cochlear hydrops vs Meniere's

Hi Donamo!

Cochlear Hydrops usually has all the same symptoms as Meniere's (tinnitus, fullness or pressure and fluctuating to worsening hearing loss) minus the rotational vertigo. Several friends of mine have CH and DO experience balance problems and dizziness still but no vertigo.

I hope this helps clear up the difference between the two. Have a great day!
Lulu

 

I was diagnosed with CH in 2008--told in 2010, I'd 'not progress to MM', because if I were going to I already would have! Well, in 2011 had my first bad vertigo attack, sent to E.R. and had several next few weeks, then none for a couple of months then, more came and then 'drop attack's, at which point, in 2012--had the AV shunt on my bad ear, no more vertigo--thank God! But--I deal with daily dizziness that has given me a real 'challenge'. Balance issues--not bad but 'there' and alot of head pressure. Nothing to do for this but deal with it--take anxiety meds to deal with it some days. Hope you don't develop the true MM--but if you do, there are other 'steps' to aid you. I am a senior citizen, female--so at least don't have to deal with working. I keep busy, keep going--some days aren't easy but you just have to or it can 'get to you'! Good luck!

 

That's a great question Donamo and I wish I had a really good answer for you. I know some people who have never taken anything stronger than Meclizine for their symptoms and several years later have still NEVER had a single vertigo attack and others who have tried everything possible and ended up progressing on to having vertigo attacks just a few months after their initial CH diagnosis.

I'm so sorry to hear you've progressed on to having vertigo attacks. I can live with all the other symptoms from having MM but vertigo is the one thing that will (literally) bring me to my knees.

Wishing you all the best in your journey. Never lose hope and never stop fighting the beast my friend.

Lulu

 

I have been to 2 ENT specialists. One diagnosed me with CH and one diagnosed me with just inner ear damage possibly caused by virus. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE in prognosis or treatment. Classic symptoms of CH, with symptoms increasing after awakening in morning especially after hearing noise. Hearing loss in one ear, fullness, and noise distortion. No vertigo or tinnitus.

 

My dr told me it depends on exactly which tiny little bit of the inner ear is involved. At one end you have vestibular hydrops with no hearing loss, at the other end you have cochlear hydrops with no vertigo and if you have the whole range, you have classic menieres. It does frquently progress from CH or VH to classic menieres but not always.

 

But whatever 'it' is, its the same thing, the difference is location.

 

Dr. Gacek explained it to me this way:

The vestibular nerve has one end in the inner ear and one end in the brain. If the herpes virus is active on the brain end - vertigo. If the virus is active on inner-ear end - fullness, hearing loss, tinnitus etc. If the virus is active on both ends, then you have all of the symptoms - classic Meniere's. I also fall into the CH (inner ear end) camp. I haven't had any vertigo and my symptoms are well controlled by anti virals (so far).