So, what IS Meniere's disease?

Some of you may be wondering what IS Meniere's disease anyways? Maybe you know someone who has it but you don't really understand it. Or maybe you yourself were recently diagnosed but are trying to get more information. Well, it's a tough one to explain, but here goes...

The medical field will explain it as a vestibular inner ear disorder that causes hearing loss and disrupts balance. A patient with Meniere's disease however, will explain it as hell.

Symptoms include a fullness feeling in the ear(s), tinnitus (ringing, humming, buzzing and/or roaring sound), hearing loss (usually low tones) and vertigo (spinning sensation or dizziness). These vertigo episodes, sometimes referred to as attacks, can occur without warning and can be debilitating. Along with the spinning sensation a person may develop a headache and will likely develop nausea to the extent of possibly vomiting. An episode can last anywhere from a few minutes, to several hours, to even days. And even once it's over your body feels like it's been hit by a truck probably because of all the stress and muscle tension developed to try and keep your world from spinning. Unfortunately, days later once you've FINALLY recovered there is possibly another attack just around the corner. Waiting, to go through the entire process all over again. Because these episodes usually have no warning many patients develop anxiety and fear of when the next attack will hit. Living in fear...day after day. As you may have guessed, depression often times sets in as well.

To top it all off there is no cure for the disease. Doctor's recommend a low salt diet, and to avoid alcohol and caffeine to help control the symptoms. But for some it works and for others it doesn't. Treatments can include steroids, water pills or diuretics but sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Various prescription medications can be used such as Valium or Antivert to take during a vertigo attacks, or Promethazine to help control the nausea. But again they work for some but not for others. Sometimes you just have to wait it out. Every Meniere's patient is different and every episode can be different. The one thing that's for sure is that it can be hell.

But as a person living with Meniere's disease...who's been through hell and back with every episode, I can say there's a way to deal with it. Every day is different. Some are good and some are bad but it's all about taking one day at a time. For me, the last five days were bad. But today is a good day. And that's all that matters right now.

I hope you're having a good day!

Much Love,
Shanon