A while ago I put up a similar question, but was not clear enough so I will try again. In my case, during vertigo/imbalance episodes, I have nystagmus to the left and I fall to the right, so my right ear is affected. But both ears ring, and the left ear rings more loudly than the right. Does this happen to unilateral MM fellows? That both ears ring during an episode? Or it is a symptom of bilateral MM? Thank you for your patience
I received no response so far, please write your experience about this. I am concerned that I am bilateral. Hope anti-virals will help, I have been taking 2400mg of acyclovir a day for almost two weeks now.
Only my bad ear gets pressure, hearing loss and ringing during an episode. My left ear is bad but I fall to the right and stagger to the right during an episode. I believe that is most likely because my good side is working overtime trying to get me straight! LOL
From what I have read during a Meniere's Disease vertigo attack, the vestibular function of the affected (problem) ear is interrupted. The brain is still receiving input from the 'good' ear and believes that you are falling in the direction of the 'good' ear. To save you from that fall it sends your body towards the affected (problem) ear. So if your right ear is affected, you should fall to the right. There is testing that should be done if there is any question of which ear or if bilateral is suspected. The ringing of both ears is unusual, so I would get tested.
I have no idea what is written but know what happens to me. I have had all testing including all vestibular, ear, etc.. My left ear functions abnormal since the disease (last test was abnormal 27%). Right ear is 100%. Left ear gets the pressure and ringing. Left ear has the hearing loss. During an attack, I veer off to the right - people guiding me to the car have to pull me to the left to keep me straight. During an attack if I fall I fall to the right. If I had a drop attack (have had two) i fall to the right. When I had a almost "violent" start of an attack last year I was sitting down and it jolted/pushed me to the right. Left is the bad ear. Right is the direction I fall.
In my case I fall to the right during episodes. Caloric testing done a few days after an attack showed that my right vestibular sense was bad. But my left ear rings during an episode louder than my right ear that rings all the time actually. I have neither hearing loss nor ear pressure, during and in between the episodes.
My left ear is the one effected. When having vertigo I seem to fall or want to fall to my left. When I had drop attacks I always fell to my right. Also during a drop attack it felt like someone was pulling me down and to the right. It was instant and I never had time to react. During vertigo I still have time to react and brace my fall. Infact a couple times during vertigo I course correct and fall to my right because that the safestway to fall.
My good ear rings louder and more frequently than my bad ear. My good ear shows high frequency hearing loss and my bad ear low frequency hearing loss which low frequency loss is a factor for MM. I've never had a drop attack.
I do ocassionally get ringing and fulness in my right ear during vertigo. I do not have any hearing loss in my right ear so doctor will not rule it meneires. In a lot of ways it reminds me of how my left ear was 14 years ago. I didn't get any noticable hearing loss in my left ear until 2008 but started getting vertigo in 2001. At first I would only get ringing during vertigo now itis 24/7 in my left ear. In my right ear I will ocassionally get ringing and fulness sometimes with vertigo but most of the time no vertigo. When I do get vertigo usually it is just my left ear ringing. Personally I think I am bilateral it just hasn't progressed enough for my doctor to be comfortable saying that. Vertigo in my left ear progressed as follows: 2001 - 1 episode (Day after 911) 2002 - none 2003 - 1 episode 2004 - 2 episodes 2005 - 3 or 4 episodes 2006 - 4 or 5 episodes 2007 - 6 or 7 episodes 2008 - once a month. started noticing hearing loss Fianally diagnosed 2009 - twice a month 2010 - shunt surgery had 3 - 4 month remission then back to once a month. Vertigo not as intense as befor surgery. 2011 - twice a month 2012 to present - started genimicin injections. I now get vertigo about every 6-9 months. Most of these are mini spins only lasting a few seconds but I will get multiple episodes in the same day when the weather is bad. I do get ocassional one that will last an 1/2 hour or more and if I don't have valium I will get sick. Now that I think about it these are the times I have ringing in my right ear. It is hard to tell if bilateral if no hearing loss but I suspect it. If I do and my right ear follows the same pattern as my left ear, it might beyears before I know for sure.
Hi Jaeger, In the light of the virus theory about vestibulopathies, I reckon that your hearing loss developed once the virus spread and got to your hearing cells. What do you think, if you actually want to look back now? I am similar to you, no hearing loss after five and a half year. Dr. Gacek thinks it is actually VN, not MM. Started acyclovir... Did you have chance to try antivirals, or the antiviral treatment came up to late for you?
I tried antivirals for about a year but not in the doses reccommended by dr gacek. The one doctor that does prescribe them here in Dallas/Fort worth area only prescribes a dose of 200 mg acylovir and 200mg of another anti-viral, can not remember the name. itis more for the shingle virus. I didn't notice any realimprovement. I was also taking allergy shots at the time which made me feel worse. I also started having drop attacks and was told by my Doctor he would take my driving privlages away unless I got the shots. I still wonder if I had taken the correct dosage if that would have helped. I still wonder if they whould help my hearing even though my vestiular function is shot in that ear.