August 11th, 2004:

In a search fr anything that might offer me relief from these symptoms, I have come across two “remedies” for Meniere’s.

The first, is a Chinese herbal supplement called “Clear Eye, Sharp Ear” or “Qige Congming” and is “available”:http://www.taoofherbs.com/products/61/Balanceuticals/ClearEyeSharpEar.htm for about $1.47 per day.

The second is a product called “T-Gone”:http://t-gone.com/ that offers different formulas for different ear problems. Its Meniere’s treatment program lasts 12 weeks and runs about $3.08 per day.

If my health insurance would cover expenses such as these, I wouldn’t think twice about giving either of them a shot. However, when I’m the guy left holding the bill while still plagued with the same symptoms, I’m only going to feel stupid, and ashamed, and even more stressed out, which isn’t going to help anything.

Does anyone know anything about these products? I can’t seem to be able to find out what the ingredients in them are to even do some research to determine if it even has a chance at helping.

The dizziness I went to bed with Monday night, stayed with me for most of Tuesday, but was in a constant state of dissipation. By the time my drive home from work came, it was almost completely gone, and after dinner, it had disappeared alltogether. This is the normal progression of things when I have an “attack”. It usually takes about 24 hours from the start of the attack for it to completely disappear.

Then, around 10pm, Jess and I decided we should go to bed and watch some TV. In my bedroom, I must have turned quickly, or stood up too fast or something, because, suddenly and unexpectedly I was very dizzy again. This is highly unusual. I’m usually given some warning. It starts slow and progresses worse and worse until I realize it’s a bad idea to even attempt to move for fear that I might be physically ill. But this time, it was instant. I climbed in bed, and tried to sleep. The few times during the night that I woke up, I could tell the dizziness still hadn’t gone away because just moving my head into a different position on my pillow would send the world spinning around me.

I’m feeling better this morning than I was last night, but I still feel terrible. I stumble when I walk and I feel that the placement of my feet with each step is purely guess work and that it’s only by chance that my foot actually makes contact with the ground instead of sending me head over heels to the ground.

I don’t feel at all comfortable driving to work this morning, yet I know that sitting around here all day thinking about how dizzy I am is only going to make it worse. And I know that going back to sleep is not an option since, as dizzy as I am and as rested as I am, I’d never be able to fall asleep like this.

I’ve taken more Dramamine this morning, but it doesn’t seem to be making a bit of difference.