I found this site while looking for more information about Ménières disease. I’ve had bouts of vertigo for around 6 years. All seemed to start after a irrigation of my ear for wax. They have yet to fully diagnose me and I thought who better to ask about symptoms then the people who get them and truly understand. My vertigo spells seem to come on with positional movements. Head turning side to side .. or quick movements . I do usually feel off balance and since this last “attack” I have had tinnitus. This episode also lasted for around 5 days of on and off vertigo and dizziness. After performing the Epley maneuver myself with my husband at home I seemed to stop the vertigo and spinning but still felt off and a wee bit dizzy. Anyone on here have both Ménières and BPPV?? This is what my ENT is thinking could be a possibility for me. Any sort of info would be so appreciated. I’m truly kinda lost and concerned also a bit afraid to have this. I have no fullness in my ears but tinnitus seems to be a slight bit in both ears?! I had a hearing test recently which showed no change in 6 years… which I had hearing loss then but no change or worsening. Sorry this is so long. Just looking for any advice .. thoughts or opinions on this matter. Thanking you in advance.
Sounds more like just Bppv to me, but I’m no doctor. Low frequency hearing loss is the hallmark of menieres symptoms and it sounds like you don’t have that.
Thank you for your response. Low frequency hearing loss? Would I need a full hearing test done? I have had only 2 screenings. One 6 years ago and one the other day. Do you find you have motion sickness?? When I watch tv and something like hockey is on it can take me off balance. If you get an attack of MD is it hours on end of vertigo? Or can it last only minutes?? So sorry for all the questions. Any info helps a lot.
I have had both and can tell the difference between Meniere's vertigo and BPPV, which I experienced for the first time this year. I think you have BPPV. Find a good professional to treat it. Epley is not the only maneuver - a Physiotherapist fixed my BPPV in 2 appointments plus one to be sure. It was a treatment similar to Epley. It was wonderful to have something that could actually be fixed!!! So different, a new experience for me LOL.
Finding a specialized physiotherapist would be my recommendation. Do a lot of balance and vertigo training. Start in slow motion and only so far that no bad feeling is triggered. My adorable pth. started with me like after a stroke. First just moving the eyes. Not more. She told me that vertigo training often does not work because of too difficult challenges in the beginning. E.g. no balance board after a vertigo attack, but just fixing points in the rooms with the eyes , next step following with your head. Your body/brain is capable of wonderful repair work. TV was a challenge for me in the beginning, No problem now. Theater, cinema and being in a car or a bus when it is dark outside - no chance. You always need points to fix yourself. Also when you are walking. Best wishes Lilja
Thank you for replying to me. I’ve been up and down about it all. My dr keeps telling me it could be Ménières my ENT keeps saying it could be yet no one says it is for sure. I’ve had the MRI done and it was fine.. so that was a positive. My Ent wants to send me for a VNG to check balance and he said this should give me a definitive answer?? I was thinking BPPV as it comes on most of the time with positional movements and I did see the physiotherapist but she didn’t want to try anything as my symptoms had calmed down. She wants to wait till I have vertigo symptoms again. This time was just odd tho I felt. Loud ringing a day or two before the vertigo in both ears. Then when I walked it was as tho the world was bouncing with every step my eyes seemed to be jittery .. and the tinnitus has been here for 2 weeks. I really do appreciate your response. It truly must have been a good feeling to have something help and something you can fix.
I have seen this suggested a few times now. I’m willing to try anything so I will look into this further. Thank you for taking the time to write me back.
Thank you for your reply. We have a place in a city near me for vestibular rehabilitation. I’ve been considering calling to see if they can help. So this all started for you after a stroke? I’m so sorry to hear that. I had no idea how debilitating having an inner ear issue can be. Thanks for your suggestions. It’s nice to meet people on here wiling to share their stories and suggestions. I appreciate that very much
No, I gladly did not suffer a stroke. My Physio explained it to me the work with me and my balance must be as basic as the work she is doing with stroke patients. Great If you can see a specialized team! Best wishes!
Menieres is such a weird disease and it starts out and affects people so differently. I had on and off vertigo for about 5 years - about 3 times a year. I had no idea what it was. During the time my hearing was normal for my age, and I had no tinnitus. One morning I woke up with awful tinnitus , and little did I know at that time it was my one way ticket to shit city. I am in the Menieres trial drug, day 156, no improvement in tinnitus or fullness. Thank God I have my vertigo under control with Betahistine, and that I have that beautiful dog to the left who is joined to my hip. Good luck and God Bless you, you are way to young to have to deal with this - we all are at any age.
Thank you Yellowboy. Without you really knowing you have given me great clarity. My story is very similar to yours. It’s been 6 years of off and on vertigo and episode once every few months or maybe even a bit longer then that. Then 2.5 weeks ago both my ears started ringing like crazy .. lasted about an hour and then was gone. This was on the Friday. Sunday I quickly turned my head causing an onset of vertigo which went on and on for days.. if I wasn’t spinning I felt jittery, dizzy and my vision seemed bouncy at times. I then had tinnitus start up again after the vertigo seemed to subside. My ears have been ringing now for about a week. No fullness really just a noise. That brings me to last night. I woke up at 1 am dizzy and the feeling of spinning. This is the first time I’ve been woken up by this feeling. I got up and felt off balance… not so much full blown vertigo but awful all the same. I’m so lost and confused. I’m guessing I do have Ménières but they just haven’t fully diagnosed me with it. You say you are in the drug trial and it’s not helping with your tinnitus or fullness? I’m so sorry to hear that. You do have your vertigo under control tho? With betahistine?? Do you mind telling me how much you take and your regiment? I’ve been prescribed this drug but haven’t taken it yet. I’ve been living off gravol .. do you take gravol? If so do you take betahistine & gravol together? They have prescribed 16mg twice daily betahistine for me and tell me to take it only when I have symptoms which seems pointless as it needs to build up from what I read and understand. I’m so thankful you wrote me back as tears in my eyes as I’m writing this I just want to feel normal again … Ps - your dog is beautiful
I take 16 mg of Betahistine 3 times a day. I don’t take gravol . You need a new doctor if he is telling you to take the Betahistine only as needed. If it works you will likely take it every day for the rest of your life. Thank you for the compliment of my dog. He is the love of my life and has been for 11 years. He is a therapy dog at the local elementary school where I take him to read with the kids two days a week. If wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be typing this, I think I would have given up on this crappy life. You can follow him on Facebook at “Deke Gardner” Take care.
That is a wonderful thing you are doing. Reading to children with your support dog. I’m so happy to hear your dog means so much to you and that you’ve chosen to stick this life thru. You seem like a wonderful person and I’m so sorry you have to deal with such a debilitating disease. I thank you for corresponding with me. It’s meant a lot. I will talk to my dr about the betahistine and try taking 16mg. 3 x a day. Thank you again for your info and suggestions. I will check out Deke Gardener on Facebook Hope you take care too
It took me 3 years before I knew what a vertigo attack was. I "thought" I had balance issues, but didn't. I felt my walking was was drifting to the left. But when I finally had one there was no question that I was in an attack. Puking non-stop for 15 hours. Standing wasn't even remotely possible. Finally had to go to the hospital to get my body right. You WILL know when one hits you.