auto immune side of things/gent works more for menieres.
also that they will only really ever know if you have menieres or not once u have died and they do an autopsy.
i asked him if he could kill me for 2 hours and bring me make to life and check :)
happy new year
ali
Ali -- LOL ... there are all kinds of things I'd like them to check out for me if they could "kill" me for a couple of hours and bring me back when they were done fiddling around under the hood. *sigh*
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