Meniers Disease
88General Overview
Meniers Disease is a disorder of the inner ear that could be related to some abnormality of the inner ear fluids. Its main symptom is vertigo that comes in attacks that vary in length, intensity and frequency. Hearing loss is also a very common result of the disease. There is no officially known cause for Meniers Disease and no cure found.
Symptoms
The following symptoms are associated with Meniers Disease:
- Vertigo: attacks of spinning sensation that might lead to imbalance, nausea and vomiting.
- Hearing Loss: although hearing may return to normal between attacks, there is a substantial hearing loss over time.
- Tinnitus: A loud ringing sound in the ear.
- A feeling of fullness in the affected ear.
- In severe cases the person can suffer from sudden falls.
Attacks may vary in length, intensity and frequency and usually prevent the person for performing any normal daily activities.
It is crucial to remember that these symptoms are not unique to Meniers Disease, and might be cause by a different medical condition. Meniers Disease diagnosis is actually done by excluding all other testable options.
Meniers Disease Books
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Sinuswars17: Menieres Disease Remedy (100% Natural with No Side Effects)
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Baby's Fan: Fan Sound CD
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Causes
There is no officially known cause for Meniers Disease.
The main "suspect" for causing it is the labyrinth, an inner ear part. It is commonly believed that swelling or even a rapture in the labyrinth, causes a change in the ear's liquids volume and leads to Meniers symptoms. This swelling condition is called endolymphtic hydrops.
However, the connection between hydrops and Meniers Disease is questioned when reviewing the following statistics: not all of Meniers Disease patients are diagnosed with hydrops. And out of autopsies studies done on people who didn't suffer from Meniers Disease, 6% did have hydrops. And when you compared that with the estimate of only 0.2% of the population who suffer from Meniers Disease, it seems that hydrops might be connected to Meniers, but not necesserily a direct simple cause.
Some recent research suggests immune diseases may contribute to a substantial percentage of Meniers Disease, or even different types of viruses, but there is still not enough evidence to support that. Allergies are often associated with Meniers but it is also highly debatable.
A possible synthesis would be that Meniers Disease appears to be the final common pathway that the inner ear responds to nearly any injury, and that Meniers Disease has many separate causes.
Treatment
There is no known cure for Meniers Disease, so the treatment often tries to control the symptoms.
- A rather successful way is a low-salt or salt-free and no caffeine or alcohol diet that would reduce the body's retention to fluids.
- Changes in medications that either control allergies or improve blood circulation in the inner ear may help.
- Reducing stress level is always a good way to ease the intensity or frequency of the attacks.
- There is the possibility of a chemical labyrinthectomy, which destroys vestibular tissue and done by injections into the ear.
- Labyrinthectomy surgery (removal of the inner ear sense organ) can help people with severe cases of sudden falls and effectively control vertigo, but sacrifices hearing and is reserved for patients with nonfunctional hearing in the affected ear.
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Comments
Well, I don't know about the offical laws, but I do believe that a person that suffers from dizziness and hear loss should be considered disabled.
i have miniers disease and im only 23, im currently doin thai boxing and my balance is not so good. will i be able to carry on?
I suggest you consult your doctor.
Hope you feel better.
i dont know if i have this but the symptoms are the same and im feel like im going crazy can they identify with test
I have had this disease for 10yrs. I'm 41 now. I live in Tulsa,Ok and I am drawing S.S. Disability for this disease. Don't know about other states but, it took me 3 yrs. to get approved. So... its worth a shot!
I've been with the disease for years, the last 2 years i have 4 vertigo attacks and 3 the last month they are trying a new medication they say it seems to work. It is called Betahistine. Ask your doctor. I'll let you know in to weeks when I Finish my treatment.
my doctor has prescibed Serc and stemitl work good for me ive had meniers for 14 years, you can still do most thing but i have found as time goes on more things can trigger off an attack eg flickering lights some smells lack of sleep overa few days etc.
ive had meniers disease since i was 14 and was having regular attacks on a weekly basis, but then it grew less frequent and eventually i thought it burned itself out, until recently when it returned with a vegence. I'm 41 now and am having regualr bouts for the first time in over 20 years and i'm learnign to cope with it all over again.
are hearing aids able to help with the hearing loss?
I never knew why I would all of a sudden get dizzy, when i was in elementary school I would cry because I didn't understand what was happening to me. But it would only last a day or two, and now that I am 26 it comes maybe every 3 to 4 years but it comes hard. When it happens to me I feel like it takes my whole life over, I can't function I can't do anything and all I want to do is sleep. I recently had a MRI done of my head and inner ear to rule out anything super serious. Any suggestions on what type of medication or exercises I can do to help with this issue?
i was diagnosed with meniers disease after passing out. I had catscans, mris,heart work. the whole nine yards. I get these bouts moslty during allergy season, and during the dry winters here in Denver. I can feel an attack come on and get nausea and dizzy to the point of passing out. Have you ever experienced anyone passing out before? I had sinus surgery to relieve some of the pressure in my head, that seemed to work for a few years but now its back.
I HAVE SUFFERED FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS , THE FIRST ATTACK I THOUGHT I WAS DYING I COULDNT EVEN GET OUT OF BED THE BED FELT LIKE IT WAS WHIZZING AROUND AS WAS THE FLOOR ME AND EVERY THING AROUND ME ,I SPENT 4 DAYS IN BED COULDNT LIFT MY HEAD WITH OUT VOMITING IT WAS AWFULL AFTER A WEEK FELT A BIT BETTER JUST LEFT WOBBLY AND WEAK AND SCARED IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND IT DID OVER 4 YEARS OVER AND OVER AGAIN HAD MRA SCAN THAT WAS CLEAR , HAD BALANCE TESTS DONE WHICH REVEAL THAT THE BALANCE ISNT WORKING IN ONE EAR ON BETEHISTINE WHICH LESSONS THE EFFECTS OF THE ATTACTS BUT DOSNT STOP THEM I TRYED TO GET DISSABILITY FOR IT BUT THEY SAID BECAUSE I CAN GET UP AND ANSWER THE DOOR AND COOK A MEAL I AM NOT REGARDED AS DISSABLED I APPEALED AND LOST BUT MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN IT STOPS ME DOING A LOT OF THINGS ,I CANT SLEEP ,AS I CANT TURN OVER THROUGH THE NIGHT AS THAT MAKES ME DIZZY AND THERE IS NO CURE YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT WHICH IS EASY TO SAY WHEN YOU ARE NOT LIVING WITH IT EVERY DAY
BEVERLEY FROM BRIGHTON ENGLAND
I too am on disability. I have been told I don't have Meniere's Disease, but rather was dx originally with viral labyrinthitis. Then other dxs were given. I am dizzy 24/7 with bouts of vertigo. I KNOW I have visually induced vertigo. Am looking for a support group in Tulsa, OK. It's been 4 yrs and am desperate.
I have lived with meniers for the past 10 years now. I am presently taking betehistine as a mean to control it. However, there is a constant sense of dissatachment from the real world, as if I am living my own distorted reality. I would strongly suggest to watch your diet, cut down on alcohol, salt, caffeine, excessive sugars and try and push yourself to do some sort of excercise. We need to get the blood flowing and oxygenated. I find that when i go and ride a bike or even a walk, my mind wonders away from my condition and that helps. Try yoga and relaxation excercises. I wish you all the best.
I do have a hearing aid. It does help a bit in regaining some "balance" of noise input. Just hearing from one ear can be very upsetting and tiring. This will not ease the condition, just the hearing.
I've had Meniers for about 15 years. I have nearly all of the sypmtoms described with episodic attacks of varying degrees in severity. I've oftened wondered if swimming in the ocean has ever been diagnosed as the origin of the sypmtoms. After enhaling a bit to much of sea water I coughed, gagged and sneezed as expected. Today I have allegies (no surprise with MENIERS). Strangely the mucus in my sinuses have the same odor that I experienced after inhaling the sea water. Not sure if anyone has had a medical analysis of mucus affliated with Meniers but thought that I would ask. Please forgive my anecdotal medical analysis. LOL
I am a soldier in Iraq that just found out that i have this desease. what are some tiks that you an do to keep it away so i dont get sent home.
ive had meniers for roughly 10 yrs and i take hydrochorothiazide basicly a water pill i takedaily or when i need it water behine the ear causes the symptoms all who think they have it should find a good ent doctor who knows about this it could save your hearing in the long run if not treated u will go deaf
I have been suffering with Meniers for well over 10 years. Mine started with hearing loss first, went a few years with no vertigo and thanked my lucky stars. It did not last and my first attacks were awful, spinning, nausea and vomiting, sense of confusion and when the attack subsided I would sleep for hours. I sought the help of an ENT who put me on a low-salt diet, water pills and meclazine. Nothing seemed to work for quite awhile, eventually the attacks lessened. There is no rhyme or reason to them, I get them less frequently now but now they come fast and hard and I have fallen twice. I do find if I keep my sugar intake to a minimum I do better. Wish I had better advice. Hang in there!
I had suffered severe Meniers attacks for about 10 years. I consulted many doctors and took medicines for a long time, but ithe medicines didnt helped me. Finally a doctor adviced me to try out some balancing exercises which I did for around one month and after that I never had vertigo attacks for the last 6 years. Try out the exercises http://physicaltherapy.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsit/XJ&sdn=physicaltherapy&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.menieres.org%2Fjacki%2Fjackis7.htm
I just got diagnosed with this today. In a way I'm relieved but also disheartened. I am one semester away from graduating from the University of Utah with an organ performance degree that for various reasons has taken me 20 years to get. I also make my living as a church organist. For me the diziness hasn't been too bad, but the hearing loss makes things really hard. Right now I am feeling a bit of an emotional wreck. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
I have had menieres for four years now. I first noticed some hearing loss. I could not talk on the phone with my right ear because it was too muffle sounding. Then came the dizzy spells. I have been seeing and ent doc for three years. I've had mri's done. hearing exams, blood tests, and other exams where they flash lights and have you turn your head fast. I have been taking antivert, valium, and water pills to treat it but right now I am going through a three day spell of constant dizzyness and vomiting and falling. I seen my doc today and he thinks its time to go further. I will go see another doc to have a surgical procedure done. I'm not quite sure what their exactly going to do but I'll find out May 4th. I cant work or do anything right now. Im sick of it. I'll let you all know how things go. Thanks for listening.
I have meniers in both ears. I have had a operation on my right ear to the balance cord. My vertico is less now but i do experence slight loss of memory,alot of my cordination is gone. Im 38 I have had meniers for 5 years. I spent the first year in bed sleeping, vomiting, severe loss of balance. I have 90% hearing loss in the right ear. hearing aids does not help me at all. In time you will lose your hearing in any ear you have it in. When meniers hit me it was fast and hard. Get control of it as fast as you can. Hope who ever has this will get all the information they can it will help alot when talking to your doctor.
Does anyone know of a good ENT physician in Denver who specializes in Meniere's Disease?
Differential diagnosis: one ear initially,increasing severity,vertigo- debilitiating-hrs-wks,recruitment-intolerance to loud sounds, hyperacusis- intolerance to all sounds, fullness in ear. cause: genetic, autoimmune, vascular, allergy- there is no known singular cause. TX: no salt diet, no caffeine or alcohol as these retain water in body, increase circulation to area. swollen labyrinth in inner ear, hair cells effected, rupture of swollen labyrinth has caused a mixture of the two fluids that need to be separate for sound signals to be relayed to brain. Audiograms show flat severe hearing loss in one ear in late stages.
source: University Course
HI MY NAME IS SUSAN CAMPBELL I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND I HAVE HAD MENIERE'S FOR ABOUT 5 TO 6 YEARS. IT STARTED REAL FAST THE DESK WOULD PICK UP OFF THE FLOOR AND COME FLYING AT ME LIKE A 3D ROLLER COASTER. I HATE IT MY ENT DOCTOR PUT STEROIDS BEHIND MY EAR DRUM IN MY RIGHT EAR I ONLY HAVE IT IN MY RIGHT RIGHT NOW BUT I DO BELIVE IT IS GOING TO MY LEFT. I RIDE A MOTOR CYCLE AND I CANT BELIVE I WILL BE GIVING IT UP. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS SENCE I I HAD THE TREATMENT HE PUT THE STERIODS IN ONCE A WEEK FOR 3 WEEKS. I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND IT CAME ON BUT LASTED ONLY 2 TO 3 SEC. I GUESS I HAVE BEEN LUCKY BECAUSE I STILL WORK AND I STILL DRIVE. I AM GOING TO STURGIES THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 5 YEARS I CANT WAIT. THE MD NAME IS MD BRODY HE WORKS AT UCD IN SACRAMENTO CA HE IS THE GREATEST
I am in the process of being diagnosed. I had some attacks last year but they only lasted a bout 1 month. Now its been a full month (same time of year) I feel pressure in my head, constantly light headed and foggy..vision is weird, hearing is muffled and am always nausus and feel sick. Always tired. I am 40 with three small children, and I can't stand this. I do get shaky and seem to get very emotional when Im having severe bouts of it. this really sucks, I have been sick for 4 weeks straight..I barely make it thru work each day.
Hi there, I just found out that I have menier's. It really sucks cuz you never know when your going to have an episode. I have to carry medicine with me to put on tongue if start having an episode. I have nerve damage in right ear and alot of hearing loss. I already have a tube in left ear. I will be 48 on Saturday and don't need this. I was just told to go on a low-sodium, low-protein diet to see if that helps. Any suggestions on anything else to do...Didn't realize how many people have it. Looking in the ear and an mri shows my ear is perfect. Soooo....what causes the meniers...something has to....Best of luck to all.
Yes I was diagnosed with miniere's" My attack's were at first once or twice a year. Then it got worst" I would get attack's 3 times a week. My ent told me he wanted to make a incession in my ear drum & inject it with antibiotic's. Which would kill the balance nerve. Then it would take a few week's so that my brain would take over what the balance nerve did...Well this was 3 mos. ago & I havent had a virtigo attack since. I still have other symtom's" Like hearing loss & tenitus...But needless to say I feel much better....
Im 48 this year and have had this crazy thing for about 5 yaers now ...1st it wasnt to bad, lately its hell!!! ive been seeing a specilist to inject stetiods and im feeling ALOT better.. there are some Genectics involved here some 1 in your family tree has had it before, its a strange animal we are dealing with (no salt no caffine and water pill) is the only help... no cure!
I help run a menieres support group. This is a very explanation of Meniere's "Disease".......only Meniere's is not actually a disease as such. It is an idiopathic condition. Menaing they just don't know the cause or origin. In our experience, everyone is different and may hav different causes or triggers. There is no 'cure', but you can live symptom free by controlling your diet and adjusting your lifestyle. It could mean significant changes, including, stopping smoking and drinking alcohol.
Diet changes and dietary supplementation will take time (even months) but it can control the symptoms.
any of you that have meniers also at the same time heve a maigrine very severe?
any of you that have meniers also at the same time heve a maigrine very severe?
I dont get migrains but the last attack I had a head ache for 2 days..weird for me Must have been all the throwing up!
I had popcorn and spagetti sauce which has a ton of salt
in it also had been drinking some coffee (More than half cup)
the day before and man oh man did I pay! So sad This has happened in the last 2 years drastically Im going to try all the vitamin and Ive hear there is exercizes for the neck
Ive lost mere hearing in my right ear this summer, I have two
little kids and a whole life i want to live . I am a very positive person but the last attack was so heart breaking.
I have been healthy most of my life ..a few car accidents
and once I got valley fever but my immune system was strong
and I got better.. I live back in cal now but 2 weeks after I moved to Florida There it was.. NOW i am trying to hang on to what hearing i have and maintain the right diet to help myself ..Sorry to write on this way ,I just want to live!!!
menniers for a year now done all the tests, and nothing positive--for me I tried lorazapam and it works, but, after 6 weeks I needed to double the dose to make it work and than 3 times the regular dose and so on, at this point I then went on a high ph diet and it seemes to be controlling it or at least holding it at bay, or maybee its the no salt as others have said, anyway the symtoms are minimal right now. I am going to study immune system books and see if that leads anywhere, something must be out there to get rid of this condition......
i find stemitol really really helps .once i feel the nausea start i take them ..another pill called anti naus works too.
Rachael says:
2 years ago
If a person has this disease, are they considered "Disable"?
You ask if meniere's makes you disabled. In what sense? As in, should you be protected by ADA laws? maybe. Should you be able to collect short term disability? maybe. Workers comp? unless it was caused by work-related issue. Social Security? No way, unless you become totally deaf as a result.
You should probably explain your motivation for wanted to be considered 'disable'
found out about mms I've order it and will try this anyone tried mms? I think it might be worth a try
I have meniers I had really bad attacks for about three years finally had a my balance nerve cut on the right side.But now I have it in my left side as well. been haveing many attacks some fair some really bad I'm on meds and a low sodium diet. There is no cure, It sucks haveing it in both ears. Be carful of getting depressed it can happen. Good luck everybody.
Extra Infromation Sites
Rachael says:
2 years ago
If a person has this disease, are they considered "Disable"?