by Kellea Croft

Created on: June 07, 2008   Last Updated: June 09, 2008

Meniere's Disease is a subject dear to my heart, as my father was diagnosed with it four years ago. He has suffered with it for years and was told it was mainly due to his Army service with cannons and guns that was causing the issues. Although this may have started the problem, when his vertigo issues became more severe a civilian doctor discovered the true reason and he is working through better treatments.

Meniere's disease is an incurable, but manageable, condition where excess fluid builds in the inner ear and upsets the balance and hearing mechanisms. It produces symptoms of vertigo (dizziness), tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing fluctuations. Some secondary effects are blurry vision, poor coordination, tiredness and communication difficulties.

People with the disease find that it creates problems for them in their work, family and social lives resulting in loss of confidence and independence. Some feel anger, frustration, depression and isolation.

Attacks of vertigo vary in degrees and may go into periods of remission for days or years between attacks. The attacks occur without warning and you cannot predict how severe they will become. My father's attacks have left him disoriented and vomiting. He got lost driving in an area he had run since childhood and calling for help in tears because he didn't know where he was. When we got there he couldn't walk, barely knew who he was and was very ill.

There are stages of the disease, but they cannot be predicted with the timing or severity of symptoms. Stage one the vertigo is the main symptom and may be accompanied by vomiting. The attacks come and go, so most people just mark it up as being ill for a bit. Stage two the attacks continue, tinnitus increases and can become continuous and hearing fluctuates. You still have remission periods and only 50% go to the next stage. Stage three the hearing loss may be severe, but rare to become totally deaf, tinnitus remains but may see less of a problem as you are getting use to it and attacks of vertigo occur much less frequent. But when the ear has lost 50% of its balancing function there is a persistent unsteadiness and can sometimes have sudden falls to the ground from the loss of it.

To find a doctor may prove difficult. You need to find one that can diagnose and treat the disease. Make sure that they are experienced in dealing with the issues, listens to you, explains options and conditions well and you trust. An Ear, Nose and Throat doctor specializes in those

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