Meniere Attacks, Driving

Gin

Member
Author
Nov 17, 2015
163
Tinnitus Since
July 2015
So I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease about two years ago. Still adjusting to it.

In the last few months it has been pretty bad. Averaging about one attack every week. Luckily, I don't experience the vomiting, just the nausea and extreme dizziness with Loud Tinnitus and fullness in the ears.

I drove to Florida this past weekend by myself for four days. I was ok first couple days. The day before I left I noticed my balance was a little worse and ears were starting to plug up. By the time I was leaving to head home, an eight hour drive, ears were roaring and balance was off ears completely plugged.

I took some xanax (.25mg) and the noise went down some. About two hours in I got off the ramp to get gas. As I pulled off the interstate and to the stop sign, severe vertigo hit. I was fine if I was moving but as soon as I stopped I was dizzy. As I got out of the car and into the store I could barely walk. I ended up taking some dramamine and I did notice about thirty minutes later both ears popped back open. I did make it home and after dramamine and xanax things got better.

I am new to Meniere's and just wanted to know if this sounds familiar to those who have it. And does the dizziness/vertigo seem worse to you when you are standing or sitting still. I notice at home its worse laying down sometimes than it is walking around.

Also, I know I am in the early stages, but an attack once a week sucks. Tell me it gets better.

I am taking claritin, xanax, lipoflavonoids, and promethazine. I work full time in an office as an office manager doing accounting 45 hrs a week. So I need to be able to function.

The migraines are bad on the days that I am not having a meniere attack, taking verapamil for those. I guess I just want some advice, words of encouragement, and words of validation that this is menieres (even though I have been diagnosed by the world re-known, Dr. Schwaber , ps, no bedside manner ha).

Thanks.
 
So I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease about two years ago. Still adjusting to it.

In the last few months it has been pretty bad. Averaging about one attack every week. Luckily, I don't experience the vomiting, just the nausea and extreme dizziness with Loud Tinnitus and fullness in the ears.

I drove to Florida this past weekend by myself for four days. I was ok first couple days. The day before I left I noticed my balance was a little worse and ears were starting to plug up. By the time I was leaving to head home, an eight hour drive, ears were roaring and balance was off ears completely plugged.

I took some xanax (.25mg) and the noise went down some. About two hours in I got off the ramp to get gas. As I pulled off the interstate and to the stop sign, severe vertigo hit. I was fine if I was moving but as soon as I stopped I was dizzy. As I got out of the car and into the store I could barely walk. I ended up taking some dramamine and I did notice about thirty minutes later both ears popped back open. I did make it home and after dramamine and xanax things got better.

I am new to Meniere's and just wanted to know if this sounds familiar to those who have it. And does the dizziness/vertigo seem worse to you when you are standing or sitting still. I notice at home its worse laying down sometimes than it is walking around.

Also, I know I am in the early stages, but an attack once a week sucks. Tell me it gets better.

I am taking claritin, xanax, lipoflavonoids, and promethazine. I work full time in an office as an office manager doing accounting 45 hrs a week. So I need to be able to function.

The migraines are bad on the days that I am not having a meniere attack, taking verapamil for those. I guess I just want some advice, words of encouragement, and words of validation that this is menieres (even though I have been diagnosed by the world re-known, Dr. Schwaber , ps, no bedside manner ha).

Thanks.

I'm sorry you feel this way. I have similar experiences but have not been diagnosed. I get the dizziness at times and i have a messed up stomach 24-7 (gastritis). My tinnitus is beyond horrible and I get fullness in ears all the time too. Life can be brutal, but our character and our fight for life shines brighter. I been to many Drs and never got an answer.... Keep moving forward in life, you are a true warrior!
 
Hi @Gin,
Menieres is horrid and attacks can happen out of know where and vertigo.
I spent years really sick and vertigo attacks and bouncy vision and off balance and had to spend days in bed or on the sofa and sever Bilateral tinnitus.
I had my driving licence stopped and I'm afraid you will have yours stopped until you go 12 months vertigo free on medication.
You need chat with ENT or doctor on what meds you take and what you are going through regarding Menieres and keep a diary.
I will help you all I can as it's not a nice thing to go through.
Love glynis xxx
 
Hi @Gin,
Menieres is horrid and attacks can happen out of know where and vertigo.
I spent years really sick and vertigo attacks and bouncy vision and off balance and had to spend days in bed or on the sofa and sever Bilateral tinnitus.
I had my driving licence stopped and I'm afraid you will have yours stopped until you go 12 months vertigo free on medication.
You need chat with ENT or doctor on what meds you take and what you are going through regarding Menieres and keep a diary.
I will help you all I can as it's not a nice thing to go through.
Love glynis xxx
Thanks. I went to my ENT last week. My hearing in both ears is now affected. It may have gone bilateral. She is a new ENT. I sent over my previous records and Balance testing results. Having a hard time getting her to return my call and go over everything with me. But I am fairly certain it is meniere's at this point. I had been diagnosed a year ago, but that doctor had no bedside manner and didn't really answer questions etc. Gave me my diagnosis and threw a pamphlet at me. So far I am taking xanax and promethazine when I have attacks. I have called my neurologist and asked about getting on Serc Bethistamine but haven't heard back from him. Taking lipos daily, vitamin c, and claritin. Trying to follow the John of Ohio regimen. I keep breaking out in hives too. But I am sure it's just nerves. Hence the claritin and antacids daily (per my primary).
 
I found taking Betahistine daily with Cinnarazine 15mg 3-6 aday helpful.

I'm so glad I'm over some of the symptoms now but suffer greatly with sever Bilateral tinnitus.
Menieres can be so debilitating and was hard going bringing up my son's at times.
Keep pushing for the medications .
Also if you contact Menieres UK they will send you info in the post and can talk to them also.
I hope you have some support around you ....
Love glynis xxx
 
I have had a similar experience with dizziness. I was getting dizzy when the car stopped or when I stopped moving around. I did, however, feel better when I was laying down. Long story short, I am fairly certain at this point that the dizziness was related to migraines. My migraines are triggered by cervical and shoulder instability. I started having a chiropractor work on me with very specific techniques, then added physical therapy and finally weekly injection of a nerve block to my head. I have been able to get off of the Prednisone and have not been dizzy. None of this, however, has helped my ear. I'm not a doctor but it still seems that your problems could be migraine related. At the very least, I have read that people who effectively control their migraines have less Meniere's symptoms. Feel free to message me if you want any details. Hope you feel better.
 
Yea mine is Meniere's related. Spent tons of money and time getting diagnosed. About two and half years later finally got the diagnosis. I do have migraines with the Menieres. I have taken several different medications, but none of them have seemed to help very much. The vertigo is pretty much daily. Just some days not as bad as others.
 

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