Hi folks. I just posted the other day about my - What I thought was odd - form of Meniere's. (I have continual symptoms and no vertigo, yet.) Doing some research I've come across a differentiation between Meniere's and, what some literature calls, Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops. http://vestibular.org/secondary-endolymphatic-hydrops-seh "Since SEH is secondary to (that is, results from) an underlying disorder, the symptoms tend to be present more continuously, rather than occurring in spontaneous attacks. However, they are often less violent, and SEH may cause less damage to hearing and balance than does Ménière’s disease." Seem familiar to anyone? I know Meniere's can progress, sometimes rapidly, from some hearing loss to heavy vertigo but other than one dizzy spell back in August, and general light headedness that hits for minutes/hours/days at a time, my symptoms are constant though fluctuate in intensity over time. (Tinnitus, low frequency hearing loss, aural fullness are always there.)
I am just like you. My symptoms are constant. No vertigo. I have hearing loss and fullness/roaring tinnitus every single day. There are a few days here and there where it is not "quite" as bad, but most days the roaring/fullness is awful.
A little more on me ... Had tinnitus for a very long time. (At least ten years.) A couple of years ago I'd notice low-frequency loss that gradually happened more often and would then clear up. Had a bad dizzy spell in August so decided to see the doctor. Somewhere between August and February the symptoms just "stayed on". The dizziness would go from zero to a light swaying dizziness over the course of a few days and then roll back off and the rest of the symptoms would tend to do the same. One thing I noticed is that changes in atmospheric pressure seem to push things one way or the other. The last week or so my symptoms seemed to escalate until yesterday afternoon where I felt the worst in a while. Few hours later I was back to normal and this morning .... symptoms are the best I've had for weeks. (I think.) Everything is still there to a low degree, except the dizziness, but my hearing has definitely improved a bit. I can use the phone in my left ear for the first time in awhile and make out conversations. How long have you had your symptoms? One thing I've been told is that Meniere's can progress and that you'll have some symptoms and then ... wham ... vertigo attack. Hoping that isn't the case for me but given it's been coming for awhile I'd have thought it would hit by now.
I have had my symptoms since February 2013. My symptoms have been pretty constant. The only time I felt significantly better was while I was pregnant (from about 2 months pregnant until I was 8 months pregnant).
Hmmm....not a doctor but when pregnant the immune system generally slows down a bit so the body doesn't "reject" the kid. A lot of theories point to the body's immune system getting out of whack and causing Meniere's so the two might be related. Or I'm way off in the weeds again.
I am still trying to figure out a cause for my symptoms. I tried antivirals in the past with no luck. I recently got my CBC, b-12, and thyroid tested and they all came back normal. I actually have a follow-up appointment with my GP today and I am trying to decide where to go next.
You know, that does sound like a good theory to me. I keep thinking mine might be immune related somehow. I wonder where I would start to figure out if I have an underlying immune system disorder? In my previous post I mentioned that my complete blood count was just done 4 weeks ago and came back normal.
Just about everything I've read points to an immune response, the response causes inflammation in the inner ear, that causes the pressure buildup, that causes the symptoms. Not a doctor by any stretch, and I'm still digging into this, but it seems straightforward at a very high level. Finding and fixing the cause of the immune response would be the cure. (Killing the fungus, taking out herpes, whatever it is.) Checking the immune response would be the next best. (Anti-fungals, anti-virals, etc.) Taking out the inflammation helps at least for a while. (Anti-inflammatory diet, Regenokine, other meds.) Relieving the pressure might help for a bit with some people. (Shunt surgery, etc.) Again, just my current thought process as I delve into the research.
Just like you guys I do not get vertigo, but I get the feeling like I'm bobbing up and down on a boat or like I'm walking on a trampoline. Does anyone else experience this? I also have tinnitus but no noticeable ear pressure. A few times where I had a lot of salt I did have vertigo the next day, no matter which way I turned while in bed. Previous to that I had BPPV when I turned to the left side in bed but got rid of it with the Epley maneuvre. I always wonder if there are remnant calcium crystals still lurking around that haven't been put back or absorbed yet.
I also get this feeling. Usually right before or after I have a vertigo attack. It will sometimes last for a day or so after the attack. Perhaps your vestibular nerve is effected just not enough to cause full blown rotational vertigo.
Well my GP ordered some blood tests for me for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Now I am just waiting on the results.
My blood tests, so far, have been clean. However, I did see a chiropractor the other day. XRays came back and my neck is kind of a mess. I'm going to try and get my spine squared away before doing anything drastic. (Outside of some supplements.) The chiro thinks all the extra pressure and strain could be causing some of my problems though it's not a guarantee. You might want to ask your doctor/ENT/etc. for a cervical spine xray and test you for your range-of-mobility.
I have been thinking about getting my spine/neck checked. That's one of the only routes I haven't gone yet. It definitely seems like a possibility to me that it could be my problem, or at least part of it, especially since my symptoms are constant.
The doctor I'm seeing basically said that with all the misalignment and compression in the vertebrae it could - And he was very explicit in saying "could" - be causing inflammation, pressure, drainage problems, etc. which may be the cause of my, for lack of better terms, Meniere's like symptoms. Since I have yet to hit the vertigo and really bad symptoms I'm going to stick with the chiro for while and see if it helps out.
Hydrops and Meniere's are usually the symptoms of an immune dysfunction disease. If you have blood tests to check your viral loads, you will confirm this and notice virus's that are normally dormant in a normal person are not dormant in our situations and in fact will show that they are acute. Personally for me, my Epstein Barr Virus (from Mono over 20 years ago) was found to be once again acute, I test acutely positive for the Cytomeglavirus, Herpes Zoster is off the chart and it goes on and on. In a person without a compromised immune system this would not be the case. If you are planning any more blood tests, I would highly recommend these. I would explain to your doctor this situation. There's plenty of studies and evidence that can be printed from the internet to support your arguments, most of them are here on these web boards. I am also in the same boat. No vertigo yet, but am doing all I can to prevent any escalation.
Yup, I'm in the same boat, Uni-lateral hearing loss, tinnitus, floating sensation, eustachian tube problems but no vertigo. Mine started some 5 years ago with fullness, fluctuating hearing loss and low volume tinnitus. Rolling the clock forward I've got all the same symptoms but much worse, hearing rapidly decreased this year and is now down to severe\profound (hearing aids no longer work), tinnitus fluctuates wildly from bearable to I want to stick a screwdriver in my ear, brain fog is, oh I forgot... I've had all the usual tests to rule out the usual suspects, everything's clear. Tried antivirals, (still on) JOH and a host over other stuff but nothing seems to work, I'm still searching.... Tormented is the word I use to describe this horrible affliction, tormented! Good luck!
Thanks Pakrat3. Do you remember the name of the viral load test? Or is it just as simple as asking for a "viral load test"? :-\
Have you done an thorough exam with an Audiologist? Mine found everything normal except above normal ear pressure in the right ear, which I don't really feel, perhaps maybe faintly. Also becareful with chiro's if they do any rapid high velocity adjustment, you are better off trying NUCCA if chiropractic is what you want done, it's still chiro but the adjustment are gentle. I tried NUCCA myself did not help anything but someone people have got results from it.