Renates report from February 2011: 20 years of Meniere's disease and tinnitus
My name is Renate, I am 61 years of age and have been suffering from Meniere's disease, a disease and exhaustion of the inner ear, accompanied by tinnitus. If I had heard of MD Wilden and his LLL-therapy back in 1991 or had been hinted on it by the physicians who were treating me, I would have saved myself an endless amount of suffering and soul scrutinies.
The Meniere's disease is just brutal.
Without any prewarning, in 1991 when having breakfast, I was attacked by sudden dizziness, nausea, vomitting and tinnitus. The tinnitus was of an unbearable strength, and in the left ear I had a dreadful feeling of pressure. My physician diagnosed an acute hearing loss. I received infusions, no further treatment, and within a few weeks acute hearing losses number 2 and 3 occured. A panical fear of losing control over my body accompanied me. Crawling to the bathroom on all fours is a horrible experience of helplessness and fills your existence with despair.
Diagnosis of the Meniere's disease
After my 3rd acute hearing loss, I was transferred to an ear-nose-throat-specialist.
He diagnosed Meniere's disease.
I was transferred to hospital, received infusions for 8 days, CT scanning to exclude a brain tumor, and further neurological examination followed.
All that happened upon my own urging.
I worked in health management myself and was thus informed and researching for ways of therapy and also on the internet continuously.
After I had my 3rd acute hearing loss and with every new fit of Meniere's disease, my hearing, especially in my left ear, would decrease and my tinnitus would get stronger and stronger.
I never received any clarification by the physicians as to methods of hearing protection such as ear plugs.
Instead, I always got one and the same answer:You are having a rare disease, there is no therapy for this, you are going to have to live with it.
It was symptomatic of the physicians' helplessness that they prescribed Vomex A Supp as well as other sedatives
that did eliminate my nausea, but also tied me to my bed feeling completely fuzzy-headed.
Other ENT specialists of high reputation that I saw gave me no assistance at all, let alone any clarification.
I sensed a rather annoyed way of responding to me and a feeling of being dispatched as these physicians as well as myself being the patient were totally clue- and helpless.
From 1995 to 1999 I rarely had fits, I would almost forget them afterwards and that was why I didn't seek help that much any more.
I lived on with having a ghost in my head that would strike every now and then. My tinnitus was more
torturing than ever before.
My ENT advised me to drown the noises by an mp3-player (music going directly to my inner ear). As I know now, it was a horrible mistake to expose my inner ear to even more noise.
Relocation to Norway
In 1998, we relocated from Germany to Norway.
First, my left ear calmed down. My hearing had recovered a bit.
In August 2000, after a viral disease in my left inner ear, the spells of dizziness started anew.
This time I was treated with beta histamine.
I responded badly to the drug, had many side effects, such as my asthma becoming worse. The attacks would last from four to thirteen hours. Afterwards, it would often take me about a week to recover.
As I love to exercise, I always brought myself to do walking with sticks, practice positive thinking and mobilized all my powers to not lose my social contacts.
An eye disease in addition
From 1997 on, I weren't able to work anymore, as I had an atrophy of my optic nerve (which is of genetically family-related origin).
At this time, my stress level was real high, in my professional life as well as in my private life.
That's why I suffered a thrust that strongly limited my vision. Both diseases together would often trigger states of anxiety.
Imagining to turn blind over night and be unable to hear along with spells of dizziness and severe tinnitus seemed unbearable.
I had to bring up all my powers of perseverance. My fear of darkness (eyes) caused sleeping disturbances.
The dreadful pressure in my ear, tinnitus and fits of dizziness occuring more often brought me to the edge of insanity.
Never before in my life have I felt as lonely and left alone as when having a severe spell.
My family, especially my husband, took a lot of the burden, feeling my faint and helplessness as much as I did.
Not a single doctor had consulted me in a satysfying way up to that point.
My family doctor tried to, of course, but there was a huge ignorance all over the place that was really appalling.
I had become my own specialist thanks to the internet. Plus, all my friends were looking for solutions.
In fall 2007, my situation got worse. In October 2007, I had 20 fits of dizziness.
The labyrinth anaesthesis and a hearing aid
I was totally in despair when I read of a professor who applied labyrinth anaesthesis for Meniere's disease patients.
I gave it a try, but that therapy didn't help me neither.
Now the tinnitus started in my right ear and some time later was attacked by the Meniere's disease.
It was appalling to me that got a hearing aid after that. I weren't able to use it as my hearing was being volatile.
Plus, in acute phases I had a “totally distorted hearing”. An over sensitivity of the ears.
The church organ sounded like an instrument of torture to me, my ears hurt, I had to quit singing in the choir, often times I had to cancel appointments with people, my social connections came to a halt.
Permanent medication with its side-effects, fear of the next fit, an insecure walk, balance disturbances, anger about being in this state, my life quality had gotten lost, and I had arrived at absolute zero.
A friend of mine found an article about MD Wilden on the internet
In 2009, a friend of mine found an article about MD Wilden and his laser therapy on the internet. She called me right away.
A day later, I talked to Mrs. Hartmann in Germany on the phone, a patient who had written a report about her treatment on the internet.
In an incredibbly open-minded and trustworthy way, she told me about her treatment success by laser therapy.
After having contacted MD Wilden's doctor's office by e-mail on May 2nd, I received a laser therapy appointment of seven days on May 7th.
On May 6th, I took the plane from Oslo to Munich and went on to Bad Füssing by train.
My first LLLT treatment at MD Wilden.
In the doctor's office, there were friendly helpers and a light, welcoming atmosphere.
MD Wilden talked to me thoroughly, and I was finally able to tell him everything without being interrupted.
Yes, that doctor nodded affirmingly and that alone was a releasing situation to me, and his arguments in favor of an LLL-therapy were convincing.
Save your ears from noise, was the good advice he gave me. I got myself ear plugs right away.
Unfortunately, I had time for no more than seven days of treatment.
Already the first hour was an experience of warmth that I perceived to be pleasant and soothing.
My ear first responded in a restless way, but after a few minutes it turned to calm and relaxed.
My walk and the balance disturbances improved all of a sudden.
After seven treatments, I borrowed myself a bicycle and was able to drive off without any problems.
For the first time in six years. I was fulfilled by deep pleasure. Yes, I felt almost euphoric.
That's no surprise after almost 20 years of seeking help and understanding by a relevant authority.
MD Wilden interrupted my high flight, though. With reason, he hinted at the severity of my inner ear disease. So I was supposed not to have too high expectations.
Mrs. Hartmann had remained free from dizziness. As far as I know, she had suffered from MM for only (!!) five years.
I purchased a laser device (MLS) by MD Wilden for self treatment.
That had, of course, a much weaker effect than the devices used in his doctor's office.
With regard to my distant place of living, though, it was practical to be able to build on that self treatment.
MD Wilden was always there for me with advice by phone or e-mail when I came up with questions.
The most impressive experience was: Never again did I feel a sense of pressure in my ear and in the rare case of a fit, it was by far not as strong as before.
A short “turn” in my head - as soon as I lay down to recover, it would soon be over, though.
I had my first fit of dizziness two months after returning from my stay in Bad Füssing.
My spells were always - I have to point that out - preceeded by moments of stress.
In 2009, a relocation within Norway was due.
That meant farewell, mourning, relocation chaos, being confronted with new things and so on. No good for my ears!
So it was special circumstances from July to October when we sold our house and purchased a new one near Oslo.
I would use my home laser device every day, for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening.
When necessary, I additionally used it for a couple of minutes throughout the day. That continuous usage paid off in winter 2009.
I learned to sense for how long and how often I was supposed to use my laser and when to take a break.
My second LLLT treatment at MD Wilden - a huge success
In February/March 2010, I signed up for a LLL-therapy at MD Wilden again.
From June 7th to June 18th, for two full weeks. With huge success, I have to say. Throughout treatment, my head would become restless from time to time.
There was an inward tension every now and then - high expectations to myself, resulting from the disappointment that had been going on for years.
What brought the very turning point, was my second stay. My tinnitus on the right side had disappeared after the first LLLT already, and bit by bit my left ear became quieter.
It does become very apparent when I am anxious, but only briefly. From September 2010 on, I haven't had any fits.
I will have to get a refreshing at MD Wilden on an annual basis to provide lightful nutrition to my ears in a highly intensive way.
I am still living in a way that is adapted to the needs of my ears. My eyes as well as my ears are supposed to never be overstrained.
I am trying to take advantage of the days where I am feeling extraordinarily well by visiting friends spontaneously and so on.
Apart from that, I am leading a healthy life, much of which I spend in the fresh air which is beneficial to both my soul and - oxygene-wise - to my ears.
Never do I leave the house without hearing protection (ear plugs) to protect myself from traffic noise and whenever things get loud.
Little TV, limited listening to music (depending on my form on the day), coping with stress which is not always easy having a family, children and grandchildren.
Relaxation exercise on a regular basis, and prayer.
Believing in God has helped me a lot.
I would like to thank MD Wilden and his team for giving me my life back.
Actually, we are all aware that light is a great healer. There is no life without light.
My anger
PS: As a side note, I have to express my anger.
Why is this effective therapy being ignored by physicians and health insurances?
That's a problem of international relevance as I had to pay treatment myself also in Norway.
Contact
As described, I'm still in a very early therapy phase.
At a convenient point of time, I'll provide my email-adress here.
Renate
from Norway
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