I have suffered with Meniere's for several years now. As with most sufferers that I have come into contact with, it took a long time to get a diagnosis, and since that point my condition seems to have progressed with some speed.
I have had issues with what appeared to be wax build up in my ears for many years. Normally, a proprietary oil-based wax remover would solve the problem and I could happily get on with life in between with no more than a slight loss of hearing. The first signs of something more serious came when I was driving home from work one night and the whole road seemed to sway in front of me. Actually, that's probably not a very accurate description. It was more like the road was a carpet and someone had pulled it out from under me. I quickly pulled over and got my bearings and the feeling soon passed, but I decided it was time to see the doctor.
At first, wax build up was again diagnosed and I was given the usual advice of using warmed olive oil to remove it. Being unhappy with this advice, I sought a second opinion and was referred to an E.N.T. specialist. I was subjected to several tests including (but not limited to) an audiology assessment and an MRI scan, the results of which lead to a diagnosis of Meniere's Disease. The treatment was to take Serc three times a day and get on with my life but to come back in 6 months for another audiological exam.
I returned for the hearing test and was told that my hearing was, surprisingly, back to normal. The audiologist and the consultant were both pleased and I was effectively discharged from the E.N.T.'s care and sent on my way with instructions to self manage the condition with help from my G.P. - I know now that the results of the hearing test were down to the fluctuating nature of the condition rather than any miraculous recovery.
Over the next twelve months my hearing got worse, the attacks of vertigo became more frequent and severe and the pressure in my ear became, at times, unbearable. When I had a vertigo attack I was completely incapacitated, and I came to dread the overwhelming spins knowing that very soon I'd be alternating between shivering and sweating, vomiting profusely and praying for the world to stop so I could get off. From what I've read, I was lucky though. The vertigo attacks I suffered would only last for a couple of hours and, even though it took hours to recover properly, the abatement of that horrible spinning sensation was an absolute blessing.
I returned to my G.P. and asked for a referral back to the E.N.T. consultant in the hope that something else could be done. It was at this referral appointment that I suffered an attack of vertigo in the waiting room. I stumbled my way to one of the nurses and explained to her what was happening, all the time my eyes doing little dances in their sockets. They found me an examination room to lie in and gave me one of those little cardboard vomit trays, which I soon filled. Nurses popped in and out and the consultant came to see me. What became clear at that juncture was that they really didn't want anything to do with me in that clinic. They acted very swiftly in having me admitted to the Medical Assessment Unit, despite my protestations that within an hour or so I would be more or less back to normal. The doctors on the M.A.U. (who no doubt had far more important cases to attend to) were none too pleased to have me taking up one of their beds. I explained that I was as unimpressed at being there and we agreed a truce. They were good enough to up my prescription of Serc and to prescribed Cinnarizine too.
Since then, I have had some good times and some bad times. For the most part, I have managed to get on with my life but for the odd occasion when this condition has struck with such force so as to render me incapable. Over the summer I seemed to experience dizziness every day with no idea what was causing it. Strangely, it wasn't full blown dizziness but something more than the day to day unsteadiness that those who have experienced this condition will have come to know. At the moment, I feel good. I have had several full blown attacks over the past week but I realise that they have been down to stress.
I decided to start this blog in an attempt to pull together information from various sources about what might work in the control of this horrible condition. I realise that others are doing the same and this is not an attempt to steal their thunder, it is just here as another resource for those sufferers looking for answers as I constantly am.
I'll try not to make all posts as long winded as this one! Please feel free to leave comments and to share your experiences and/or sources of reference.
