Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with Meniere's by an ENT and Audiologist team at a specialist clinic here in Ontario this year in early August, after developing symptoms over the spring. I started feeling better over the last month after starting betahistine and reducing my salt- just experiencing minor vertigo and nausea, and low-level tinnitus - all in my left ear. Then three days ago, tinnitus started in my right ear, as well as a little bit of fullness - not as much as my left, and certainly not as much as in my left ear when things were at their worst in June (when my hearing was distorted, and the fullness was almost unbearable). I've also experienced this new tinnitus thing where it is almost like a wave of very loud tinnitus washes over me, and I have to stop doing whatever I am doing - it is an intense feeling. I think it is happening in my right ear.... Does anyone develop bilateral MD this quickly? I am only 41 and I like to think in pretty good health otherwise - I exercise a lot, eat well, am of normal weight, etc...I really, really hope not. Sorry for only coming on here to ask questions - I hope I can contribute as I learn more. Hannah
Yes, unfortunately, it can. Or you might have been bilateral all along and just didn't know it. The virus can lay dormant for years before attacking the nerve. Hard to say.
Agreed. It can go bilateral that quickly. Try not to freak yourself out though, especially if you don't know for sure. I bet most of the people on this forum will tell you that if you want to make your Meniere's symptoms worse, one of the best ways to do so is to worry, and/or put yourself under more stress!
I would look into AIED (Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease). Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe one of the big clues for that is being bilateral almost immediately.
"One study indicated that immune system dysfunction was responsible for 16% of people with bilateral Meniere’s disease and 6% of all people with any variety of Meniere’s disease. In another study, 96% of the patients with Meniere’s disease had elevated levels of circulating immune complexes, compared to just 20% of the controls. In yet another study, specific immune system antibodies were detected in 47% of people with Meniere’s disease. This all shows that a large percentage of the people with Meniere’s disease have an underlying immune system problem." http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/autoimmune-inner-ear-disease-aied-2/ I cannot vouch for the validity of the above studies as I'm unaware of the studies cited. It's 2am here & I'm about to go to bed. Is anyone able to point in the direction of, or familiar with said studies?
what is the symptom of going bilateral? is it starting with tinnitus? because sometime i also feel tinnitus on my good ear but sometime it seems that it's coming from my bad ear because the tinnitus in my bad ear is so loud.
I get some mild symptoms occasionally in my good ear. I think that the anti-virals and JOH are keeping it at bay. Hannah, since those things help so many people if you haven't yet, I'm thinking it would make sense for you to give them a go as soon as you can to minimize hearing loss as much as possible if they work for you.
Thanks everyone! I will definitely look into the auto-immune thing. I am trying not to worry too much - and it is true, sometimes I lie there trying to tell if the tinnitus is in both ears, or just really loud in the original ear. Very hard to tell at 3 am when you can't sleep. I've had some vertigo over the last week after a lovely period of almost no symptoms - but I certainly cannot tell if the vertigo is coming from one side or another....
I think I was bilateral right from the start! The left ear sent me to the doctor 15 years ago, then symptoms immediately switched and were only in the right for about 6 years. Then the left flared up for a few months and and it's been constantly the right ever since. I still have normal hearing in my left, but the right is about shot. I think everyone is different in their progression though!
Yes, it comes on suddenly. It did for me. Antivirals and allergy treatment gave me back my hearing. Dr Derebery at House Ear in los Angeles helped me. You can get the i fo on antivirals on this board if your family dr will prescribe them. Most ent's seem not to accept them but they worked for me and many many people on this board. Good luck.
did anyone going bilateral after taking antivirals? or antivirals also suppose to help MM going bilateral? thanks
If it is a viral cause, then the antivirals should prevent it from spreading. But not everyone has a viral cause.
I would say that the maintenance dose is sufficient for most people, but some folks have not been able to reduce their dose, so it's individually different.
I only used them temporarily, say 4-6 months and got permanent relief. I think everyone is different. I believe i was bilateral from the start but it was impossible to know because the 8th nerve on one side had been destoyed years earlier in a surgery. I believe i was bilateral because i had the fullness sensation in both ears, even worse in the already deaf side.
I would look into AIED (Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease) I need to check this out. It seems my family has a number of autoimmune issues which have already raised their ugly heads.