Meniere's Disease?

[Bambi1979]

Hi! I am a 28 yr old female and have been having problems since I was 21.  I have a lot of different symptoms.  I am dizzy, lightheaded, prolbems with anxiety, I feel weird and really dizzy going into stores or public, I feel like when I'm walking, the floor is coming out from underneath me.  I have fallen, I am off balance, when I drive- I get confused, I get shaky, when I look at common things, like things I have seen for years, they look foreign, my eyes are a big problem.  It feels like my head is in a constant state of panic.  My eyes feel wobbly.  I can't look around, up or down, or at moving objects.  I have trouble with memory and concentration.  Heat makes me feel like I'm going to pass out.  Even in the shower, blow drying my hair, or even the heat in a car if it blows in my face.  I don't get episodes though.  I can feel these symptoms from the time that I wake up, until the time that I lay down.  Even laying down, I can still feel it.  My ears will feel full, and I have ringing in them.  The ringing gets so bad sometimes at night that I can't even sleep.  I haven't worked in over a yr and I don't drive anymore.  I just feel like I'm looking at the world thru someones elses eyes.  When I go out in public places, I feel like I will pass out.  I feel dizzy from the inside.  I take 2 Xanax a day for the anxiety.  That does help somewhat, but I can still ALWAYS feel the symptoms 24/7.  I am sensitive to light and loud noises.  I have gone to SO MANY different drs. and have had several MRI's done.  Is there something that they are missing or is there any suggestions that you have that I can discuss with my ENT.  I go back Wednesday for an ENG.  

[Eric P Wilkinson, MD]

Bambi, one disorder you may want to ask your ENT about is microvascular compression syndrome.  This occurs when a small artery puts pressure on the balance nerve near its entry to the inner ear.  These arteries in themselves are normal, but when they put undue pressure on the nerve they can cause similar symptoms where you have dizziness "all the time."  That sort of dizziness is usually NOT hydrops/Meniere's.

The test to evaluate for microvascular compression is an MRI with CISS sequence to look at the small arteries.  

You may want to consider referral to a dedicated ear specialist.  If you tell me your general vicinity, I can recommend someone.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical
advice - the information presented is for patients education only.
Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your
individual case.

[jijotomy]

Hey Bambi,

I wrote a big message for you spending a lot of time. When I tried to post it, I found I wasn't registered and I lost all the text.

Here is a website for you: www.dizziness-and-balance.com. I suggest you contact Dr. Timothy C Hain for whatever it is worth. Here is a video from the site which may be what you are feeling like: http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bilat/movies/bilosslabfunc.avi

Even i have vertigo, tinnitus and fullness in ear (these terms look so fancy and naive when I type it, but God knows they have made my life miserable for last 1 and a half years). I'm not yet diagonized with any thing but i have all the reason to believe I have Meniere's. MRI was done last week but i do not know what my Doctor makes out of it yet. I'll know on Tuesday.

My advice: Never give up. You are not alone. (Useless but that's all I can say)

Wish you get back your life... and me, mine.

[lp2u229]

Hi Hon......I feel SO bad for you ;-(  I really think you have Meniere's Disease. I have it and have some of what you describe going on, but not as severe. In my opinion, you need to find A-nother ENT specialist, as in: another opinion, and then go from there. Have you had a brain scan (MRI)??? When I had mine recently they injected a dye solution at the very end. It was NO big deal and I was all freaked out.....silly me!! You know, 8 years is a lot of time out of your very young life. I go on line and research my brains out on EVERYTHING and I've learned so much........BUT my memory is going so I don't retain the info as well as I used to. Don't give up hope my dear, for you just haven't found the right doctor, so keep looking.
Keep us posted and I truly wish you tons of luck in finding that ONE doctor who can diagnose and treat you.
Take care~L.P.

[Bambi1979]

Hi!! I went to the ENT for my ENG test and my test results came back normal.  I don't know what step to take next because I have seen just about every dr I can think of.  I have seen several ENT's, several neurologists, family drs, internal medicine drs, ER drs, a team of drs. at Duke, and still haven't come any closer.  The ENT no longer thinks its Menieres.  He said it may be central vertigo, which he says has something to do with your brain or brainstem.  I don't know.  I have seen all of these drs. over a period of 9 yrs and you would think somebody could come up with something!  

[Sharon991]

You may have more than one thing going on, which is common.  
And I do know your frustration in finding out what is wrong.  Meniere's is difficult to diagnosis unless you go to the right type of doctor:  an neuro-otologist or an ENT who specializes in dizziness and balance.

I would recommend your getting the book, Meniere's Disease - What you need to know, by Haybach.

The ENG test should give the doctor good information.

You will find helpful information here:
www.vestibular.org

Let me know how your ENG test comes out.

[Bambi1979]

Hi.  Thank you for responding.  The ENT that I went to 2 wks ago said Meneires and put me on a low sodium diet.  He said 2000 mg a day.  That is really hard to do.  But I don't really have attacks or episodes.  It is more of an all day long vertigo spell.  This is from the time that I get up to the time that I lay down.  I can still feel is when I lay down with my eyes closed.  Does the heat affect you. I take 2 Xanax a day for panic attacks.  The Xanax does help some with my symptoms, but as soon as it wears off, I can feel the symptoms coming back on.  They never completely go away.  Does your eyes bother you with your?  It's like my eyes make me sick.  Any movement period makes me dizzy.  How have you gotten relief from yours.  I go Wed. for and ENG.  It feels like when I move my head, everything moves with it.  Almost like there's something wrong with the nerves behind my eyes.  It has been 8 yrs. and I am just so frustrated at this point because I am so young and have wasted this much of my life with being sick.  I am frustrated with drs. because I have been to see so many and many different types.  When you started to cut back on your sodium, how long did it take for you to feel a difference?  Are you able to continue with your normal life now?  I haven't been able to work in over a yr. and I don't drive because of the dizziness.  Because, like I said, it's not episodes, it's an all day long feeling.  Have you heard of this before?  ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.

[Sharon991]

Bambi, I have Meniere's disease and am on a group on the internet for people with Meniere's.
You symptoms sound so common to most of us, although people do have different symptoms with it.
But you have the major for classic Meniere's, except you do not mention any vertigo attacks.  So many of your other symptoms point to Meniere's or, if not that, panic attacks.
8 years is a long time to go untreated.
Try cutting your sodium intake way down (about 1,000 mg a day), caffeine, sugar.  Low sodium diet is important if it is Meniere's.  Also, you might look up BPPV, beneign pyroximal positional vertigo.  
Good luck,
Sharon

[Bambi1979]

Can this inner ear virus last for 8 yrs though?  I will look that up.  I went to an ENT 2 wks ago and he seems to think that it is Menieres Disease?  I dunno.  I am just ready after 8 yrs to get back to a normal life.

[zealander]

i am sure you dont have menieres disease you have had an inner ear virus. it will get better but only you can make it happen by pushing your other balance organs to compensate look up VRT on the web jh

[zealander]

i am sure you dont have menieres disease you have had an inner ear virus. it will get better but only you can make it happen by pushing your other balance organs to compensate look up VRT on the web jh

[Eric P Wilkinson, MD]

Bambi,

Your symptoms don't sound like Meniere's disease, but certainly could be partially inner ear in origin. You should see an otologist for a full diagnostic evaluation including audiometry and balance testing.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck!