Monday, June 20, 2016

Meniere's Disease - Have you heard of it?

When I was first diagnosed with Meniere's Disease back in 2003, there was so little information available. It took several years to get the diagnosis because doctors had never heard of it. It wasn't until I went to an ENT for tinnitus (ear noise) that I finally got a battery of tests to rule out other causes like MS and brain tumors. Yeah, that was fun. Fast forward to 2016 - I'm thrilled to see various websites and Facebook pages that are trying to bring more awareness of this awful and debilitating disease to the public eye. It's not a disease that kills, but there were times that I just wanted to die while having an attack.

Suicide rates are very high for Meniere's sufferers, so having support can make all the difference. Thankfully, I have a loving and supportive husband who helped get me through those dark early days. After all these years dealing with it, I know that each vertigo attack will eventually pass and I have learned to ride them out. I don't always ride quietly but I realize now that there is nothing I can do to stop them.

If you've never heard of Meniere's, please educate yourself. You never know when a friend or family member might develop it. Here's a brief explanation by the Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menieres-disease/basics/definition/con-20028251

No comments:

Search This Blog

Blog Archive

Powered By Blogger

Beyond the Gate

Beyond the Gate
sci-fi adventure

Lost Moon

Lost Moon
Award-winning fantasy novel

Quest for Freedom

Quest for Freedom
teen sci-fi

Blogger followers

The Silly Club

The Silly Club
I'm a member in good standing.