I hope they have got better it would be lovely to hear from some of them!
Yes it’s annoying they don’t come back to post success stories but can’t blame them for getting on with their life.
When I looked last it seems to take 3-5 years from the initial ‘bang’ to come out of the woods judging by posts on here.
I have definitely improved a lot in 2, but I’m far from out of the woods yet.
You’ve had remission before. Just do what you did the first time
@ turnitaround …re: hydrops info, yet again, an interesting article, thank you. Another specific combination of treatments…but again it seems that his is not the ‘cure’ (that we are all wishing for), but a relief of the symptoms. This also suggests to me that, like the Meniere’s, if pretty much left alone it will run it’s course and burn out or go into remission…till the next flare up. If only we could find that offending THING that starts the whole bloomin’ process in the first place…and what causes the flare ups/relapses.
Stepping down off the soap box now…
I wonder what the story is with the drug Tolvaptan that he mentions on his page? I wonder why it is not available if it could help?
As for people not returning to share their success stories, I think that the return to normal health is pretty gradual, until you suddenly realize one day that 'it’s’ gone…and then you don’t want to rock the boat by saying it out loud in case 'it’ hears and comes back - and then life just goes on…! Sounds silly, but I can relate!!
I get that Beth.
Yeah, would agree with you on ‘symptom’ control but in this case perhaps this might be a little bit closer to the root cause? The use of anti-depressants and the like in MAV seem to be used to dampen the sensations coming from (let’s assume) the ear and/or quieten the brain down from reacting. It doesn’t address the cause of those signals. What he is suggesting is directly lowering the pressure which in itself would mean the sensations and signals don’t even arise in the first place! Sure it doesn’t address why those stress hormones were created though …
However, i’ll take a shot at that - stress is known to spur the brain into re-wiring to cope with new a challenge. If your vestibular upset is acute and/or minor, this is a good thing as it will ensure you compensate for any change in your vestibular set-up. (I already posted a paper on this: Interactions between Stress and Vestibular Compensation – A Review - PMC)
I think his model is very interesting as it explains the role of stress in exacerbation. I’m now at a point now where I’m generally very calm about the condition and at the same time it seems to be at its least nasty since it came on - coincidence? Who knows!
However, what he doesn’t discuss is the potential side effects of that drug - I note its used for other disorders and perhaps the side effects are too dangerous or disruptive to even be considered. However would make sense for someone qualified to comment on it. After all, there must have been a process by which, for example, Amitriptyline became adopted for treating MAV - someone must have thought: hey, what about trying this out on a few patients to see if it helps and BINGO!
What is really compelling about the model is it explains why there’s a vicious cycle - i.e. you get a terribly anxiety creating vestibular condition and you generate stress hormones in reaction to this anxiety and this in turn exacerbates the condition ensuring it is chronic. Anything you can do to break the cycle has to be good?!
I also think there is another vicious cycle going on potentially - when you get a vertigo attack that somehow messes up the pressure regulation of the ear which in turn creates pressure and this eventually results in another vertigo attack and so on … the question is does this cycle peter out? i.e. do the vertigo attacks trend to more mild versions, which in turn reduces the disruption etc. ?
PS I’ve emailed an academic ENT surgeon I once saw who specialises in PLFs to ask him about this. He’s unlikely to get back to me, but lets see …
This is my basic problem (because I need to know why…).
I have been through some pretty stressful times in my life… one e.g: With 2 young children, my hubby changed ‘careers’ with disastrous consequences - declared bankrupt, lost our home, lost my inherited nest egg, had to move to a new town etc, etc,…major stress and no sign of Meneire’s/vertigo/ nothing!!
Yet when everything seems to be rosy…nice Christmas with the kids visiting…and bingo, thar she blows!
I totally understand the mechanism of stress increasing pressure etc, etc,…perhaps there are different ‘kinds’ of stress releasing different hormones??? BTW…proof yet again yesterday that in my particular case, a drop in weather pressure caused a slight pressure headache/full ear etc.
But despite all that - he still raises interesting ideas…and at least he’s trying to do something!! Have yet to read your other paper- which just popped up as I was typing…
I just want to get better (bad day )