IMO, no it doesn't have to do with aging. I'm 42 and it started out of the blue, not gradually over the course of years.
No. Meniere’s Disease is a label given to a common set of symptoms when all other diagnoses’ have been discounted. The cause of those symptoms is unknown, and therefore the condition is considered idiopathic. This leads to huge speculation and many false claims and hypotheses. Most of them are aired frequently and liberally on internet forums, which often just adds to the confusion and bewilderment of the new sufferers! It is understood to affect those of more advanced years more frequently, but there are no set rules.
To claim Meniere's as uniquely and solely "idiopathic," without a known or knowable cause is an antiquated last-century perspective, obviated by the peer-reviewed publications of Dr. Gacek (among others), which show conclusively that the vast majority of Meniere's cases are caused by herpes virus infections of the inner ear or the associated nerves. Moreover, symptomatic relief is gained by the majority of those treated with appropriate dosages and durations of anti-herpetic drugs. Scrutinize Dr. Gacek's profound evidence here: http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf --John of Ohio
I had this argument with a friend, and I ended up agreeing with him. ??? Let's define the term Disease. Tear it apart... Dis or "negative" and Ease or "absence of difficulty or effort". If the body suffers from "dis-ease", it is not functioning as designed. To have a disease, is not proper English. Presence of something that creates dis-ease, would better describe a syndrome or group of functions not working properly. You don't have a disease, you experience disease. So...if you are not functioning correctly, you suffer from disease. Isn't language fun! I am sure others feel strongly about this. The labels we use reduce the impact others think about our afflictions. THAT is a real problem, IMHO. Drew~
Shakespeare put it thus – “What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. And so I repeat my point. It is merely a label for a common set of symptoms. And JOH that it is not an attack on your protocol, which is one approach to dealing with the symptoms. It didn’t work for me, but that is not to deny its efficacy for others....
It's a syndrome. "New" docs and those in the know call it syndrome. One way to tell if you have a doc that is a bit more up to speed ... they call it Meniere's Syndrome.
Many of the doctors who are really on top of this call it a viral disease. They are very likely to be correct, given the 90%+ success rate of antivirals.
OK, you folks have me convinced. I will go get tested for a viral infection. Thanks for help living at Ease! Drew~
There is no test for viral infection of the inner ear. You just have to take the antivirals and see if they work. I responded with more details in your other thread.
Why isn't there a test? Why can't they extract fluid from.the ear and test. Why isn't a MRI of th inner with gondolium done routinely? They do.it by deductive reasoning. If the anti-viral works it was a virus. Maybe. It cod be a placebo. I think they should take more pictures and substantial tests to make a diagnosis like they do for.other illnesses. Doctors know when someone breaks a bone but they still x-Ray.
I have had a gazillion mri's with contrast of the inner ear, not for mm but because i have a history of acoustic neuroma and it is always suspect. Apparently it doesnt tell enough to answer this question. Almost everyone has had many herpes viruses in their lifetime so everyone is going to have some evidence of a past herpes virus. (Chicken pox, cold sore, cmv, epstein-barr and ones as yet unnamed). Viruses are never eradicated, they just nodd off and wake up as they wish, so what test result would tell you that there is a virus in your inner ear causing trouble? Do you know how tiny the inner ear is? You arent going to be sticking a needle in there without destroying it i dont think. It's just a huge challenge. They are trying.
They x-ray to get a better picture of what broke and how it broke. It gives them additional info they can't get any other way. If the antivirals work, you don't need any more info. Besides, it saves you money as the patient not to have to pay for all those expensive tests (if there were any for inner ear virus).
There is a particular MRI that shows hydrops. I am.sorry to say even.though they are trying they are not succeeding. Some have Ben helped with anti-virals, but others have to resort drastic measures like gent injections, labby's shunts, and other draconian measures.