Six months later, however, Anne and her husband attended a dinner theatre that began with very loud music. "I immediately went into a spin where my world went suddenly out of control. I had to be helped outside and felt totally miserable and nauseated," she recalls. After this episode of vertigo, Anne visited specialists and underwent numerous tests. The ENT specialist told her she might have Ménière's Disease and gave her a prescription for prochlorperazine, saying she might not ever have another attack.

For two years, Anne's only symptom was tinnitus and her hearing seemed to improve. But on New Year's Day 1985, she remembers, "While watching a comedy on the TV, I felt as if I had been given an electric shock in my head and I immediately went into a terrible spin. It lasted an hour and I was violently ill."

This was the beginning of steadily worsening attacks of vertigo. "I never knew from one minute to the next if I was going to be upright or groping around being sick," remembers Anne. "There was always the fear of going out and having an attack in public." No longer able to drive, she became totally dependent on her husband, Malcolm, which was especially difficult since his job involved a lot of travel.

By 1990, Anne was experiencing three severe attacks per week and opted to have endolymphatic sac decompression surgery performed at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. "I was free of attacks after this and was convinced I was cured. I went back into the workforce and felt as if I was contributing once again," she says. Then Anne decided she wanted to do something "so other people wouldn't have to go through what I did without any support. Because of the total lack of information about Ménière's, it is terrifying when you have your first violent attack." So she began running an informal support group out of her home in 1991, offering telephone counselling and sending out information.

When Anne's symptoms returned again in late 1993, she became determined to formalize the support group. She worked with Dr. George Wilson, a Ménière's sufferer himself, and Professor W.P.R. (Bill) Gibson, professor of otolaryngology at the University of Sydney, as well as others to form a steering committee, though she suffered attacks and felt disoriented much of the time.

After the support group was officially launched in March 1994, Anne learned about a medication called cinnarizine. The drug wasn't registered in Australia, but her doctor obtained permission to prescribe it through the Australian Special Access Scheme. It seemed to help and life "returned to near normal" for six years.

In October 2000, though, Anne began to have attacks yet again. She and her husband, the grandparents of 12 children, were driving to a function at their granddaughter's school when Anne started to feel disoriented. "My greatest fear was that I would have a prostrating attack in front of one of the children, which would be very frightening for them," Anne says. "Needless to say, we never made it to the event."

It appeared Anne had become resistant to the positive effects of the medication. "I was in the depths of despair," she remembers. "I felt I had nowhere to turn. My attacks were frequent and disabling. Once again I had lost my independence." 


Then Professor Gibson told her about the Meniett^® Low-Pressure Pulse Generator, and asked if she would like to be involved in a clinical trial. "I didn't hesitate to agree, because as far as I was concerned I had nothing to lose," she says. In order to use the device, Anne had to have a ventilation tube placed in her left ear. One week after this procedure, she went to Professor Gibson's office and he demonstrated how to use the device. 

During the first two weeks of using the Meniett device, Anne had two very minor attacks. "But," she says, "since then I have not had a sign of vertigo and feel very well 18 months later. I used the Meniett three times a day for about 12 months, then I had to reluctantly hand it back because the medical trial was over. Fortunately I am in remission and have regained my confidence."

Now Anne is able to devote her time again to the things she enjoys the most: spending time with her family, gardening, watching cricket, and helping others cope with the debilitating effects of Ménière's Disease through her work as coordinator of the support group. She offers support and counsel over the phone and through email, organizes public meetings and gives presentations, serves as editor of the

group's quarterly newsletter, coordinates efforts with other Australian support groups for Ménière's Disease, and schedules well-known speakers to share their knowledge of issues related to the disease.

Membership has grown to over 1,000 since Anne co-founded the support group in 1993. Even her husband has become involved, serving alongside Anne on the organization's steering committee. "Malcolm has been wonderfully supportive," she states.

Having regained her confidence, Anne hopes to continue in her mission of helping to educate the public about Ménière's Disease. "But if the disease should return," she says, "I will be very anxious to obtain one of these machines, which are now available in Australia."

The Patient Testimonial you have just read is from a real patient with Menieres' disease. They have related their actual experiences with the disease and the Meniett device. This patients' story may or may not be representative of the total population using the Meniett device as results vary from patient to patient. Most Menieres' patients receive varying degrees of relief from their symptoms; however, there are some patients who have reported receiving no relief. Please see your health care provider to determine if the Meniett device is right for you.

Meniett and local pressure treatment is only to be used after doctor's prescription. If you wish to order a Meniett and have a doctor's prescription, click here.

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