To try and explain a Ménières attack to someone who has never experienced one is exceptionally difficult. But this is as best as I can do.
Your tinnitus changes pitch, pressure in your ears increases. You begin to violently spin in all directions (much like when you have had too much to drink, then your sick then it stops and you usually pass out) well with an attack you hit the floor, except you have no real idea where the floor is in relation to your body. You feel like your being thrown about, if you try and communicate your needs to someone you can’t because you can’t speak, the spinning is so violent you can’t move or speak or think. You feel pinned to the floor. If something moves you you feel your falling off a mountain. The sickness is relentless, if you had anything on your stomach even from hours previous deep down in your gut it’s coming back as the wretching with make it come up! Despite the strongest anti sickness pills you can have. It won’t stop the sickness. The continued feeling of being thrown about on an endless rollercoaster day and night. Eyes open shut with no relief it is traumatic. You even see shadows coming at you. When your eyes are shut they are rolling in your head as the spinning is just out of control. All you can do is wait for it to be over. Weight helps, I have had people lay on me to help me feel grounded, I have a weighted blanket made specially for my height and weight to put on when I’m spiny or in attack to feel some feedback that I’m not being thrown around. They are a good investment.
I have lost days and nights like this, no concept of time. Unable to get to a toilet, function and take care myself. Unable to keep anything down. Just spinning violently. So I guess if you were going to get close to empathising you could strap yourself onto the big one at Blackpool or another ride like nemesis. For at least 4 hours with or without a blindfold and see how you cope. I also say it’s like your worst whitie while on a rollercoaster! These can last days. When you come round your hearing has deteriorated further and you have to fight again to regain your balance, the hangover from the attack is not pleasant either. The trauma and confidence lost during the attack and fear/anxiety of triggering another stays with you too.
I recall staying overnight with my mum, and wasn’t in my usual routine having tables by my bed, I had left my handbag downstairs. An attack started! I managed to get to the bathroom to be sick… but then I lost the night as I couldn’t get just across the hallway to wake her for help… I couldn’t speak, couldn’t crawl. I tried but wasn’t getting anywhere completely lost, I was so disoriented. Violently spinning, It was literally 5 paces… but that’s how bad it is. I couldn’t lift my arms off the floor to put one in front of the other to drag myself. I don’t know how long it was before she found me. In a mess obviously. On the floor. But to look at someone with Ménières they look fine. It’s all hidden. Miss understood.
Thats why I’m building this site, to create awearness. To help others to explain to their loved ones what they go through. It’s lonely, it creates anxiety and depression and we need help support and most of all understanding.
Please.
Ménières Suicide or Survivor 