In 1861 a man named Prosper Ménière put his name to a disease with no known cause or cures.
After 150 years of no real answers from the medical community, this blog is one woman’s exploration of Meniere’s Disease; why she has it, how she hopes to get rid of it, and in the meantime, how she manages to live with it & move forward.
Even those without Meniere’s Disease appreciate the value of good hearing.
After sixty years in the business, Queen Elizabeth has
had to attend more twenty-one gun salutes, female falsettos and rowdy state affairs
than one should ever have to endure. But like all who are at the top of their
game, she has a few tricks tucked in her tiara to get her through.
Those with (or without) Meniere’s Disease would be wise
to embrace Her Royal Highness’s use of protection… ear protection. One doesn’t
need fancy shmancy, diamond encrusted ear plugs. Just send Jeeves down to the
local pharmacy with a mere 50p (AUD $0.80) and you too could be enjoying the benefits
of minimised tinnitus and noise related hearing loss after the big event.
Ear plugs aren’t just for concerts; they’re great for
everyday use such as:
·when blow drying your hair at home or at the salon
·when visiting noisy construction sites
·on a tarmac or plane jetting to far off colonies
·when minding the grandkids (or anytime you’re
forced to be with other people’s children ;) )
·or anytime you just want some (world) peace &
solitude
Foam ear plugs come in packs of two or more and are easy
to insert. Just slowly roll with a clean or gloved hand, compressing the plug
into a thin crease-free cylinder, then insert well into the ear canal. Hold
plug in place with fingertip until it has expanded. Simple!
If you accidentally drop one behind the throne, don’t despair,
grab a fresh plug from the multipack and notify the staff to vacuum the soiled
one up (Note: Ear plugs may be a choking hazard to Corgis, so don’t leave them
lying around.) When not in use, keep your ear plugs hygienically protected in the container they came
in.
Take it from the Queen, ear plugs are the cheapest
insurance you can buy to protect your ears now and into the next jubilee. God
save the hearing!
Above picture: Queen Elizabeth sports foam ear plugs
which can be seen in the side view and ever so slightly in the three-quarter
view. She then discretely removes them before going on stage with a beaming smile. Oh the joys of
saved hearing! J
If you’ve read the above posts of mine you’ll know that I’m
a strong proponent of the belief that our thoughts affect our health via the Psychoneuroimmunological
Route. Overtime, consistent negative thinking impacts our brain chemistry which
in turn affects our immune system which makes us more susceptible to disease.
I first heard about affirmations around 2000 from my
sister who had attended a self-improvement book signing in Sydney with Louise
L. Hay. Louise asserted that “your thoughts create your reality” and that “disease
is dis-ease in the body”. At the time I was fairly young and reasonably healthy so I thought
it an interesting concept but didn’t think much more about it until a few years
later when my hearing in my left ear started to go.
I had undertaken all the tests required by my ENT [an Electrocochleography
(ECochG), audiogram, CT & MRI scans] to ascertain the cause of my Cochlear
Hydrops (the pre-Meniere’s Disease diagnosis), however a cause for my
unilateral hearing loss could not be found. It was then that I remembered my
sister saying that Louise Hay had said that hearing loss can be due to not
wanting to hear something, a sort of "Don't bother me, I don’t want to
hear it” reaction. So I thought to myself, “Are there things in my life that I
don’t want to hear?” Absolutely.
At the time of the Cochlear Hydrops diagnosis I was under
a lot of work pressure. Additionally I had become a sounding board for friends
& family who were venting their unhappiness. Unhappy with their work, their
relationships, their bodies, their situations, and because I saw myself as a
good supportive friend I took it all in.
So thinking that these negative interactions may be
affecting my health, I sent out an email to all my friends & family stating
my health issue and requesting that they keep their communication with me light
& positive. The email was well received and the flow of negative dialogue
ceased.
Within three weeks my hearing restored completely and I
didn’t have any further issues for another three years.
What I didn’t grasp at the time was that being a good
friend didn’t mean being a bottomless receptacle for everyone’s gripes. As a
friend I needed to learn that I could offer support within limits and
boundaries, and not to personally take on their challenges. I needed to care for
myself first.
When the hearing loss did occur again (three years later)
I had lapsed back into old habits of trying to support everyone and not setting
boundaries with friends & family, but mostly I hadn’t set limits with my
work or myself. I had to take responsibility for this.
I was over-extended and financially obligated work-wise,
and the GFC was making its presence known. Aside from the GFC, I had manifested
this stressful environment around me. This time sending out an email wouldn’t
cut it because I was the main culprit. If I had been able to send an email to
myself it would have read something like this:
Dear Self,
This is an intervention. You need to start looking after yourself
better. Go to bed before midnight. Don’t read work emails after 6pm. Learn to
relax more. Take a holiday. Eat more often and healthier. Don’t try to fix
other people. Don’t hold a grudge. Avoid hyper-vigilance. Have an outlet for frustration like walking
or running. Ask for help if you need it. Be kind to yourself and set
boundaries. Don’t worry so much, because everything will be all right, even if
things are not as perfect as you have envisioned. It’s okay to surrender. But
most importantly, whatever the future holds, you will be okay.
Love always,
Me xoxo
CHANGING YOUR THOUGHTS
Everybody reacts differently to stress. Some people get
bogged down with recurring negative thoughts. You may relate to some of the
following:
“I feel trapped in my job”
“I’m so in debt. How will I ever be able to pay all my bills on time?”
“I just can’t seem to lose weight”
“None of the clothes I like fit me”
“There’s nobody out there worth dating”
“I’m not happy in my relationship”
“My life isn’t going in the direction it should”
“I don’t like where I live”
“My friends aren’t supportive”
“What’s the point of anything?”
Louise Hay considers positive thoughts / affirmations to
be like planting a seed in the ground.
“If you think of doing your positive affirmations, it’s like planting a
seed in the ground. It’s not necessarily true at the moment but it is something
you want to have be true… Little miracles start to happen. Lots of little good things
happen… Your thoughts create your life; and when we can get that, we can make
enormous changes.” - Louise L. Hay
Baring this in mind, what thoughts then might change the
brain chemistry enough for the immune system improve, so that the symptoms
& progression of Meniere’s Disease can be minimised?
I have compiled about twenty-eight (28) positive affirmations
from Louise’s book “You Can Heal Your Life” that may assist those afflicted
with Meniere’s Disease. (See the 28 affirmations at the end of this post.)
Here are some of my favourites:
“Miracles happen every day. I go within to dissolve the pattern that
created this, and I now accept a Divine healing. And so it is!”
“I love and approve of myself and trust the process of life. I am safe.”
“I now go beyond other people's fears and limitations. I create my
life.”
“My thinking is peaceful, calm, and centred.”
“I am enthusiastic about life and filled with energy and enthusiasm.”
HOW CAN I USE AFFIRMATIONS TO MANAGE MENIERE’S DISEASE
You can use affirmations to manage the symptoms of
Meniere’s Disease in two ways.
Firstly, positive affirmations can be used on a daily
basis to help put the brakes on the progression Meniere’s Disease. However,
like a train that is traveling at speed, Meniere’s Disease will not likely disappear
after a week of positive thinking. It will take time, maybe many months, before
you notice Meniere’s symptoms abating and feel the full benefit. It is like planting
a seed in the ground. Initially you won’t likely see any results, however over
time things will improve. (Note: Affirmations should be part of your Meniere's management plan and should not be used instead of medication and/or other prescribed therapies.)
Secondly, I have found it most helpful to mentally recite
one particular affirmation at the onset of or during a Meniere’s attack. “I am
safe”.
Having a Meniere’s attack is a frightening experience. Usually
the longer it lasts, the more frightening it becomes as your body’s Autonomic Nervous
System (ANS) kicks in, layering more horrible elements to the experience.
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) consists of two parts:
the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) which is the “fight or flight” component and
the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) which promotes “rest & digestion”.
You may have noticed when having an acute Meniere’s
attack (one which go on for hours), some or all of the following SNS or PNS sensations:
-Heart palpitations
-Cold, clammy hands and tingling sensations in
your feet and toes
-Feelings of warmth and cold
-Increased sweating
-A dry mouth
-Diarrhea
-Deep or shallow breathing, which may cause tightness
in the chest or further dizziness or light-headedness
-A sense of derealisation – a feeling of
confusion or un-reality.
One of the best affirmations I have found to ease a
Meniere’s attack and stop the ANS from going into overdrive is the following
phrase:
“I am safe.”
It’s simple, effective and easy to remember. When you
next feel an attack coming on, relax and try to re-direct your mind to this one
thought - “I am safe”. Keep steadily saying it in your mind like a quiet
mantra. “I am safe”
Meniere attacks are horrible and it’s very easy to let it
push your anxiety levels way up, but if you are in a safe place (lying on your
bed or even on the floor out of harm’s way), know this. Even the worst Meniere’s
attack will come to an end and you will be okay. Surrender to this
knowledge and let the attack wash over you. Take your medication (anti-nausea
& Valium), keep a bucket or motion sickness bag handy with a sipping water
bottle, lay very still and concentrate on breathing steadily with the
affirmation “I am safe”.
DO YOU HAVE AN AFFIRMATION
THAT HELPS YOU MANAGE YOUR MENIERE’S DISEASE? Share your affirmation in the
comment area below.
The following 3mins & 54secs could change your life. Watch the trailer to:
