Living with Meniere’s

The girls at the office recently enlightened me that in order to blog, you … well … have to blog. My New Year’s resolution, I will blog regularly. I launched this blog to discuss my recent diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease.

Let me give you a quick update. I had my first bout of vertigo on Jan. 7th of 2009. I was misdiagnosed for eleven months. During that time, I was in bed most days. I had vertigo almost everyday. My life was HELL.

I finally received the diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease on November 12, 2009. I had dexamethasone inner ear perfusion on Tuesday, January 12 of this year. Dr. John Dornhoffer at UAMS inserted a needle through my left eardrum and delivered the steroid shot in hopes of helping  my vertigo. The procedure was at 10 a.m. I had another bout with vertigo that night at 9:30. I have had several instances of vertigo since the procedure. My first thought was, “Wow, I’ve really messed myself up. I should never have had the perfusion.”

Today is Jan. 27th. This is the fourth day in a row that I haven’t had vertigo since the 12th. What a difference time makes. I’m not a patient person and this disease has taught me to be patient. It has also taught me the importance of faith, family and friends. And of course, it’s taught me … if you don’t have your health … you really don’t have anything. I believe I am a better person because of this disease.

There is no cure for Meniere’s. If you have the disease or know of someone who does, I hope you will add your comments. The more I know, the more I understand. Please join the conversation.

On a lighter note. Don’t forget the people you love on Valentine’s Day.

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