Meniere's Disease

The first thing we need is a basic understanding of Meniere's Disease. I hope to give you an explanation as well as a personal glimpse into what it is like to have it. As I said on the index page I will not be giving credit here as that would be impossible. I have collected this information from various sources, source types, and from personal experience as well.

DEFINITION
Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear.

ETIOLOGY
Meniere’s Disease causes a disruption in balance and position sense that the labyrinth [the fluid-filled semicircular canals of the inner ear] is supposed to control. Somehow the endolymphatic sac that controls the filtration and excretion of the fluid of the semicircular canal swells. Why or how it swells is unknown at this time.

SYMPTOMS

Abnormal sensation of movement of self or the environment [vertigo]
Dizziness
Hearing loss in one ear that may change
Noises or ringing in one ear [tinnitus]
Nausea and/or vomiting
Sweating
Uncontrollable eye movements

TREATMENT
There is no known cure for Meniere’s Disease.  Treatment is geared toward relief of symptoms by lowering the pressure within the endolymphatic sac with the use of diuretics.  A low-salt diet to reduce fluid retention too.

Prophylactic treatment of the symptomology can help. Antiemetics, for the nausea and vomiting, as well as antihistamines and anticholinergics when necessary, and steroids, while in an exacerbation. If symptoms are severe and do not respond to other treatment, surgery on the labyrinth, endolymphatic sac, or the vestibular nerve may be necessary but can cause deafness.

MY POINT of VIEW
During the summer of 2000, I was struck with an episode of severe vertigo and dizziness that left me hanging on while lying absolutely flat. Two or three times during the day I was hit with these spells that would last for about 20 to 30 minutes. They made me extremely nauseated and after the spells past, I was left so tired that I would sleep for 2 or 3 hours no matter how long I have been awake.

After a couple days of this, I called the neuro figuring it was an MS exacerbation. After giving me a prescription for Meclizine 25mg, she sent me to the ear doctor.

He examined me and listened to my symptoms and said "You have Meniere's Disease. Here's a prescription for Lasix, K-dur, and Hydrocortisone".

I laughed and said, "I already take all of those." This created a problem with him which sent him to look over my history a bit better.

When he returned, he told me if I was a normal person off the street with the symptoms I described, he'd say with certainty it was Meniere's Disease. However, with your history I'd like to back up my assumption with a test.

Since I did not have insurance and did not look forward to yet another battery of tests, I was reluctant, especially if it would make no difference in the long run.   Even if I had the test and even if the test said I had Meniere's Disease, there would be nothing more they could for me, so why pay for the test?  He felt this made sense and no longer pushed it.

So armed with my Meclizine my neurologist called in, I headed home. I took two tablets three times a day for a week , then one tablet three times a day for week and finally one tablet a day for a week. By the time this three week period was over so were the spells.

2001 UPDATE
I have not had one spell as bad as the ones that started this whole thing but I do have a few spells of momentary vertigo. It is still accompanied with the nausea and eye crossing but it passes quickly and does not leave me whooped.

The bad news is my ears constantly ring. Actually it is more like a buzz but it can be rather distracting. It was my rheumy who suggested a fix, of sorts. He told me when the buzzing gets too bad to just put headphones on and crank up the music.  LOL... It doesn't get rid of the buzzing but it does cover it up.

2002 UPDATE
Not much change from last year, only minor episodes.

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You are listening to Memories from the musical Cats, written by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S. Eliot. I felt this song was a perfect selection
for this site because of the affiliation I feel with Grizabella. Although for her,
it was age and not health issues that changed her, neither of us are who we
were before, on the outside, and it can affect how we feel on the inside.