Health Stuff…. Meniere’s spins, joint aches, lactose tolerance
June 17, 2010 11:10 pm Diagnosis, Doctors Visit, Medication, Vertigo, side effects, symptomsHealth Stuff… If you’ve ever gone through it you probably dread the conversations you get. So many people mean well and try to help. You get all sorts of diet, treatment suggestions, news and magazine clippings…. it does get tiresome.
I have added to my diagnosis in the last few months. I’ve been diagnosed for the last two years with Meniere’s Disease, but in the last several months have received a diagnose of “likely” seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. I had been having joint pain all over since October (which was a rough month for flu bugs at our house.) I can’t help but think that may have triggered all the problems. Right now they’re trying to regulate medicines, but I’m on the prednasone, plaquenil, a couple of allergy medicines (as that is a trigger for the Meniere’s…. (sigh) and a myriad of more conversations I can have where I get recommended foods that are antiinflammatory. I know – they are trying to help, but good grief… sometimes you just need to try one thing at a time and see what happens. (Unfortunately many of the treatments take a while to take effect, or have side effects that are scary.)
May/June was a very active spinning stretch. I had about 5 episodes through a stretch of a few weeks. It seemed like a spin every 3 days. I think the start of it was a missing of the allergy shot due to a fever and then several necessary visits into the attic to identify a leak location. So, I’ve had it all lately vertigo (although it was “mild” vertigo – I didn’t have the MAD spinning that I have experienced before…)
I can’t help but wonder if the two diseases are related for me. Both of them seem to have inflammation as a symptom and autoimmune related causes. I guess my immune system is just working too well…
Here’s a weird note. For some 20 years I’ve avoided milk like a vampire avoids the sun because of several experiences of terrible stomach upset after milk. For the last 15 years I really had wished I could drink milk and resolved to try it again when I had a free afternoon (because I new I’d feel like I had a stomach full of knives afterwards.) Well. Sunday evening I took a chance and poured a skim milk, added chocolate (great cold drink for a late spring (Hot) evening btw..) No bad effects. So, every night this week I’ve done likewise and have been on a roll energy wise (I’m thinking that may play a part in my energy of late as I’ve been on this low dose prednisone for quite a while so I doubt it’s that.) If anything my stomach/digestion seems to be perking along better than it has been over the last several months.
So…. that’s weird. I’m assuming that before maybe it was the fat (I seem to recall that it was something like 2% skim and I think what we have is …. well best described as 0% skim.) Who knows, maybe my stomache chemistry has changed?
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:27 pm
I assume that you have had a full Thyroid panel (TSH, T4, Free T4, and T3) done on your last blood test?
Body and joint pains, and vertigo, among many other symptoms, are common with endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid- TSH should be 0-4 range).
June 23rd, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Yes – they did a full Thyroid panel (that was discussed as were several other possibilities.) It really does sound as though with a family history of Rheumatoid Arthritis (maternal aunt) that is the most likely match (and the meniere’s symptoms stand on their own as Meniere’s Disease.) Since I have seen both of the disorders considered as autoimmune it does seem to make some sense. That much said I’m beginning to feel like a pincushion between allergy shots every other week (or every week in some cases) and all the blood tests… Thanks for the thought… but the thyroid panel seemed within normal ranges. They also talked about siliac disease and tested for that (severe gluten allergy) – that seemed clear as well.
June 24th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Well, I thought it was worth a mention about the thyroid testing.
I have Meniere’s disease as well, and have had it for at least 15 years. I’m saying “at least” because I had symptoms several years prior to the diagnosis. Much more subtle symptoms of course. I have the same endolymphatic hydrops(ear fullness) that you have as well.
My Meniere’s episodes are also motivated by allergies. I also have been getting the allergy therapy shots.
My vertigo has substantially lessened with occasion and severity over the years, but my hearing seems to fluctuate much more. The tinnitus is also worse. This is atypical for Meniere’s to progress this way. I think the vestibular nerve begins to acclimate or desensitize from so many assaults put upon it, as does the hearing nerves. Thus the hearing loss.
My allergies are from pollens, mostly tree pollen, happening in the Spring and late Fall.
I can tell when I’ve been heavily “dosed” with pollen. Usually a windy day, will be the worst, and then I’m left within hours with the beginning itchiness right at the Eustachian openings in the back of the throat. It then progresses into the ear, with popping and clicking noises and within hours or a day, my ears are plugged up and roaring with tinnitus.
I then become unstable and may have some vertiginous episodes. Or at the minimum I will feel that I’m right on the edge of an attack.
So far my therapies have been:
~Assorted antihistamines;
Dramamine I & II, Benedryl, Zyrtec & chlorphenramine maleate(Actifed)
~SERC, Betaserc; betahistine dihydrochloride
~Valium; diazepam
~Prednasone; synthetic corticosteroid
To help with sleep I may additionaly use Valerian Herb &
Melatonin.
I can’t use the Gentamicin injection treatments, because I’m bilaterally affected (I have it in both ears).
All the other surgical options are way too risky and invasive and usually unsuccessful.
I’ve had plenty of time to study and research this disease and know more about it the doctors I have seen, including three ENT’s. At this point, they are only there for support.
After reading a few more of your past posts, I think you may be right about your Meniere’s and Rheumatoid Arthritis “standing on their own”. I say this because you stated in another post, that you had ear pressure and fullness along with your vertigo. If your getting this repeatedly, than this is totally typical for classic Meniere’s. Nothing else mimic’s this on a long term bases. The vertigo by itself, could be many other conditions, ie; BPPV, circulatory issues, medications, etc.
~Best regards
August 18th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Hi, Don’t worry I won’t attempt to give you any advise on treatment. : )
I too have Meniere’s, for about 15 years I think. However, the last couple have been so much worse. I also have bilateral Meniere’s.
I also have Celiac’s Disease, I wanted to say that many times if you have one Autoimmune disorder, you will have more than one.
I too have had troubles with lactose, but have found that if I eat very low fat dairy I can eat it without discomfort, oh, but if I eat the full fat stuff..watch out!
I just started a blog about my Chronic Illnesses.
http://picnicwithants.blogspot.com/
I also have a blog about my adventures eating gluten free.
http://glutenfreegreenie.blogspot.com
good luck
August 18th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Thanks for stopping by – I think you’re right – autoimmune issues come in clusters (I wonder if they’ll flare at the same times?)
I’ve decided that instead of lactose intolerant I was fat intolerant. (Trying 2% milk tonight – hopefully that’s not too much….. unfortunately we were out of the no fat milk…)