My goal is to help others (maybe that’s you!) who are suffering from Meniere’s disease by sharing solutions that have been successful for me or for others. Eating clean and finding natural solutions to manage the symptoms of Meniere’s disease (tinnitus, aural fullness, hearing loss, dizziness/vertigo) has been my key to long-term success and has been successful for many of us. These solutions are not pharmaceuticals or surgical in nature. Instead, these solutions focus on helping others find and heal the root cause to permanently reduce or even eliminate some of these symptoms. The catch is to find the root cause and until you do, don’t stop looking for it. Treating the root cause is the key to eliminating symptoms in a long term manner rather than the band-aid approach of medication. It truly is the only way you’ll find the key combinations to help you heal. None of these are a one-size-fits-all cure, but the right combination can certainly help you gain your life back and put Meniere’s into remission. Some of you, like me, might be able to discontinue the use of all prescription medications. Others, may find a balance between natural methods (including clean eating) and a small amount of medications. The moral of the story is to do what works for you, be your own advocate, and don’t give up.
Below is the “short” list of possible causes and items listed below are possible solutions to help with those causes. Most of these are things I’ve personally tried in an effort to improve my Meniere’s symptoms. I’ve included a brief description as to why these could work for you, and if it worked or didn’t work for me. I’ve been expanding this list as I learn of other solutions that have had successful long lasting results for others as well. Remember, each of you is an individual and the root cause for your symptoms may differ from mine. Just because something wasn’t as successful as I’d like it be, it’s definitely worth exploring to see if it’s a solution to manage these symptoms for YOU. Each experience led me to new conclusions and directed a new path for me to explore, ultimately leading me to a place where I feel I am FINALLY beginning to heal and manage both Meniere’s disease and allergies in a positive, permanent way.
Possible Cause: Dietary… Inflammation, Intolerances, or Sensititivies.
Food IS your Foundation
A proper whole foods centered diet is the critical foundation to helping your body heal and manage symptoms of Meniere’s. By eating a more whole foods diet, you give your body the nourishment it needs to start the healing process. Your body is already programmed to know how to heal itself, it just needs the proper tools. The right diet should precede or be done in combination with any other treatment as it the foundation to healing and you will most likely not find resolution of symptoms without changing your diet.
Many diseases (like Meniere’s) are rooted in inflammation which can stem from multiple sources but are often instigated by what we eat resulting in a permeable gut lining. A permeable intestinal lining can cause inflammation and food sensitivities among other things. By eating clean, you minimize or eliminate the foods or external allergens/toxins that could be contributing to inflammation. The important thing through all of this is to listen to your body. Why do we care about inflammation? Inflammation in those of with Meniere’s causes the sinuses, Eustachian tube and other soft tissues around the inner ear to swell. This puts pressure on hearing and balance nerves and can result in vertigo, off balance feelings, loss of hearing, fullness, ringing, tingling sensations… inflammation can cause or exacerbate ALL of the symptoms related to Meneire’s. Non-pharmaceutical approaches like eating clean, getting plenty of probiotics and avoiding inflammatory foods may have significant downstream effects in repairing damaged intestinal lining thereby reducing inflammation. Your body will then be able to focus on what’s important and function at its optimum level thereby reducing or even eliminating symptoms. This is a very good thing.
To jump start your healing, I’d recommend following an anti-inflammatory diet for which I’ve provided guidelines HERE. I’d also recommend doing a 30 day food challenge called the Whole30 (book available here) which can help you discover food sensitivities. Some of you may also be interested in a temporary restrictive way of eating called the AutoImmune Protocol (AIP for short) which is specifically aimed at healing autoimmune disorders (like Meniere’s) with nutrient dense foods. I also have a 28 day clean eating challenge available.
Low(er) Sodium Diet – I would also suggest to lower your sodium to at least a normal range of 2000-2500 mg per day. This will come naturally as you progress to a more whole foods and unprocessed way of eating. I personally don’t do a specific low-sodium diet (less than 1500 mg per day) as it didn’t do good things to my body. Some people DO have great results going low sodium so I do recommend trying it to see if it helps you. For info on how to navigate a low sodium diet and my experience, check out my page regarding the Low Sodium Diet for Meniere’s.
Food and Environmental Exposures Journal – If you have Meniere’s disease (or any other autoimmune disease including allergies) it’s important to figure out what triggers the onset of symptoms or creates an increase in your symptoms. To do this is pretty easy but it is time consuming. Get a notebook and for a month, document the foods you eat, the products you put on your body (lotions/laundry detergents/deodorant), the weather conditions, and the other environmental items you are exposed to like cleaning chemicals, the perfume counter in a dept store, being outside during allergy season, or being in a library that has old musty/dusty books. Also be sure to document any symptoms and their severity each day at multiple times of day. From this, you can start to see a pattern. For me, I noticed I got itchy eyes and congestion resulting in an uptick of Meniere’s symptoms after being in a library reading old books or cleaning my house. From there, I figured out I was probably allergic to dust. An allergy test confirmed this. I also learned from this experience that not all reactions happen immediately after exposure as is the case with food sensitivities. An allergic reaction will typically happen within a few hours of being exposed but a sensitivity can occur up to 3 or 4 days later. For me, my tendency to react to dairy happened about 6 hours after ingesting and caused tingling sinuses, congestion, an increase in ear ringing and ear fullness which then occasionally caused Meniere’s vertigo. This would last about a day if I had a large amount of dairy and then would gradually subside. If you have suspected food sensitivities, I strongly recommend an elimination diet to find out for sure what is causing them. This is the gold standard in the allergy world for determining food sensitivities.
Possible Cause: Structural Misalignment in the Neck, Jaw or Cranial bones
Look into Chiropractic – I had read in numerous reports that a correctly aligned spine, namely in the top few vertebrae was incredibly important for proper inner ear and sinus function and for your system to handle allergens. Keep in mind, you may not have neck or back pain so you may think all is fine. I had no pain but the first x-ray I had at my initial chiropractic appointment indicated significant spinal subluxation (misalignment), particularly in my upper neck and a severe backwards curve of a negative 7 degrees at the neck. A fully functionally normal spine is supposed to be at a positive 45 degrees neck curve. Yikes. Fast forward a few years and my spine is nearly straight in its vertical and rotational alignment and my neck curve is nearly 35 degrees in the positive direction which is a SIGNIFICANT improvement. The nerves are no longer being squished and can now operate near normal. Chiropractic correction of the upper neck vertebrae has reversed the progression of this disease, kicked it into remission for me and most importantly, I have my LIFE back!! I do believe that a good portion of my improvement in vertigo/dizziness, ear ringing, and dealing with allergies (all controlled by the function of nerves in the upper few vertebrae and atlas bone) is due to a properly aligned spine. My chiropractor has also been a huge influence in educating me on the effects of clean eating. Below is an image that illustrates which nerves pass through which vertebrae. If the vertebrae aren’t in the correct position or rotated/tilted, it can cause issues very specific to those particular regions because of the nerves that pass through these vertebrae. Everything from C1-C4 has a significant impact on our ears in both hearing and balance so it’s no wonder why misalignment and the correction thereof my upper cervical spine was a critical component to my symptom management.
Have an Evaluation done for TMJ – TMJ and Meniere’s share a number of symptoms and as a result, many TMJ sufferers are misdiagnosed with Meniere’s or discover that TMJ Disorder plays a role in exacerbating symptoms. Much in the same manner that a spinal misalignment in the upper cervical vertebrae can cause vertigo and poor nerve operation in the ears, the same is true with misalignment of bones and structures in your jaw even if you don’t have jaw pain. It’s worth getting an evaluation from a TMJ specialist to see if this may be the root cause of your symptoms. If so, treatment for TMJ may be part of the answer to significantly reduce your symptoms or eliminate them altogether.
Craniosacral Therapy or Endonasal Cranial Correction – These are big words that just mean bringing your cranial (head) bones and sinus bones into alignment. Misalignment in these bones or the aforementioned, upper spinal or jaw bones, can cause Meniere’s symptoms so it’s important to be evaluated for misalignment in this arena as well especially if you’ve already checked your spinal and jaw alignment. I already know I have a deviated septum (part of the cranial and sinus structure) which could be causing some of my Meniere’s issues. I have yet to pursue treatment as I’ve found a happy place for now but it’s an option for the future, for sure. Some of this can be corrected with craniosacral therapy or via other endonasal cranial correction methods.
Possible Cause: Viral, Bacterial, Fungal, or Mold Toxicity
Epstein-Barr Virus – This is a herpes virus (no, not THAT herpes) that has multiple stages and can lay dormant for a long time before causing real trouble. It is the most common cause of mono and is also highly associated with chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis. There is also evidence that it is present in Meniere’s patients and could be the cause of Meniere’s symptoms. You can get a blood test for EBV but depending on it’s stage, it may not show up in the blood. If you test positive,you can take anti-viral medication. There are also anti-viral supplements like L-Lysine that you can take to mitigate the virus. This article explains EPV and supplements in far more detail.
Lyme Disease – Lyme is bacterial and is most commonly transmitted via tick bites. The symptoms of chronic untreated Lyme disease can present similarly to Meniere’s particularly with the vertigo and dizziness, aural fullness and tinnitus. You can be tested for Lyme disease and if positive, treated with antibiotics and other methods to control it.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – Similar to Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is also bacterial in nature and transmitted via tick bites. The immediate symptoms are fever and a spotted rash.The relationship to Meniere’s symptoms is in the long term after effects. After treatment for rocky mountain spotted fever, the long term effects of this infection include language disorders, movement disorders (i.e. balance/dizziness) and hearing loss. A bite from the Lone Star Tick can also cause an allergy/sensitivity to red meat. If you have previously had RMSF, this could be your root cause. If you’re unsure if you’ve ever had it, you can be tested to see if the antibodies are in your blood which would indicate that you have had RMSF previously.
Candida – it is possible that you are sensitive to an overgrowth of candida albicans which is fungal in nature. This is a naturally occurring yeast that is always present in the human body but poor diet, use of antibiotics or use of alcohol can contribute to an overgrowth. This can cause the same symptoms and can be managed with vitamin supplements or anti-fungal medications such as Nystatin. More information on this can be found HERE or HERE.
Mold Toxicity – Exposure to mold either acutely or over time can build up toxins in our body and cause ALL of the symptoms we define as Meniere’s (vertigo, dizziness, brain fog, aural fullness, sensorineural hearing loss) as well as additional symptoms. This is also called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome or Biotoxin Illness and often has co-infections with it like Lyme disease. The following additional symptoms have been noted by fellow MD sufferers that have been tested positive for mold toxicity: odd tingling sensations, a metallic taste in the mouth, sinus trouble, stabbing pain or like lightning bolt sensations, and other sensitivities to foods, chemicals or other environmental items. More information on this can be found HERE or in this book by Neil Nathan, M.D.
Possible Cause: Allergies and Sinus Congestion (either seasonal, perennial, or food related)
Get Allergy Tested – Allergies and Meniere’s disease are often interrelated. I’ve read studies that indicate upwards of about 80% of Meniere’s sufferers have an allergic component that triggers their symptoms. This is important as studies show there is a very strong link between those having Meniere’s also having allergies either seasonal or food related sensitivities. Allergies are often a source of inflammation and for those of us with Meniere’s, that inflammation ends up in our inner ear/eustacian tube/sinuses and causes the symptoms identifiable as Meniere’s disease. I was able to cut out all allergy medications as I underwent immunotherapy shots once a month for about 5 years which have helped me tenfold. In part because of this therapy, I can now clean my house without experiencing serious allergic reactions and dizziness due to my dust allergies. My allergist also was the key to finding a great ENT who would work with me and my natural solutions and discovering how chiropractic could help my allergies as well as my Meniere’s symptoms. I have additional allergy specific solutions HERE.
Possible Cause: Hormonal Deficiencies – Hypothyroidism (Thyroid Dysfunction), Hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels) or Adrenal Fatigue (Adrenal Insufficiency)
Hypothroidism– Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disorder in which the thyroid does not produce enough hormone and causes metabolic issues. This has been shown to affect a number of Meniere’s patients as the symptoms can overlap as indicated by this study. You can be tested for thyroid function to see if this could be your root cause. Treatment for the thyroid may be necessary but this can usually be significantly corrected and managed with dietary changes and supplements that support stress/anxiety relief.
Hyperinsulinemia – High levels of insulin have been indicated in some of us with Meniere’s. It is not diabetes but is affected by foods, namely sugars and refined carbohydrates. This is usually an indication that many of us with Meniere’s have difficulty with carbohydrate metabolism and are often helped by a low carb diet without refined sugars. See the Meniere’s Articles and Research page for supporting studies.
What is adrenal fatigue/adrenal insufficiency? – Continual or high stress causes hormonal imbalances that can cause a collection of symptoms very similar to those of Meniere’s disease brought on by malfunction of the adrenal glands. This hormonal imbalance can also result in hyper-insulin response or hyperthyroidism (see more above). This imbalance can often be corrected through stress relief measures and dietary changes as outlined above.
Possible Cause: Inner Ear Structure, Sinus Structure or Brain Related
Get the proper testing done – An ENT or Neurotologist should evaluate the severity of your symptoms with proper testing. They should rule out more serious possibilities like tumors with an MRI to be sure this isn’t the root cause. The doctor can also look into the physical structure of your inner ear and sinuses and see if there’s anything significantly out of place or causing physical obstruction leading to pressure, fullness, dizziness and hearing loss. A VNG test can indicate how much vestibular function remains. It was through this test that I discovered that my balance function was still technically near normal. This told me that something was interfering with it (compression of the nerves in my case plus inflammation from allergies) rather than other causes. They should also have an audiogram done to evaluate your current level of hearing. Note that this will often indicate whether hearing loss is sensorineural loss which is supposedly permanent. My tests did indicate this to be the case but after pursuing alternative treatments like chiropractic, my hearing came back to normal in one ear and improved in the other so take the results of that test with a grain of salt. “Permanent loss” may not always permanent.
Find a good ENT (Otolaryngologist) – An ENT who is supportive of your ideas and can intelligently converse about different options that might work for you is indispensable. Keep looking until you find one who is actually helpful and supportive to you. I often bring ideas I’ve researched to my doctor (some conventional and some more alternative) and discuss with him. He is always supportive and will do additional research if he doesn’t have the background in a given area of a natural healing method to be sure he has no objections in the rare event that it could do me harm. If he has other suggestions, he mentions them to me as well. I, in turn, listen and will often try his suggestions. The decision on how to treat my Meniere’s symptoms is ultimately mine and he supports it fully.
Seek out a Neurotologist (note this is different than a neurologist) – a neurotologist focuses on the brain and inner ear and how they function together. This specialized doctor can help determine if there is a disconnect in either of these regions and can suggest appropriate treatment based on their findings.
Myringotomy (ear tubes) – My ENT had suggested placing an ear tube in my left ear (the one with definite Meniere’s) while I was pregnant with my son. It worked WONDERS. Almost instantaneously, the pressure was gone and I had a restored sense of balance. It was a Godsend. I would highly recommend talking to your ENT about this procedure if you have dizziness daily and are looking for another way to avoid drug therapy. It’s a simple office procedure that can eliminate the fullness until you figure out a more long lasting method.
Vestibular Rehabilitation – Simply stated, you gotta keep moving. Movement keeps your vestibular system in tune by forcing it to continue learning and negotiating balance. There are formal programs that your ENT can suggest for this but I opted not to do the formal therapy. Instead, I purchased an Xbox 360 with Kinnect (a device where you control the gaming system with your body movements) and got a few games like sports and Zumba that require continual movement. Yoga or Tai Chi are also great balance and movement related activities. I do believe that practicing movement (especially when I’m mildly off balance) really helps my system figure out what to do with those mixed movement signals and consequently, I end up feeling less dizzy than I started and over time have noticed my balance is improving. Of course, if you’re in the midst of a more significant spell of dizziness or vertigo, take it easy and wait it out. Moving when you feel like that is just gonna make you barf. Nobody wants to do that.
Possible Cause: Nutrient Deficiencies (and other Supplement that have benefits for Meniere’s)
Look into a Naturopathic Doctor (an N.D.) – A naturopathic doctor is a doctor that combines conventional diagnosis with natural and self-healing methods such as dietary adjustments, herbal medicine, homeopathy and supplements that are catered directly toward healing your specific symptoms.
Supplements – There are a few supplements that I strongly believe in to support Meniere’s disease. I think the best place to gain nutrients is through food but sometimes you need a little help. Below I’ve listed a few reported benefits of each supplement. I don’t take all of these all the time but the top five are a daily thing for me. Note that these listed often have many more health benefits but I’ve specifically highlighted the reasons they may work for Meniere’s as a whole body treatment or relieve specific tenets of Meniere’s.
- Whole Food Multi-Vitamin – this is a great place to start to be sure you’re getting a well-rounded and synergistic assortment of necessary vitamins.
- Vitamin D3 – this is an immune system superhero being anti-viral and anti-inflammatory among other things. A number of studies show that optimizing your vitamin D3 levels has a profound effect on health. Some have even suggested that hearing loss can be reversed or at least prevented. I have found that spending more time in the sun (without sunscreen!!) has helped me a lot as your body naturally makes D3 but during the winter months, I supplement with vitamin D3.
- Vitamin K2 – if you’re supplementing with D3, you’ll create a need for additional K2 so I take this in combination with D3 when I supplement. K2 is fat soluble and works synergistically with D3 and calcium to aid in absorption.
- Vitamin C – another immune system powerhouse. Is also anti-inflammatory and anti-viral. There are some whose Meniere’s can be caused by a viral inflammation such as herpes in the inner ear. This can help immensely in those cases.
- Magnesium –studies have shown to prevent against hearing loss and even help REVERSE noise related hearing loss. I’ve noticed that the ringing in my ears is significantly lower when I’m regularly taking magnesium and I also feel much less off balance. This one is a must-have for me!
- Calcium – helps the nervous system work more effectively.
- Fish Oil/Krill Oil – contains omega 3’s which are linked to improved immunity and reduces symptoms of autoimmune diseases, and decreases inflammation.
- NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) – powerful antioxidant targeting the neural system. Helps heal damaged cells (there have been studies indicating that this can help repair hearing loss), reduces inflammation and regenerates liver function which is important for detoxification.
- Alpha Lipoic Acid – anti-inflammatory and has a strong ability to neutralize effects of oxidative stress particularly in its ability to promote healthy nerve function.
- L-Glutamine – this little guy aids in muscle repair. The reason I include this one is to help repair a potentially damaged intestinal lining. Many studies point to this damage being responsible for the development of new allergies/sensitivities particularly to food. So healing this lining is critical for the elimination or minimizing of food sensitivity symptoms and therefore minimizing Meniere’s vertigo for me.
- Ginger Root – great for nausea/motion sickness which is why I take it for Meniere’s. Ginger root also fights inflammation and can boost circulation. Also relieves bloating and other digestive issues.
- Garlic Oil – supports a healthy immune system. Garlic has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties making it ideal for anyone with immune issues. Take this as a capsule or just eat more garlic with your food.
- L-Lysine – anti-viral in nature so can help for those with Meniere’s symptoms that may be caused by a viral infection. It didn’t do anything for me so I concluded that the triggers for my symptoms were not viral.
- Beta Glucans – boosts immune system through its ability to help fight infections both bacterial and viral. It can help prevent future infections as well.
- Grape Seed Extract – high in polyphenols and bioflavanoids which are potent antioxidants. This has anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine and anti-microbial properties.
- Citrus Bioflavanoids – antioxidant that improves capillary permeability to allow nutrients to get to the organs and tissues they need to get to and improves blood flow due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Ginko Biloba – improves circulation which in turn promotes proper cell growth and organ function. Poor circulation has been known to be a cause of Meniere’s symptoms. This one actually made me feel worse (I believe I’m allergic to it) so I discontinued its use but it could work for you.
- Vinpocetine – improves circulation which in turn promotes proper cell growth and organ function. Poor circulation has been known to be a cause of Meniere’s symptoms.
- Vertigoheel – this is a natural homeopathic preparation that has been documented to be just as effective at reducing vertigo as the prescription drug betahistine in this study.
- CBD – there are differing moral opinions on this one and I have not personally tried this but there are many who have found relief by taking cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is an extract from hemp (cannabis sativa plant) with very low levels of THC. This oil is typically taken to relax the nervous system but you won’t get the “high” from it like taking marjuana. It can help with stress and anxiety symptoms that often accompany Meniere’s disease.
- California Poppy – natural supplement that is known for its success in treating insomnia and anxiety.
- Passion Flower – homeopathic supplement that has mild sedative properties. It is used for insomnia, treating tremors, and calming the nervous system… as a result, this can relieve the vertigo and dizziness caused by Meniere’s.
- Valerian – most often used as a sedative, this can help with insomnia, anxiety and can relax muscles and suppress the nervous system resulting in less vertigo/dizziness.
- Melatonin – used to help correct the circadian rhythm and can help increase naturally produced melatonin for a more restful sleep thereby reducing stress and sleep deprivation incidents of Meniere’s symptoms. The sublingual version takes effect faster than the pill version but both are available as a supplement.
- Lemon Balm – also known as Melissa. This herb can be used in a tincture, made into a tea or taken as supplement to reduce anxiety, help with insomnia and calm inflamed nerves.
** as always, check with a professional (or be sure you do your research!!) before adding herbal supplements to be sure they do not interact with any medications or other supplements you are currently taking.
Possible Cause: Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Reduce or Eliminate Unnecessary Stress – I know, easier said that done. Added stress is a known trigger for instigating vertigo or amping up other symptoms perhaps from the elevated blood pressure and changes in cortisol that occur when our body is under stress. Many of us have work or household stress that can’t really be significantly altered but think about ways that you might be able to do so. Little things like staying organized, asking for help when appropriate (like on a big project at work or doing chores around the house, or picking up kids after school activities), and saying “No” to obligations that really aren’t needed can make a big difference. Yes, you should probably keep that date with your significant other but maybe you don’t really need to be a part of the PTA for example if it causes more stress than is necessary. Evaluate what (and maybe even who) you’re involved with and reduce or eliminate obligations that no longer are beneficial.
Engage in Stress Relieving Activities – Make time for self care. For me, a hot bath away from the kids, indulging in a crime thriller novel or going out for a hike or run in the outdoors or doing yoga on my deck is rejuvenating. Find calming activities that make you feel grounded. Getting out in nature (nature immersion) is a common calming event. Martial arts like Tai Chi and Qi Gong as well as yoga and meditation are all centering activities that can really help you focus and achieve a more relaxed state.
Acupuncture – Acupuncture is a natural health application that studies and redirects energy flows in the body. It is know to reduce anxiety, reduce pain and can assist with reduction in migraines, sinus complications such as allergies, and insomnia among other possible health benefits.
Seek Treatment for Anxiety and/or Depression – This can be the time old question of which came first, the Meniere’s or the anxiety and depression… being on edge thinking I “might” have an attack in public was very anxiety inducing. This can lead to secluding yourself and lead to depression. Treating my Meniere’s through diet and chiropractic resolved my anxiety but if you find that this alone is not lessening your anxiety or depression (or if you had anxiety/depression before meniere’s), do seek medical help as this can escalate especially if your Meniere’s is not yet under control.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation – This is a non invasive procedure that uses a changing magnetic field initially used to help treat anxiety and depression. It has also been known to help with symptoms of vertigo and dizziness and possibly can help reduce tinnitus and hyperacussis as the magnetic therapy changes the way our brain perceives motion and noises.
Supplements –Supplements that are specifically aimed towards helping ease anxiety and depression are California poppy, CBD, Valerian, passion flower, hops, lemon balm, and melatonin. See the section above on nutritional supplements for more specifics on each.
Possible Cause: Medications – Yes, even the ones you’ve been prescribed FOR Meniere’s
Reduce or Eliminate Ongoing Medications if you can – I wouldn’t recommend this without a few months of eating clean under your belt and with a doctor’s guidance. Many of them come with a whole slew of side effects which often include the very symptoms that are defined as Meniere’s. The biggest thing that got me thinking (and over the fear) about eliminated/reducing my medication was the fact that pharmaceuticals are intended to STOP a naturally occurring reaction in your body – a reaction that is supposed to happen in order to protect or warn you of something. Medications are essentially a toxin that interferes with your body’s God-given natural responses. This may or may not be a good thing.
Take antihistamines for example…. Your body is naturally supposed to produce more mucous when you come into contact with a foreign invader like a virus, thereby causing sneezing and post-nasal drip and potentially congestion. These reactions are unpleasant but they simultaneously prevent the entrance of additional virus by causing congestion and flush out the existing by moving mucous around. Years of taking an antihistamine (in my case) left me open to a full on assault of these invaders even though they were innocuous pollens and ultimately made my condition WORSE. Having the drug in my system allowed none of the natural processes to happen and eventually caused problems with my personal biome of healthy gut bacteria thereby causing inflammation and a permeable intestinal lining. This in turn caused an increase in allergic responses and increased food sensitivities resulting in a higher frequency of Meniere’s episodes. It also caused my body to ramp up its reaction to pollens to overcome the effects of the OTC antihistamines.
So I quit taking any and all allergy medicines. I also was able to discontinue my use of a diuretic for Meniere’s disease. I finally decided to try eliminating it after I accidentally forgot it one day and actually felt better. I figured, I can’t really feel much worse (I was dizzy nearly every day at that point) so if I do, I’ll resume taking it again. At this point, I had been taking this drug for nearly 15 years so I was surprised to discover that not taking it made me feel MUCH better. The diuretic was altering my blood pressure and causing side effects that actually contributed to my symptoms as well. My point is, not all drugs are going to do you a favor. It’s up to you to determine what drugs have a higher benefit to risk ratio and only continuing those which you feel are truly benefiting you.
Well there you have it, my “short list” of what works for me to manage my symptoms and continues to make my life better. I hope you can find a few solutions that help you as well. Want more resources? I have a Meniere’s resource page specifically dedicated to a list of studies, websites and articles that I have researched for the above solutions and found helpful in my quest for healing. Please drop me a note if you have questions or if any of these suggestions also worked for you! In health ~ Kari
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Hi
I was wandering….do you also suffer from tinnitus
Yes unfortunately I do. It’s been constant tinnitus in my left ear (the one with definite Meniere’s) since I was about 19 and my right ear is nearly constant but significantly softer but fluctuates to be quite loud if I misbehave and eat foods that are my triggers or have high seasonal allergies going on. I’ve found that magnesium supplements specifically help the tinnitus to be less loud and annoying for me but it never completely goes away. Not sure that it ever will but I keep trying!
Thanks Kari,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us…
I have same issue and i thing that your idea and your solutions help me out.
Thank you again….
## God bless you ##
Hi Kari. Thank you for you advice. I also suffer with MD and am looking for alternatives to help with my frequent attacks lately. I cut sodium out of my diet, I eat healthy (no MSG, ext) that are bad for MD. I was given an ototoxic prescription that I think has also damaged my vestibular nerve. My question to you is of all the vitamins you have listed, are there one’s you take regular on a day to day basis or start and stop?
I found that the Ginko Biloba (liquid form w/ water) helped my with an attack yesterday along with peppermint essential oils diluted with a carrier oil. I put dabs behind my ear and after a couple hours, my attack lessened and I felt pretty good the rest of the day.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Heidi! I’m so sorry that the ototoxic drug caused damaged. Unfortunately, I believe that’s how they function is by destroying certain mechanisms in our ears. Glad the gingko is working for you. As for me, the peppermint oil and helicrysum oil works well and I too dab it behind my ears as you do and taking ginger when I feel an onset of being off balance helps as well. I take the first five vitamins on the list above daily or I take a whole foods multivitamin that has all of those in it plus additional vitamin D3 in the winter months. The rest of the vitamins I take in the spring when my allergies are high or if I’ve been starting to feel less than “normal” for me. The only ones I don’t take ever anymore are the L-lysine and gingko as those just didn’t do anything for me. Thanks for getting in touch!
I’ve been suffering since thanksgiving the doctor’s don’t know went to the ent he said my vestibular nerve was fine I can’t walk right driving scares me I’ve had several bouts of veritgo in the past I can’t focus my stomach is constantly queasy I’ve found that I’m fatigued sounds lights and Scents make it worse stress and two jobs have taken it toll need help
Do you take each of those supplements listed above separately? Can you get them combined? I’d like to give this a try to see if it relieves any of my symptoms.
Hi Mary, I haven’t found them in a nice combined version yet so I usually take them individually. Otherwise, I take a multivitamin and then only take the ones separately that are NOT included in the multi. Hope you find a few of the supplements that help – it was a lot of trial and see how I feel with most of them until I found the perfect combo for me 🙂
Great recommendations. I just started Whole30 Sunday and hope it helps with the pressure and tinnitus. My vertigo has been at bay for about 6 months this time – seems like my system is figuring out ways to counter the effects. I was reluctant to try a chiropractor but after your description, I think it makes sense to incorporate that into my health plan. Looking forward to trying some of your recipes. 🙂
Hi Chris! Thanks for the note! Whole 30 was a great help for me. Hope the chiropractor helps you as well – worth a try for sure 🙂 Cheers!
How much of the NAC do you use?
Hi Tracie! I take 600mg of the NAC per day 🙂 Cheers – Kari
Thank you Kari!!!
Hi Kari ! Could u pls tell me if the deafness in the left ear has got eliminated or still persists in your case? ..is this a permanent condition? Thank u in advance.
Hi! Thanks for checking out my blog! Unfortunately, the deafness still persists in my left ear. I can hear loud noises but can’t recognized speech on that side during a hearing test. It has improved since I began eating better because there isn’t the loud ringing or persistent inflammation to interfere with my ear function but I do think that most of it is permanent. My testing indicates that the nerves have been damaged on my left side and therefore won’t regain full function 🙁
Sorry to hear that even your nerves have been damaged. Still m glad u’ve found ur passion.. Its really commendable!
Also, here in India, many doctors don’t at all know bout meniere’s. Its highly difficult to explain them the issues I face. I’ve been under medication fr about a year & a half. But the symptoms r only n only getting worse. Anyways, I’ll try n follow the suggestions given by you.
I just hope doctors find a permanent solution to completely cure meniere’s someday..
Hi, I am suffering from Mineirs Disease from past 1 year, right now every day spinning sensation and I am unable to drive, kindly share your mail id, where I have few questions.
Hi Srini, please feel free to email me your questions at kari@cookingupclean.com I look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Nidhi, even I am suffering from meniers from past 2 years, I have went to few ENT doctors, but no proper solution. Still I am suffering the same – kindly share your mail id so I can take some help from you to get good doctors in India.
Thank you for this information!! I have been dealing with Meneires once 2010 official diagnosis, but had it for many years before being diagnosed. Since moving states o had three good years and now am once again dealing with vertigo often, I need to find a better doctor like you had that will listen and help with allergy diagnosis as I am certain allergies are the main factor along with my eating after reading this I am now even more certain of it.
Hi Robin! I sincerely hope you can find a doc that is open to listening and working with you. It was a long struggle for me to find one. The first one I was with told me there was no way my issues could be allergies and that it was basically just all in my head – it was just beyond her comprehension I guess 🙂 Turns out, the inflammation was indeed caused by allergies and was pressing on my balance and auditory nerve causing most of the symptoms. You have to be your own health advocate and I’ve learned that if I suspect something is true (like my allergies being a main driver for Meniere’s symptoms), I’m often right. Trust your own instincts and keep looking for answers. Since you mention that you think your symptoms are also allergy related, I’d advise going to an allergist and getting tested for seasonal allergies to see if that’s the culprit. They often can’t test for food allergies but you can do an elimination diet challenge to remove common allergenic foods from your diet for a month and slowly reintroduce one at a time. That seems to be the “Gold Standard” for confirming food allergies. That way you’ll also know if it’s food related and which foods may be causing the problem. Cheers and good luck in your journey!
Thank you! I have scheduled an appointment with a credible allergist here and am definitely willing to do the good elimination to see what goods may also be triggers. I have found good doctors that want to truly help seem to be getting more difficult to find these days, but am certain I will find myself one that will listen. I appreciate your help very much! ? I refuse to let this keep me down. Best wishes for you too Kari ?
Dear Kari: Reading this article was devastating and hopeful at the same. I never hear about MD in my life, I went to the hospital two weeks ago. Sever vertigo, vomit, ringing on my ears, loss 100% hearing on my left side (they say is not coming back and ringing will not go away……?) After 4 days on the hospital they told me I have MD. I suffered 2 stokes 2 years ago, and first I thought could be related. After reading your article I guess it is something that I will have for life and will never go away, I will always walk around with the fear of an attack….. but you also provided A LOT of good suggestions to make my life manageable….thank you
Hi Jessica, Thanks for reaching out to me! MD is such a troublesome issue and it is really overwhelming when it starts happening and you have no idea what’s going on. I sincerely hope some of my suggestions can help you find a way to manage your symptoms and make life manageable. Hugs to you!
Here lately my vertigo has gotten much better, however I’m now having migraines quite often.
Do you know of a good way to help lessen the migraine issue?
Hi Derrick! Cheers to less vertigo! Migraines are not fun however 🙁 Have you decreased caffeine suddenly or have allergies right now? I don’t know a ton about migraines as I don’t often get them except during high allergy season. I have heard that magnesium supplements, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and CoQ10 helps. When I get headaches, I rub my temples with a drop of peppermint essential oil and lavender. My sister swears that putting a cool washcloth on her forehead while soaking her feet in a hot water Epsom salt (magnesium) bath alleviate hers but I’ve never tried that personally. I wish you luck!
Your blog is amazing Kari. And you are so postive. I had MD some years ago and was lucky that the symptoms went away after a time. However, they have come back again with different versions of misery attached. I now seem to have a cold for the past two weeks and it could be allergies as you mentioned. I try to eat healthily, as I am also trying to lose weight at the moment too. But love my chocolate. And I know that chocolate gives me the full head feeling. Interesting comments about dairy. I use skimmed milk but may try green tea and give up chocolate for a while. Thanks again for your inspiration. Hoe you are well at this time.
Ann, thank you for your kind comments, I really appreciate it 🙂 I too still get symptomatic when I catch a cold. I hope you continue to get better and wish you all the best!
Thank-you for your testimony and experiences and suggestions. It’s been helpful to read as I navigate this illness.
Hi kari
My name is tehseen from pakistan I have swear menieres diseases Virgo feel depth shaking every time I m worried about .I m house wife due to over burden I m tired .I m hopeless now I have carpal tunnel syndrome also and muscle problem can u help me what should I do pls
Hi Tehseen, I’m happy to meet you! You are not alone. It’s tough being a housewife with all of the responsibility. My first recommendation to you would be to be sure you’re getting enough rest and eating healthy foods. If you’re not getting enough sleep and rest it can cause anxiety like you mention with the shaking and more worry. You could also try meditation to help you feel more in control. If you have older children or other family members that can help you feel less over burdened, maybe you could ask them to help you out more. Lack of sleep/rest can also aggravate meniere’s symptoms and add to the vertigo. I used to have carpal tunnel and I found that acupuncture treatment helped get rid of the carpal tunnel. Otherwise, I see you found my natural solutions page for meniere’s disease so I would recommend trying some of those things and seeing if they help you out as well with the vertigo. Hugs to you and I pray you find answers for healing as well.
Great information! Thanks for sharing. My doctor recently told me that I have MD due to my symptoms. I am trying the lifestyle change and eating clean before taking any prescriptions. I prefer to try the natural way first. I have been getting some ear pain on my left ear which is the affected ear. The whole right side aches and even the right side of my throat hurts. Any recommendations for the ear ache, throat pain and pressure? I was thinking maybe some garlic ear drops would be helpful but I am afraid that any type of ear drops, might worsen it. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Hi Madellyn, thanks for the note! I think you’ll find that lifestyle changes and eating clean will help a lot. Do you have sinus congestion and drainage that might be causing the pressure and throat pain? I get a sore throat anytime my sinuses drain down the back of my throat. I’ve had luck with garlic ear drops for ear infections but have never tried it for anything else. You can also take a garlic supplement instead of drops in your ear. That should also help if you have a bacterial or viral thing going on. Goldenseal is a natural antibiotic that I’ve found helpful too. Sinus steaming might also help alleviate some of the pressure.
Hi you post is so helpful. I was wondering whether you get cracklings, popping and unequalised east pressure in your ears?
I have suffered from ETD for a few years which got significantly
worse after getting my pre- molars extracted on both sides. This
triggered lightheadedness, fullness in ears, temples and motion sickness; day and night. I’m wondering whether Betahistine willl
help someone like me? The severe symptoms started 3 weeks after tooth extractions. Please help. I can’t function and I feel like it’s robbing me of my life.
Hi! I did used to have pretty severe ETD which for me was allergy related and I had a good luck with changing my diet to help alleviate the excess cracking/popping and pressure. If you haven’t tried dietary changes, I would definitely start there. I find it really interesting that you mention it got worse after having dental work done. It’s very possible that the dental work caused your jaw to shift and is exacerbating symptoms or pressing on your balance/hearing nerves or is causing pressure on your eustacian tubs causing them to plug up. I would look into having a consultation for TMD/TMJ to see if your jaw alignment is causing issues. As for betahistine, I don’t have any experience with that medication but I have heard others with positive experience.
I have md but my vertigo has been good since June of last year,but the noise n ear if terrible
I’m glad your vertigo is better. That by far was the worst for me. Hopefully you can figure out how to reduce the tinnitus as well. Cheers ~ Kari
I HAD MD SINCE 1995 WHEN I WAS 21 AM 43 NOW . LOSS HEARING IN MY LEFT EAR. RIGHT EAR STRUGGLING TO HEAR DUE TO FULLNESS, TINNITUS AND VERTIGO ATTACKS. MY ENT SAID AM A CANDIDATE FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT IN THE LEFT HEAR
MRI REPORTS SAYS RIGHT SIDE OF ENDOLYMPH SAC IS ENLARGING
ADVISE PLEASE SHOULD I FOLLOW THE SURGERY
Hi Nosisa, I would recommend trying the options listed above on this page first before resorting to surgery as the surgery is not reversible. If you have tried these solutions without any relief, then I would consider a cochlear implant. I know many who have had great success at regaining their hearing with an implant. I’m not certain as to how that affects the other MD symptoms however so that would be a discussion to have with your doctor. It is possible that the implant will have no other effect on the fullness, tinnitus and vertigo on the other side so in that case, I still highly recommend dietary modification to a very clean diet and attempting chiropractic or other solutions to try and relieve your symptoms. I wish you the best!
Thank you Kari for the advise . I started clean eating today
Hi Kari,
Thanks for the post and sharing your experience. Can I ask you more about the the upper cervical chiropractic adjustments you received? Which type/method was it? Blair, nucca, Palmer? Etc. See link below. Were the adjustments with that machine (atlas othorgonal) or by hand etc? I’m getting desperate!
http://www.upcspine.com/tech.htm
Thank you
Blake
Hi Blake! Thanks for the note 🙂 I totally understand getting to that place of being desperate for just ANYTHING to work! I was definitely there when I found chiropractic. The chiropractor that I go to isn’t actually upper cervical specific as I needed my full spine adjusted since my sacrum/pelvis was also tilted and twisted. Without that correction, the neck adjustments wouldn’t hold. So, my chiropractor does full spine and has a lot of knowledge about how each vertebrae in the neck especially can cause our symptoms. He uses a tool called an activator for adjustments and doesn’t follow a specific technique that i’m aware of. I’ve spoke with many others who have upper cervical adjustments done and the most common ones I hear about that are achieving success with their symptoms seem to mention Blair or Nucca. I would look into those but if you don’t have one conveniently near you, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary that they are specifically an upper cervical chiropractor… the most important thing is to go in to your consult with a list of questions about their experience with treating symptoms like ours (they may not know meniere’s specifically, but they SHOULD understand how to correct the symptoms associated with it via spinal correction), and they should take x-rays and be able to explain exactly how and why you might have these symptoms based on your x-ray results and then be able to explain how they can correct it. This is true for any chiropractor that you get a consult with and once you’re comfortable with their expertise and method to correct your specific symptoms, then I’d feel okay proceeding. Just know that it can take a lot of time to correct based on the severity of your misalignments. I was a severe case and it took at least 4-6 months of biweekly adjustments to even begin to see a glimmer of improvement. It was about a full year of weekly adjustments after that period that I had steady improvement toward vertigo free. Absolutely worth it!
Thanks Kari, I do have a Blair upper cervical chiro in my city about a 40 minute drive away. He uses the atlas orthogonal percussion machine. I’m just researching more about it and trying to build up the courage to go to him, partly because its a hope and if it doesn’t work I’ll lost that hope, and partly because, well, just in case something goes wrong you know.. That said, everything I’ve read about it seems positive and going down that rabbit hole really opened my eyes to just how important it is for pretty much anyone to get the upper cervical spine checked properly, even those without symptoms and especially after an accident/injury/etc
On another note, I’m about to buy a product called Redicalm which is a natural anti-depressant/anti-anxiety product which is a blend of 5 natural ingredients and has a clinical study behind it. It looks promising and hopefully puts a dent in my anxiety. Also going to buy a bunch of other calming/relaxing stuff. Thanks
https://www.nutreance.com/products/redicalm
Anxiety is tough with Meniere’s. The redicalm looks like a good one to try . I’m not familiar with all of the ingredients but a few of them I have read about helping with anxiety depression. Thanks for the tip! If it helps, let me know and I’ll add it to this page as an option for others to look into.
I also totally understand the position you’re in about trying something new and being fearful of it not working ….because then what do you try? Please DO try it and give it time. That’s the biggest thing with chiropractic is that it does take time to work and heal our body. Some people that don’t have success I’ve found out later gave it up after just a few adjustments. It can take MANY and even months depending on your individual situation so just be patient. You’ve got nothing to loose (except your symptoms!). It’s very unlikely that you’d end up feeling worse after pursuing chiropractic. The studies out there on chiro in general are highly positive and even more successful when you’ve been going long term with a reputable practitioner. On that note, good luck!
Hi Kari,
Thank You for this wonderful website and all of the wonderful information. I was diagnosed with Meniere’s in 2016 and have suffered recurring vertigo, significant hearing loss in my right ear and a general feeling of dizziness.. I am on a low sodium diet (under 1500 mg/day), drink a lot of water, and take Betahistine. I have a coexisting condition that I believe is largely contributing to my Menier’e symtoms. It has been loosely diagnosed as dystonia. I have structural issues in my mouth, jaw and cervical issues for which I have sought help from Physical Therapists, Osteopathy and Naprapathy. I am currently seeking a good chiropractor Would you be willing to share the name of the chiropractor you saw? If I am not near his physical locale, perhaps he could give me some recommendations..
Hi Mary! I see Dr. Bradley Kuehl in Blaine MN… but here’s also a good locator for chiropractic care that specializes in the upper cervical spine https://blairchiropractic.com/locate-upper-cervical-blair-chiropractic-doctor/#!directory/map I hope chiropractic will work wonders for you. I wish you the best in healing!
Hi KarI, thanks for the detailed blog. It’s very helpful.
I have dizziness, vertigo attacks and my hearing in right ear is very poor and left ear hearing fluctuates a lot. It gets muffled and very frustrating , especially in situations when multiple people are talking. ENT think I have Minere’s . I am going for VNG test 3 days from now. They have put me on betahistamine and that seems to help me with dizziness. My main frustration is the fluctuating hearing loss and muffled hearing that is spoiling my quality of life. I don’t want to use hearing aid and want to get better naturally.
I have not tried magnesioum supplement And Vitamin D3. Can you tell me what strength of Magnesium you take regularly. Is there a brand that works better than others?
Also what strength of Viramin D3?
I have a lot of questions but I will start with these first.
I am currently going to a chiropractor for Atlas adjustment and hoping something works. No luck so far.
I am 43 and in a high stress job.
Thanks for any tips u have for me.
Hi Bhavesh, thank you for your kind note. My hearing used to do exactly what yours is doing with the fluctuating and getting muffled making it VERY difficult to converse with multiple people or in a bar or restaurant or similar environment. I take the NOW foods brand vitamins with success and the Magnesium I take is 400mg every day. For Vitamin D3, I take 5000mg daily but this varies based on my sun exposure. In the summer I don’t take it daily but in the winter when there’s snow and freezing temps so I’m not outside much, I take up to 10,000 especially if I’m coming down with a virus. Also note if you take vitamin D3 at that amount, you may also want to take vitamin K2 whick works synergistically with D3 for cardiovascular and bone health.
I hope the chiropractic helps for you. It took me a full 4 months of twice a week adjustments before I even started to feel anything difference and then it was steady improvement for the next year. It can take some time so keep going for awhile if you’ve just started.
I wish you all the best in your healing process! Cheers – Kari
Hi there! Thank you so much for sharing your experience !! I’ve been getting little spouts of vertigo for the past 7 years, to which I was diagnosed with BPPV. Unrelated l, last year I had a rib out of place and started to see a chiropractor. The first time I saw a chiro, I woke the next day with severe vertgio. It lasted a few days but then away. I continued to see the Chrio for about 6 months and then found my self again with a severe vertigo attack. I waited for about two weeks, it didn’t go away, so I went to my Chrio as my doctor was super unhelpful. The next day I woke and went into a vertigo spin un like anything I’ve ever felt, I actually went to the ER is scared me so bad. Again, saw an ENT who said it was my BPPV. Flash forward a year later, and I’ve experienced vertgio everyday and I’m now being tested for MD. So my question is, after you see you Chrio have you ever experienced vertgio stronger the next day or gone into what feels like a severe vertgio spin? I’ve been to scared to go back to the Chrio since last year. Sorry for my long winded question!!
Hi Jenna! Thank you for your note. It’s not unusual to experience vertigo or a symptom relapse after chiro. First, I assume your chiropractor is experienced and understands how the neck vertebrae alignment can cause our symptoms. If they do not understand that relationship, I’d seek a different chiropractor that does understand this but I’m going to assume yours does and that you’ve also been openly discussing your vertigo with them. That said, when I first began chiropractic, especially when he’d adjust my neck, I’d get immediately off balance during the adjustment. I’d have to hang onto the table or chair I was in to feel stable. I’d feel sore and sometimes more off balance or have spinning vertigo the next day. I took this as a sign of how the neck vertebrae were definitely linked to my vertigo. After talking to my chiro about it, he explained it in this way: Each position of our vertebrae has symptoms associated with it. As our body becomes more out of alignment, those symptoms appear with each shift of our spine. During the correction, it’s like a roadmap leading back home. The spine has to travel backward through all of those positions (and therefore the symptoms) to get back to where it belongs. So it’s fairly common that those of us with vertigo have experienced our symptoms getting worse before they get better. As long as you’re with a knowledgeable chiropractor who understands the relationship of those critical neck vertebra I’d say it’s good to proceed with chiro. It’s been a Godsend for me but did take a LONG time for the healing to happen. I backtracked through symptoms for the first 4 months of bi-weekly adjustments and finally then started to notice improvement in symptoms around the 6th month when the spinning disappeared. Then it was slow steady progress that eliminated the rest of the dizziness, improved tinnitus and no more ear fullness. It takes time so you need to have patience. Good luck on your journey!
Hi Kari I have been diagnosed with md in Nov of 2018. my husband discovered the chiropractic approach while searching online for a natural help for me. i was glad to see that was very helpful for you. It was encouraging to me since I have a tendency to feel sorry for myself. My chiropractor is awesome and suggested clean eating also I just took a food sensitivity and vitamin deficiency test am awaiting the results. He is so encouraging and understanding . Also i see you mentioned magnesium as a supplement you won’t do without. How do you decide what brand to take as there are so many
Hi Susan! Thanks for your note! I’m glad you’ve discovered chiropractic and are trying it out. I really hope it provides you with the same relief that I’ve experienced. I would definitely recommend following up with a clean eating approach since that is good for you no matter if you have health issues or not. I absolutely understand the tendency to feel sorry for yourself. I think we all go through that especially when we feel so crappy, sick and tired and are told by doctors that we just need to live with it. Having hope and continuing to search for the answers that work for you will help I think. At least that process helped keep me in better spirits about my situation when I was at my worst… having hope and something to focus on to try and heal kept me positive. On the other hand, sometimes you need a good cry so don’t feel bad about that either! We go through so much and sometimes feel like we’ve lost a lot when we’re dealing with the dizziness, hearing loss and everything else that comes with MD. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that chiropractic works well for you! It took me many months of adjustments to finally feel relief so don’t give up! As for magnesium and brands of vitamins, most are fairly similar as long as they are a natural based vitamin with no weird fillers. I have taken NOW foods Magnesium Caps as well as Nature Made and Organic 3 with success. Ideally a blend of magnesium forms is preferable (oxide, aspartate, citrate, glycinate, etc). Epsom salt baths also are great for absorbing magnesium through your skin.
Hi Carrie i just want to say how much of an encouragement your site has been to me I am continuing my appoitments with my chiropractor and although he suggested the clean eating approach he really doesn’t give me any real suggestions for meal planning.. He suggested seeing a dietician.. My question being should they be familiar with meniers to give me the help i need
My food test showed i should avoid all dairy and eggs as well as beef. He said after 6 months i can reintroduce them. Wheat was in the moderate category I have lost weight and would like to maintain or gain a little back . Do you have any suggestions of where i can get some help with that Do you have any suggestions? My doctor also said stress is hindering my healing but its so hard. Thanks in advance for your input
.
Hi Susan! Glad you are continuing with your chiropractor and that he echoed the clean eating focus. I definitely think it’s worth trying to avoid all dairy, eggs, beef and probably wheat too for a length of time and see how your body responds. Meal planning is a challenge especially with those limitation so I do think a dietitian is a wise choice to be sure you’re getting well rounded nutrition and have the amount of calories you need to gain a little back if that’s your goal. On that note, I don’t think the dietitian necessarily needs to be familiar with meniere’s. The key is that you communicate with them which foods you wish to avoid and your calorie requirements. Not sure if you’re keeping sodium low or not too but if you are, be sure to tell them those limits as well. Many of us with MD don’t need to truly follow low sodium but it’s wise to keep it at more moderate levels for sure for overall health. The other option is I do have a clean eating meal plan available for purchase but there are a few dishes with eggs and beef. Most are dairy free. If you were interested in that, here’s the link. https://training.breakingmuscle.com/28-day-clean-eating-challenge if you scroll down to the bottom of the page you ‘ll see images of each recipe. Also, I’m totally willing to help you substitute any of the meals in this plan if needed for ones that fit your dietary constraints. Feel free to email me directly as well if preferred at kari@cookingupclean.com if you have additional questions on the meal plan.
Hi again Kari. I am still seeing my chiropractor and I haven’t had a spinning vertigo episode for 9 weeks. But I am struggling with not being able to sleep and holding my weight. The hearing in my bad ear has improved but the ringing in it I think affects my sleep. It’s been 6 weeks since I elimated eggs beef and dairy and wheat. Do you think it would be ok to start introducing them back into my diet. I value your opinion and I have gained so much valuable info from you than some drs have given me. I too am searching for a dr that is familiar with md but it is difficult. Some have heard of it but that’s about it. Also any suggestions for keeping my weight up. Saw a dietitian but I feel she couldn’t give me the help I need. I also am being evaluated for TMJ by a neuromuscular dentist on April 4. I also talked to a freind from our church that reached out to me. She is 75 now and has had md since she was 30. She is doing great and was an encouragement to me as my journey is just beginning. I appreciate you so much, Kari and you have given me hope for the days ahead and feeling better
Hello again Susan! I’m so glad you haven’t had any spinning vertigo for 9 weeks. Praying that trend of vertigo free continues! I can understand the ringing affecting your sleep. That’s a tough one and hopefully the dietary change and the chiropractor or perhaps if it’s TMJ related it will help to reduce the ringing over time. You could also try adding zinc, b complex vitamins, ginko biloba or NAC supplements. Mine got significantly quieter after chiropractic. Fingers crossed for you! For your diet, I would try adding more healthy fats to increase calories. Things like nuts, olives, avocado, drizzle things with olive oil, cook with additional olive oil/coconut oil, use full fat coconut milk etc. That could help you maintain weight. As for reintroducing the eggs/beef/dairy/wheat… I started reintroducing the eliminated foods after 4 weeks of completely avoiding. This was based on my allergist’s advice. If you choose to try reintroducing them, be sure you do them one at a time with at least 3 days in between the next one so you know which one or if it causes your symptom to be worse. For example, try beef for dinner on Monday and maybe again on Tuesday and/or Wednesday if no obvious symptoms. On Friday you could try adding in eggs for a couple meals. Then the following Tuesday you could try adding dairy following that same pattern. You should know if you react to any of these items within 3 days. My allergist had told me that food sensitivities will typically flare symptoms anywhere from 2 hours and up to 72 hours after ingesting which is why you need to wait the 3 days between introducing each food so you can pinpoint which one is the problem if you do end up with additional symptoms.
Thank you so much for all your suggestions and I am going to try a chiropractor I’ve been dealing with Minears for two years now and it’s been very hard trying to figure out how to function this way. I found when Vertigo hits me I have to take steroids for 6 days then it clears me up it fixes the inflammation and I’m good again. But it’s not a permanent fix. Thank you again.
Dorothy
Good luck to you Dorothy! Chiropractic has been such a life saver for me and I hope it works just as well for you.
Thank you for the article and readers comments 😊
So much helpful information has been provided.
This would have to be one of the most insightful websites I have come across concerning this hard to deal with disorder.
I have much information to use to help me cope with my symptoms.
Best wishes to you and the readers!
😀
Cheers
Katy