Minere's Disease

[kmounteer]

A dive newbe here.....In fact, my wife and I are going on our first cruise next week and are looking into doing some diving. I am just trying to finish up my certification this week......

Anyway, my questions here is: my wife was just recently diagnosed with Minere's Disease, and I am curious if anyone has any experience or any information about diving with this disease? Should we? Shouldn't we? Concerns etc....

Thanks in advance for any information...

 

[scubabear]

Hi, some 20 yrs. ago I was diagnosed with serious Minere's
I could not bend down to pick up a wrench without ending up on my backside, bed would spin when laying down, the whine in my ear sounded like a jet turbine. Had vestibular testing, only relief ENT offered was to destroy inner ear labryinths.
Salt free diet and antivert helped slightly. Became very suceptible to seasickness and would have bad bouts of vertigo while diving. Managed to continue diving for next 5 yrs., but became more of a chore than enjoyment. Since the vestibular testing indicated a CNS dysfunction, and a diagnosis of Minere's is really a catch all for many unexplained symptoms. In desperation I turned to a Chiropractor, after two cervical adjustments the whine and vertigo was gone.
I had about 24 follow up visits, and go once a month for maintenence. Some 15 yrs. later, still diving, no Minere,s and I still have my hearing. While you can learn to dive with it, I would highly recomend a consult with a chiropractor, like chicken soup it can't hurt. Good Luck and Best Wishes

 

[DocVikingo]

.... speaking of "Meniere's disease."

To the best of my knowledge it is the consensus of diving medicine experts that a bona fide diagnosis of Meniere's is an absolute contraindication to scuba. The unpredictable & without warning attacks of vertigo that occur with the disease simply pose too great a risk.

To the extent that chiropractic may reduce stress & muscle tension it may impact positively upon attacks of Meniere's. However, it typically is not considered a first-line treatment for the disease and there certainly is no research support for the notion that it enables the Meniere's patient to scuba safely.

kmounteer--I much suspect that your wife will greatly enjoy the cruise even without diving.

Have fun.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

DocVikingo

 

[kmounteer]

Thanks Doc and Scubabear...I appreciate your posts. I believe we have found her case to be more of a minor one, and we played a little in a pool last night and she did very well...equalized just fine and no vertigo. We will have to wait and see..sure would hate to ruin a cruise with a bad dive experience.

Thanks again.

BTW...Scubabear it is interesting that you mention Chiropractic help. While we were searching and searching for her diagnosis she did visit a chiropractor for a different reason, and that did seem to help her dizzyness. Wasn't sure of the coorolation but I find it interesting your experience was similar....

 

[DocVikingo]

Concerning the matter of finding your wife's "...case to be more of a minor one...," bona fide Meniere's disease often is progressive, more slowly in some & more quickly in others. Some patients do have periods of remission, some for many years & others for a much shorter period. However, most experts do not believe that it simply goes away as if you never had it.

As was indicated above, the unpredictable & without warning attacks of vertigo that can occur with the disease pose significant risk.

Of course, each case has it own specifics and the decision to dive should be arrived at by the affected individual & his or her ENT (preferably one with diving medicine experience). However, do be aware that if your wife truthfully completes the medical waiver required by all reputable scuba ops she very likely will be denied dive services unless she has a letter of clearance from a physician.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Diver_Jan]

You may also find more info posted on http://www.diversalertnetwork.org

 

[DocVikingo]

Specifically, you'll find this very brief coverage--->

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=117

It is consistent with the medicine thus far presented in this thread.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[BLHall]

My doctor said that diving and Meniere's is a bad idea. He said that if vertigo happens underwater, you're a danger to yourself and your dive partner. And if the vertigo leads to vomiting (as has happened to me), even the best partner would have a horrible time keeping you alive long enough to surface.

I have a pretty severe case but I'm taking 3 cc's of histamine every week that keeps it pretty much under control. But speaking only for myself, I will not place someone else at risk to attempt any sort of diving.

 

[Thalassamania]

I did a detailed review of our medical standards for AAUS a while back and Meniere's was on the few ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATIONS to diving. Every diving Doc I talked to said so, in no uncertain terms.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Thalassamania,

Thanks for the update. As per my earlier (much) post, that was my undertsanding as well.

Regards,

DocVikingo