MENIERE'S DISEASE INFORMATION PAGE

 

Meniere's Disease is a disorder of the inner ear or labrynth. The most prominent symptoms of this disease include episodes of dizziness or vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear) and nausea and/or vomiting.

An attack of Meniere's Disease is usually preceded by fullness in one or both ears. Hearing fluctuates or changes in tinnitus may also precede an attack. A Meniere's attack generally involves severe vertigo (spinning or whirling), imbalance, nausea and/or vomiting. These are the classic symptoms of mm (morbus menieres). While the classic symptoms of mm are not always present, hearing loss can precede episodes of vertigo by several years. In most cases it has been documented that the vertigo usually comes first in Meniere's Disease, while the percentage of those who have the hearing lost first is on the increase.

Menieres can be very debilitating to some patients, while others only experience mild symptoms. Vertigo is the most prominent symptom of mm and this symptom usually brings more patients to the ER than any of the other symptoms of mm. Most patients describe an attack as a sudden spinning or swirling sensation where nausea and/or vomiting usually accompany the symptoms. In some cases the violent vertigo is experienced, while other patients feel more off balance than dizzy. These attacks vary in time, some may be a few minutes, a few hours or even some cases may last for a few days.

There is no known cause of menieres but some experts speculate that the herpes virus is somehow involved or the immunologic function of the endolymphatic sac----immune disease. For the most part the underlying cause of mm is unknown but is most often attributed to viral infections of the inner ear, head injury, a hereditary disposition or food allergy.

It is difficult for doctors to diagnose mm as there are other diseases that can mimic mm. A number of these diseases are of the peripheral and central nervous systems. A misdiagnosis can seriously compromise treatment protocols and the patient's health.

Vertigo is caused by excessive fluid in the inner ear. This fluid stretches the membranes which then decreases the hearing and can also cause the tinnitus. If these membranes are stretched too much, rupturing of the membranes occurs and causes vertigo.

Diagnosis is made based on a combination of the right set of symptoms (usually dizziness and hearing disturbance), hearing tests which document that hearing is reduced after an attack, and then gets better, and the exclusion of alternative causes. The process of diagnosis usually includes a hearing test, a ENG and several other tests along with CT scans and MRI scans.

In the inner ear, symptoms are thought to be caused by endolymphatic hydrops, excessive accumulation of fluid in one of the very delicate membranes - lined chambers of the labrynth. Symptoms may be worsened by stressful situations, execessive alcohol, dietary, sodium, caffeine, smoking and possibly food sensitivities.

In most cases mm is intermittently bothersome, there are periods of increased symptoms which may occur without warning, followed by periods of what some would call remission. However, this is not always the case and at times takes a much more serious course in some patients with frequent disabling attacks of vertigo, hearing loss, constant roaring (tinnitus). It is not possible to predict what will happen with a patient as everyone is different and also responds differently to treatments.

 

 

Links to other Meniere's Information Pages

 

Meniere's Disease - You are not alone (Menieres.org site)

  Dr. Timothy Hain's Site

The ENT Clinic Q&A

VEDA - Vestibular Disorders Association

Michigan Ear Institute

Meniere's Disease and Allergy Links

Dr. Allan Salt's Menieres Page

Doctor's Guide and other medical conditions

Diagnosis and Treatment

Menieres Symptom Tracker

Endolymphatic Hydrops

New Test for Atypical Dizziness

Meniere's Disease Information Centre

Symptoms and Incidence of Menieres Disease

Meniere's Society

Sharon's Chateau

Columbia University

eSSORTMENT - Info and Advice

Peripheral Vestibular Disorders

Etiology of Menieres Syndrome