I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease 26 years ago. It can't be cured and doctors struggle with what causes it and with solutions to prevent it and even remedy it's severity. Meniere's disease affects the inner ear. Symptoms vary with individuals but most have a fullness feeling in the ear, tinnitus (constant ringing), clicking, dizziness, hearing loss, and drop attacks. I have gone through periods of each symptom. The worst has been the drop attacks. A drop attack is when the world turns upside down very fast. The sensation is one of falling quickly to the ground and that is exactly where you find yourself. Because these attacks happen so swiftly, it is often difficult for people with Meniere's to work in jobs where they are on ladders or high places with the chance of falling. If the attacks come regularly, it would be difficult and scary to drive a car. Luckily for most sufferers, the drop attacks are infrequent. I've had about six such attacks in the last 26 years, two while driving a car. Both times I have had my wife take the steering wheel from the passengers side until the major portion of the attack is gone. This usually only lasts several seconds, but the spinning sensation can last for hours and sometimes days.
My early struggles with this disease were difficult. It is a hard disease to diagnose and all other possible problems need to be ruled out. I had to go to specialists and had to rule out damage to the ear drum and a tumor. Once I was cleared of those two things, I spent years trying to maintain my hearing and remedy the fullness and dizziness. As is common with most sufferers, nothing has worked. I have had to learn to just live with it. I have had good years and bad years. Sometimes the symptoms will last for weeks and sometimes just a few days. I have been trying to understand what might trigger the episodes and attacks. Most of my struggles come with changes in barometric pressure from storms, stress, allergies, too much salt, and not enough rest.
The worst part for me has been the dizziness. I've been able live with the hearing loss, the feeling of fullness, and constant ringing. I'm not sure those who try to talk to me or whisper in my left ear appreciate having to repeat things, but I'm able to live with that part. The doctors tell me that with each attack, I will lose more hearing. Hearing test indicate that I have already lost my ability to hear certain higher tones. When I'm suffering an attack it is estimated that about 80 percent of my hearing in the left ear is gone. When not suffering the estimate is around 40 to 60 percent loss.
Why am I telling you all of this? The last few years I have been trying to stay in better shape. I have been running, riding a bike, hiking, and walking a lot more. Last year I felt really good. My theory is this: as we age and get sedentary, it can affect our bodies in adverse ways. I think the exercise has flushed my body of salt retention, provided better blood circulation, increased metabolism, and helped with oxygen and lung capacity. Last year as I pushed myself, I did not have Meniere's attacks or severe symptoms as bad as years past.
This past winter I didn't stay on my schedule like I wanted. I enjoyed the holidays and told myself that I could get with it when spring arrived. Well, spring has been taking its sweet time getting here and I find myself suffering from an episode of Meniere's. It will be interesting to see how it responds to the physical activity. Can I run it out of my system? Did the physical activity of the last two years really help with the symptoms? I'll be finding out.
