In 1861 a man named Prosper Ménière put his name to a disease with
no known cause or cures.
After 150 years of no real answers from the medical community, this blog
is one man’s exploration of This Debilitating Meniere’s Disease; why he has it, how he hopes to get rid of it, and in the meantime, how he manages to live
with it & move forward.
This is a blog to created to raise awareness and provide support to people who have Meniere's Disease. It provides an outlet for those who need it, and give understanding to those who don't know anything or enough about this rare disease. Please spread the word so that we can help eachother!
What Is Meniere's Disease? What Causes Meniere's Disease?
Meniere's disease (Ménière's disease) is a condition with vertigo, tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, noises in the ears) and progressive deafness. Meniere's disease is caused by a dysfunction of the endolymphatic sac (semi-circular canals) in the inner ear - also known as the labyrinth. The labyrinth is a system of small fluid-filled channels that send signals of sound and balance to the brain. It is an unpredictable disease that requires various types of treatment.
It is estimated at approximately 1 in every 1,000 people suffers from Meniere's disease. The disease can develop at any age, but more commonly does so when the patient is aged between 40 and 60.
According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders approximately 615,000 Americans in the USA have the disease.
The disease is named after Prosper Meniere (1799-1862), a French physician who first reported that vertigo was caused by inner ear disorders in an article published in 1861.
What are the signs and symptoms of Meniere's disease?
Symptoms vary from person-to-person. Symptoms can occur suddenly, and their frequency and duration differ. A symptom is something the patient feels or detects, such as dizziness, while a sign is something other people, including a doctor, may notice, such as a rash.
The principle symptoms include:
Vertigo - usually the most striking Meniere's disease symptom, which includes:
A feeling that you are spinning, even when you are stationary.
Dizziness
Vomiting
Nausea
Irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
Sweating
An episode of vertigo may last from a few minutes to a number of hours. As it is difficult to predict when a vertigo attack may occur, patients should have their vertigo medication handy at all times. Vertigo can interfere with driving, operating heavy machinery, climbing ladders/scaffolding, and swimming.
Tinnitus - you sense noise or ringing, buzzing, roaring, whistling or hissing in your ear, which is generated from inside your body. You will be more aware of it either during quiet times or when you are tired.
Hearing loss - hearing loss may fluctuate, especially early on in the course of the disease. The patient may also be especially sensitive to loud sounds. Eventually, most people experience some degree of long-term hearing loss.
The three stages of Meniere's disease
Early stage - sudden and unpredictable episodes of vertigo. Often the patient will experience nausea, dizziness and vomiting during the episodes. An episode may last from about 20 minutes to a full 24 hours. During episodes there will be some hearing loss, which returns to normal after it is over. The ear may feel uncomfortable and blocked, with a sense of fullness or pressure (aural fullness). Tinnitus is also common.
Middle stage - vertigo episodes continue, but are usually less severe. Tinnitus and hearing loss, on the other hand, get worse. Some patients during this stage may experience periods of complete remission - symptoms just go away and seem to have gone forever. These periods of remission can last several months.
Late stage - vertigo episodes become even less frequent, and in some cases never come back. Balance problems, though, continue. Patients will feel especially unsteady when it is dark and they have less visual input to help maintain balance. Hearing and tinnitus typically get progressively worse.
The following symptoms are also possible (known as secondary symptoms)
Anxiety, stress, depression - because of Meniere's disease's unpredictability many patients become, anxious, depressed and stressed. The disease can have a detrimental impact on the sufferer's work, especially if they have to climb ladders or operate machinery. As hearing gets progressively worse the patient may find it more difficult to interact with other people.
I am fortunate to be able connect with support I gain from others. I am able and am grateful for all and any contributions in allowing me to give my time to a support that so many deserve and rely on. thank you for any consideration. Wishing you a spin free day!
This is a blog to created to raise awareness and provide support to people who have Meniere's Disease. It provides an outlet for those who need it, and give understanding to those who don't know anything or enough about this rare disease. Please spread the word so that we can help eachother!
What Is Meniere's Disease? What Causes Meniere's Disease?
Meniere's disease (Ménière's disease) is a condition with vertigo, tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, noises in the ears) and progressive deafness. Meniere's disease is caused by a dysfunction of the endolymphatic sac (semi-circular canals) in the inner ear - also known as the labyrinth. The labyrinth is a system of small fluid-filled channels that send signals of sound and balance to the brain. It is an unpredictable disease that requires various types of treatment.
It is estimated at approximately 1 in every 1,000 people suffers from Meniere's disease. The disease can develop at any age, but more commonly does so when the patient is aged between 40 and 60.
According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders approximately 615,000 Americans in the USA have the disease.
The disease is named after Prosper Meniere (1799-1862), a French physician who first reported that vertigo was caused by inner ear disorders in an article published in 1861.
What are the signs and symptoms of Meniere's disease?
Symptoms vary from person-to-person. Symptoms can occur suddenly, and their frequency and duration differ. A symptom is something the patient feels or detects, such as dizziness, while a sign is something other people, including a doctor, may notice, such as a rash.
The principle symptoms include:
Vertigo - usually the most striking Meniere's disease symptom, which includes:
A feeling that you are spinning, even when you are stationary.
Dizziness
Vomiting
Nausea
Irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
Sweating
An episode of vertigo may last from a few minutes to a number of hours. As it is difficult to predict when a vertigo attack may occur, patients should have their vertigo medication handy at all times. Vertigo can interfere with driving, operating heavy machinery, climbing ladders/scaffolding, and swimming.
Tinnitus - you sense noise or ringing, buzzing, roaring, whistling or hissing in your ear, which is generated from inside your body. You will be more aware of it either during quiet times or when you are tired.
Hearing loss - hearing loss may fluctuate, especially early on in the course of the disease. The patient may also be especially sensitive to loud sounds. Eventually, most people experience some degree of long-term hearing loss.
The three stages of Meniere's disease
Early stage - sudden and unpredictable episodes of vertigo. Often the patient will experience nausea, dizziness and vomiting during the episodes. An episode may last from about 20 minutes to a full 24 hours. During episodes there will be some hearing loss, which returns to normal after it is over. The ear may feel uncomfortable and blocked, with a sense of fullness or pressure (aural fullness). Tinnitus is also common.
Middle stage - vertigo episodes continue, but are usually less severe. Tinnitus and hearing loss, on the other hand, get worse. Some patients during this stage may experience periods of complete remission - symptoms just go away and seem to have gone forever. These periods of remission can last several months.
Late stage - vertigo episodes become even less frequent, and in some cases never come back. Balance problems, though, continue. Patients will feel especially unsteady when it is dark and they have less visual input to help maintain balance. Hearing and tinnitus typically get progressively worse.
The following symptoms are also possible (known as secondary symptoms)
Anxiety, stress, depression - because of Meniere's disease's unpredictability many patients become, anxious, depressed and stressed. The disease can have a detrimental impact on the sufferer's work, especially if they have to climb ladders or operate machinery. As hearing gets progressively worse the patient may find it more difficult to interact with other people.
I am fortunate to be able connect with support I gain from others. I am able and am grateful for all and any contributions in allowing me to give my time to a support that so many deserve and rely on. thank you for any consideration. Wishing you a spin free day!
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