Menieres

[Eve]

One for Sqad's expertise perhaps.

Is there a big difference between betahistines/stemetil/cinnarizine and would the latter be more interchangeable with either of the former in particular or would it not really matter?

Thanks in advance and apologies for any delayed reply, site keeps crashing and going very slow and giving script errors tonight.

[Sqad]

This is MY personal opinion and may differ from others;-)

Betahistine is of little value either in the prevention of Meniere's or during an acute attack.

Stemetil and cinnarizine are both equally effective in an acute attack, but will not prevent attacks.

If yopu have vomiting with an attack, which is not unusual and cannot take or vomit up the tablets....then Buccastem (prochlorperazine) can be placed bewtween your gums and cheek and is absorbed through the lining of the mouth.

Betahistine doesn't help at all, in my opinion.

[Peter Pedant]

Sqad has been good enough to say it is a personal opinion

medical students are still taught it is a main stay

however there is a site MDUK - that would be meniere disease UK
and a thread there
http://www.mduk.org/index.php?topic=3399.0

where it is clear some find it hel[ful and some dont

THEY say try it and see ( I think )

[Eve]

Thanks Sqad, I do value your opinion :)

Interesting, I've been switched from stemetil to cinnarizine to see if it helps as it's apparently less of an issue with my other drugs so seeing how it goes. Still taking the betahistines though have had increasing issues with tinnitus and hearing and being a lot more off balance though thankfully no recent thrown to the floor attacks. Had a number of colds though recently (playing havoc with RA injections) which hasn't helped though as they make my ears more crazy than usual.

Had a rather unfortunate incident when I fell into a wall last week, nearly head first, had some embarrassing incidents with a wheelie chair and had been a lot more wobbly and had more trips/falls.

Will see how the new one goes for a bit though.

[Eve]

Thanks for that Peter. I do value Sqad's opinion and know personal opinions will vary.

I've been on betahistines for many years, about ten I think since I was first properly diagnosed. Difficult to know though, for me anyway, due to the nature of the condition itself.

[Sqad]

PP

\\\\\medical students are still taught it is a main stay \\\

I blo.dy well hope they are not.......

Eve.

I realise that you have got other fairly debilitating problems, but clearly the Menieres is becoming a problem. With that in mind, have you seen an ENT surgeon who has discussed the posibility of an operation?

[Eve]

Not as regards surgery but I do need to go back. It seems to have taken a bit of a back seat with all the RA stuff going on. The stumbling and falling isn't good as it impacts on my joints which causes more issues and I have much more difficulty in getting up now.

Fell out of a chair recently at a coffee shop onto the ground (outside too!) though thankfully a group of very nice men rushed over to haul me back up and get me back into a chair.

Are there more options for operations now? Going back it seemed like a bit of a last resort with potentially serious complications like losing all hearing but I imagine things may have come on?

[Sqad]

Well yes.......things have come on.

Let me make it as simple as possible.....Menieres Disease is a build up of fluid, the reason not clearly understood, in the endolymphatic sac ( a bag of fluid in the inner ear. Now, this "sac" can be drained permanently, so that any further build up of fluid automatically drains away....endolymphatic decompression.

Mention that to your ENT Consultant.

[Eve]

Another thing I have noticed too is I've feeling a lot more "allergic" lately and wonder if there is any connection too as this came up as an issue when I was diagnosed as I was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis at the same time. I've not been able to pin down anything specific though. Feeling almost hayfevery (sorry, not a proper word I know!) at times, itchy, sore itchy eyes, wheezy, stuffy and runny nose and headachey.

[Eve]

Oh, wow, I certainly will! Will be interesting to hear what he has too say. I will report back when I've managed to get back to see him. Thank you, I really appreciate your advice.

[Sqad]

mmmm! if you have had a definitive diagnosis of Menieres......all the tests and an "expert" opinion, then i cannot see that an "allergy" has any part to play.

[Eve]

May be early tree pollens lurking about, especially with it being windy as some trees and such came up on my allergy tests when I had immunology skin pricks a few years back. Mainly at work (I may be allergic to work haha!) so possibly something round there as plenty of trees! Am on Nasofan and was on a daily cetirizine before switching to cinnarizine and have anti-allergy eyedrops on prescription so might try one of those pollen block things you put round your mouth and nose, see if that helps.

[Eve]

Argh, site does not like me tonight! Yes, was diagnosed with both by the same consultant after all sorts of tests and putting air and water in my ears, hearing tests, MRI scan etc...

[Sqad]

O.K.