What does it mean when the FDA Fast Tracks a drug? Fast track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The purpose is to get important new drugs to the patient earlier. Fast Track addresses a broad range […]

How many of us get the gratification of helping someone better treat an ailment we struggle with? For Ryan Mills, Au.D. of e3 Gordon Stowe Dayton, it’s almost an everyday occurrence. For the past three years, Ryan has lived with Meniere’s disease, an inner-ear disorder that causes pressure in the ear, severe dizziness and vertigo, […]

The topic of should I get a Medical ID Bracelet or not, always seems to come up in postings on Facebook. Personally I think they are an important part of having a medical condition. Those of us with vestibular disorders or other chronic illnesses are no different. Meniere’s Disease, with it’s vertigo, drop attacks, hearing […]

When most of us have a headache, it is likely that we are experiencing a tension-type headache—a dull, mild-to-moderate pain that wraps around the entire head as if being squeezed by a vice grip. In fact, tension headaches are the most common manifestation of head-related pain, so much so that it is often nicknamed ‘ordinary […]

If you notice screen movement on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can turn on Reduce Motion. Your device uses motion effects to create the perception of depth on your Home screen and within apps. If you have sensitivity to motion effects or screen movement on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can […]

As frustrating and painful as the acute migraine attack can be, the totality of other symptoms that occur before, after and between it often serves to add on to the tremendous burden faced by patients. Even when the worst of it has passed, people with migraine can experience a separate phase of the attack, during […]

If somehow the calendar could be spun forward one year and today were Oct. 2, 2020, tens of millions of Americans would be ineligible to board a commercial airline flight. And almost three out of every four Americans would lack the most commonly accepted form of identification needed for air travel. Thankfully, it’s still 2019, […]

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:  Vertigo derived from peripheral vestibular disorders is quite frequently encountered in daily clinical practice and can be a severely disabling symptom associated with substantial impairment of health-related quality of life for the affected patients. Betahistine, a structural analogue of histamine and presumably the most widely prescribed anti-vertigo drug worldwide, has previously […]

A cure for Ménière’s disease does not yet exist, but lifestyle modifications and treatments can help patients. According to the NIH, symptoms are successfully controlled in two-thirds of patients by reducing the body’s retention of fluids through dietary changes (e.g. eliminating or reducing salt, caffeine and/or alcohol). Medications such as antihistamines, anticholinergics, and diuretics may […]

There are few things in life more frustrating than tossing and turning in bed when you just want to fall asleep. You stare at the clock, mind racing as the seconds tick by, knowing that every minute awake is borrowed against how you’ll feel tomorrow. It can be so stressful. But when you live with […]

The balance system works by coordinating information in your brain from the three senses used for balance: your balance organ in your inner ear, your eyes and your internal sense of position/movement in your body. If you feel dizzy, it means that your brain has not been able to coordinate the information from all the […]

The Dizziness, Balance, and Falls Center at the Michigan Ear Institute has been recognized internationally as an outstanding clinical program for the diagnosis and treatment of balance disorders. After diagnosing the balance problem various treatment modalities including medical, surgical, and vestibular rehabilitation can improve overall balance function. Common balance disorders we see include Meniere’s disease, […]

MUSKEGON, Mich. — A college professor who has struggled with balance issues for several decades has been selected as one of the first people in the world to receive a new experimental implant. Dr. Shawn Macauley has been living with severe balance issues after a portion of his inner ear was destroyed 23 years ago. […]

Warning! Some of these photos may trigger vertigo! By having severe bilateral Meniere’s disease, it has come to my attention that there are many different words to use other than “dizzy.” A few come to mind: light-headedness, dizziness, vertigo, spinning, giddiness. They are all trying to get across the message that something is wrong with […]

When I was diagnosed with bilateral Meniere’s disease in 2011, I was 100% convinced that I was slowly going deaf in both ears. My initial audiogram showed low-mid frequency hearing loss typical to Meniere’s disease, and my first doctor explained that it was only going to get worse. It wasn’t until I found a better specialist that I learned […]

SliverSneakers is a great way to get moving! I’m posting this because many of us with vestibular disorders are disabled and are on Social Security Disability. If you receive Medicare for your disabilities, then you probably have a Supplement Plan as well. SilverSneakers is covered by your “gap” insurance usually for free or a small […]

What is vestibular rehabilitation? “Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based program, designed by a specialty-trained vestibular physical therapist, to improve balance and reduce problems related to dizziness.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15298-vestibular-rehabilitation Personally I have tried Vestibular Rehab Therapy-VRT eight different times with three different therapists over the last 15 years. I have failed at each attempt. Mainly because having […]

Did you know that you can receive TheraSpecs as part of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)? It’s true! Our company is a vendor of the VA health system, which provides benefit services—in the form of disability compensation, health care, education and training, and much more—to nearly 10 million* enrolled veterans. So if you are eligible […]

We require balance for everything we do, from sitting upright at a table to going up and down curbs to walking over uneven surfaces. If you feel unsteady with everyday activities, make sure to tell your doctor. In some cases, changes to the inner ear system can be the cause. Specialized balance lab testing can […]

For many people with dizziness, going grocery shopping can be a challenging task.  There are so many different triggers that can make them feel sick or unsteady from the crowds, to florescent light, to the multiple body/head turns.  Thinking ahead and following these 5 tips can help create better shopping experience. Shop during low peak […]

It is no surprise that light can play a major role in how people feel—from triggering or worsening headaches and photophobia to migraine attacks and eye strain. But there is a particularly curious connection between light sensitivity and dizziness. We answer many of the key questions between these two symptoms and take a closer look […]

Have you ever experienced recurring vertigo as part of a migraine attack? If the answer is frequently yes, you may be dealing with a very specific subtype of the headache disorder known as vestibular migraine. It has also been previously labeled ‘migraine-associated vertigo’ and ‘migrainous vertigo’ in clinical literature, although vestibular migraine more accurately encompasses other […]

Six Aquatic Physical Therapy Exercises To Improve Your Balance Have you fallen recently?  Do you feel unsteady on your feet? Thousands of seniors fall each year causing physical, social, and emotional trauma as well as a loss of independence. Statistics: Risk of falls increases with age and is greater for women than men. 1/3 of […]

Back in the day, before being diagnosed with Bilateral Meniere’s, Vestibular Migraines, and BPPV… I was pretty active and adventurous. Yes, I had to walk to school and back, both ways uphill , and the snow was up to my waist too. Seriously, I was pretty active. I was always on my ten speed bike. […]

In recent years, light emitting diodes (LEDs for short) have gained tremendous popularity as a more energy-efficient alternative to the traditional incandescent and compact fluorescent bulb. However, as they continue to dominate the lighting market, the question becomes: what, if any, is the cost to our health? In this post, we discuss how some people can experience […]

We have already discussed the broader implications of light sensitivity and dizziness, but there is so much more to unpack when it comes to this symptom’s impact on vestibular disorders. In this post, we take a deeper dive into how photophobia and light sensitivity specifically affects vestibular migraine. For more information from TheraSpecs use this link. […]

Personally, I too suffer from Vestibular Migraines as well. Mine started soon after I was diagnosed with Meniere’s. They increased dramatically after my Vestibular Nerve Section (VNS). I found out by trial and error that purple tinted sunglasses decreased the attacks. They worked really well in big stores with their fluorescent lightings causing most of […]

About 40% of people over 40 will… experience vertigo at least once in their lives. Even if you only experience vertigo for a few minutes, the sensation can be very unsettling. If you experience vertigo at night, it can interfere with your sleep.  What is vertigo? Vertigo is a sudden onset of dizziness that may last anywhere […]

Allow me to share some of  Dr. Stephen Nagler’s wisdom: There are many misconceptions about hyperacusis and recruitment.  Hearing professionals often oversimplify the concept of recruitment by stating that when hyperacusis occurs in a person with hearing loss, it is “recruitment.”  Moreover, you and I have both heard folks with severe hyperacusis claim that “my […]

Imagine being at a movie where the sound track is turned to the highest volume. Actors’ voices are screaming at you. After five minutes, you leave holding your ears and cursing the theater for its poor judgment. Turning newspaper pages, running water in the kitchen sink, your child placing dishes and silverware on the table […]

Virtual reality could be used to diagnose and treat visual vertigo, according to a team of Cardiff University psychologists.  People with the condition suffer from dizziness and nausea and often cite places with repetitive visual patterns, such as supermarkets, as the trigger.  A team of psychologists is working to develop virtual environments to help with […]

Never thought I would be a photographer, never thought I would have Meniere’s. I should have realized I would someday end up being a photographer; my sister is one, my first cousin is one and my son is beginning to become one; so I guess it was my turn. My mother has Meniere’s. So, I […]

Producing Successful Outcomes Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) can best be described as systematic repetitive exercises and protocols which extinguish or ameliorate patients motion provoked symptoms as well as enhancing postural stability and equilibrium. VRT is not new; it dates back to the 1940s. Cawthorne and Cookseys articles began to discuss the benefit of active eye […]

Frequent attacks of vertigo, or the uncertainty of when an attack might occur, may make you reluctant to travel. There are a few basic steps which can be taken to make travel a bit easier; whether you’re travelling abroad or just going out to do the weekly shop. Travel may be a challenge but don’t […]

When you live with a chronic illness, it truly can affect all aspects of your life – including your ability to go out, do fun activities and socialize with friends and family. All your energy may be depleted just by taking a shower, or eating a meal – not to mention tackling your everyday responsibilities […]

Most people will never understand what it’s like to stare down the barrel of a complex medical diagnosis. That’s not to say they will never get sick. They will. And it might be terrible. But most of the time, it will at least be easy to comprehend. The implications will be clear. The treatment options […]

September. Where did the summer go? We didn’t have a long summer this year considering on May 15th we received ten inches of snow; not out of the realm of possibilities, considering where I live, but damn it was a fast summer. Now people are turning their attentions to kids being in school, dropping off […]

I see you, pushing yourself, day after day, to get up and out of bed, fighting through the tears. I see you slowly crawling your way to the bathroom to get yourself to the next room. I see your smile, the one you muster up in front of family and friends, saying you’re fine, looking at […]

Approximately 133 million Americans live with chronic disease, defined as a disease lasting three months or longer. A portion of people who fall into this category live with incurable, life-long illnesses that are often “invisible” and interfere with daily life. Almost everyone knows someone who lives with a chronic illness, but what that actually means may be […]

Hypothesis: Changes in the weather influence symptom severity in Ménière’s disease (MD). Background: MD is an unpredictable condition that significantly impacts on quality of life. It is suggested that fluctuations in the weather, especially atmospheric pressure may influence the symptoms of MD. However, to date, limited research has investigated the impact of the weather on MD. Methods: In a longitudinal study, a mobile phone application collected data […]

It’s funny, after so many years of being sick I always think I know what I’m doing. I know how to handle my bad days and I know how far to push myself on the good days. I’ve worked out a nice little summary of my life for the curious people I meet and I’ve […]

There are times when I feel completely selfish. I’ll let my Meniere’s disease control my life at times. I’ll avoid friends. I’ll avoid family. I’ll avoid work obligations. I’ll avoid almost everything. Most people don’t seem to understand that it’s not something I want to do, but it’s something I feel like I have to do. I have to […]

When I tell people I have Meniere’s disease, I expect two reactions in this exact order: “What’s Meniere’s disease?” followed by “What? You? No way you have a chronic illness.” Sometimes I wonder if people know when they are being offensive. These are the top five insults I’ve heard: 1. “You don’t look sick.”  Having an invisible […]

It’s one thing to have to deal with vertigo when you have it, but if you can stop vertigo before it’s even begun. That’s the key.  There as many different triggers of vertigo like this. Lets face it, the best way to deal with vertigo is to not have it in the first place.  This […]

This is the most common cause of dizziness from an inner ear problem. It is termed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo for the following reason: Benign: the condition almost always goes away with proper treatmentParoxysmal: the condition may return causing vertigo without warningPositional: it is brought on by specific type of head movementVertigo: the sensation is that of spinning that […]

Imagine a day where you wake up with a splitting headache. No, not quite a migraine, but pressure. The pressure is behind your ears, across the back of your eyes. Your ears are ringing so loudly that you think this is it – your head is finally going to explode. If you try to sit […]

If you’ve ever suffered from an inner ear infection, you know how debilitating it can be, and Meniere’s Disease is no different. According to the Mayo Clinic, Meniere’s Disease affects the inner ear and causes bouts of vertigo due to fluid that fills the tubes of your inner ear. On top of the dizziness and […]

The clinical symptoms of Meniere’s disease are thought to be caused by an increase in the fluid pressure within the delicate membranes of the inner ear. The medical name for this condition is “endolymphatic hydrops“.  The classic theory is that during a Meniere’s spell, the delicate membranes within the inner ear (cochlea) rupture. The mixing […]

Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear. The symptoms of this condition include recurrent episodes of spinning-around dizziness or vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (noise in the ear, often likened to listening to a conch sea shell), and sensations of ear fullness and/or pressure. Often, Meniere’s spells are unpredictable. The exact cause of […]

If you have a vestibular disorder, causing you dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance, taking good care of yourself and your overall health is of utmost importance. It certainly can leave you feeling run down and discouraged. It goes without saying that you should always consult with your primary care physician and other relevant specialists (ENT, neurologist, […]

All these times you beat yourself up for not doing something or finishing something or not keeping to a schedule… who made those rules for you? Sure, sometimes it’s a rule you have to follow for work or because something requires it, but most of the time it’s a ridiculous standard we’ve made for ourselves. […]

It’s hard to hang out with people who aren’t sick. It’s hard being reminded that you have so many restrictions in your life: you have to go slower, you can’t eat or drink certain things, loud noises and bright lights are excruciating, you can’t stay out as long, you can’t feel like a valid member […]

When you live with a chronic illness, it can be common to fear that you may be burdening your loved ones. As one Mighty contributor explained: I entered the world of chronic illness with the mindset that being dependent on others meant being valueless, that any health issue I saw as an inconvenience to myself was an even bigger inconvenience […]

When you are diagnosed with a chronic illness, the doctor might give you an overview of the common symptoms associated with your illness, but often these are physical manifestations – pain, fatigue, swelling, even brain fog. Many of us are then surprised by all of the emotional side effects that accompany our illness. For me, […]

No matter how much you sympathize, you don’t know what it’s like to spend nights alone, praying to fall asleep so that the voice in your head telling you the world would be a better place without you might finally shut up, at least until tomorrow. It’s never quiet for long. You’re not the one […]

Chronic illness will get inside your head. It will fill your mind full of guilt-ridden thoughts and at some points it may hit you with so many feelings you can no longer even put a name to them. At best it can be described as a rollercoaster ride you never wanted to go on and […]

Symptoms vary between people and over time. The main problems are unpredictable attacks of vertigo with nausea and vomiting. Attacks can last from a few minutes to 24 hours. There may also be tinnitus, hearing loss and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear. Periods of remission between attacks can vary from days to […]

There is a tendency to push through to complete errands regardless when symptoms start to become out of control. To stubbornly ignore the start of an oncoming flare and do more than our body can handle. But, doing so, however, only worsens these ‘starting‘ symptoms and thus exacerbates the approaching flare. We should begin starting, […]

The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that help control balance and eye movements. If the system is damaged by disease, aging, or injury, vestibular disorders can result, and are often associated with one or more of these symptoms, among others: Vertigo and dizziness Imbalance and spatial disorientation Vision disturbance […]

There are times when I feel completely selfish. I’ll let my Meniere’s disease control my life at times. I’ll avoid friends. I’ll avoid family. I’ll avoid work obligations. I’ll avoid almost everything. Most people don’t seem to understand that it’s not something I want to do, but it’s something I feel like I have to […]

Even though it is very difficult at times to struggle through life with Meniere’s Disease; I still am able to use my invisible ability through the lens. People stare at me and wonder why is he using a walker and capturing life on film at the same time. No one has ever asked. No one […]

It was 15 years ago, when I I was forced out of teaching due to Bilateral Meniere’s. Yes, it was difficult. 33 years of teaching and forced to retire before you hit 50, yes it was. I lost my car, my truck, my home, had to file bankruptcy….sounds like a bad country song, but I […]

You start to work through a pattern of grief. At first, you are relieved to know that there’s a name for these symptoms that have been plaguing you. Then you feel upset, even depressed because it feels like your life, as you’ve known it, has been ripped away from you, never to be the same […]

Drop attacks, known as Tumarkin’s Otolithic Crisis, are when a person falls to the ground with no warning. The person remains awake and does not lose consciousness. Drop attacks are sometimes experienced in the later stages of Ménière’s disease. They do not affect everyone. A drop attack feels as if you are being pushed violently […]

Meniere’s has totally changed me in every aspect possible. Took away my confidence, stability, balance, hearing, self esteem, safety, altered my personality, and I feel like a total burden to everyone. The vertigo can be so crippling and provoking that you are consumed by the fear of what will happen. I feel completely alone deserted […]