Hello! So thrilled to have stumbled upon this forum. I'd love any feedback, if you have thoughts on differentiating Meniere's from Vestibular Migraine. I am a 45 year old woman from NYC. I am in the beginning stages of diagnosis. I have Moderate SN hearing loss in my right ear, constant tinnitus, and violent vertigo attacks that happen on average once a week. In between vertigo attacks I am fine.. not really bothered by the hearing loss or tinnitus.. it is just the debilitating vertigo attacks, with violent vomiting which lasts about 30-60 minutes, followed by eventually passing out cold, until I wake up a few hours later, and the vertigo is over. The tinnitus and hearing loss is constant- meaning, not any worse during an active vertigo attack, and not really subsiding when I am feeling "normal". I was formally diagnosed with Meniere's about 6 months ago, although I am sure I have had it for at least the past 5 years. But until this year my vertigo attacks were sporadic, maybe once or twice a year. Now they occur at least 1x a week, sometimes 5 or 6 times a week. I started a diuretic and followed a strict Meniere's diet of reduced sodium, no alcohol (gasp!!) no caffeine, no preservatives, sulfates, etc. I had absolutely no improvement. In fact, I got much, much worse as soon as I started the diuretic. The vertigo attacks increased in intensity, frequency, and duration. The attacks used to last 30-60 minutes, once I started the diuretic they lasted 4 hours or all day. This prompted a referral to a neurologist/ neurotologist, who believed strongly that I DO NOT have Meniere's and instead have Vestibular Migraine (even though my vertigo is not accompanied by headache). I scrapped the whole diuretic and Meniere's diet and started a new regimen of Amitryptyline every night for migraine prevention and Valium, Maxalt, and Zofran to be used as needed, right away at the first sign of a vertigo episode. Been a month now and that hasn't really helped either.. the frequency might be less (1x a week) but the severity of each episode is worse. So I would love some clarity and direction.. seems like the treatments are opposite for Vestibular Migraine versus Meniere's. But none of it seems to be working for me. Would love to hear your thoughts on clarifying my diagnosis so i know hw to proceed. Thanks so much!! Warmly, Mary
Your story is similar to mine and your symptoms are identical. I have been diagnosed by 3 ENT's with Menieres over the past 3 years plus. My current doc did a VNG to prepare for a Laby, but my vestibular function came back normal. I am now being treated with Verapamil for MAV (migraines). Not all migraines manifest in pain. Vestibular migraines can manifest with dizziness and vertigo. It took a week on the med before my symptoms began to diminish. I am now going on week 4 with no vertigo, and the dizziness is beginning to subside.
I'm still doing the loso and diuertic as well as JOH. I will eventually phase these out if the Verapamil continues to do the job. Initially, a loso diet and JOH helped keep my symptoms at bay. For me, this disorder has been progressive with flare cycles more frequent and intensity of attacks increasing. Like you, I was up to vertigo attacks every week.
I have been diagnosed with both menieres and vestibular migraines. I maintain the JOH regime for menieres and gained a lot of knowledge from Dr. David Buchholz's book "Heal Your Headache" to address the migraine associated vertigo- Mav...or vestibular migraine.. This book was recommended on this forum and a member named Vicky has made helpful posts on MAV if you use the search option. I had to cut a lot of trigger foods out of my diet...gluten, sugar, dairy, caffeine and nightshades. Some people may not have to cut out as much, but I did. Also taking vitamin B2 and magnesium help with the MAV. Get a copy of the book off of Amazon for $10 to discern if you may have MAV too. Vertigo and hearing issues are also connected to vestibular migraines. Welcome and best to you- Bonnie