Meniere's Disease Support Group

Meniere's disease is a balance disorder of the inner ear. The symptoms of Meniere's are variable; not all sufferers experience the same symptoms. However, "classic Meniere's" is considered to comprise the following four symptoms: Periodic episodes of rotary vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears.

536 Members
2,120 Posts
0 Online
Brain & Nervous System
/ Meniere's Disease Support Group

MISdiagnosis

arcorman
arcorman
I was wondering, if anyone has been misdiagnosed? whether it be an initial disease that was diagnosed as Meniere's, or diagnosed with Meniere's and found out it was something else? I've experienced a lot of health issues since this all started back in Sept. 2013 and I've been to two different neurologists who gave two different opinions: the first one thought I had vestibular migraine and wanted to put me on pills, the second one (more recent one) really doesn't know what I have, but he ruled out anything like MS or ALS and said I don't have any neurological concerns. My primary care doctor is as frustrated as I am and the only official diagnosis I have thus far is from my ENT who 'thinks' I have Meniere's, and it's based on a ENG test from last summer. I had the dexemethazone injection and I can't say it worked for me. The most measureable relief I've had in the past 16 months is when I was on prednisone for an unrelated chest infection. So with a brain MRI, neck MRI, chest X-ray, several blood tests for Lyme disease all ruled out, I'm still feeling lightheaded and floaty everyday will slight headaches sometimes.....so before I go on a brain fog-induced ramble, has anyone found out their disease was NOT Meniere's and/or has anyone else been diagnosed with something else first and then diagnosed as Meniere's? I know some diseases can mimic others so that's why I'm asking.
dizzy96
dizzy96
Meniere's is over diagnosed. If your ENT does not do a hearing test seek a different ENT. Hearing loss is one of the symptoms that separates Meniere's from other illnesses that cause vertigo. Also Vertigo caused by Meniere's (at least in my experience) is different then feeling light headed of dizzy. Meniere's causes the world to spin around you while you are aware that you are not moving. My right ear is affected and I always spin to the left. While other forms of dizziness feels like your body is spinning. Even though my ENT did diagnose me with Meniere's and started treatment right away. She still did other test to rule out anything else. Such as a tumor on the nerve leading to the ear, or diabetic neuropathy.
racey06
racey06
I have had meniere's symptoms for 20 years, episodic. it would bother me occasionally and i would go on with my life. Two years ago I started having frequent violent attacks and I was treated like it was the meniere's getting worse and my first ENT wanted to do surgery or gent injections event though nothing else he was doing was helping.

When I went for a second opinion to better doctor at a better facility and described my vertigo he pegged me as having Migraine Associated Vertigo, even though I rarely have a headache anymore.They morphed into something different. I do have meniere's (stage 3) but its episodic, it shouldn't bother you ALL the time. My hearing loss, tinnitus and fullness are permanent. but he said all my vertigo, constant unbalancess, and sick feeling were migraines and he referred me to a neurologist.

Once we started treating the migraine things started improving a great deal. It isn't uncommon, to have both Meniere's and MAV, they act real similar. I do think before anyone has anything destructive done, MAV needs to be investigated. If I had not of gone fora second opinion there is no telling what kind of shape I would be in now.