Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand and writes about medical facts.
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Dear Martin,
A cousin of my girlfriend (37 years old) has had Meniere's disease for a long time, it was not recognized early. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue. Goes to the hospital a few times now and then gets an infusion, but after a few days it occurs again. I don't know what drug the IV contains.
Sleeps badly, I think, due to a combination of studying for a headmaster and a new job. I wondered to what extent a natural remedy such as valerian can contribute to relaxing and sleeping better. And under what name it is available in Thailand. Google was no help this time.
Thanks in advance.
K.
*******
Specifications,
Valerian is available here under the name Valian X. Probably from Boots etc. and certainly from Lazada. Don't expect too much from it.
Meniere is a disorder of the inner ear and is characterized by ringing in the ears and balance disorders. There is actually no effective treatment. Meclizine (Meclozine) against seasickness, or Valium sometimes help, but a cure is not yet possible.
Sometimes the diagnosis is misdiagnosed and something else is going on. Therefore, a visit to a neurologist is useful.
Benign Paroxysmal Position Vertigo (BPPV) is one of the conditions often mistaken for Meniere's. This form of dizziness can be treated very well by a physiotherapist who knows the technique of the Epley movement.
You can also do it yourself, see:
https://youtu.be/jBzID5nVQjk
The Dix-Hallpike test is used for diagnosis. If that test is negative, it does not mean that there is no BPPV. If the well-executed Epley doesn't work either, something else is going on.
Sometimes the maneuver has to be repeated for several days.
It is useful to keep a puke bowl to hand. I always gave a primperant tablet (metoclopramide 10 mg) half an hour before the session, to prevent vomiting.
This treatment has been known for about 30 years now. Neurologists have known that more or less for ten years, but some still don't. In Spain I was the first to use it, which caused outbursts of anger from colleagues.
Until then, inoperative IVs were used and patients were sometimes admitted for weeks to be sent home with anti-psychotics.
In addition to the Epley maneuver, there are also the Semont, Foster and Brandt-Narog maneuver/exercise.
Mind you, this treatment does not help with real Menière.
You can read more about Menière here: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menieres-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374916
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Maarten