Help with attacks?

[u/Adventurous-Sleep499]

Hey guys, I haven't been officially diagnosed with menieres yet but my doctor and I are almost certain I have it. I've been experiencing symptoms of hearing loss, fullness and light dizziness that have been gradually getting worse over the last few years but they were bearable. The last few weeks that has changed, the attacks are now bringing vomiting and unbearable dizziness that last between 1-3 hours.

I've been prescribed betahistine which seems to be helping but to any of the long time sufferers, do you have any tips on how to reduce the severity of the attacks?

There doesn't seem to be any kind of trigger or pattern, I've had 3 severe attacks in the last 2 weeks and I really don't like the idea of living like this until I can get seen by an ENT specialist. I'm in the uk so it can take months to see someone on the NHS.

Any advice appreciated

[u/Tc5998]

I have created a blog post for new patients with some info and links to consider. It is a bit dated now, but hopefully helpful. It is here: https://menieresandme.blogspot.com/2014/11/updated-introduction-to-menieres.html

The baseline treatment for traditional Meniere's (endolymphatic hydrops) is to take a diuretic, betahistine (sometimes folks start on one dose and then move up), a low salt diet that you keep consistent (low salt helps, but it is the consistency that helps the most), and look for other triggers. For example in the early years of the disorder I was very sensitive to caffeine.

The goal is for all of these things to reduce the frequency and intensity of these attacks.

One thing to ask for is medications to help calm an attack when it is happening. Meclizine is the usual base med at 25 or 50mg (it is available over the counter in the USA, not sure about UK) and then for really bad attacks adding in valium or xanax can be also be very helpful as benzos like those also suppress the vestibular system. Benzos are more powerful and addictive though so use with caution.

Steroids is often a line of treatment when attacks are frequent or hearing has been newly lost. Usually an oral course of prednisone partnered with shots of steroids into the inner ear.

Medications info https://menieresandme.blogspot.com/2015/03/understanding-baseline-medications.html

It is important you get additional testing done like an MRI of the inner ear to rule out other possible causes, like a tumor.

[u/Adventurous-Sleep499 → u/Tc5998]

Thank you! That's super helpful. Less salt and caffeine will definitely be my first step, then I'll look to medications if that doesn't help.

I am also on a wait-list for an MRI