I wrote this back in April, 2009 and posted it on my Facebook page so my friends could learn about it. Now I've realized I haven't really explained it anywhere on this blog and thought I should.
Some of you know I have this...others have no idea what I'm talking about. I decided for many reasons to gather some information so maybe I can call some attention to this crappy disorder. It's very rare, less than 1% of the population and it is so misunderstood. It's not just dizziness! It's much much worse than that. True vertigo is something you can't really understand unless you've had it. Imagine spinning round and round in an office chair for 30 seconds or so and then try to get up. Then multiply that feeling by at least 1000. It can last for hours and you can't make it stop and you can't get up from wherever you are, so you usually throw up all over yourself. And for many of us, we're always a little dizzy. Dizzy is my normal state. Sounds fun, right? The only good thing about it is that it's not terminal and I am so grateful that this is the battle I have to fight as it could be much worse.
from Wikipedia...
The symptoms of Ménière's are variable; not all sufferers experience the same symptoms. However, so-called "classic Ménière's" is considered to comprise the following four symptoms:[3]
* Periodic episodes of rotary vertigo or dizziness.
* Fluctuating, progressive, unilateral (in one ear) or bilateral (in both ears) hearing loss.
* Unilateral or bilateral tinnitus.
* A sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears.
Attacks of vertigo can be severe, incapacitating, and unpredictable (http://calear.com/ear-diso
Some sufferers experience what are informally known as "drop attacks" — a sudden, severe attack of dizziness or vertigo that causes the sufferer, if not seated, to fall. Patients may also experience the feeling of being pushed or pulled (Pulsion). Some patients may find it impossible to get up for some time, until the attack passes or medication takes effect.
In addition to hearing loss, sounds can seem tinny or distorted, and patients can experience unusual sensitivity to noises (hyperacusis). Some sufferers also experience nystagmus, or uncontrollable rhythmical and jerky eye movements, usually in the horizontal plane, reflecting the essential role of non-visual balance in coordinating eye movements.
Attacks often come in series of a few minutes to a few hours.
Progression
Progression of Ménière's is unpredictable: symptoms may worsen, disappear altogether, or remain the same.[citation needed]
Sufferers whose Ménière's began with one or two of the classic symptoms may develop others with time. Attacks of vertigo can become worse and more frequent over time, resulting in loss of employment, loss of the ability to drive, and inability to travel.[citation needed] Some patients become largely housebound. Hearing loss can become more profound and may become permanent. Some patients become deaf in the affected ear. Tinnitus can also worsen over time. Some patients with unilateral symptoms, as many as fifty percent by some estimates, will develop symptoms in both ears.[citation needed] Some of these will become totally deaf.
Interesting side note: Some famous sufferers include...
Alan Shephard (This is why he was scrubbed from the Apollo 13 mission. However, he returned to space later in his life-a true bada$$), Vincent van Gogh (may be why he cut off his ear), Charles Darwin, Steve Francis (NBA player), Ryan Adams, Kristin Chenoweth, Les Paul, Emily Dickinson, Martin Luther
This is not meant to be a downer. Compared to many people, I do very well with this disease. Some sufferers are often accused of faking this illness, or accused of being rude, or accused of being an alcoholic or drug abuser (because we stumble and fall a lot!). In a lot of ways, that's the worst part about this whole thing. Anyway, hopefully with research, a cure will eventually be found!
from Wikipedia...
The symptoms of Ménière's are variable; not all sufferers experience the same symptoms. However, so-called "classic Ménière's" is considered to comprise the following four symptoms:[3]
* Periodic episodes of rotary vertigo or dizziness.
* Fluctuating, progressive, unilateral (in one ear) or bilateral (in both ears) hearing loss.
* Unilateral or bilateral tinnitus.
* A sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears.
Attacks of vertigo can be severe, incapacitating, and unpredictable (http://calear.com/ear-diso
Some sufferers experience what are informally known as "drop attacks" — a sudden, severe attack of dizziness or vertigo that causes the sufferer, if not seated, to fall. Patients may also experience the feeling of being pushed or pulled (Pulsion). Some patients may find it impossible to get up for some time, until the attack passes or medication takes effect.
In addition to hearing loss, sounds can seem tinny or distorted, and patients can experience unusual sensitivity to noises (hyperacusis). Some sufferers also experience nystagmus, or uncontrollable rhythmical and jerky eye movements, usually in the horizontal plane, reflecting the essential role of non-visual balance in coordinating eye movements.
Attacks often come in series of a few minutes to a few hours.
Progression
Progression of Ménière's is unpredictable: symptoms may worsen, disappear altogether, or remain the same.[citation needed]
Sufferers whose Ménière's began with one or two of the classic symptoms may develop others with time. Attacks of vertigo can become worse and more frequent over time, resulting in loss of employment, loss of the ability to drive, and inability to travel.[citation needed] Some patients become largely housebound. Hearing loss can become more profound and may become permanent. Some patients become deaf in the affected ear. Tinnitus can also worsen over time. Some patients with unilateral symptoms, as many as fifty percent by some estimates, will develop symptoms in both ears.[citation needed] Some of these will become totally deaf.
Interesting side note: Some famous sufferers include...
Alan Shephard (This is why he was scrubbed from the Apollo 13 mission. However, he returned to space later in his life-a true bada$$), Vincent van Gogh (may be why he cut off his ear), Charles Darwin, Steve Francis (NBA player), Ryan Adams, Kristin Chenoweth, Les Paul, Emily Dickinson, Martin Luther
This is not meant to be a downer. Compared to many people, I do very well with this disease. Some sufferers are often accused of faking this illness, or accused of being rude, or accused of being an alcoholic or drug abuser (because we stumble and fall a lot!). In a lot of ways, that's the worst part about this whole thing. Anyway, hopefully with research, a cure will eventually be found!
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