Sunday, January 1, 2012

Meniere’s disease New Year resolution

Happy New Year’s from my life and meniere’s disease! Let’s all hope that 2012 is much better than 2011 not only from a meniere’s perspective but in all things In your life. It was a rocky year for me with plenty of ups and downs but I made it and I’m glad that you did to. Now let’s think positive about what is coming up in the New Year.


I usually don’t make New Year’s resolutions but I think I will make a few this year. The first one is to start eating right and hopefully see some of my excess weight come off. Over the years I have lost weight but I haven’t been able to keep it off for a long period of time. This year I will definitely try harder to watch what I eat and avoid the foods that aren’t good for me (unfortunately the foods that aren’t good for me are the ones that I love, like cake, ice cream, junk food, red meat…)

I am going to also try to begin exercising by walking a few times a week. I’m a little scared about this one because the park that I used to walk in isn’t as safe as it once was and I am also fearful about having a meniere’s attack or possibly a fall. But I need to try because walking is a great way to strengthen the heart and also help with my balance.

I also hope that I have a resolution on my social security disability claim in 2012 but there isn’t much I can do about that one.

Anybody else have any resolutions for 2012?

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Thanks

16 comments:

Peggy said...

Hello, David, and Happy New Year! My resolutions are quite similar to yours, and I think I mentioned them elsewhere on the blog.

Mostly, I want to stop letting Meniere's define my life. That includes eating more healthy foods (lower in fat, salt, and so on) and getting more exercise so I can lose weight and become a bit more independent.

I plan to buy an elliptical trainer for the house so I can exercise without having to go out to walk alone in January and February. Fortunately, my mother has offered to finance this "resolution."

On the social side, I've recently gone back to singing with a church choir, and I'd like to do more singing if I can find another group I like. I also hope to spend more time with some friends I haven't seen much of this year.

We will probably put our house on the market in February, and whatever house we buy next will have a bedroom, bathroom, and laundry facilities on the ground floor to make life easier going forward.

That's really about it, but the gist of it is: I want to lead a healthier, more active life and try to minimize the impact of Meniere's on my life.

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy 2012.

David Stillwagon said...

Hi Peggy,
I remember you mentioning about a new years resolution, thats probably where I got the idea.
My wife has a stationary bike that she uses quite a bit, I think that this year I might try using it some (I don't know how that is going to work out) and I am now trying to eat the right foods as well.

Hopefully we all will be successful with our goals in 2012!
David

Peggy said...

I like the idea of a stationary bike, particularly if it's a recumbent bike rather than one where you sit on top. It seems to me that it might go rather well as long as I have handlebars or something else to hold on to. As long as it's in the home, I'm hoping I can try to ease into it and go gently at first, then work up to more.

When I was in vestibular rehab, the therapist had me walk on the treadmill for about 10 minutes at a time. At first, he had me focus my eyes on one point on the wall, to help limit dizziness. That could help you, too. Start small and keep your eyes focused in one area. Then try to expand, if it goes well. That's how I plan to work on this.

This is the first time in my life that New Year's resolutions have made perfect sense! I hope we all are doing better by this time in 2013.

Peggy said...

We went shopping for an exercise machine today, and I think I've settled on a specific elliptical that has adjustable stride and smooth action. We will probably go back tomorrow and buy it. It feels good to make some progress. Now we'll see if I can find a good spot in the house for it, use it, and use it consistently. :)

David Stillwagon said...

That is a great start to the New Year!
David

ali said...

hello peggy
remeber to warm up and stretch for a good 10 to 20 minutes after your workout, also always try and keep a good posture while doing any cardio/exercise
ali

Peggy said...

We did it! The store will call in a couple of days to set up delivery. My resolution is in motion. :)

Now, if I could just figure out where the best place is in the house to locate this beast...

Oh, and I had a stress test this morning, which I passed with flying colors, apparently. That's a huge relief.

David Stillwagon said...

That's great news Peggy!

I know we had a time finding a place for our bike till we decided on the basement. It has worked out pretty good.
David

Peggy said...

I wish we could use the basement, but it has a low ceiling. I'm afraid I'd bump my head with an elliptical... I thought about a recumbent bike, but I'm convinced it's not as good a workout. I am also thinking about a small sunroom, but I'm not sure the floor in their is sturdy enough. It's a problem, but I'm glad we are doing this.

Anonymous said...

For 2010 I gave up caffeine, made a huge difference in my Menier's. In 2011 I started a paleo diet, all meat and veggies basically. That has made the biggest difference in my quality of life!!!!!! I never have attacks, ever!!!!! Today I thought I might throw a cheat day for food once a week. So I had a cheeseburger for lunch and artichoke spinach dip for dinner...about 15 minutes after dinner, full blown attack. Ears ringing, vertigo which had me sick hugging the toilet for an hour, couldn't keep Xanax down so it also prompted an anxiety attack. Out of antivert, will NEVER let that happen again! Finally better but was close to heading to ER. Back on the diet, bread, dairy and I have officially broken up for good...giving up cheese sucks but nowhere near as bad as a vertigo attack!!! Please try changing your diet and caffeine habits, it will literally make a world of difference!!! I wish you the best! XO

Esperanza said...

Does anyone have chronic, non stop, all day motion sickness? Not spinning vertigo but that heavy head, unstable feeling? Does this sound like Meniere's? I've had it since October in addition to tinnitus and high pitch hearing loss in one ear. Am so so miserable and sad. Any thoughts?

ali said...

hello esperanza
i have what u talk about, daily feeling like an attack is round the corner, feeling unsteady a majority of the time. ur not alone
ali

melanie said...

Esperanza, I've had something very similar 'in between' my attacks. It can last for weeks and weeks. Dr. tells me it's part of the package and is either 'after effects' or cluster attacks. I also have severe motion sickness so it makes it even harder. I wish u the best. I know...and I mean know what you are going through. Life on hold, canceling plans, feeling miserable, and SAD! My thoughts are with u

Peggy said...

Well, it seems one of my New Year's resolutions might be to find a new doctor. My ear/nose/throat specialist has thrown up her hands after treating me for two years.

I called three days ago to say the prism lenses aren't really helping me, and I'm still dizzy on a daily basis, and I asked what she would suggest. Her only suggestion was that I consider going to see another doctor in Manhattan, who was one of her teachers/mentors in medical school.

This is really disconcerting, because it means she has reached the end of her ideas for me.

I'm not really sure what I will do next. And I'm discouraged enough at this point with my lack of progress this year to feel that maybe this is just as good as it's going to get. :(

David Stillwagon said...

Hi Peggy,
I am sorry to hear about your ENT but maybe in the long run it will work out better. Another doctor may have a completely different perspective on possible treatments.

Good luck on your new doctor, let us know how it is going.
David

Peggy said...

I agree in principle, David, although I already saw this doctor more than a year ago for a second opinion before I had the laby surgery. He was quite noncommittal about the whole thing, and I didn't find him easy to talk to at all.

So although it is a good idea to see another doctor for a fresh point of view, I'm not sure this is the right doctor to try. Plus, it's difficult for me to get there, involving getting myself to the train station, getting through the hell that is Penn Station in NYC, and then taking the subway. All daunting challenges with Meniere's.

:(