- Medications – there is one thing that you try not to do and that is to forget taking my medication.
- Carry your medications with you – I have a small blue bag that I got at the doctor’s office that I carry all my emergency meds with me such as Antivert, valium and phenregan. All’s it takes is one attack without the meds and you will never forget them again, I know I didn’t.
- I don’t know if this matters or not but I can’t sleep on my left side because it seems to make me dizzy. The reason for the left side is because my left ear is my bad one. Maybe it is just superstition on my part but I avoid rolling over on my left.
- After my drop attack I now make sure that I get out of bed slowly. I don’t want to risk having a bad fall.
- Even though I don’t think a low salt diet ever helped me I still am leery of anything that is loaded with salt. It’s not really good for you anyway.
- When I am swimming I never put my head under water. In the past I have been told that it shouldn’t be a problem but I avoid it anyway.
- I never drank that much before but now I don’t drink at all. Alcohol can play tricks on your equilibrium which you don’t need if you have Meniere’s disease.
- I try very hard to keep a positive outlook which can be very difficult when you are stuck with this disorder.
I am sure that I left out many things but these are the ones that come to mind.
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7 comments:
I can agree with all your Menière-routines. I think I use them all. Sometimes I believe that just missing one of the routines makes me have a spin. About sleeping on one side or the other - I had a bad attack recently and lay down on my bad ear. I was worse than I´ve ever been before and I felt better when I finally managed to lay on the other ear. I never go anywhere without medication and my phone and I also want to know who I can call if my husband`s away at the moment. Another routine is practising relaxation exercise to keep away stress. Sometimes the stressed thoughts before activities can start an attack.
And ofcourse - keeping a positive outlook is the most important of all. It is hard, I know, and you have to allow yourself to have "bad days". But the bad days can change into "bad moments" with pretty much good time between.
I had the sleeping-on-one-side problem for a while but not any more. The side actually changed as well; when I was having big attacks I had to lay on my good side, whereas latterly I had to lay on my bad side!
I also practice relaxation; it's part of my slow-start morning routine.
The other thing I do is to try to avoid hunching my shoulders or otherwise contracting the area around my neck. It used to make me feel lightheaded sometimes so that's how I came to start it.
@anonymous
Thanks for the comment. Probably a lot of folks with meniere’s have the same routines that you and I have.
Stay in touch
David
@ Jeff,
Lately I have been trying to sleep just on my back but I don’t seem to sleep as well. I am real careful not to twist my neck quickly (or at all).
Thanks for the comment
David
I have suffered for 9 years with Menieres and am so happy to have found this blog. I feel so alone in my disease and it is comforting to "hear" others speak of their experiences. I too follow everyone of those routines! I actually try to sleep slightly sitting up but then I don't sleep as well.
As a Canadian the first thing my doctor did was prescribe Serc. It seemed to work at first but now that I am in a more advanced stage (less severe attacks eveyday)it doesn't seem to be effective at all.I am hoping he will prescribe me some diuretics and hopefully have the tubes inserted for the meniett device. I have started acupuncture and some other non-traditional methods as well in my desperate search for relief from this nightmare. I am curious to know if anyone else has tried any non-traditional methods.
I am a teacher and am due back to work next week. I am not sure I am going to make it..it has been hard lately to keep up with that positive attitude. Thanks for the blog:)
Hi Deb,
there seems to be a lot of non traditional methods for meniere's disease. The diuretics seemed to have helped me. As for the meniett device my insurance wouldn't cover it so I didn't get a chance to use it.
That is interesting about the acupuncture, let us know how it works out.
Hang in there and I hope you are back at teaching soon.
keep in touch
David
Deb and all
I think I have tried everything! I have done the meeds....in the beginning I did steroids and anti viral. I have done a month of herpes meeds. I have done John of ohio's regimen since may and recently added usage. Also I have been on the diuretic and serc since it started almost a year and a half ago. Nothing has worked! I did great with a 500 mg of salt a day but then it came back full force! I have also done the no booze, gluten, caffeine, chocolate.
My latest is the meniett. I have had the tube almost two weeks. Had an attack one week into it but am crossing my fingers. I was told it takes 6 weeks to see results. If it doesn't work I am doing the shunt!
I am not saying don't try any of my failed regimens! They have worked for some!
Good kuck!
Hi pbaker,
Hopefully the meniett will help you. Keep in touch and let us know how things are going
David
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