The easy answer is for the worse; it has made life a living hell where I am constantly worrying about having another attack. Not to mention, the psychological despair that this disorder puts you in. it also strains relationships and makes working difficult if not impossible. I could go on and on about the trouble that Meniere’s brings.
But have you learned anything about yourself?
In the beginning of this journey with Meniere’s disease, I was confused because I didn’t know anything about it. Like most people I hadn’t even heard about let alone known anyone with it. Once I started to research Meniere’s disease and talk to my doctors about it, I became really upset. No cure, some medicines helped some people, procedures might help and surgery could help but with a price. At that time things didn’t look promising because the devices that are now being tested were in there early stages. Not only was I upset but also depressed and stressed out. I didn’t know what to do.
In January 2009 right after I was on short term disability for the first time I decided to blog about predicament. This changed everything for me! Not only was I constantly researching the problem I was also connecting with others who also had Meniere’s disease. As many of you have told me in the comments section it is really helpful to find others who have to deal with this disorder.
While I still have problems with stress and disappointment, even depression, I know that I am much stronger now than I was in the beginning. And if other problems arise similar to Meniere’s disease I will definitely be able to handle them better because of what I have gone through.
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Sunday, November 28, 2010
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4 comments:
Hello, your posts have helped me a lot this year and I want to say thank you. I'll try to avoid making this comment "wordy".
I'm active duty in the Navy as military police. I've been "sick" since March 2008. Diagnosed with MD February this year in BOTH ears. The psychological effects have been ongoing for two years now. At first it was because of others tell me I was faking it (I didn't "look" sick), doctors not knowing what it was making me ill, being over-medicated and cross medicated, etc. I found little relief when I was diagnosed.
I can no longer carry or fire weapons, deploy over seas to other countries (income suffered), be aboard a ship, take flights, be around flight lines (jet noise) or stand in formation. My daily life has suffered as much as yours. Coffee makes me very ill, along with elevator/escalators, driving more than 30 minutes (night, traffic and rain making it worse), being in a florescent lit room for long periods, go more than a few hours without eating (mostly starchy or sugary foods to combat nausea). I have gained a significant amount of weight and have retreated to a more sedentary lifestyle. Cold temperatures put me in a great deal of pain so I now wear winter head bands.
I do not worry as much about when the next episode or attack will occur, but I do stress over the constant nausea I experience. I also have a constant rocking sensation that I fight against. I tend to trip over my own feet and drift to the right when walking. I take Zofran daily for the nausea and rely on Valium for attacks. Being in the military makes it more difficult to get the medication or rest I need. Doctors are not very educated about the disease and when they ask what works for my attacks they look at me like I'm an addict. I was recently told that despite my ordeal I am handling my diagnosis pretty well emotionally, but my body is not. For that I was put on Zoloft, in hopes to regain healthy hormone levels. Crossing my fingers, wish me luck!
@crimson56 I can't imagine being in the military and haveing to deal with MD. I also have a constant rocking sensation especially when I'm sitting and when ever I stand in one spot. I'm on Maxzide 75-50mg and the doctor prescribed me some Xanax but I can't take it because it makes me hallucinate and puts me to sleep. I work at Sam's and here lately it's all I can do to make it through the day. I'm recovering from a sinus infection that backed up into both of my ears. I've found out that being sick makes the MD much worse and I feel ten times worse than I really am. I'm considering having surgery because the flunctating weather here in TN makes it hard to deal with. I also have other medical problems too. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, MD, and otosclerosis. I also have no thyroid because I've had thyroid cancer.
I have tried Maxzide and responded poorly. I couldn't drink enough water, I always felt dehydrated and my muscles were inflamed. It add to my nausea. For MD I now take C-betahistine and I am responding much better than I did on duretics. There's more out there. :)
Hi Crimson56,
You definitely have it rough having md in both ears and working as military police in the Navy. I can’t imagine trying to do that job with meniere’s disease. And on top of that having others tell you that you are faking it (which is particularily hurtful considering how bad md can be).
The impact of md on life and how it changes what we can and can’t do is a bitter pill to take because it affects almost everything, how we do things and what we eat and how we move about. (Elevators and escalators by the way also makes me light headed)
I am glad to see that some of the medication that you are on helps.
One thing that you might want to consider is to search out other doctors who are more knowledgeable on md. I’m no doctor but getting a second or third opinion on possible treatments wouldn’t hurt.
I am so glad that you left a comment, I will include it in one of my upcoming posts. Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Good luck!
David
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