Does anyone out there have meniere's disease?

Question

I may be diagnosed with it soon and I would like to hear from someone out there who has it, what's it's like, what it causes, etc. I've never even heard of it before. Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes and I just got over a wicked attack on Thursday. Talk about room spins! Luckily with some Valium and Meclizine we were able to calm it down.

I have clotting disorders and we are guessing that I threw a microclot to my inner ear and that is all vascular and my Coumadin levels have been low.

Basiscally what Ménière's disease is--an inner ear fluid balance disorder that causes episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (a ringing or roaring in the ears), and the sensation of fullness in the ear. The cause of Ménière's disease is unknown. In my case we are guessing it is the autoimmune one as I also have Lupus.

So, even if you are not diagnosed with it doens't mean that your vertigo will be gone. You may be stuck with it and never know why. Ask your doctor for a presciption for Meclizine and if your vertigo is really bad valium. It will deaden the nerve.

Answer 2

Yes, I have Meniere's Disease, though we tend to call it Syndrome as disease makes it sounds as though it could be contagious, and it isn't. I have been in remission for quite sometime now. I take betahistine (Serc) tablets for it, though I have taken Stugeron and Stemetil in the past....doc wants me to take three a day but I only take them when I feel the need for them now, as I don't want to rely on them forever. I had my first attack when I was around seven, although nobody realised what it was till I was about 13 because children aren't supposed to get Meniere's! At that time I was getting around four or five severe attacks a week.

What is it like?...well for me whenever I had a really bad attack it was like being p*ssed out of my brain without the pleasure of the drink! I had very little balance and trying to walk was impossible. At times I was so bad that I couldn't open my eyes without throwing up as the room was just spinning faster and faster.....not a pleasant sensation. Nowadays I just tend to get "light headed" and I know to take it easy or I will make myself worse. Sadly it does tend to have an effect on hearing and I am now totally deaf in my right ear and partly deaf in my left..though it hasn't been proved that the Menieres is totally responsible for all of that. I am lucky in that I don't get a lot of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) which a lot of sufferers do, so I can be thankful for that! I also have something that is known as recruitment, which is when you start to hear and when what you are hearing becomes unbearable to hear...this link can explain it better than I can...
http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles/recruitment.htm

Not sure which country you are in but here in the UK there is the Meniere's Society which offers suppoort to people who are diagnosed with this prob.....
http://www.menieres.co.uk/

I have had Meniere's for most of my life and I am in my mid fifties now. I know that I will never be rid of this blight, but hopefully I will stay in remission and my hearing will get no worse.....I have also learnt that a positive attitude helps a lot when dealing with this...

I wish you well..

Edit
Kenny D is not quite correct as it can affect both sides...I know from personal experience...

Answer 3

meniere's disease is a condition that effects the hearing. there is a triad that is used to diagnose meniere's the signs and symptoms are vertigo ( a feeling of the room spinning ), tinnitus ( which is a ringing sensation in the ears ), and sensory hearing loss. when someone has these symptoms it is more than likely going to be meniere's. there is no cure for it unfortunately, but it only effects one side.

Answer 4

My Mom had it for years. I don't know what causes it. She would have sudden bouts of vertigo (dizziness and nausea) where all she could do was lay down and keep her eyes shut. She had ringing in her ears and hearing loss but she did not become deaf. Luckily she did not have them very often and would only last a day or two. She had some medication for it but I don't remember what it was.

Answer 5

My mother and sister have it. My mother kept falling onto the floor and said just leave me there until the world quits spinning. Then she would get some sleep. You should watch salt intake. At one time, she did take some meds. Watch exhaustion or being real tired.