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Different kind of Menieres attack

Posted , 5 users are following.

nancy60118
nancy60118

I've lived with Menieres for 20 years with attacks about weekly that lasted several hours.  Then I had 3 years with no attacks.  Now I'm having sudden "bursts" of vertigo that last only a couple minutes.  These have been very frequent, like 5 times a week, but very short in duration.  They seem to start with a jolt.  Anyway, my question is, has anyone had this kind of experience?  I'm wondering if this could have some other cause, rather than Menieres.  It just doesn't seem like the long lasting vertigo that I ascribe to Menieres.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • peter16657
    peter16657 nancy60118

    Posted

     Hi Nancy, similar to you, Im a long term Menieres sufferer with a couple of years free, then recently I started having these mini attacks, but very violent with no warning, like you say a jolt like a electric shock followed by a drop attack with eyes darting and the world gone upside down,like a a Menieres in full on mode, but total time incapacitated maybe 2 minutes then I can resume whatever I was doing, unlike the several hours we need to recover from a Menieres attack, and mine are about 2 weeks apart, its like somethings got stuck in your head and then breaks through. Ive seen my ENT specialist who I'm sure doesn't get it, hes referred me to the "dizzy clinic" as hes says it BVPV or something like that, but I researched that, and he doesn't understand that I'm not getting a bit woozy im falling over if I'm not by anything to grab  onto, you are the first person to report this change so lets hope a few others can throw some light onto this new development

     

    • nancy60118
      nancy60118 peter16657

      Posted

      Thank you, Peter.  I'm so glad to hear that someone else has experienced this...well, never glad that anyone has Menieres smile but you understand.  We are in the process of moving, so possibly some of this is stress related.  I'm hopeful that this phase, too, will pass and although these seem dangerous (possibly a fall) the good news is they don't require hours laying flat in bed.  Thanks for your response.  It is comforting to know I'm not alone.

  • barbara85318
    barbara85318 nancy60118

    Posted

    Hi this has recently happened to me I have had a period of time without any vertigo attacks and suddenly started again. They started in short bursts then I had a drop attack while I was in the street. I think it was a warning before I had a full blown vertigo attack with sickness sweating etc lasting five hours. Menieres is so unpredictable, I now keep having groups of vertigo attacks hopefully it will settle again. Went to the dentist yesterday and had a vertigo attack in the chair ...luckily took buccastem straight away and after half hour decreased so I could get home. This was what I would call just a short attack not the full blown in bed unable to move.
    • nancy60118
      nancy60118 barbara85318

      Posted

      Thank you Barbara for your response.  It is comforting to know I'm not alone and that this is just another phase of the Menieres nightmare.

  • NeddyO
    NeddyO nancy60118

    Posted

    I had one isolated episode whilst walking across a car park and was fortunate to grab a tree otherwise I could well have 'dropped'. It lasted 2-3 minutes and left me feeling woozy so I found somewhere to sit quietly and took a buccastem tablet. My consultant thought it was a Meniere's episode and increased my betahistine dosage. I have had no further trouble like that but have now also got mild BPPV.

    What you describe might be BPPV - up to 30% of Meniere's sufferers get it. The 2 conditions are not related, it is just the vagaries of ageing.

    There is good stuff on the internet about the Epley manouevre which is an exercise to manage BPPV and if you have help at home you could try it - if symptoms subside straight away you virtually have a diagnosis.

    However you should get a review with your consultant pronto to exclude other possibilities.

  • mistibluey
    mistibluey nancy60118

    Posted

    Hi Nancy

    A friend who has MD seemed to have similar experiences to you. Her MD had been very quiet for months but came back just before moving house. After the move she had a week of mild attacks with an off balance feeling that did not require retreat to her bed for about a week.

    There has now been nothing for about  5 weeks (touch wood please).

    Everyone says moving is a stressful experience but I think it's far more exhausting and unsettling that most of us realise. Hopefully you will settle down again soon. Be kind to yourself and try to rest as much as the demands of the move allow.

    All best wishes to you

    Misti

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