Tag: Meniere’s Disease Triggers

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Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome

Sinuses and Meniere’s Disease

Sinus issues and Meniere’s Disease

Problems with sinuses have been linked to triggers or possibly even a cause of  Meniere’s Disease.

Sinuses and Meniere's disease - face of woman depicting the position of the sinuses

Denise, a friend of Meniere’s Help recently published a very good post on her blog regarding sinuses and how to safely clear them. Steaming is preferable to  saline sprays.

Denise says that if she used any sort of saline spray she would get ringing in the ears badly and dizziness . She reminds us that saline sprays have a great potential to drift straight to the ears!  This is something we totally do not want because it contributes to the vicious cycle of Meniere’s symptoms!  She says she is no longer fooled when they say that saline solution is safe because there is no ‘so called’ medication ingredients.  I found this very eye-opening but not surprising: http://www.medicinenet.com/sodium_chloride-nasal_spray/page2.htm#SideEffects 

Denise has some very good advice in her post. When we have congestion in the sinuses we may think there is something inside. However, sometimes it is just the swelling that occurs due to infection, irritants, or histamine reactions.

Read a much more in depth article on sinuses and allergies here: Stopping Meniere’s disease symptoms during allergy season.

The safer alternative to nasal sprays when you have Meniere’s Disease

Allergies from pollen in the air and sinus problems seem to be a factor with many people. Hay fever and other airborne allergens, causing inflammation around the nasal passage and sinuses and clogging up the ears with pollen would seem an obvious candidate and many people do seem to have problems with this.

The sinuses and tonsils are the first line of defense for your immune system. The tonsils pick up bacteria and prevent it from going further into your body. The immune system memorizes the bacteria and now has a ready made army of cells to send to eliminate that bacteria the moment it appears again.

In the case of sinuses, these are filters to stop unwanted dusts and allergens into the body. When your sinuses are blocked or running, they are doing their job. To do  their  job, they must be kept moist.

Most sinus medicines prevent them doing their job in order to make you more comfortable. However if the sinuses are not filtering out the allergens, they can proceed and do damage deeper in the body.

Wearing a mask during allergy seasons and steaming the sinuses clear regularly can help. Steaming is preferable to masks. Masks can hold bacteria that should be exhaled. Wearing masks for too long can result in bacterial infections.

You can steam the old fashioned way, bent over  a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head to stop the steam escaping. Or you can use a personal steamer inhaler. 

Click here to read Managing Meniere’s Disease
Click here to read The Need for Balance – Dealing with the Causes of Meniere’s

Help other sufferers. What is your experience with sinuses and Meniere’s disease? Tell us all about it in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

Related articles:

Toxic Mold and Meniere’s
Stopping Meniere’s Symptoms During Allergy Season
Can Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Relieve Meniere’s Symptoms?

References/Further reading:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28992951/

Categories
General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes

Orthokine therapy for Meniere’s disease

Can this therapy heal Meniere’s disease?

Dr. Peter Wehling Founder of The Center for Molecular Orthopedics in Dusseldorf, Germany has developed a procedure where the patient’s own blood is taken, incubated and manipulated then reintroduced into the body and acts as a “natural” anti-inflammatory. Originally this was used for treating sports people to combat chronic pain, usually in joints. The treatment is called “Orthokine” therapy.

Orthokine Therapy is a form of injection therapy, which harnesses and enhances the bodies natural defense mechanisms against inflammation to reduce pain and improve function.

The Orthokine Procedure

  • Blood is taken from the patient. The procedure is carried out similarly to a blood sampling for laboratory testing and is not pain-associated
  • Blood is incubated at 37°C, which stimulates the production of IL-1Ra.
  • Using a laboratory centrifuge to separate the blood components, the protein is extracted
  • This extraction is filed in ampoules, later available in injection form
  • The protein is then injected within the painful area of the joints, using CT guidance

Typically, injections are given 1-2 times a week. Treatment for discogenic diseases requires 4 injections, while lesions of the joints of the extremities, a minimum of 6 injections are usually required. Following injections, patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise for a period of 48 hours. Some side effects may include swelling and numbness around the injection site, which may last around 2 hours

The ear is affected by inflammation in Meniere’s disease and the procedure is said to have been developed further where it may be possible for the hearing and balance nerves damaged by Meniere’s to be healed. Dana White, the UFC President recently received this treatment in Germany is said to feel “cured”.

Orthokine therapy, if available to you, is certainly an option worth investigating.

Can Orthokine therapy work for Meniere’s disease?

Orthokine therapy may come at a cost of a five figure sum and although is becoming more available it is still quite rare (at the time of writing). If you have the kind of money Dana White has then it has to be an option worth considering but for the vast majority it may be financially and practically out of reach for the time being.

As orthokine therapy is not a recognized specific treatment for Meniere’s disease it is unlikely you will be able to get this offered on national health nor be covered by insurance. You will need to find a private clinic and talk about your options.

However, identifying the root cause of your symptoms, be it viral, spinal and neck misalignment, exposure to chemicals or drugs, autoimmune problems, dental or Jaw misalignments or whatever, is possible and it is also possible to reverse the long standing effects and results of years of vertigo attacks and constant pressure within the inner ear that have caused hearing deterioration and balance nerve damage.

If you found this article and site useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

Related articles:

Dealing with Tinnitus
Overcoming Meniere’s Disease
Can Meniere’s Disease be caused by Autoimmunity?

Help other sufferers. Let us know your thoughts and any experience with Orthokine therapy in the comments box below or email Mike at: meniereshelp@gmail.com

References/Further reading:

https://hmcisrael.com/operation/orthokine-treatment/

Categories
Meniere's Disease Success Stories Meniere's Disease and Nutrition

Do Supplements help Meniere’s?

Do supplements help reduce the symptoms of Meniere’s?

Do supplements help Meniere’s? Read this case study below to see how supplements helped Malcom.

Malcolm, a high profile business leadership adviser from the UK……

9/19/09

I am doing well, feeling better and stronger generally. I am taking my tablets, staying off wine and bitter, if I do drink, I drink a good lager.
I have cut right back on salt, but still indulge in coffee. I feel least good when I am walking for some reason with my head fuzzy and I find it difficult to go in a straight line!

 Mar 28

I have been great for a couple of years now but have had a set back over the last few months.
I was worried about keeping on taking the supplements constantly so given that I felt ok i let things slide
and stopped taking the tablets. Needless to say within a week or so I had bad dizziness and hopeless hearing in my left
ear and I was back on the phone for more supplies and have been back on the pills for four weeks now.
I would say I am still a long way short of where i was before I stopped taking the pills. So, any more ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Malcolm Hewitt

Mike Spencer to Malcolm
show details Apr 4
Hi Malcom,

Good to hear from you. Sorry to hear you have had a setback……at least you know that the supplements can help you so you have that safety net……unlike many people who feel they have no hope with Menieres.

In addition the the supplements of course we always believe that taking great care with your diet, alcohol, lifestyle etc. keeping relatively fit and active and absolutely no smoking………if you would like some help with this just let me know.

How is your business??………are you managing ok with it?

Take Care and mail me anytime you like

Mike

Malcolm to me
show details Apr 23
Thanks Mike. The vertigo has go much better over the last few days.
Also being fitted with a hearing aid too 50% hearing loss now in my left ear.
Apart from that I am as fit as flea!

All the best,

Malcolm

Doing well thanks Michael. Had all my mercury fillings removed. Still taking what I would call a maintenance dose of the supplements and feeling great.

Malcolm
MALCOLM HEWITT

Do supplements help Meniere’s – what do you think?

Help other sufferers. What is your experience with Meniere’s disease and supplements? Did supplements help your reduce your symptoms?

Let us know your thoughts by using the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

Related articles:

Overcoming Meniere’s Disease
Mike’s Meniere’s Story
Amalgam mercury and Meniere’s disease

References/Further reading:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30947172/

Categories
Meniere's Disease Success Stories Meniere's Disease and Nutrition

Supplements for Meniere’s Disease – Case Study

Supplements for Meniere’s Disease – case study

Jonas from Belgium has agreed to communicate for a case study using supplements to try and bring his Meniere’s Disease symptoms under control.

I asked him because he lives in Belgium and can not get hold of the exact same supplements used in the US, UK and other English speaking countries. There are many people who can not get access to the same supplements for one reason or another, be it they are in different country or they can’t afford it perhaps, so we want to help find alternatives for those people.

————————————————————————————————–

Jonas Govaerts to me
show details 4:40 PM
Hi Mike,

Thanks for your reply!

I showed your site to a friend who studies alternative medicine, and he provided me with these products: MarinEPA (gold + vitamine D, supercritical Omega-3 supplements) from Minami Nutrition, a bottle of Ginkgo Biloba from Phyto Reform, and Multivitamins from OrtoPhyt.

If there’s anything missing, or if I should add anything, please let me know.

I’ve only been diagnosed six months ago, and for now, the symptoms are relatively mild: I suffer from tinnitus and low-frequency hearing loss, but not vertigo. However, since I’m a professional musician and filmmaker, I find this illness very distressing.

I’m really glad I found your site, since very little people in the medical world seem up to date about Menière’s.
Which reminds me: I’m also taking Betahistine (I think it’s called BetaSerc in the States) but am already lowering my dose,
since it doesn’t seem to do much for me. I hope this medicine doesn’t interfere with the products you recommend?

All the Best from Belgium,
Jonas Govaerts

Mike Spencer to Jonas
show details 4:48 PM
HI Jonas,

We use a Ginkgo which is important, a broad spectrum optimized multivitamin/mineral,
GRAPE SEED EXTRACT (is the main ingredient that helps inflammation….allegedly).

The Omega oils are a good addition because the Dr who originally put the program together added that a few years ago.

As you know the supplements will be available in Belgium soon but I am always looking for alternatives (cheaper) for people.
Would you mind if I followed your progress and put it as a case study on the blog to help others in your position?

I know its a lot to ask but it would help others

Take Care and mail me anytime

Mike

Jonas Govaerts to me
show details 5:24 PM
Hi Mike,

I don’t mind at all, I’ll keep you updated about my progress and you can ask me anything you want.

I’m also a member of the  group Youngsters With Menière’s, they’ve been a great help.
There’s so much misinformation on the net about the disease it’s always good to come in contact with people who know what their talking about and/or have lived through what I’m experiencing.

Just to be clear: do I still need to get the grape seed extract, or is that included in the Multivitamins?

Take Care,
Jonas

Jonas Govaerts to me

Hi Mike,

Just to give you the whole picture: I’m also trying acupuncture, and have recently received a steroid injection in my left eardrum.
I’ve experienced less pressure and tinnitus since then, but the hearing loss seems the same.
They’re doing a new audiogram next week, I’ll let you know if anything has changed.

I know of only two supplement stores in Antwerp, where I live, so please let me know if the new shop opens!

All Best,
Jonas

Mike Spencer to Jonas
show details 6:02 PM (7 minutes ago)

Thanks so much for your help Jonas. I am sure a lot of people will appreciate it 🙂

You will most probably have to get the grape seed extract separately, but check the labels for the ingredients….you never know.
And thanks for the advice about the group ‘Youngsters with Menière’s,’

Hope the first update is a positive one

Take Care and mail me anytime

Mike

Jonas Govaerts to me
show details 6:06 PM (3 minutes ago)

Okay, I’ll try to track it down!

Like I said, I’m ‘only’ suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus at the moment, but I understand the vertigo is a far worse symptom.
Hope I never have to experience it, but you never know with this unpredictable disease…

All Best,
Jonas

Email us at: meniereshelp@gmail.com

If you found this article and site useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

Book Review: The Need for Balance; Dealing with the Causes of Meniere’s Disease
Categories
General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes

Autoimmune connections to Meniere’s disease

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that there are autoimmune connections to Meniere’s disease at least for some people. Below we examine the studies and facts around autoimmunity and Meniere’s disease.

Autoimmune connections to the symptoms of Meniere’s disease

“In order to clarify whether autoimmune mechanisms form part of the etiopathogenesis of Meniere’s disease, sera and endolymphatic sac tissues from 30 patients with Meniere’s disease were analyzed according to the clinical criteria for autoimmune diseases stated by Mackay & Burnet. Several cases showed hyper gamma-globulinemia, antibody elevation to Type II collagen in the serum and endolymph, positive staining to immunoglobulins and C3 or infiltration of immuno-competent cells in the endolymphatic sac, good response to prednisolone and combination with systemic immune disorders. Other examinations showed a significant elevation of OKT 4/8 ratio and a decrease of OKT8-positive cells, and elevated levels of circulating immune complex and antiviral antibody titers. It is suggested that certain cases of Meniere’s disease may have an altered immunological background, which may be attributed to an autoimmune mechanism dependent on humoral and/or cellular responses.”

From American-Hearing,org

Hain T. 2012

What is Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease?

Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is a syndrome of progressive hearing loss and/or dizziness that is caused by antibodies or immune cells which are attacking the inner ear. In most cases, there is reduction of hearing accompanied by tinnitus (ringing, hissing, roaring) which occurs over a few months. Variants are bilateral attacks of hearing loss and tinnitus that resemble Meniere’s disease, and attacks of dizziness accompanied by abnormal blood tests for antibodies. About 50% of patients with AIED have symptoms related to balance (dizziness or unsteadiness).

The immune system is complex and there are several ways that it can damage the inner ear. Both allergy and traditional autoimmune disease such as ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjoegren’s syndrome (dry eye syndrome), Cogan’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Wegener’s granulomatosis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and psoriatic arthritis (Srikumar et al 2004) can cause or be associated with AIED. Another multisystem disease, Bechet’s, commonly has audiovestibular problems. Allergy is traditionally suspected to be food related, but there is presently no agreement as to the importance of food allergy.

AIED is rare, probably accounting for less than 1% of all cases of hearing impairment or dizziness (Bovo et al 2009). The precise incidence is controversial.

Read the full report here

This from Vestibular.org

What is autoimmunity? How is it connected to vestibular disorders?

Parts of the immune system, working constantly and behind the scenes, patrol the body in search of foreign invaders and relentlessly attack them once found. On rare occasions, in some people the immune system runs amok, identifies the body itself as foreign, and launches a lethal attack. This self-attack is referred to as an autoimmune reaction.

The immune system can attack just the ear, attack the ear and some other body part like the eye, or attack the entire body (including the ear). An autoimmune reaction also creates debris. Even if the ear is not being directly attacked, it could end up with debris transported from distant locations and deposited by the circulation. This debris in the ear can cause problems.

Some autoimmune disorders that can affect the ear include Cogan’s syndrome, relapsing polychondritis, polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener’s granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Hearing loss has been viewed historically as the main inner ear effect of an autoimmune problem, but the vestibular system can also be attacked. Several factors determine the type of vestibular symptoms that may be experienced. Those factors include the speed with which the vestibular loss occurred, the degree of loss, whether one side or both sides are affected, and whether the damage has triggered a problem with fluctuating function (for example, if endolymphatic hydrops developed from the autoimmune reaction). The symptoms of autoimmune problems can be similar, even indistinguishable, from other vestibular disorders.
Read the whole report here

If you found this article useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

Related articles and posts:

Book Review: The Need for Balance; Dealing with the Causes of Meniere’s Disease
Can Meniere’s Disease be caused by Autoimmunity?

Email Mike at: meniereshelp@gmail.com

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