Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Nov 24th 2005, 10:51 pm
#1
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Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Hi, I found all your replies really helpful last time and am hoping for a miracle now! My husband started work in Guelph in October and we were / are planning to sell up and follow in the near future. His employers there have sorted his work permit and admittance into Canada for me and the children,(guess we're lucky there, reading the many nightmares on here that people have trying to gain work permits).
He came home a couple of weeks ago for a short 7 - 10 day visit, however on Saturday night - disaster! My world turned upside down, and that's no exaggeration! I developed sudden vertigo which has failed to go away. I am being told by doctors here it is probably Menieres Disease (inner ear), though this cannot be confirmed until I get an MRI scan (how soon??? given the NHS I ask!). Prognosis is at best, it will fade and never recur leaving some hearing loss, at worst it could be permanent and lead to total deafness - Most likely will be in between and I can expect to go progressively deaf and have recurring episodes of vertigo.
My hubby can't return because I stagger round like a drunk and would likely injure the kids falling (or get someone reporting me if I tried to venture outside), and we have no idea when this episode of vertigo will subside at least enough to allow me to manage alone. I'm hoping he can go back soon, but has anyone else sufferred this? and more importantly is medical care accessible in the Guelph area for people like me, not that there's any treatment to cure this I'm told! Comments please
He came home a couple of weeks ago for a short 7 - 10 day visit, however on Saturday night - disaster! My world turned upside down, and that's no exaggeration! I developed sudden vertigo which has failed to go away. I am being told by doctors here it is probably Menieres Disease (inner ear), though this cannot be confirmed until I get an MRI scan (how soon??? given the NHS I ask!). Prognosis is at best, it will fade and never recur leaving some hearing loss, at worst it could be permanent and lead to total deafness - Most likely will be in between and I can expect to go progressively deaf and have recurring episodes of vertigo.
My hubby can't return because I stagger round like a drunk and would likely injure the kids falling (or get someone reporting me if I tried to venture outside), and we have no idea when this episode of vertigo will subside at least enough to allow me to manage alone. I'm hoping he can go back soon, but has anyone else sufferred this? and more importantly is medical care accessible in the Guelph area for people like me, not that there's any treatment to cure this I'm told! Comments please
Nov 27th 2005, 2:21 am
#2
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Originally Posted by Sue Keane
Hi, I found all your replies really helpful last time and am hoping for a miracle now! My husband started work in Guelph in October and we were / are planning to sell up and follow in the near future. His employers there have sorted his work permit and admittance into Canada for me and the children,(guess we're lucky there, reading the many nightmares on here that people have trying to gain work permits).
He came home a couple of weeks ago for a short 7 - 10 day visit, however on Saturday night - disaster! My world turned upside down, and that's no exaggeration! I developed sudden vertigo which has failed to go away. I am being told by doctors here it is probably Menieres Disease (inner ear), though this cannot be confirmed until I get an MRI scan (how soon??? given the NHS I ask!). Prognosis is at best, it will fade and never recur leaving some hearing loss, at worst it could be permanent and lead to total deafness - Most likely will be in between and I can expect to go progressively deaf and have recurring episodes of vertigo.
My hubby can't return because I stagger round like a drunk and would likely injure the kids falling (or get someone reporting me if I tried to venture outside), and we have no idea when this episode of vertigo will subside at least enough to allow me to manage alone. I'm hoping he can go back soon, but has anyone else sufferred this? and more importantly is medical care accessible in the Guelph area for people like me, not that there's any treatment to cure this I'm told! Comments please
He came home a couple of weeks ago for a short 7 - 10 day visit, however on Saturday night - disaster! My world turned upside down, and that's no exaggeration! I developed sudden vertigo which has failed to go away. I am being told by doctors here it is probably Menieres Disease (inner ear), though this cannot be confirmed until I get an MRI scan (how soon??? given the NHS I ask!). Prognosis is at best, it will fade and never recur leaving some hearing loss, at worst it could be permanent and lead to total deafness - Most likely will be in between and I can expect to go progressively deaf and have recurring episodes of vertigo.
My hubby can't return because I stagger round like a drunk and would likely injure the kids falling (or get someone reporting me if I tried to venture outside), and we have no idea when this episode of vertigo will subside at least enough to allow me to manage alone. I'm hoping he can go back soon, but has anyone else sufferred this? and more importantly is medical care accessible in the Guelph area for people like me, not that there's any treatment to cure this I'm told! Comments please
I would consider a second medical opinion - how can they diagnose Meniere's with only a few days history of symptoms? I'm not a doctor, but work as a therapist , but I would suspect an inner ear infection that requires antibiotics.
TrishB
Nov 28th 2005, 10:30 pm
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Originally Posted by TrishB
I would consider a second medical opinion - how can they diagnose Meniere's with only a few days history of symptoms? I'm not a doctor, but work as a therapist , but I would suspect an inner ear infection that requires antibiotics.
TrishB
TrishB
Nov 28th 2005, 10:51 pm
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Originally Posted by Sue Keane
Hi Trish, Yes I'm still here and still wobbling, despite a 7 day course of strong antibiotics. That was my feeling too ( I'm a midwife) However there were never any signs of infection, but lots of hearing effects. Diagnosis can't be complete 'til MRI scan is done. I would be really interested to hear if anyone else has had this and if as some people are telling me - is the cold weather the main culprit 'cos this would really have to make us rethink a move to Canada.
Nov 28th 2005, 11:05 pm
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
You've probably already come across this canadian site - http://www.menieres-disease.ca/index.htm - worth a look if not. They list what the diagnostic tests would be were you in Canada, interesting to compare with what you get on the NHS.
Nov 29th 2005, 10:27 pm
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Originally Posted by Biiiiink
You've probably already come across this canadian site - http://www.menieres-disease.ca/index.htm - worth a look if not. They list what the diagnostic tests would be were you in Canada, interesting to compare with what you get on the NHS.
Nov 30th 2005, 10:02 pm
#7
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Location: Barrie, Ontario
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Originally Posted by Sue Keane
Thanks for that, no I hadn't come across that site before now. We're negotiating staying put for now, at least until things with me settle down a little and 'til we've seen a specialist. Divine intervention it would seem! I'll keep you posted.
Sorry to hear about the vertigo. Truly unpleasant. My day job is as an Audiological Scientist and I could probably give you some information and advice and possibly a better idea of what is actually happening to you. True Meniere's disease is associated with true rotatory vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus and is characterised by generally short episodes that initially improve (including all the symptoms) and is fairly rare. As it runs its course the episodes becomes more frequent and generally speaking the hearing loss eventually doesn't improve.
What is more likely (although I couldn't say for certain without a much more detailed history) is that you're experiencing viral labyrinthitis. It's characterised by a sudden onset of rotatory vertigo (where the room seems to be spinning around) that can seem quite violent and make it very difficult to get up out of the bed / off of the floor and can even lead to vomiting. The acute phase tends to last 3-5 days with gradual improvement....but can leave you with an uncompensated unsteadiness /imbalance that will usually improve with time as long as you encourage compensation by moving around as much as possible/ is safe.
I really don't have enough information to reassure you either way, feel free to e-mail me. You still need the MRI which will be used mainly to exclude other causes..... balance isn't my main area of expertise but I'm not sure if endolymphatic hydrops can be picked up by MRI? I can tell you that many medical professionals use the term Meniere's disease erroneously to refer to any episode of dizziness so I wouldn't worry unnecessarily.
Let me know if I can be of any further help.
Jen
Last edited by Andy_Jen; Nov 30th 2005 at 10:05 pm.
Dec 8th 2005, 9:32 am
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Hi Sue
I am sorry to hear about your condition, as a menieres sufferer myself, perhaps I can shed some light on the matter.
Firstly; The MRI scan will not tell you that you have menieres, it can only be used to rule out that something else maybe effecting you. ( I had 2 )
The symtoms are
Dizzyness ( room is spinning)
Hearing loss : which varies from mild to profound .
Tinnitus: sounds in the ear
Unfortunately there is no cure for this condition, however there is a great number of things you can do to help yourself.
Look up menieres disease on the web, and you will find a whole host of good advisory sites.
Secondly get referred to a specialist, as your general GP or ENT clinic at your hospital may only be able to deal with hearing in general.
I use the National Hospital, Otology dept, Great Ormond St. ( I can give you further details of this if you need it.)
I would not recommend going to Bupa, as I spent thousands there trying to get to the bottom of my problem, and they did not provide anything like the information that I got from the National under the NHS.
Firstly you need to confirm this is menieres,
If it is then you can improve your condition by going on a low salt diet, Doing regular vestibular exercises ( Basically teach yourself to balance in view of your present problem). I also find walking is excellent to assist improvement.
The thing you need to remember is, you can function very well with the condition, I took up martial arts as a replacement for the vestibular exercise ( as it bored me to tears) and I am now a black belt with an instructors certificate. ( My wife and kids have also got thier black belts as a result)
I presently run my own business and intend to do this in Canada, if you want to see another person who has this condition and has conquered it see
www.hearingmojo.com This guy also has menieres
Note: Dont give up your plans, learn, adjust, and conquer it!
I hope this helps, Good luck
Prakash
I am sorry to hear about your condition, as a menieres sufferer myself, perhaps I can shed some light on the matter.
Firstly; The MRI scan will not tell you that you have menieres, it can only be used to rule out that something else maybe effecting you. ( I had 2 )
The symtoms are
Dizzyness ( room is spinning)
Hearing loss : which varies from mild to profound .
Tinnitus: sounds in the ear
Unfortunately there is no cure for this condition, however there is a great number of things you can do to help yourself.
Look up menieres disease on the web, and you will find a whole host of good advisory sites.
Secondly get referred to a specialist, as your general GP or ENT clinic at your hospital may only be able to deal with hearing in general.
I use the National Hospital, Otology dept, Great Ormond St. ( I can give you further details of this if you need it.)
I would not recommend going to Bupa, as I spent thousands there trying to get to the bottom of my problem, and they did not provide anything like the information that I got from the National under the NHS.
Firstly you need to confirm this is menieres,
If it is then you can improve your condition by going on a low salt diet, Doing regular vestibular exercises ( Basically teach yourself to balance in view of your present problem). I also find walking is excellent to assist improvement.
The thing you need to remember is, you can function very well with the condition, I took up martial arts as a replacement for the vestibular exercise ( as it bored me to tears) and I am now a black belt with an instructors certificate. ( My wife and kids have also got thier black belts as a result)
I presently run my own business and intend to do this in Canada, if you want to see another person who has this condition and has conquered it see
www.hearingmojo.com This guy also has menieres
Note: Dont give up your plans, learn, adjust, and conquer it!
I hope this helps, Good luck
Prakash
Originally Posted by Sue Keane
Hi, I found all your replies really helpful last time and am hoping for a miracle now! My husband started work in Guelph in October and we were / are planning to sell up and follow in the near future. His employers there have sorted his work permit and admittance into Canada for me and the children,(guess we're lucky there, reading the many nightmares on here that people have trying to gain work permits).
He came home a couple of weeks ago for a short 7 - 10 day visit, however on Saturday night - disaster! My world turned upside down, and that's no exaggeration! I developed sudden vertigo which has failed to go away. I am being told by doctors here it is probably Menieres Disease (inner ear), though this cannot be confirmed until I get an MRI scan (how soon??? given the NHS I ask!). Prognosis is at best, it will fade and never recur leaving some hearing loss, at worst it could be permanent and lead to total deafness - Most likely will be in between and I can expect to go progressively deaf and have recurring episodes of vertigo.
My hubby can't return because I stagger round like a drunk and would likely injure the kids falling (or get someone reporting me if I tried to venture outside), and we have no idea when this episode of vertigo will subside at least enough to allow me to manage alone. I'm hoping he can go back soon, but has anyone else sufferred this? and more importantly is medical care accessible in the Guelph area for people like me, not that there's any treatment to cure this I'm told! Comments please
He came home a couple of weeks ago for a short 7 - 10 day visit, however on Saturday night - disaster! My world turned upside down, and that's no exaggeration! I developed sudden vertigo which has failed to go away. I am being told by doctors here it is probably Menieres Disease (inner ear), though this cannot be confirmed until I get an MRI scan (how soon??? given the NHS I ask!). Prognosis is at best, it will fade and never recur leaving some hearing loss, at worst it could be permanent and lead to total deafness - Most likely will be in between and I can expect to go progressively deaf and have recurring episodes of vertigo.
My hubby can't return because I stagger round like a drunk and would likely injure the kids falling (or get someone reporting me if I tried to venture outside), and we have no idea when this episode of vertigo will subside at least enough to allow me to manage alone. I'm hoping he can go back soon, but has anyone else sufferred this? and more importantly is medical care accessible in the Guelph area for people like me, not that there's any treatment to cure this I'm told! Comments please
Dec 8th 2005, 4:36 pm
#9
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Excellent post Prakash.
Very helpful and informative, Sue should find it useful.
Karma to you!
Very helpful and informative, Sue should find it useful.
Karma to you!
Dec 8th 2005, 9:14 pm
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Originally Posted by Woodstock62
Excellent post Prakash.
Very helpful and informative, Sue should find it useful.
Karma to you!
Very helpful and informative, Sue should find it useful.
Karma to you!
(this smile illustrates just how I feel most of the time - like I've had at least 10 of them!)
Dec 9th 2005, 1:13 am
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Posts: 295
Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Hi Sue,
Poor you. As if you haven't got enough to contend with.
If I was you I'd pay and go privately. That way you'll be seen in days rather than months. I'd also be inclined to ask the consultant to write you a report when you are diagnosed. Also ask him to keep a copy on file and say that you may need a copy in the future (with a more recent date on it - should you ever require medicals for PR etc). When you go for a medical you'll have to declare it and if you can go armed with a recently written report it saves the CHC requesting that you see a consultant at a later date.
I hope that you get sorted out. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Louise
Poor you. As if you haven't got enough to contend with.
If I was you I'd pay and go privately. That way you'll be seen in days rather than months. I'd also be inclined to ask the consultant to write you a report when you are diagnosed. Also ask him to keep a copy on file and say that you may need a copy in the future (with a more recent date on it - should you ever require medicals for PR etc). When you go for a medical you'll have to declare it and if you can go armed with a recently written report it saves the CHC requesting that you see a consultant at a later date.
I hope that you get sorted out. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Louise
Originally Posted by Sue Keane
Hi, I found all your replies really helpful last time and am hoping for a miracle now! My husband started work in Guelph in October and we were / are planning to sell up and follow in the near future. His employers there have sorted his work permit and admittance into Canada for me and the children,(guess we're lucky there, reading the many nightmares on here that people have trying to gain work permits).
He came home a couple of weeks ago for a short 7 - 10 day visit, however on Saturday night - disaster! My world turned upside down, and that's no exaggeration! I developed sudden vertigo which has failed to go away. I am being told by doctors here it is probably Menieres Disease (inner ear), though this cannot be confirmed until I get an MRI scan (how soon??? given the NHS I ask!). Prognosis is at best, it will fade and never recur leaving some hearing loss, at worst it could be permanent and lead to total deafness - Most likely will be in between and I can expect to go progressively deaf and have recurring episodes of vertigo.
My hubby can't return because I stagger round like a drunk and would likely injure the kids falling (or get someone reporting me if I tried to venture outside), and we have no idea when this episode of vertigo will subside at least enough to allow me to manage alone. I'm hoping he can go back soon, but has anyone else sufferred this? and more importantly is medical care accessible in the Guelph area for people like me, not that there's any treatment to cure this I'm told! Comments please
He came home a couple of weeks ago for a short 7 - 10 day visit, however on Saturday night - disaster! My world turned upside down, and that's no exaggeration! I developed sudden vertigo which has failed to go away. I am being told by doctors here it is probably Menieres Disease (inner ear), though this cannot be confirmed until I get an MRI scan (how soon??? given the NHS I ask!). Prognosis is at best, it will fade and never recur leaving some hearing loss, at worst it could be permanent and lead to total deafness - Most likely will be in between and I can expect to go progressively deaf and have recurring episodes of vertigo.
My hubby can't return because I stagger round like a drunk and would likely injure the kids falling (or get someone reporting me if I tried to venture outside), and we have no idea when this episode of vertigo will subside at least enough to allow me to manage alone. I'm hoping he can go back soon, but has anyone else sufferred this? and more importantly is medical care accessible in the Guelph area for people like me, not that there's any treatment to cure this I'm told! Comments please
Dec 10th 2005, 3:25 pm
#12
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Location: Barrie, Ontario
Posts: 127
Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Hi Sue,
Sorry to read about your relapse.
Must be very frustrating. I'm pleased you've got your ENT appointment...I'll be thinking of you. Let us know how you get on.
Jen
Sorry to read about your relapse.
Must be very frustrating. I'm pleased you've got your ENT appointment...I'll be thinking of you. Let us know how you get on.Jen
Dec 11th 2005, 5:00 pm
#13
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Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Originally Posted by Colsgirl
......
ask HIM to keep a copy on file
Louise
ask HIM to keep a copy on file
Louise
I'm sorry to hear about your (possible) Merniere's.
To Louise, as a budding consultant (OK, it's early days yet), I am now really notice every time such a person is referred to as a male. I'm sure that you didn't mean it this way....but just thought that I'd highlight it.
Dec 11th 2005, 5:36 pm
#14
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Posts: 404
Re: Health care in Ontario / Menieres Disease
Good luck, Sue.
I have tinnitus, so I had a BUPA MRI scan in the UK several months before we moved over to Canada. The MRI scan was to see if there was something more sinister causing my tinnitus, after the Doctor said there was nothing else he could do he just advised me to avoid concerts, loud music, pneumatic drills, etc.
I can only offer sympathy, I really hope your long term plans aren't spoiled by this - and that it gets better for you.
I have tinnitus, so I had a BUPA MRI scan in the UK several months before we moved over to Canada. The MRI scan was to see if there was something more sinister causing my tinnitus, after the Doctor said there was nothing else he could do he just advised me to avoid concerts, loud music, pneumatic drills, etc.
I can only offer sympathy, I really hope your long term plans aren't spoiled by this - and that it gets better for you.
