I wanted to share another Meniere’s disease “case study” with you. These are meant to help you look at your own situation, not to criticize the reader. I am so glad they are looking for insight and not blindly following the Meniere’s dogma.
Then I wanted to get your opinion about an email I get periodically.
The reader’s question…. “I’ve had this since I was twenty years old on and off do those nerves eventually heal or do they just stabilize that make your balance.??” Mike.
I asked Mike for permission to use his question as it gives me another opportunity to help you, the reader, to help yourself, and not depend on others for resolving this Meniere’s disease problem.
You are allowed to be your own “helper”, but as you may have experienced in the last three years, there are many opinions, and some are “not allowed”. So feel confident that there are answers, and you can find them for yourself.
Let me first give you a very quick reminder of how your body functions all day, every day, with no exceptions UNLESS you take drugs to stop this natural healing process.
Your body…..
- Protects you
- Heals you
- Detoxifies all your body systems
- Rebalances itself to keep you healthy (homeostasis)
(I give these in the same order all the time simply because that is how the body “manages” itself. If it can’t do one thing, it finds ways of doing something else, but the end goal is always healing).
Follow me as we explore Mike’s question and comments.
(Mike’s comment) I’ve had this since I was twenty years old on and off (or) (question) do those nerves eventually heal?
My comments to Mike:
From my experience, nerves do not heal UNLESS there is a change in the health of the body (getting healthier) OR that the cause is gone, meaning it (the cause) has been dealt with or naturally disappeared.
But note that Mike’s irritant comes back (“on and off”). It shows up occasionally, not all day, every day.
Why?
As we “age” (get older), our bodies slow down and do less of what was normal. But at twenty, the body is just in its prime, and is not aging noticeably.
And…. here it’s obvious that the nerve has not healed because the symptoms show up again. ..and again.
So this balance nerve continues to give him problems, on and off.
Why has it not healed?
Because the cause still hasn’t been a) identified and b) fixed/deleted.
Each time the irritant shows up again, that balance nerve shows its “unhealthiness” by the symptoms (balance) it provides.
If this nerve had healed, there would be no more symptoms.
If the body (hence this nerve) had been healthier, it could override the cause with its own built-in inflammatory healing mechanism…the same process that heals your cold or flu.
If Mike had explored the cause of his Meniere’s disease symptoms WHEN they showed up, AND fixed that cause, his symptoms could not show up.
That particular cause would have been removed. Could another cause show up and give him grief? I think so IF the nerve is very sensitive.
How could Mike make his nerve less sensitive? By making his body healthier. Drugs can’t do that.
HOWEVER, the use of some drugs will actually hide the symptoms. Steroids are one such group. Anti-inflammatories are another group. That is why they are prescribed. PLEASE check these drugs out for side effects. No one will tell you, but these chemicals often cause hearing loss! Please do your own “due diligence” (research).
It is the purpose of a drug “manage” the symptoms. Only nutrients in the form of foods can heal your body.
Can you see the difference between managing something and healing it?
When you manage something, you accept the fact that the problem will continue, but your goal is to make your life as comfortable as possible.
When you heal something, you accept the the fact the problem can be healed, you want the problem to go away.
Your body can be healed, but it needs your help, your knowledge, your thinking, and appropriate action.
Let’s look at Mike’s symptoms again.
Having symptoms is the only way to know that a nerve is being irritated. Mike started his symptoms when he was 20 years old. Keep this in mind: I’ll get to that in a short while.
So my next step to help Mike, was to attach a PDF of my Study Guide.
There I directed him to Section 4, and suggested he start figuring out what might have brought on his balance symptoms.
Section 3, in the Guide, “Observations”, lists many, many possible causes. We have collected loads of different ideas since we started answering this type of email in 2000. It became very clear as we started to collect all these different ideas (of possible causes), that the “hopelessness” or “no cure” prognosis given by the medical profession, wasn’t so hopeless after all. And there IS a lot of hope.
Gosh, that realization felt so good!
But I admit….it’s very hard for some people to let go of the “hopeless verdict / no cure diagnosis”. Some people need the idea of having a disease.
A side note….
If you are interested in doing this process for yourself and don’t have this Guide, ask us for it: it’s complimentary. Please use this link to request a copy of the Study Guide.
Here is what I suggested to Mike (and you should do the same if you are going to look for your underlying cause.)
Scan the first 3 chapters of the Guide. It is very important for you to get an overall view of how to look at your own health “style”. (You can do it yourself, ask a medical professional, or use a combination.) Try to avoid chat rooms: many people in there haven’t fixed or dealt with their symptoms, yet they offer all sorts of their own opinions. I guess they are trying to help in their own way.
I must also tell you that I have had a lot of correspondence in some form with Meniere’s sufferers whose medical family members didn’t have a clue about the body’s healing factor or how to look at the “cause and effect” concept. Maybe this isn’t taught in medical or nursing schools.
The action of your body still represents basic science. I know I sound like a broken record, but you need to get back to basics. This is crucial if you are going to get well.
Your body “houses” you. Your skin protects you and “engulfs” you in an enveloping form (skin), with a lot of pieces (cells, etc.) inside to keep you “going”. It’s your job is to maintain the health of all those body parts, your “overall format”.
Scientifically your body is perfect in its natural, God-given, state. Let it do its job. Your job is simply to feed it healthy foods.
Please know that it is NOT your doctor’s job to keep you healthy: it is yours. Ironically people go back (for confirmation) to the same doctor or health professional who initially told them that there was nothing to be done. Please….be kind to yourself. Learn to look after your “self”. With a little effort you can figure all this out.
So allow me to help you get started on your “job” just as I did with Mike.
As you have read many times in my information, the “driver/controller” behind your health is pure science as in cause and effect. Nothing else. You are born with a healthy body (for the vast majority of us) but we all tend to put things into and onto it that perhaps are NOT the best for it. However, your body can handle most of that providing it is relatively healthy.
If you are not feeling well, then some “thing” has upset your body’s health system.
If you are healthy and feel good, you are doing all the right things to keep your body’s systems functioning as designed. You are likely doing some muscle movement (exercising), giving it healthy air and water, and not allowing unhealthy things to stay in your body for long.
But please…you do NOT need a personal trainer or do nightly gym visits or run a mile…just an ordinary walk is adequate. You can do the other things if you like, but it’s not necessary. Use your common sense.
A cause can come in different forms.
Do you recall my suggestion to remember Mike’s age, twenty?
I admit to not knowing so many things that people do to look better. I don’t recall doing this myself, but I have since learned that many teens and young adults use special facial creams.
My introduction to this as a possible cause came from a very healthy young man entering medical school. Over time, he slowly experienced a lot of vertigo and became very sick. A few months later, he was contemplating quitting medical school. Naturally his parents were very concerned and did a lot of research. After several long conversations with everyone (individually), the med student decided to put aside this facial cream for set period of time. A few months later I received a lovely phone call from him, telling me that he was back in school, healthy, and enjoying his classes. (I assume he stopped using the facial cream permanently.)
I hear this type of story many times.
Someday I will share my “sheep farmer” story.
Can you see why I am so adamant about “cause and effect”? You can’t ignore it or deny it.
It’s pure science and you can do it (with a bit of nagging from me.).
That is why the Observations section of the Study Guide is so helpful. Once you get an idea of possible causes, your mind goes crazy with ideas. But only a few of those observations might relate to your situation. Just start being aware of what is going on around you.
You need to have a plan of action.
Step one is to make a list. I KNOW it’s a nuisance, but it works.
Make TWO lists: one of everything you put INTO and another one of everything you put ONTO your body.
The OUTSIDE
Start by looking at the top of your head, your scalp, and note/write down everything you can think of that you use.
Work down from shampoos and conditioners to face, to arms, legs, etc.
Look at the Observations list (section 3) in the Guide for ideas.
Stop when you get to the bottom of your feet. There are a lot of things to write out for the outside. That’s a huge list of potential causes.
That’s the outside.
The INSIDE
Now do the very same process for things you put INTO your body such as pills, drinks, air, eye drops, injections, drugs, foods, etc. lately I am hearing about Botox shots. I cannot understand why someone would want to put botulism (Clostridium botulinum) into their bodies! I honestly had no idea how often they are used for so many different conditions….for example as a facial filler.
You have got to read this: “The toxin causes the disease botulism. The toxin is also used commercially for medical and cosmetic purposes.” From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The things I have learned from others!!! I am so grateful. You might also want to consider scents or odours. (I could tell you stories about this one!)
It’s hard to figure out where most people find their causes. Rarely it’s a combination.
I really enjoy doing this with people who call.
Again, a lot of learning on my part.
I encourage people to take time to make the lists and add to them over time. But I also ask that they not to be sent to me…some pretty personal information which I refer not to know. Yes, I am a safe person to share with.
Once you have made these lists (you only need to do this once and add to it as you think of more things).
This is what you want to track: Date…Time…Location.
You need to explore your symptoms WHEN they show up…so date and time. Time is very, very important.
And LOCATION…maybe when you get into your car or on the golf course, or at a certain place. Just pay attention.
Explore what you did just before you notice how you felt “different”. This could be the location of the suspected cause. Realizing this can help you explore cycles of activities and maybe then identify the cause. For instance, feeling unwell (vertigo) after an exercise session should make you think about low blood pressure or low blood sugar. I hear this a lot.
I think doing this exercise for yourself, does a couple of things.
One, it helps you realize that the symptoms you experience have a cause: that this is not hopeless, nor must you simply accept what you are told.
The other thing it does is give you a framework to look at for ANY other health conditions. It encourages you to look for its cause, then fix it.
By looking at any individual symptom and wondering where it came from, you will have much more confidence in your own health “care”.
I REALLY hope you take some appropriate action after making these lists. Otherwise…what’s the point of being aware of some unhealthiness in your life?
You are now ready to challenge ideas or concepts that may feel awkward or not in your best interest. Trust your gut feelings.
My other issue has to do with a “periodic email”. Once in a long while, I get an email asking me what is new in Meniere’s treatments or medical information.
I give out two answers.
One is that this is NOT a disease and offer them a copy of the Study Guide. That way I feel I am adding to their knowledge base.
The other answer I give is that NOTHING new CAN come out for any “new” Meniere’s disease treatment because this protocol is set by medical associations and has been for years and years, and no one has the will to challenge this protocol even if it’s not helpful. I discovered this strange idea as I corresponded with many Meniere’s sufferers around the world. New procedures can be tried under different names, but it all boils down to looking for the underlying cause and fixing it.
I don’t mean to sound uncaring.
How would you respond?
Karin
In Health: with Hope
- If you would like a copy of our Meniere’s Disease Study Guide, please click here. This guide is a step by step journey exploring your symptoms and what may be causing them.
- If you would like more information on the system that David, and numerous others, have used, please click here; What Finally Worked.
- If you have any health questions or concerns, please feel free to Contact Us and we will be happy to share our knowledge and ideas with you.
Karin Henderson, Retired Nurse
(604) 463-8666 – Pacific Standard Time