I have written in the past about the meniett device. It is a relatively new treatment for Meniere’s disease. I thought about using it until I found out that my insurance company wouldn’t cover the cost. Some folks haven’t had any success with it and some have found relief.
I received this comment a couple of weeks ago it is from Ken Clifton. He has had a positive response to the meniett device.
Ken Clifton said...
I have been using a Meniett device prescribed by my ENT in January of 2010 with very good success. Prior to the Meniett I was almost confined to the house due to severe vertigo attacks that lasted up to 6 hours at a time. I understand that the device does not work for everyone, but it has been a blessing for me.
For the last 6 months I have led a mostly normal life, except for when the temporary ear tube has come out, or become clogged. I just had a permanent (T-tube) implanted this week.
It took about 3 weeks for the Meniett to reduce about 95 percent of my symptoms, this is documented by Medtronic. Medtronic will allow a 2 month trial of the device with a full refund if it does not work.
I could tell immediately that it was helping me, in fact I did arrest attacks that had started.
I hope this helps.
Thanks Ken.
In the past couple of years I have had comments saying that the device is worthwhile and some say that it isn’t. I can’t personally say one way or the other because I haven’t used it. It is always best to do your own research and check with your doctor.
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Thanks
Sunday, July 25, 2010
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8 comments:
I tried the Meniett earlier this year, and unfortunately, I'm among those who don't notice any improvement. My doctor has several she "loans" to patients for a couple of months to see if it will help, and after a couple of months, I returned it to her. Too bad. But I'm glad it's helping others!
- Peggy
hey david,
the meniett has been a life-saver for me in regards to controlling vertigo. like ken, the only times i would have trouble would be when the tube would come out or get clogged. i credit it for giving me 5 years of a "normal" life that i might have had otherwise. my insurance wouldn't pay for it either. i had to get a bank loan. i do know of several people who have luck fighting their insurance companies and getting approval though.
it's hard to say if it is helping with the "burnout" symptoms i'm having now. sometimes i feel like it's the only thing that has kept me from having a full out vertigo attack. but it doesn't seem to help at all with daily dizziness and balance issues.
hope you are well!
@Joe, I can understand how you can come to that conclusion. I’m still not ready for the surgery
Thanks
David
@Peggy, Thanks for the feedback about the meniett device, You never know what works with meniere’s and what doesn’t.
Thanks
David
@Nicki, Right now I’m still having problems with my balance and I’m still having meniere’s attacks. I’m on disability and I don’t know when I will be back at work.
I’m glad the meniett has worked for you, I might have tried to if the insurance company covered it.
I hope everything is going well for you too!
David
Hi! I´ve also tried the Meniette - unfortunately without result. Where I live you can borrow the meniette first for a few months to see if it´s of any help. If it is working you then pay monthly to the hospital for using it. It´s good to hear about others being helped. It makes me think that somewhere there´s a treatment for me. I just haven´t found it yet.
I have had worse days for a week. Some spins - but they´ve just last a short while, but afterwords I have to sleep a few hours. Maybe it´s Vertigo that´s causing the attacks this time. My doctor told me it´s not unusual having both. He also told me about people having Migraen vertigo and Meniere at the same time.
Susanna
Hi Susanna,
I'm sorry to hear that the meniette didn't work for you. thank goodness you didn't pay any long term fee for it.
I have also heard from others that having the migraine vertigo and the menieres at the same time isn't unusual.
The meniere's attack whether they are short or long alway makes me tired. It sad because it takes so much time to recover from this.
stay in touch
David
I was diagnosed with Unilateral Menieres in August 1998. I had numerous episodes with vertigo from 98 until 2002 and I honestly thought my life couldn't get any worse. In 2002 I took part in a study from the University of.Washington. by Dr. George Gates. I had negative effects to the device for 6 months because the ear tube kept coming out. Dr. Gated put a different tube in my ear that stayed and from that point on my life has changed. I have been vertigo free for 9 years until last weekend when I suffered from an attack. The reason I got the attack was due to the fact that I had recently had some ear work done to restore my hearing which sealed my ear drum. Without a way for the air to reach my innner ear, there was no way for the pressure to be relieved and this lead to my attack.
I can generally feel the pressure build up in my ear but when I then I treat myself with the meniette device within a week my ear is back to normal. It's hard to explain. It's like a cork being pulled and it has been a life saver for me.
In the past I actually had an episode and I was able to keep it at bay until the diazapan kicked in. I'm truly feel for those of you with a much more profound case of menieres and I wish this device worked for everyone. In my case, on Wednesday I'm going to have another tube put in and then I'm either going to have another permanent hole made in my ear drum or take out the tube when I don't need treatment. Eitherway, the Meniette has given me back my life. I eat what I want but I still watch the sodium and I pretty much have a normal life and I hope this post will give someone else who has not tried this treatment some hope.
thanks for comment. It is always good to hear from people who have had success with some device or treatment. I know that there are some folks that haven't been able to get any relief from the meniett device but I am glad that it has helped you and that you shared your story with us.
thanks again and stay in touch
David
i have a question, i'm having the tube implanted on tuesday, which is when i'll also receive the device, what was it like the first 2 weeks of being on the machine? i have a dance team competition for nationals in 2 weeks and i'm really hoping i'll be well enough to go. what were your experiences at the beginning of treatment? would exercise and pressure changes among other things continue to occur and prevent me from going? please let me know your experience, thank you!
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