Good afternoon everyone, I am brought here by my first attack of vertigo which happened a little over a month ago. About a week after recovering from flu, I was simply resting my head in my left hand. When I lifted it, I was struck with a dizziness and feeling of disconnection like I have never experienced. It wasn't until I tried an Epley maneuver that the room began to violently spin which was followed by uncontrollable vomiting. After meds to stop the vomiting and being sent home, I have spent the last month frantically searching for the cause. While doing vestibular rehabilitation exercises I was struck by a sensation of fullness in my left ear which varies in intensity and seems to come and go. I also find that I have tinnitus that comes and goes. Finally, I've noticed a moment or two where my hearing suddenly sounds muffled and distorted. It lasts for only a second. I had had this and seconds of tinnitus in the past, but never thought anything of it. I've found myself being increasingly sensitive to sound as well which makes me nauseous and can trigger a tight sensation in my head. I've had CTs and an MRI. A test with an audiologist came back with perfect hearing. The ENT nurse practitioner was very dismissive and said "you don't have Meniere's, I promise." Since this first attack, I had started to recover, but found myself with sudden dizzy spells that knock me back in my progress with dizziness, nausea, and brain fog. These are not as intense as the first spell which led to this nightmare. Despite what the ENT NP said, with the exception of having another vertigo attack, my symptoms seem to align with Meniere's. I'm 33 and felt like my life was taking off. Now I'm petrified that I have to wait for another one of these attacks to know if I have this condition. It seems strange to say, but since childhood, vomiting has been my biggest fear in life. Now it seems likely that it will be my constant companion to face alone in my apartment. Is it possible that I don't have this affliction or is the fate sealed? How do you deal with this? Wishing everyone the best. Aaron
Hi Aaron, unfortunately none of us on here can tell you definitively if you have Meniere's or not. I would only accept that diagnosis by an ENT who is experienced with this disease. Having said that, if it is confirmed you do have it, you are not doomed. This forum is FULL of amazing information that will guide you and help you. The key is trying to find out what your root cause is. Many people including myself have had great results with antivirals, you will find the John of Ohio regimen referenced quite often here, with good reason. If you click my profile you can read my posts that go into great lengths about my experiences and what I have done to get my life back. Like you I once felt hopeless and overwhelmed. I do not feel that way at all anymore and my life is 99% back to normal. Sending you all the best!
Hi Katie, Thank you for your reply. Actually, a response you had written to another user regarding having found hope was one of the first things I saw on this forum. And to be certain, whatever is going on with me is forcing me to cry out to and lean on my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I had been walking a lukewarm path for too long, trying to make Him fit into a box I had designed. Doesn't work that way. Obviously, I hope whatever I am enduring is not this condition, but regardless of what it is, He certainly has my attention. Aaron
When your hearing is muffled is it lower frequencies lost? I would test this next time it happens, this would be a clue. There are tone/frequency tests online that you can use.
Sorry for the late reply. The anxiety from this has been so severe that I try to stay away from the topic. It doesn't seem to affect my lower frequency. I also just had a VNG test where the screening for Meniere's was considered negative because my responses to low frequency/amplitude (I'm not sure which word is scientifically correct). I'm skeptical, however, because the nystagmus during the attack went towards my affected ear, which the caloric portion of the test confirmed 30% reduced function. From my reading only BPPV and Meniere's cause beating towards the affected are, but BPPV doesn't cause the ear fullness, tinnitus, etc.