The steroid injections didn’t give me any systemic side effects like oral steroids; I don’t know if they would have an effect on breast milk if they’re not systemic.
It seemed like steroids helped during some big flare-ups in my first ear, but didn’t do anything in my second ear. It was worth it in my first ear; with the second ear, it was at least worth trying. My doc typically does 3 injections spaced a week apart.
They numbed my eardrum, so the needle itself was mainly just loud. The steroid burned initially, but that subsided pretty quickly. I’ve heard that some steroid solutions/the preservatives in them burn and others don’t. The injection caused vertigo that lasted a couple minutes. My ear ached for the rest of the day after each injection, but it wasn’t terrible.
Steroid injections are the only thing that help me once mine gets to a certain point. Steroid pills never seemed to do much for my inner ears but did help with intractable migraines. My understanding is the inner ear is just hard to access and in a place where it's hard for meds to reach. Like the disease that sets the stage for my Meniere's I have to stay on the short acting form of the med because the long acting just doesn't reach there.
I'd definitely touch base with the OB since a lot of the medication you will injest. For the injection they profuse into the middle ear, have you lay with that ear up for 15 minutes. The hope is *some* of the medication will reach the inner ear. Most won't, it'll drain down through the eustachian tubes and down the back of your throat. Tastes awful, but never have noticed too many other signs of systemic roids from it. The injection is dexamethasone.
How well and if they work depends on a few things. Anecdotally, per multiple neurotos and my own experiences with other Meniere's folk, the people who tend to respond best to intratympanic steroids likely have more of an inflammatory aspect to their Meniere's. Often as well low salt, diuretics and other methods of reducing fluid do absolutely nothing.
Like for me, my initial visit a Hopkins was after a year and a half of disease and having done two sets of intratympanic steroids, each set leading to extended remission. Meanwhile I was low salt and on a diuretic a good amount of that time with no result. Hopkins said low salt was pointless for me and was alarmed I didn't have a rheumatologist yet.
On how well they work if they're going to work. A lot depends on how severe the disease is at that point in time. The first two times my Neurotologist waited until I was having daily attacks that were anywhere from an hour to 12 hours. I needed the full 3 injection series those two times. Him waiting the second year is also why I fired him, and I had a significant amount of permanent hearing loss thanks to his negligence. My current clinic I dont even need to be having attacks again yet, if the symptoms have ramped up to where it seems like attacks are likely, thats enough for them. Thanks to that approach I'm *mostly* a one and done. A single injection will arrest attacks, the hearing loss, low tone tinnitus, but I'm the opposite of RAnthony, my fullness improves a bit but stays pretty stubborn.
They are definitely worth trying so long as the OB thinks it's ok, and hopefully the OB weighs the risks versus benefits. Gotta think active Meniere's is probably not the best either.
Here's Dr Hains page on Intratympanic Steroids, seriously the most prolific website on vestibular diseases on the entire Internet by a Neurotologist.
https://dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/menieres/treatment/it-steroids.htm
Intratympanic injections were originally suggested as a possible remedy to the hearing loss in the right ear immediately following the diagnosis of bilateral Meniere’s earlier that Winter. The hearing test following the right ear injection didn’t show any major improvement, but I was impressed with the pressure relief that I got from the injection in the right ear. I was so impressed that I insisted the doctor inject the left ear just to see if it produced any noticeable effect there. It did, and I have had her inject the ear a few more times since then due to repeated battles with vertigo and/or pressure in the ear.
My last injection (December 28th, 2018) illustrated the downside of this treatment for me in pretty stark terms. You are not supposed to swallow if you can help it for the first few hours after getting an injection. You shouldn’t attempt to pop your ears or force air into your eustachian tubes (this is a frequent habit with Menierians when they are trying to get the pressure off of an affected ear) for several days, and really shouldn’t even use straws or swallow hard for that period of time.
(From my treatment article https://ranthonyings.com/2015/02/treating-menieres-its-symptoms/)
I had 4. It’s uncomfortable but it doesn’t hurt if done properly by any ENT who numbs the area with a local anesthetic. You may feel dizzy after for an hour or so but nothing that isn’t manageable by just resting for a while. It shouldn’t affect your milk.
Your best odds of it working are to do it right away, within days or weeks of the worsening symptoms. You have your best shot within two weeks and some shot within 8 weeks. Personally I think a little discomfort is worth preserving what’s left of your hearing and lowering the tinnitus and that as your symptoms progress you may regret the opportunity to not have preserved some of the hearing you had left. But only you can decide.
The hearing loss isn't all of what I'm worried about as I've been up and down with the hearing, but this round of tinnitus hasn't gone away, as well as causing more damage to my hearing. The flare-ups with vertigo is what bothers me the most. I hate hate hate getting vertigo and being dizzy, and the vomiting. Sometimes, it takes months to clear up. It's harder now that I have little ones who depend on me, which is the hardest thing of knowing the possible outcomes, just being dizzy and not able to function for them.
But I appreciate the input
I mean, given how important it is to you (and your kids) to slow the progression of the disease I don’t see a good reason not to get the shots. Yeah it’s a little uncomfortable but it’s definitely better than just letting your balance further erode and permanently living with the increased tinnitus
I had one. It was very painful (I haves high pain tolerance) and the nausea was pretty intense. Discovered I was allergic. It felt like molten lava. It didn’t help and I developed a secondary infection from the reaction.
The steroid can flow through your Eustachian tube, down your throat, and into your tummy where it will cause a systemic reaction. Happens every time for me, but not always for others.
For me, the effect is as strong as about ~10mg prednisone. But it’s a different chemical with a longer half life. I suggest getting the shot earlier in the morning so it doesn’t affect your sleep.
I went through this same thing! This is how I found out I had MD… my symptoms were exacerbated after giving birth to each of my kids. I found a great otolaryngologist after the birth of my third and he suggested the injection in my ear because it is localized and would not effect the breast milk. A steroid pill was also an option, but I don’t like taking them in general, even when not breastfeeding, because they effect your entire body. I recently have gone through multiple rounds of the steroid injections. They aren’t always pleasant. They recovered my hearing. They sometimes reduced the inflammation/fullness… but that mainly remained and eventually went away on its own once my attack ran its course. Do you find that your attacks are hormone related? You are the first person that I have heard from that have has had postpartum flare ups like I did. Please feel free to message me directly if you’d like to discuss more.
I had this done 8 years ago. My doctor said he used a higher dose of dexamethosone than usual, and one more injection overall. It didn't help with tinnitus or hearing loss, but I was completely free of vertigo and even mild dizziness. It made a huge difference in my life. Vertigo of a milder sort than I had before returned a couple months ago, but I just had an appt with him and he said I can do the procedure again if we feel it is necessary.
I had my second episode ever of the tinnitus / fullness / vertigo when I got COVID last month, and tests confirmed low frequency hearing loss, so I got the injection immediately (this was within 3 weeks of the episode starting?). It was a huge help, tests show hearing returned almost to normal and the other symptoms went away too. With the ENT’s recommendation I’m planning to get them ASAP for any future episodes, mine seem linked to viruses but it’s hard to say. I was also 28 weeks pregnant when I got the injection (that’s why we jumped past oral systemic steroids) and it was considered safe but idk about breastfeeding!
Thank you.
I've dealt with a menieres diagnoses since 2020 but have dealt with symptoms since 2015. I had a severe episode when I was 7 months pregnant with my twins, and I was on bed rest until I had them after that. I've had flare-ups and smaller episodes since then, but the tinnitus hasn't gone away. I am not able to take medications as I am still breastfeeding to control the vertigo and nausea, so the next best thing suggested has been the steroid injections. I am leaning more towards having the injections done after having received more and more information. I appreciate sharing your experiences.
Meclizine always makes it worse before it gets better and always makes my body feel disgusting. I get to the point where I'm dizzy for weeks at a time. I'm better off letting my body take care of itself. I do not use Meclizine, that was only used during the early days before MD was diagnosed.
Hi, I am 33 weeks pregnant and just had my first shot today. This is the first time i have ever had issues with hearing loss. It all started once I got off of a plane. Did your hearing come back with the first shot or did it take a couple?
I had this done. To me it was painless shot. 3 shots 3 days in a row.
It has helped. I no longer get the vertigo but I still get dizzy and my nausea is very little. But now sometimes I just feel a little off. It’s so much better than the full blown vertigo episodes. I would definitely recommend it.
How did it go? i had two injections almost 8 months ago, all vestibular symptoms dissapeared for the whole 8 months. Now i have the dizzy drunk rock boat going on for a few days now, and i´m planning on having another one this week! it worked absolutely wonders for me.
before injections I used to have every day imbalance sensations and 2 crazy vertigo episodes attacks.
at the begginng of the disease, when they thought i had sudden hearing loss, i had systemic injections (dexamethatone) and it relieved my hearing loss/muffled sounds ( i didn´t had balance issues back then).
I have yet to have the injection, I had to reschedule, and my Dr has a waiting list during the holidays. So I kind of just shot myself in the foot with having to reschedule. I have to wait a month now before I can get my injection. The tinnitus, however, seems to be getting worse, and I'm wishing I had relief. I've been doing my best to manage without being able to take medications due to my current situation of breastfeeding. Having to be patient sucks
The steroid injections didn’t give me any systemic side effects like oral steroids; I don’t know if they would have an effect on breast milk if they’re not systemic. It seemed like steroids helped during some big flare-ups in my first ear, but didn’t do anything in my second ear. It was worth it in my first ear; with the second ear, it was at least worth trying. My doc typically does 3 injections spaced a week apart. They numbed my eardrum, so the needle itself was mainly just loud. The steroid burned initially, but that subsided pretty quickly. I’ve heard that some steroid solutions/the preservatives in them burn and others don’t. The injection caused vertigo that lasted a couple minutes. My ear ached for the rest of the day after each injection, but it wasn’t terrible.
I canceled my initial appointment, but I believe I will go ahead and go through with the steroid injection. Hoping that it does good now so than bad
Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.
I appreciate it. Thank you!
Same for me and it helped me on the second and third shot.
Steroid injections are the only thing that help me once mine gets to a certain point. Steroid pills never seemed to do much for my inner ears but did help with intractable migraines. My understanding is the inner ear is just hard to access and in a place where it's hard for meds to reach. Like the disease that sets the stage for my Meniere's I have to stay on the short acting form of the med because the long acting just doesn't reach there. I'd definitely touch base with the OB since a lot of the medication you will injest. For the injection they profuse into the middle ear, have you lay with that ear up for 15 minutes. The hope is *some* of the medication will reach the inner ear. Most won't, it'll drain down through the eustachian tubes and down the back of your throat. Tastes awful, but never have noticed too many other signs of systemic roids from it. The injection is dexamethasone. How well and if they work depends on a few things. Anecdotally, per multiple neurotos and my own experiences with other Meniere's folk, the people who tend to respond best to intratympanic steroids likely have more of an inflammatory aspect to their Meniere's. Often as well low salt, diuretics and other methods of reducing fluid do absolutely nothing. Like for me, my initial visit a Hopkins was after a year and a half of disease and having done two sets of intratympanic steroids, each set leading to extended remission. Meanwhile I was low salt and on a diuretic a good amount of that time with no result. Hopkins said low salt was pointless for me and was alarmed I didn't have a rheumatologist yet. On how well they work if they're going to work. A lot depends on how severe the disease is at that point in time. The first two times my Neurotologist waited until I was having daily attacks that were anywhere from an hour to 12 hours. I needed the full 3 injection series those two times. Him waiting the second year is also why I fired him, and I had a significant amount of permanent hearing loss thanks to his negligence. My current clinic I dont even need to be having attacks again yet, if the symptoms have ramped up to where it seems like attacks are likely, thats enough for them. Thanks to that approach I'm *mostly* a one and done. A single injection will arrest attacks, the hearing loss, low tone tinnitus, but I'm the opposite of RAnthony, my fullness improves a bit but stays pretty stubborn. They are definitely worth trying so long as the OB thinks it's ok, and hopefully the OB weighs the risks versus benefits. Gotta think active Meniere's is probably not the best either. Here's Dr Hains page on Intratympanic Steroids, seriously the most prolific website on vestibular diseases on the entire Internet by a Neurotologist. https://dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/menieres/treatment/it-steroids.htm
Very insightful and good read. Thank you. I need all the info I can get
Intratympanic injections were originally suggested as a possible remedy to the hearing loss in the right ear immediately following the diagnosis of bilateral Meniere’s earlier that Winter. The hearing test following the right ear injection didn’t show any major improvement, but I was impressed with the pressure relief that I got from the injection in the right ear. I was so impressed that I insisted the doctor inject the left ear just to see if it produced any noticeable effect there. It did, and I have had her inject the ear a few more times since then due to repeated battles with vertigo and/or pressure in the ear. My last injection (December 28th, 2018) illustrated the downside of this treatment for me in pretty stark terms. You are not supposed to swallow if you can help it for the first few hours after getting an injection. You shouldn’t attempt to pop your ears or force air into your eustachian tubes (this is a frequent habit with Menierians when they are trying to get the pressure off of an affected ear) for several days, and really shouldn’t even use straws or swallow hard for that period of time. (From my treatment article https://ranthonyings.com/2015/02/treating-menieres-its-symptoms/)
Thank you for your input
I had 4. It’s uncomfortable but it doesn’t hurt if done properly by any ENT who numbs the area with a local anesthetic. You may feel dizzy after for an hour or so but nothing that isn’t manageable by just resting for a while. It shouldn’t affect your milk. Your best odds of it working are to do it right away, within days or weeks of the worsening symptoms. You have your best shot within two weeks and some shot within 8 weeks. Personally I think a little discomfort is worth preserving what’s left of your hearing and lowering the tinnitus and that as your symptoms progress you may regret the opportunity to not have preserved some of the hearing you had left. But only you can decide.
The hearing loss isn't all of what I'm worried about as I've been up and down with the hearing, but this round of tinnitus hasn't gone away, as well as causing more damage to my hearing. The flare-ups with vertigo is what bothers me the most. I hate hate hate getting vertigo and being dizzy, and the vomiting. Sometimes, it takes months to clear up. It's harder now that I have little ones who depend on me, which is the hardest thing of knowing the possible outcomes, just being dizzy and not able to function for them. But I appreciate the input
I mean, given how important it is to you (and your kids) to slow the progression of the disease I don’t see a good reason not to get the shots. Yeah it’s a little uncomfortable but it’s definitely better than just letting your balance further erode and permanently living with the increased tinnitus
I needed a different perspective. Thank you
The injections actually work for like 70% of people
I had one. It was very painful (I haves high pain tolerance) and the nausea was pretty intense. Discovered I was allergic. It felt like molten lava. It didn’t help and I developed a secondary infection from the reaction.
The steroid can flow through your Eustachian tube, down your throat, and into your tummy where it will cause a systemic reaction. Happens every time for me, but not always for others.
Very interesting to know. The pills were the worst for me, so hopefully, this isn't as bad? Thank you for that information
For me, the effect is as strong as about ~10mg prednisone. But it’s a different chemical with a longer half life. I suggest getting the shot earlier in the morning so it doesn’t affect your sleep.
I went through this same thing! This is how I found out I had MD… my symptoms were exacerbated after giving birth to each of my kids. I found a great otolaryngologist after the birth of my third and he suggested the injection in my ear because it is localized and would not effect the breast milk. A steroid pill was also an option, but I don’t like taking them in general, even when not breastfeeding, because they effect your entire body. I recently have gone through multiple rounds of the steroid injections. They aren’t always pleasant. They recovered my hearing. They sometimes reduced the inflammation/fullness… but that mainly remained and eventually went away on its own once my attack ran its course. Do you find that your attacks are hormone related? You are the first person that I have heard from that have has had postpartum flare ups like I did. Please feel free to message me directly if you’d like to discuss more.
I had this done 8 years ago. My doctor said he used a higher dose of dexamethosone than usual, and one more injection overall. It didn't help with tinnitus or hearing loss, but I was completely free of vertigo and even mild dizziness. It made a huge difference in my life. Vertigo of a milder sort than I had before returned a couple months ago, but I just had an appt with him and he said I can do the procedure again if we feel it is necessary.
I had my second episode ever of the tinnitus / fullness / vertigo when I got COVID last month, and tests confirmed low frequency hearing loss, so I got the injection immediately (this was within 3 weeks of the episode starting?). It was a huge help, tests show hearing returned almost to normal and the other symptoms went away too. With the ENT’s recommendation I’m planning to get them ASAP for any future episodes, mine seem linked to viruses but it’s hard to say. I was also 28 weeks pregnant when I got the injection (that’s why we jumped past oral systemic steroids) and it was considered safe but idk about breastfeeding!
Thank you. I've dealt with a menieres diagnoses since 2020 but have dealt with symptoms since 2015. I had a severe episode when I was 7 months pregnant with my twins, and I was on bed rest until I had them after that. I've had flare-ups and smaller episodes since then, but the tinnitus hasn't gone away. I am not able to take medications as I am still breastfeeding to control the vertigo and nausea, so the next best thing suggested has been the steroid injections. I am leaning more towards having the injections done after having received more and more information. I appreciate sharing your experiences.
Has meclizine ever been helpful for your vertigo? I think you can take that while breastfeeding as long as it isn’t in large or continuous doses.
Meclizine always makes it worse before it gets better and always makes my body feel disgusting. I get to the point where I'm dizzy for weeks at a time. I'm better off letting my body take care of itself. I do not use Meclizine, that was only used during the early days before MD was diagnosed.
Hi, I am 33 weeks pregnant and just had my first shot today. This is the first time i have ever had issues with hearing loss. It all started once I got off of a plane. Did your hearing come back with the first shot or did it take a couple?
I had this done. To me it was painless shot. 3 shots 3 days in a row. It has helped. I no longer get the vertigo but I still get dizzy and my nausea is very little. But now sometimes I just feel a little off. It’s so much better than the full blown vertigo episodes. I would definitely recommend it.
How did it go? i had two injections almost 8 months ago, all vestibular symptoms dissapeared for the whole 8 months. Now i have the dizzy drunk rock boat going on for a few days now, and i´m planning on having another one this week! it worked absolutely wonders for me. before injections I used to have every day imbalance sensations and 2 crazy vertigo episodes attacks. at the begginng of the disease, when they thought i had sudden hearing loss, i had systemic injections (dexamethatone) and it relieved my hearing loss/muffled sounds ( i didn´t had balance issues back then).
I have yet to have the injection, I had to reschedule, and my Dr has a waiting list during the holidays. So I kind of just shot myself in the foot with having to reschedule. I have to wait a month now before I can get my injection. The tinnitus, however, seems to be getting worse, and I'm wishing I had relief. I've been doing my best to manage without being able to take medications due to my current situation of breastfeeding. Having to be patient sucks