could this be Menieres?
Posted , 6 users are following.
Problems started last Oct with a feeling of imbalance that came on fairly suddenly. I rang the go and was told probable labyrinthitis. Over a few days it got worse and I had a bad few days. It slowly improved over a couple of weeks. No ear symptoms during this time. I was then fine for around 4 weeks before the imbalance creeped in again and after about a week worsened and I was off work for 2 wks. It slowly improved over a few wks and I managed part time back at work. Seen a specialist during second episode who thought probable labyrinthitis with second episode a decompensstion. Had an mri done which was apparently normal. Hearing test showed bilateral mid frequency loss (cookie bite) but specialist felt this was probably congenital and unconnected. Fast forward about 6 wks after feeling well the dizziness creeped back in and I experienced a drop in hearing in my left ear with a full feeling lasting around 48 hrs before subsiding and leaving me with a low rumbling tinnitus (like a car engine in the distance). I seen gp during the hearing loss and he couldnt see anytging my ear. He used a tuning fork and I could hear it better at the front than back of ear. Ive woke today ( 1 week after first hearing loss) and my hearing has reduced in my left ear again and sound seems to be reverberating in it. Any ideas? I don't seem to have the well defined vertigo episodes that Menieres sufferers seem to get. I've arranged to see my specialist again.thanks.
0 likes, 17 replies
donna16710 lyn81204
Posted
I have not generally had those attacks either. In 1990 I was in an MVA which left me with benign positional vertigo that gradually improved over the years. Three years ago I had an almost complete loss of hearing in my left ear. The loss was nerve conduction loss which happens when the excess fluid in the cochlea starts inhibiting nerve conduction. Episodes of vertigo were and continue to be rare and shrt lived. What I did have were sudden "drop attacks" which are kind of like your vestibular nerve "stutters" and you lose any sense of upright and down you go. There was nothing I could do to stop the fall. Your body looses the ability to control the amount of fluid pressure in the cochlea. Many years ago this was called hydrops. I am on diuretics which help keep things under control. This is why low sodium diets and restrictions in caffiene and alcohol are also recommended. It sounds like this is what is happening to you. Everyone experiences this differently. It looks like things have been done to rule out other causes. You need to be seeing someone who knows menieres for a second opinion and get some definitive treatment started. The hearing loss can become permanent if left untreated. Look up idiopathic hydrops or just hydrops for a better explanation.
lyn81204 donna16710
Posted
Thank you Donna. I will have a look at those terms. I'm booked to see my specialist next week again too.
NeddyO lyn81204
Posted
Ear fullness, Tinnitus and loss of hearing are all features of Meniere's. Acute vertigo attacks lasting less than 24 hours are also needed to confirm diagnosis. BPPV can also be associated with Meniere's - nearly 3 years after my diagnosis I now also have a touch of it. The symptoms you describe are certainly pointing towards Meniere's but you need confirmation from your Consultant.
Good luck.
lyn81204 NeddyO
Posted
Thank you Neddy. Yes it seems to be the vertigo attacks lasting up to 24 hrs that I don't fit in with. I just get more prolonged periods of imbalance.
Brookiana lyn81204
Posted
Hi there,
I also have cookie bite hearing loss and all the symptoms you describe. My ENT consultant said I had probable Ménière's . I've had a few vertigo episodes but only lasting a few minutes and only about three in the last few years.
My main problem is the imbalance and brain fog you describe and I can be off work for weeks at a time. I also have an ear that suddenly screams and then it goes blocked for a few seconds with very high pitched tinnitus . It then goes back to normal after a while and the hearing returns.
After a year of seeing ENT, audiology and the go, I am finally getting an MRI in a couple of weeks as I've begged them to investigate further. The ENat consul still reckons it is Ménière's though but we will see. Good luck and please insist on bring investigated and all options ruled out, don't give up like I did. I've wasted a year because they said it was probably just the cookie bite giving me MD like symptoms.
All the best!
lyn81204 Brookiana
Posted
Hi Brookiana. That's really interesting that you have similar symptoms and cookie bite loss. Yes 'brain fog' is a good way of describing it. I have never had any spinning vertigo. Everything I read seems to indicate you have to have these spinning vertigo episodes to be diagnosed. Will see what my consultant thinks next week I guess.
lyn81204
Posted
Brookiana lyn81204
Posted
They said I probably had it from birth. It's something you only discover when you're 30 to 40 apparently but a lot of things that have happened to me in the past seem to indicate I've had hearing loss for a long time. It's only become really problematic in the last few years, along with the Ménière's symptoms which I've had for about 10 years...
lyn81204 Brookiana
Posted
Yes my consultant felt it was probably present from birth too. At the time it was picked up I didn't have any noticeable problems with my hearing. I'm 35. Do you know why it becomes more apparent between 30 and 40?
Brookiana lyn81204
Posted
It's an excellent question! I have no idea. I'm 38 and I'd say it has got more noticeable and annoying in the last 5 years. I've got hearing aids now and didn't realise how much I was missing!!
lyn81204 Brookiana
Posted
Tried to do a bit of research and apparently it may be our brains are less able to compensate as we get older. Did you have hearing problems from the start of your symptoms? Mine was just dizziness/imbalance to start with. Apart from these intermittent drops in my hearing I still think my hearing is ok but I guess I don't know what I'm missing.
lyn81204
Posted
lyn81204
Posted
I seen the specialist today and she's a bit baffled by my lack of spinning. She rechecked my hearing and it was the same as last time with my cookie bite loss. She thinks some of my symptoms sound like possible menieres. She thought another possibility might be migraine but it's really just a matter of waiting and seeing how things progress. She went through the general menieres advice with me like avoiding stress, tiredness, salt etc. X
lyn81204 Brookiana
Posted
I seen the specialist today and she's a bit baffled by my lack of spinning. She rechecked my hearing and it was the same as last time with my cookie bite loss. She thinks some of my symptoms sound like possible menieres. She thought another possibility might be migraine but it's really just a matter of waiting and seeing how things progress. She went through the general menieres advice with me like avoiding stress, tiredness, salt etc. X
Brookiana lyn81204
Posted
It's weird, isn't it? Could they conduct more tests to investigate further? Or is that it? I was discharged 6 months ago because the particular consultant I saw couldn't think of anything else to say. I baffle them too. They just said "probable Ménière's" as they're not sure. As i had another episode and was off for a month, my gp referred me back (after I insisted). Now awaiting the MRI but I sense that, like you, I'm just going to be a mystery.
Are you wearing hearing aaids for your loss? I'm asking because mine seem to ground me more, mask tinnitus and make me feel generally more aware of my surroundings.
Good luck.
lyn81204 Brookiana
Posted
No she didn't suggest any further tests. Think she reckons it's more a time will tell if symptoms continue etc. Has anyone mentioned vestibular migraines to you? There seems to be a lot of overlap in symptoms between the two. No I don't wear hearing aids. Generally I think my hearing is ok (obviously it isn't!) And I don't have any problems day to day just when I get these periodic drops in my hearing. You got a date for your MRI yet?