Hi: I have had Menieres for about 8 years now. It began very infrequently in 1998 with sudden imbalance and the nausea leading to the usual vomiting attacks, but i always put it down as food poisoning or flu symptoms. Reocurrances were about 1/yr until 2002, and i was never diagnosed. Later in 2002, the attacks became more frequent and the ringing and constant pressure in the ears began. I thought it was a virus so began taking antihistamines. It wasn't until i had a major attack right after lunch at work and was unable to move at all without throwing up that i was wheeled up to the Emergency dept ( I worked in a hospital) that i was diagnosed as having Menieres by the attending Doctor. What a relief to have a description, because at this point the attacks had been coming more often and lasting for about 1-4 hours. Since that diagnosis, i have been through various tests by the specialists and have had Menieres confirmed. Serc has been the greatest aid, and the symptoms have been greatly reduced in intensity while at the same time occuring far more often til now the visual spinning, tho milder, occurs about 3 times a day and i only have remission periods from them lasting 8 weeks or so a year. I struggled to keep working until 2005 summer and finally, mainly because i had been driving 100 km to and from work for the previous 3 years, i quit my work hoping to relocate to where i could take public transportation to and from work. Two casual short lived jobs since then both of which i was laid off due to "performance issues" over a year ago, and i am presently appplying for the third appeal for CPP disability. Amazingly, the people who decide whether you are fit to be employed have no concept of Menieres. They don't seem to understand that when you are out and about...you are not experiencing the symptoms, but that they can be extremely disabling when they occur. I guess my main reason for being here is to find out what the indicators are of the "burnout" stage, as i think i may finally be approaching it. Thanks for any info in advance.
Hi JDCanuck and welcome! Burnout and/or remission is different for everyone. For me it means no vertigo. I still have 24/7 tinnitus, occasional fullness and hearing loss that requires hearing aids. Some don't have vertigo, but still have dizziness. I don't have dizziness.
Thanks Linda: I am hoping i am very close to where you are, The tinnitus and hearing loss i can live with, its the unpredictable attacks that really mess up any plans. Did you also experience Alzheimers like symptoms? These seem to be getting very frequent lately, and i was hoping they may be stress related. All those years of complaining about work conditions....what i'd give at this point to be able to work only 1-2 days a week!
Check out the Database. This might answer your question: http://www.menieres.org/forum/index.php?topic=79.0
Welcome JD! Good post by Linda! She is awesome for information and a really good person besides! Just wanted to say welcome andkeep asking questions! Be a Hero! Tuck
Hey JD I gather by your nick that you're Canadian (DUH!) There's a wee Canadian MM get-together planned at my place for Sunday, May 27. If you're anywhere within driving distance of the GTA, you'd be more than welcome. Feel free to pm me for more details cheers George
oops...yer so right. Thanks to George for the invite! This one days communication has been so very enlightening, and thanks to Linda i see the Alzheimers symptoms i was so concerned about are just a part of the Menieres as well, another great relief! Overall, every time i learn some of the whacky symptoms i am experiencing are Menieres related, i get a sense of relief. When i first had the Vertigo symptoms, i was imagining strokes, cancer, etc. Finally getting the diagnosis was a huge relief. Now...if we only had a huge community of other Menieres sufferers we lived with every day, we could all just laugh about it (well, other than the really bad attacks). What frustrates me most is the inability to tell even doctors and family members that all these bothersome problems we suffer are part of a disease we carry with us, and not a lack of interest or unwillingness to listen to them. I really don't get what they are saying so many times it was frightening. And all those return trips to/from whatever i was trying to do until it comes back to me just gives me some of the exercise i am missing out on because i go out so seldom.
Welcome JD - always great to see another Canadian around here! Yup, that's pretty much what it's like around here. We share stories, jokes, tears.......and enjoy knowing we're not alone. Welcome to the family!!!! Amethyst
Tnaks for all the warm welcomes guys...Lisa, i notice you have had Gentamicin Ablation treatments...how did they work out?