Sunday, September 11, 2011

Meniere’s, vertigo and lotion

We all by now know the big differences between Meniere’s disease and vertigo. The cause of Meniere’s disease is unknown, although there a lot of theories about what brings it on and the cure for meniere’s is also unknown. Vertigo on the other hand is caused by an inner ear disorder that creates a false sense of movement. Vertigo can be corrected by a type of therapy called canalith repositioning procedure which moves particles around in the inner ear to stop the motion sensors in the ear from sending the wrong signals to the brain. But is there any other treatments, such as lotions that help with the dizziness?
The reason that I am writing about this is a commercial that I saw the other day for a lotion that is applied behind the ear and it supposed to curtail the vertigo. I am not going to write about any specific products but you have to wonder if anyone has found any relief from them. The commercial only mentioned vertigo and not meniere’s which is not surprising because most folks have heard about vertigo, whereas, unfortunately meniere’s still isn’t very well known.
I have a rather healthy skepticism about any claims that certain products are cure all for whatever ails you, especially when it comes to inner ear disorders such as vertigo and Meniere’s disease. However I always want to hear about anything that might help with these dreaded problems.
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16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm posting as anonymous because I can't figure out how I'm supposed to post here (help?). I wanted to comment because I did purchase a liquid in a bottle from Walmart.Com that was for vertigo, dizziness and nausea. I had seen this same bottle for sale other places for alot more money and thought I'd try it. Always trying to find something to help this dizziness. I have to say I do get some relief from it. You put it behind both ears (on your head, not the ear) and it has calmed the awful dizzy spells. I have used it once during an acute vertigo spell and it did help, not completely halt it, but there was some relief. Now when I feel slightly dizzy I go ahead and put drops behind my ears to hopefully help it not go into full vertigo. For me, it makes my off balance feel not so bad. This is just my opinion, certainly can't speak for anyone else. Deborah

Lauri said...

What is the lotion called?
I haven't heard of it..but like David, I want to know what is out there, and if it's working for anyone. I'll try just about anything that's not destructive, if I can afford it :)
You never know.

Diane said...

I have it, it's called Motion-Eze, but they also make something else called divertigo which I haven't tried. I used the drops when I'm starting to get that queasy feeling, and sometimes I automatically put it on right after a shower when the skin will absorb it faster. I can't say for sure whether it works, I think it helps. The past week or two I have been munching valium about 3 or 4 times a day, along with Phenergan at night. It stinks when I am so tired but can't go to sleep because the second I close my eyes - the world starts spinning and I feel SO SICK. People mention that it smells bad (MotionEze), but I have lost my sense of smell from a head injury. The same head injury that has left me with what my ENT calls "Meniere's Like" symptoms. He won't call it Meniere's because we know what caused it - skull fracture. I figure anything is worth a shot. It's been two years since my TBI, and still have vertigo. I baffle my dr's. Seriously? you've never seen this before? Whatever. Diane

Lauri said...

Thanks for the info Diane~
My local Walmart carries Motion Eaze, and I plan to try it. Great that it's natural & applied behind the ears, since it's hard to ingest a pill once you're already sick.
I'll let you all know if it works.
I've read plenty of reviews that say it helped for nausea..I hope it helps with vertigo too. :)

Anonymous said...

This is anonymous again. Yes, it is Motion Ezzzz, Walmart.com, was where I got it. You can't beat the price 4.00 plus free shipping. I had to try it and felt I wouldn't be wasting too much money. It does have a scent, like essential oils, but I like it actually. Like I, just my opinion but it helps ease the daily dizziness some for me and I'll take anything if it will help. I dislike taking pills and the side effects but sometimes they are necessary. So I use this pretty much daily. Deborah

Peggy said...

Lauri, do you have anti-nausea meds you can take by dissolving it in your mouth? I had that for awhile, and when I knew I was getting sick, I would pop one in my mouth and sit VERY still while it took effect. Then I would take a valium or two. You could ask your NEW ENT (I hope you have one by now?) for a prescription for this?

Lauri said...

Peggy~ If I have to I can dissolve them under my tongue. Yucky!
The Dr. has stated that he feels his charting was correct. ( I expected that)
What I'm waiting to hear on his whether they are making the chart addendums I sent a part of my permanent file. I am insistent on that, and if they refuse then I will take my complaint up with the State Dept. of Health & Licensing. I'm not going to let this guy get away with it. Unbelievably, he doesn't even seem to understand that I have fired him! Now I'll have to send out yet another letter.
I have an appt. w/GP on 20th for a new ENT referral. That was the soonest appt.available.

Peggy said...

Lauri,
There are anti-nausea meds you can dissolve under your tongue that are quite tasty... no need for the yucky! Heck, there are even anti-nausea meds that are worn as a patch; I had that before, during and after my surgery so I wouldn't vomit when I came off the anesthesia. That was actually a very nice touch. I remember coming out of a surgery 25 years ago and being so sick it could easily compare to a Meniere's attack, just from the anesthesia.

I'm glad you're making progress toward a new ENT. Let's hope the next one will be willing to think and listen!

picnicwithants said...

Peggy,
I'm having the same problems lately...having to take more Valium and phenergan. I also get Phenergan suppositories...I know yuck...but they work..and fast. And you don't have to worry about throwing them up.

David.
I have problems with your description of the difference of Meniere's and Vertigo.
There are many causes of Vertigo...Meniere's being one of them.
What you describe sounds like BPPV - (and not everyone responds to the treatment available. I have a friend who has tried the treatment many times and it's just not working. The doctor said a laby is the only thing that will stop her BPPV)
Some of the causes of Vertigo include:
Meniere's
Benign Paroxymsmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Labyrinthitis
Acoustic Neuroma
Inner Ear trauma
Barotrauma
Central Causes (Strokes, tumors, seizures, and Multiple Sclerosis
Vestibular Migraines (MAV)

"In patients with vertigo, inflammation of the fluid or irritation of the crystals on the nerve membrane that lines the walls of the semicircular canals may cause the spinning sensation even without much head movement. "

This information comes from http://www.medicinenet.com

I'm glad the lotion/drops are helping some people. I have to say, I'm skeptical, but may give it a try myself since the cost is so reasonable.

Peggy said...

For what it's worth, I have given vertigo a lot of thought and research over the past couple of years. People kept asking me whether I was dizzy or having vertigo, and I wasn't sure what the difference was.

As I understand it now, dizziness is the sensation of disequilibrium where your head feels like it's spinning and your balance is off. In contrast, vertigo makes you feel as if everything around you is moving, creating a sensation as if you are in an earthquake. I just recently sat through my first earthquake, and it really did feel exactly like many of my vertigo attacks.

Meniere's attacks for me include vertigo, which makes the whole world jump up and down and spin around, and nausea. And I think vertigo is one of the hallmark symptoms of Meniere's, so I'm not sure what the distinction is that David was trying to draw in his original post.

David, maybe you could clarify?

David Stillwagon said...

I was just trying to say that what might work for vertigo might not work for meniere's.

Peggy said...

Ah, I get it. Well, that is true. BPPV treatments won't work for Meniere's, and vice versa. I've been through both, and it was a weird experience.

Edmund Cheung, MD. mPH. said...

MotionEaze and DiVertigo are all natural.  They are a special formulation of Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Chamomile, Myrrh, Ylang-Ylang and Birch.

Found this from their web site. Nice combination of essential oils. I definitely think they can help with some of the mild nausea symptoms. I personally use the Lavender, Peppermint Yiang smell oils daily.

Peggy said...

Edmund, that link took me to a page on YouTube with a few videos about college football...

David Stillwagon said...

Same here, I'll try to delete the comment

Peggy said...

Actually, Dr. Ed Cheung has posted a good number of rather useful videos on YouTube about Meniere's, from symptoms to diagnosis to treatments.

Go to YouTube and enter the words "Ed's Meniere's" in the search function, and you will find his videos. I'm working my way through them now, one at a time. The one on medications (6.2, I think) has been pretty interesting. The videos are a rather good primer on the subject for those of us trying to sort through a ton of information on our own.

Thanks for that, Ed.