When you have MD you are always thinking that an attack is around the corner. And with good reason, it just might be. But is there something that brings it on. What triggers an attack of Meniere's Disease?
There are some people who believe that MD just happens out of the blue. It's due to the enlargement of endolymphatic sac (also called hydrops). When this happens the brain is receiving false information from the balance area of the ear. And according to most literature that endolymphatic sac is enlarged in part by the overuse of salt.
I have been told that visual stimuli and quick movements, especially turning your head, will not bring on attacks. I understand their reasoning but I'm not quite sure if I believe that. I know on numerous occasions I have turned my head quickly and had an attack. But I been told that folks with vertigo (BPPV) are the ones who have attack due to quick movements of the head and visual stimuli.
I've been tested for vertigo and I don't have it. So for now I can only assume that the attacks come out of the nowhere.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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6 comments:
Not necessarily a trigger here, but a little known suspected causes of Meneire's Disease is Hypothyroidism. Even a mild case of low thyroid, where your TSH is in the upper range (0.3-3.0)can cause a lot of problems in some people. This can often be easily dismissed as "in range" by any doctor, especially since most labs use the old value of (1-4.5 or 5). BTW, another suspected and better known cause is allergies... any kind.
I knew about the allergies but I don't think that I had heard about Hypothyroidism.
thanks for the info.
David
I have to say for me it is stress.
For me, it is also stress. My Meniere’s went away for 15 years. During that time, if my ear would ring or pop, it was my barometer to control my stress, eat healthier and exercise. I’d always get it back under control quickly. Then, last year, my son, my mother and my brother all came down with serious illnesses and my Meniere’s came back. After my mom and brother passed away (2 weeks apart), my Menieres was the worse I ever experienced, often 3 attacks a day. With the help of antidepressants, therapy, eating well and the typical Menieres treatment of water pills and valium, it is starting to let up a bit, but I think it will take some time. I find the most toxic stress to Menieres is anger, guilt, resentment, etc. – not just being sad. Also, I hold my stress in my shoulders, neck and face and have TMJ, so I also massage my neck and jaw often. Oh, and I also think allergies play a part.
I agree with everything Sue M. said. My Meniere's started when I was in a rather stressful job that was making me unhappy. The attacks came about once every six months.
But it kicked into high gear after I was laid off from a job that had been a nightmare. The stress of anxiety about money and my long-term job prospects was awful, and I started having several attacks a week, then daily attacks, then more than one attack per day.
I really think stress is the biggest trigger for Meniere's patients.
I agree that stress is a HUGE trigger.
With Menieres though, it's difficult not to have stress just from the symptoms alone!
I will say that pre-Menieres I considered myself to be a Type A personality..100 mile an hour multitasking lunatic, and I used to thrive on it.
I never had vertigo then.
I even had great blood pressure.(course I was much younger too)
But I also had down time from the stress when I chose.
Then I ended up in a situaton of stress that never let up. Extreme stress, and it went on for several years with no break.
Then the Menieres hit.
That might explain me, but what about the young people or the elderly who are not under extreme stress...and yet they also get it.
It's all just so weird. It's a bit of a nighmare wrapped in a mystery.
One I could do without, that's for sure!
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