Ear, Nose & Throat Community

That's good news.....kind of "shocking", but good. I hope the ticker behaves now.

Thanks for the update. I hope that you will have a relaxed and well-balanced weekend, too.

Dr. M: I think my latest cardio-version has again failed!
I did get to church today--felt soooo lightheaded, and also felt that way yesterday too. Kept feeling like heart was 'skipping' off and on--didn't know if that was 'normal' or not. Unnerves me though. Of course, I never know if the lightheaded feeling is my ear or my heart. Anyway, we stopped in Urgent Care where I get my b/p taken free--and they also check your pulse. My b/p was 184/80! However I hadn't had my blood pressure med and took it right away when I got home. My pulse was anywhere from 84 to 105, and mostly in the 90's! The nurse said I probably should call the exchange and let them know.
Still, I'm on blood thinner and also on the A-fib meds so not sure if they'd do anything. I was told if I had chest pain or shortness of breath, etc. to call 911 but otherwise if I had concerns to call the 'exchange'. Now I hate to call the exchange over the weekend. If I felt they could help I wouldn't hesitate, but as I said, I'm on the meds for this and the blood thinner and think I'll wait until Tues. and call my own Cardiologist. Any suggestions? Hoping to go to dinner this afternoon--first time to a restaurant in months! Thanks yanksgirl

Never hesitate to call the exchange for something like this....the cardiologist is more likely to chastise you for NOT calling. Don't wait until the middle of the night to call, however, but if you call them at a reasonable hour, I am sure the cardiologist will call you back for some patient-specific advice. He may adjust or change your medication, or at least tell you whether you should go to the ER or see him the first thing on Tuesday.

This is really your call, but the advice from Urgent Care was valid. Your elevated systolic blood pressure could be your anxiety and not the a-fib, so relax. My own pulse runs in the 90's all of the time, but your pulse will surely increase when you are worried about your tricky-ticker.

Dr. M---I really just clicked on here thinking 'he's probably having a Memorial day get together and won't see this until Tues. I should know you better by now! Thanks for answering so quickly.
I did go to dinner (really was not feeling well the entire time) but it was to see an out of town family member just home for a few days, so hated to miss it.
Had I opened your post sooner, I'd have called the exchange. Now, it's later--nearly 9:00 and I am feeling some better--so unless I get more symptoms will see how I am tomorrow. I will call the exchange if I feel like I did today---and if I'm better, I'll wait until Tues. to 'report' how my weekend has been and see if the doctor wants to see me or change my meds.
I really wasn't too concerned either about the b/p as when I'm stressed it goes up but I hadn't taken my one strong b/p med and I knew that would take care of that. This lightheadedness that got so bad though even at dinner--and my heart skipping alot, was my main concerned. If it hadn't calmed down when we got home and I sat back and relaxed, I would have called but since it's some better--I'll give it another day. Thanks for your dedication to this board--I know others appreciate you as much as I do. yanksgirl

No Memorial Day celebrations here today. I cleaned the chicken coop (with one arm), but I did put up the flag.

I am glad you are feeling better, at least a little, so it is okay to delay the call to the exchange for now (even though 9 PM is not late for doctors).

If you are truly in a-fib again, your cardiologist may have some other plans.

Take care of yourself.....

'Chicken coop?' that's a sight to see I'm sure! LOL
I wanted to tell you the 'latest'. I did go to have another EKG on Tues. and I'm still in sinus rhythm! That's the good news. The bad news is I'm not feeling 'right' at all! He told me to go back to taking a whole 400 mg. table of the Multaq in the morning and just 1/2 in the evening (he had cut me to 1/2 , twice a day and even that made my head feel heavy inside when I'm in an upright position but now it's worse! Just can't determine if it's my inner ear or the meds or ??
A visit from my sister was just a 'sit and talk' visit (that's not all bad) but I'd have to stop talking, let my head settle down, and could feel my heart being really irregular! So strange.
I read on an A-fib forum where the meds can cause some really bad symptoms, as well as the A-fib itself.
Anyway, trying to relax and if I don't improve, not sure if I need to call the ear doctor or the cardio doctor. Maybe both soon. Hoping if it's meds, that my body will adjust and I can take them as evidently my cardio doctor thinks it will help keep me in normal rhythm. Just am so discouraged these days about all this. Feel like nothing is working like it's supposed to.
'one day at a time' though. Thanks for listening-----again!!

I do suspect that you will have to call both, but expect both to blame the other for your symptoms....the ear doc will say that it is likely your heart, and the hear doc will claim it is probably your ears.

Finding a cause and a balance of your medications will take time and a lot of "trial and error" therapies. I wish it was easier for you.

I am at a conference in San Francisco right now so I better pay attention to the speaker.

Talk about being 'dedicated' to this board and it's patients. You are to be commended for sure!
Anyway, a bit of a better day today. Walked in the park, grocery shopped--not a good experience doing that--have to turn head slowly and am 'ready' to get out of there soon!
Planning on attending a wedding tomorrow--a good friend--so hopefully we can make it. Large crowds and loud music, etc. are something I avoid if possible, but feel I should try to go.
Even when I 'eat', the chewing process increases the pressure in my head and eating isn't a pleasure after a few mins. Have to sit back--rest my head. Something about being in an upright position very long. So strange.
Anyway, I'm keeping on anyway--many others with Meniere's have this and others with A-fib too, I'm finding out, but this has been such a long 'journey' for me, keep hoping I've about arrived at a 'rest area'! LOL Enjoy your conference! yanksgirl

I am still at the conference....in the middle of a lecture about melanomas. Since I do a lot of biopsies in my practice, I thought it would be good to have an update.

I am glad you are feeling better, even if it may be a hiatus. Good is good, even if it is for a short time. I am pleased that you are not in a-fib now, so perhaps it was that "cardio-anxiety" causing your palpitations.

Have a good time at the wedding. Avoid break dancing and avoid excess alcohol (which can lead to break dancing).

I called my Ent doctor and Cardio doctor today after a really 'tough week-end'! I know they go--'oh no, not her again!' ha
You were right--partially anyway. The Ent doc said my head pressure and lightheadedness could be caused by the A-fib and/or new meds for it. The Cardio doctor did listen and cut the new meds in 1/2 on a daily basis! I was so glad of that. Hopefully that will lessen the head pressure some. I was so upset yesterday morning--not new though--that I was crying off and on, and shaky--anxiety taking over. That was when I decided to call their offices today. The only suggestion I got from the ent doctor--well--his nurse, was to continue physical therapy--which I had finished 2 weeks ago--as the P.Therapist said he'd done all that he could do and I could now continue at home--and I am! I told her that, and she said--'Dr. said to continue therapy'! Well, until I see him in July--I don't plan to. I want to tell him face to face that to go there and do just what I do at home and pay the 'over and above insurance' just didn't make sense.
My head pressure (fullness some say) gets so bad, I have to sit back to get it to ease--I've been out off and on all weekend--church, a visit to a relative, dinner at a restaurant and at each place was only 'barely comfortable' at times, the rest of the time--pretty uncomfortable so that makes me so 'distressed' to say the least. I keep trying. Husband is frustrated too, seeing me go through this and feeling like he can't 'answer' or 'help'! He's been more help than he knows--and I let him know that--often. Still, I read that many Meniere's patients and now I'm reading that many a-fib patients deal with these life altering symptoms--some get better, some don't and they try many things. I hope I'm one who 'will eventually' get better. Anyway, that's the latest.
The Xanax does help the anxiety--trying not to take more than 2 a day--though was told by my internist not to hesitate to take 3 (low dose) if it helps. I don't like feeling so drugged and sleepy so most often take one a day and sometimes 2 and of course, the ENT doc wants me to stay on the once a day Valium--so that's why I'm hesitant to take 3 Xanax too. On and On! Hope you're home safely and had a good conference. Did you find a 'cure' for me????

No, you and I remain somewhat incurable....you with your dizziness and anxiety, and me with a bum shoulder and tinnitus. Getting older is not for sissies.

Rather than focus on an improbable cure, it may be wiser to focus on an acceptable treatment....a combination of medications and therapy that can control your symptoms to the point where you can have a life again.

I am not sure your ENT wants you to take both Xanax and Valium. Since both are nearly identical, I think he would want you to use the one that works the best for you. There are no real advantages of taking both. Xanax is really a new and improved Valium. As you know, they are used both for anxiety and for dizziness. There are no good treatments, other than salt restriction and perhaps, a mild diuretic, that would help that inner ear fullness.

Menieres is a tough cookie to manage. Don't feel that you are bothering your doctors, since they are your best chance of finding an effective treatment. See them as often as you need to get these issues controlled, but clearly it will not be a simple fix. I wish that I had some profound wisdom to offer you.

Actually, Dr. M--my doctor's nurse told me to do 'just that'. I asked about stopping the Valium and she said 'no' he wants you to continue it. It's for the 'vestibular system' at that low dosage--2 mg. And the Xanax is low dose too, but treats anxiety where the Valium only makes me 'sleepy' it seems.
She said if you take 2 Xanax a day--space them out a.m./noon/afternoon/ and bedtime (meaning--Valium a.m. or bedtime,and the Xanax in between). I told her I rarely take more than 2 Xanax so she said the do the Valium a.m. or p.m. and the Xanax in between--noon and later afternoon.
I prefer the Xanax and had hoped he'd discontinue it but he did tell me awhile back that in that low dose it wasn't a 'tranquilizer' etc. but as it was originally intended (in that dosage) for the inner ear system to calm it down.
Guess I'll just be the 'one that has to 'deal' with this. I know I'm not the only one--but sometimes you feel like it. We walked in the park-beautiful today and by the end of the walk, my head was so 'full and heavy' and I felt a bit nauseated and very 'anxious'. I'd only had 1/2 a Xanax so took the other half as soon as we go in the car--am feeling better now--as I've been relaxing since I got home. Anyway, your 'wisdom' is appreciated---even if not 'profound'. Thanks again.

Relaxing is good. Managing the vestiubular system is good. Not throwing up is good. Becoming excessively sleepy during the day is not good....for you, but maybe your doctor feels if you are sleeping, you will not have noticable symptoms and call them???

My theory is to use the least amount of medicine needed to achieve a therapeutic result. Taking a too-low dosage will not help; taking a too-high dose will likely result in side-effects such as sedation. If you get by on a 1/2, then why take a whole one? However, if you only take a 1/2 because you are worried that you have to take them at all, then it may not help the anxiety.

All of this is a "dance".....a dance of trial and error.