No question it’s a hard time of year, busy, flashing lights everywhere, too much visual stimulation! Everyone is hyper and excited… your struggling!
The family Christmas is always a joyful time, but with hearing problems, tinnitus or loss, lipreading in groups … impossible! And constant concentration is exhausting. Make your needs known and don’t feel guilty for taking a break! Stay still and quiet.
For the new uninitiated and the old veterans it can be overwhelming and very stressful indeed! This alone can trigger spins, attack, fight and flight anxiety.
Now that I suffer with Ménières the crowded dinner is an oppressive barrage of sound, that I channel through the one ear I have with partial earring… impossible to comprehend … so at times I just withdraw and give up. Or focus on one person. Raising awareness about this can help many families understand how this can be for Ménières patients… the barrage of sounds from all directions is enough to set that round a bout in motion… not really conducive to a big dinner!
Remember traveling alone to a gathering can be enough of an ordeal in its self… before you get to presents lights and dinner table.
Awareness and understanding is key!
There’s no question that Christmas can stir up a lot of emotions no matter who you are, but for those of us with Meniere’s disease, it can be challenging!
A few tips to help
- Sunglasses
- Medication kit: anti sickness normal medications, valium, medication, sleeping tablets, weighted blanket, change of clothes and wipes,
- Remind family of low salt,
- Watch out for those pigs in blankets… they can be deadly although delicious
- Headphones and a way to relax
- Anti sickness bands
My tip, your gonna look drunk so have a Christmas drink or 3!!
I wish you all well Happy Christmas from me.. and my very best wishes for a better breakthrough 2019 xx Ali xx
Ménières Suicide or Survivor 