I have had Meniere’s disease for about 8 years and there are still so much about it that I don’t understand. But then again, meniere’s is a disorder that doesn’t have a cure and there isn’t a clear cut reason why it comes about, so I’m not the only person who has a hard time with it. The thing that amazes me is all the different things that can set off an attack. Too much salt in the system is one of the biggest reasons, at least for some folks but for other it could their eyes playing tricks on them that trigger an attack. For me it seems that my attacks can come from anywhere but could they come from something that I smell.
I know that it seems like a stretch to think that a smell can give you an attack of meniere’s with full blown vertigo to boot, but it is something to consider. If you look at each of your senses such as hearing, seeing, tasting and feeling there are things there that can be connected to meniere’s. Seeing and hearing can certainly set off an attack and if feeling has to do with balance it may cause problems.
What made me thing about this was the other day I was cooking and I combined quite a spices together to cook a roast. While I was putting the spices together the strong smell of the spices was powerful and I got a good whiff of them. It probably wasn’t more than 10 minutes before I had to sit down, then lay down because the room was spinning.
I can’t say for sure whether a smell can cause you to start spinning but it certainly seemed to in my case.
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11 comments:
Yes, one of my worst attacks was triggered when my husband used a heavy concentration of pine cleaner to clean the bathroom. The smell triggered an instant attack. I am as or perhaps more sensitive to smells than to other triggers, other than barometric pressure changes. My Meniere's is a fairly reliable weather predictor.
Certain smells set me off, but barometric pressure sends me reeling, literally.
In my case, the smells have to do with things I am sensitive to, such as certain soaps or perfumes, or household cleansers. Allergies seem to trigger Meniere's attacks, so why not some smells? The nose and throat are closely connected to the ears, so any response that causes inflammation anywhere in that system could be problematic for a Meniere's sufferer.
When my symptoms started two years ago I could not stand to use perfume or be around strong smells. I seem to have my vertigo attacks under control now and can tolerate perfume again. I still have the tinnitus and the fullness in my ear still, my eyes and head feel normal again. I pray in 2012 the doctors will find the answers to Meniere's, and help all of us that have had go give up so much of our lives to this terrible disease.
I haven't had the sense of smell trigger anything -- yet -- but I do know that brisk walking for exercise triggers a terrible humming in head, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other. And if I've already got that humming going, the exercise will increase its intensity.
Does anybody else suffer from this phenomenon of a humming sound in the head? It can be accompanied by that fullness in an ear that people report, but not always. I'd really like to know if others have this symptom.
I've experienced this as well. not to a full blown attack exactly, but with a sort of lightheaded of sorts feeling. But i've always left and found fresher air and it subsides. I think it has somethign to do with sinus's and the reaction they have which are so closely connected to your ears. My biggest problem is definately pressure. Does anyone else have a "time of year" that their meniere's is worse? Mine seems to be aug-oct. this is the second year in a row i've had to go on disability from work at this time. I've been checked for allergies, all negative. However my sinuses did "blow up" this year, which i've never had sinus problems before. Of course, no way to confirm or deny that its the season, because nothing is a solid fact with this disease. guess we'll find out next year...
This isn't a comment about smell, just a note to say thank you for this blog. When I open my emails on Monday morning I smile when I get an email from this site. It reminds me that I am not on my own in this. I have only been diagnosed for 3 months, but it has had such an effect some times it feels like longer.
MissCheeva
Yes, Nikki, Aug-Oct is terrible for me! And my ENT says it's her busiest time of year. I have no idea why that would be, but I wonder if it's something to do with seasonal allergies. So weird.
Meniere's might not let us determine a lot of solid facts, but there's a lot of anecdotal evidence I find really interesting, such as the connection to barometric pressure and the seasonal fluctuations. It's frustrating not to have a cure or consistent treatments, but if we know certain things seem to affect a lot of people the same way, it might be possible to take steps to offset symptoms under those circumstances?
For example, it could be worth visiting an allergist and getting good treatments for the fall season if you know your Meniere's is going to act up. Or it might help to take medication if the weather forecast is "overcast with a touch of vertigo."
Just a thought... I might give it a try, though.
thanks Miss Cheeva I appreciate the kind words
David
hello
i am ocd i love cleanliness and nice smells, when my sinuses and menieres were really bad aftershaves would really do me in. but one thing for sure that effects me in refernece to smell/nose senses is radiators and there being no oxygen in a room, i have to have windows open and freshness at all times (even through winter) i am called mr freeze, but with menieres you just gotta know what you like and dont like.
regards
ali
Good Afternoon-
I have enjoyed reading about the many aspects of Meniere's you have written about. Thank you David for taking control of your own situation and sharing with us your ideas and thoughts.
I was told I have a Meniere's "like" set of symptoms, but in reality I beleive I have Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Do you or does anyone know how this is these two are different? Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.
I wish you all the best, improving health and a very Merry Christmas
Cartney
Hi Cartney,
I don't believe that I have heard about Eustachian Tube Dysfunction before, I will do alittle research on it.
thanks for commenting
David
Merry Xmas!
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