Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Home > Ailments > Meniere's Disease > Meniere's Disease Q&A > Background in biology but mystery diagnosis

Background in biology but mystery diagnosis

Posted By Tavora (Brooklyn, NY) on 05/01/2009

Though I am directing my questions toward Ted - I am open to hearing from anyone who can possibly share a similar experience or shed light on what I am now calling my "Mystery Diagnosis"....I've posted a couple times before here on EC asking for advice on how to cure an inner ear infection I was told I developed 7 months ago. I received three (3) diagnoses - labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis and Meniere's Disease (all in this exact order). I have seen numerous doctors - ear, nose and throat, general practitioner, a neurologist and a chiropractor - and done a battery of exams along w/ blood work. Thank God for my background in Biology - becuz I am persistent about doing research and ensuring I try to put the pieces together.

Forgive me for the stretch here but I gotta get this out - in Aug of 2008 - I started experiencing very slight sensations of dizziness and lightheadedness that left me feeling as if I would fall. Not too long after - started feeling a "full" sensation in my right ear - like I had water in it - but didn't know why this was happening. Confused and frustrated - thought it was ear wax - tried to clean it out but no wax. Went to the Dr. to see if it was an infection - no infection. My ears looked healthy. Ok so fast forward and now several weeks/months later - I am beyond the acute phase of "illness" and am dealing with something obviously very chronic. Though I still feel dizzy, my major symptoms are the ear fullness, neck pain, tension in spine and muscles (which by the way when all this started I was experiencing these very strange sensations of something "pulling down" on my spine (think of quick sand) - it was as though i felt like I was carrying lead. Without a doubt, my equilibrium is equally impaired (hence my balance organs are affected) and given that my balance is now a conscious event rather than automatic - I can "feel" a slight misalignment in my lower spine. That is, my left leg is slightly raised (the hip is) and my right leg has a constant tendency to want to bend. I did take two hearing tests...results came back normal (Praise God!) however, now the doctors are telling me they don't know how to help me!! This whole process has changed my life dramatically and has truly impacted everything from my job to my relationship with my loved ones. Through the grace of God, I do have a support system but I strive everyday to maintain my independence. This can be both mentally and physically taxing....but at the same time rewarding.

Somewhere along the way - my nerves have also been affected because I used to and still get this incredible head pressure (like someone has a vice on my temporal lobes). I'll occasionally get tingling sensations along my arms, sometimes right side of face, feet and legs....and persistent with the right ear fullness - I have a submandibular lymph node that is roughly a little less than a centimeter that has yet to go away. I think its because of the chronic inflammation. Don't know. Anyway - I have been searching for answers and have spoken with so many people trying to find a more natural approach rather than taking drugs! I refuse to accept that I simply must live with these symptoms! What??! My neurologist told me to recall anything I did differently last year and in looking back it was both having lost 30 pounds (thru exercise and diet) and had some dental work done (ie root canal, filled two small cavities, x-rays and scaling)

In my research I've narrowed done two things (to which I am investigating) - heavy metal/mercury poisoning (I have several silver fillings in my mouth) and/or spinal problems (in upper cervical neck)...............SO my question to Ted and to anyone else is - does this sound like anything you've come across? Could this be neurological problem or is it really just my sinuses having made my ear malfunction? Where can I start in terms of diet/nutrition by helping myself? I'm so overwhelmed but at the same time hopeful. I am willing to do the work but am not quite sure where to start. I do have to admit that I saw nutritionist about two mths ago who said my colon was backed up in two places (which is possibly causing my liver to not detox well), my adrenals are exhausted and my immune system is not working optimally. Did I mention that I'm a 30 yr old female. He Rx'd a fiber/vegetable supplement, told me to go on a raw food diet for 30 days to alkalize my body and instructed to take licorice root - iodine, high vit C along with transfer x-factor colostrum to build up my immunity. I admit I started everything and the colostrum worked wonders but then i stopped becuz I struggled immensely w/ the diet. I wonder if juicing might work better? Any suggestions Ted? AND - forgot to mention - he thinks the symptoms with my ear are actually more related to my sinuses!

For now - my plan of action for the remainder of the year is to remove the fillings, replace the root canal (which I had completed in June and then 2 mths later - I came down w/ my symptoms) - focus on converting to a vegetarian diet and continue exercising and getting physical therapy for the misalignment in my spine. But in the meantime - can anyone offer any insight?? It is very much appreciated. (So for the lengthy post but thanks for reading nonetheless!)

And "thank you" EC for being such a positive channel through which people can feel confident and empowered about reclaiming their health through God's way!! :0)

EC: Tavora, we're posting this on the Meniere's page for now under "Remedies Needed". Will send your post to Ted as well.

Replied by Mark4219 (Shreveport, Louisiana) on 06/07/2009

Tavora, your symptoms are almost identical to what i am experiencing at this time. I have been to two doctors and neither of them know how to treat this. I am now turning to alternative therapies and hope to find something that will releave or eliminate these symptoms. Please let me know if you find anything that works for you.
God Bless
Mark

Replied by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 06/07/2009

Hello Tavora,

Two things that might help. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is mother nature's diuretic so should help with fluid in the ear. However I believe the FDA recently ruled it be removed from the market making it unavailable so big pharmaceutical company could sell their patented synthetic product and rake in the money. Isn't it wonderful how the FDA is protecting us from big business? (LOL - tongue in cheek)

The other one is from EC. Some one else wrote in that they were having ear problems and dizziness. He remembered having a stomach upset with dizziness before and went and took some ginger (a great remedy for stomach problems) and found that a daily dose of ginger
got rid of his dizziness. If it worked for him, it just might work for you. It if does pass the word on it to other readers of EC.

Replied by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 06/07/2009

PS Tavora,

Forgot to mention something you can do for those swollen lymph nodes, paint the skin over those swollen lymph nodes with iodine and they should revert to their normal size.

Replied by Cmatthews (Tampa, FL) on 06/08/2009

Tavora -
I have had a similar experience to yours. Mine started in Dec '07 when I developed fluid on my inner ear from sledding in CO. After a few horrible weeks of dizziness and feeling like I was standing on a rocking boat, the symptoms subsided. But in the Spring of '08 the dizziness and imbalance returned. My symptoms were dizziness, imbalance, lack of coordination and feeling like my head was being "pulled" to one side and extreme fatigue (I slept 10 hours a night!). The doctor said it was allergies and gave my pills and antibiotics which did nothing. I refused to go to any more doctors as I believed all they would do was throw more useless RXs my way. My "gut" feeling was that I had some type of fungus inside my ears/sinuses because occaisionally my ears itched. After scouring Earth Clinic for rememdies and trying everything (and I do mean everything), I have finally found relief with large doses of Vit C (1,000 mg 3xs daily) (Ted's suggestion) and a probiotic to elminate Candida _________This is what worked for me...I hope you find some relief soon as I can completely understand what you are going thru.

Replied by Tavora (Brooklyn, NY) on 06/08/2009

Hi. Thanks so kindly for your remarks. I am still dealing with the imbalance but have now discovered some sort of "growth" underneath the skin (by the canal). I don't know what it is but I feel like its either getting bigger or "spreading" (every time I gently place my finger in right my ear - this the "affected" - the canal opening seems smaller...its hard to describe) I will definitely try the high vitamin c! I am so fed up and ready to move on from this thing! Did your doctors ever tell u that your ears looked fine...or healthy? Has your balance returned to normal? Funny u mention the itching becuz sometimes itches on and off?

Thank you again! :0)

Replied by Verna (Burley, Idaho) on 06/09/2009

Sounds like "TMJ". It can affect sinuses, teeth, throat, jaw and neck all of the way down the side of shoulder and back. It use to drive people into mental institutions, but now it is recognized as a real condition due to jaw missalignment or lots of dental work through the years and/or grinding of the teeth (stress). It will cause severe depression if not diagnosed. One usually ends up going from doctor to doctor and spending lots of money on tests to find out that every test looks normal. I'm surprised that your dentist hasn't suggested that this could be what is ailing you. Most dentists have informational handouts in their offices about TMJ. I hope this info helps you with the mystery.

Replied by Sara (The Beach, Canada) on 06/11/2009

i have to agree with the TMJ suggestion. your symptoms are very familiar with me. i have had many of them. and it began with a root canal and crown. after 6 months of most of your issues, i had another dentist appointment and mentioned my issues because he asked if there were any changes in my health. he quickly said i had TMJ and fitted me for a deproggramer,(mouthguard) it is now 4 months later and i have a significant improvment in all my issues. one other thing i did was increase my magnesium by taking mag. citrate 300mgs a day in morning. i noticed a real improvement with the pulling of the spine feeling. which i had mostley on my right side of my lower spine. i cant say why it happened to me for sure, i just know the catalyst and the relief. hope this helps. sara

Replied by Tavora (Brooklyn, NY) on 06/19/2009

I just wanted to say "thank you" to all those who responded to my initial post re: my "mystery diagnosis." I decided to investigate whether my problem could be TMJ related. I spoke with my dentist and he has referred me to see an oral surgeon. I took the advice of the person who recommended taking magnesium citrate. Thank you! I have been supplementing with 400 mg every day for almost two weeks now and my symptoms have alleviated significantly! This tells me I may have a magnesium deficiency. Plus, when I put two and two together -- this makes sense because I used to be a HEAVY, HEAVY soda drinker -- and from all the research I've come across, soda apparently does leach minerals from the body.

I also would like to thank Ted for his recommendation/method for treating TMJ. Though I don't know if I have TMJ - his post re: bruxism set off a huge light bulb in my head. He said bruxism is often related to heavy metal poisoning (I have 5 old amalgam fillings, 3 on the right and 2 on the left) and too much calcium build-up in the muscles. Calcium contracts our muscles - while magnesium relaxes. Seeing as how much better I've been doing since taking the magnesium, this makes even more sense! Not to mention, about 2 years ago, I was told by two different dentists that my back teeth showed signs of grinding and clenching. I am currently attempting the treatment and so far - the body alkalization (1/4 tsp of baking soda and lemon) and magnesium has also made a noticeable difference in my clenching. My jaw is a bit more relaxed and the pain/congestion I used to suffer in my right ear is virtually gone! Granted, I sometimes get these tiny electrical jolts in the ear but I see that as a good thing. Perhaps something is beginning to shift, release or "wake up". But I am so incredibly grateful because the intensity of my imbalance problems are not as severe as they used to be. I now carry around handy little pH strips to test my alkalinity. I'll be back w/ updates re: the removal of my fillings and the heavy metal detox. (ie. Cilantro, lecithin, chlorella, etc.)

Replied by Lorhen (Gilbert, Az) on 04/23/2011

Tavora,

I also had the exact symptoms as you. I almost lost my mind trying to find a cure. I had MRIs, CAT scans, blood tests, etc. Finally went to an ENT that specializes in Menieres, had the calorie test and some other visual tests. Positive for bilateral Meniere's disease. He wanted me to take a diuretic medicine but I refused. Did my own research. I can manage the disease but it has not completely gone away. STRESS is a big trigger for me. I like you went all raw and found it too difficult, so now I am mostly vegan with once in a while fish. No dairy ever! A real trigger also.

No medications which is good. I have to really balance my life and never overdo it. I still have occasional bouts of head pressure/slight vertigo. Always have the ear ringing, very loud. But after 9 years of having this it is manageable.

I wish you luck. Oh, I also take magnesium, lemon bioflavenoids, grape seed extract, fish oil, evening primrose oil, a raw multi vitamin, green powder with chlorela and also grow and juice my own wheat grass. The wheat grass gives me so much energy.

Good luck, blessings.

Lorhen

Replied by Sharon (Wesley Chapel, Florida) on 11/29/2011

l have found a web site for homeopathic remedys that has a remedy finder. It asks lots of questions to narrow down your search to your specific issues. Patience here is needed as each of us is a little different from others, but homeopathics have been of great relief when vitamins, diet, etc doesn't quite do the trick. It's fast, has absolutely no interactive effects with anything you take. They dissolve under your tongue. The tiny pills have a lactose (milk) base, but l am allergic to milk and never had any issues with them. The only thing you need to do when you ar taking them is to avoid eating or drinking anything except water for 10 min before or after you take them so you don't cancel the effects. It is called abc homeopathy. Also a dot com. Google homeopathy to learn this little known secret. Know also that the more of your ailments match the description, the better it works. They also come in combo styles which are great.

Replied by Paul (Tauranga, New Zealand) on 12/28/2011

Check out Weston A Price Foundation -- what he has to say about root canals is scary.

Back to Meniere's Disease Q&A