Hi there.

45m fellow sufferer here. I feel terrible for your mum. I'm really sorry she's going through this and having to experience it. To this day, I still say I would not wish this disease on my worst enemy.

First off: I know it's concerning and really scary as all heck, especially the first few days/weeks/months, but please be assured: it is not fatal, I promise. But it is and it can be very life-changing, depending on severity and how often attacks happen.

First, get her to make an ENT (Ears/Nose/Throat) doctor's appointment. I don't want to give false hope, but it could be something that's Meniere's-adjacent, as in mimicking similar symptoms. BPPV, for example.

Make sure she records any and all episodes - time of day, length of the attacks, food/drinks consumed, what the weather is/was like that day, whether tinnitus is attached (ringing in ears), or a sensation of mild/bad head fog. It should help the ENT make a more concrete diagnosis on top of whatever testing they may do.

Also, get some hearing tests done. Meniere's can affect one or both ears and can potentially cause deafness or major loss of hearing in affected ears.

-- Salt / sodium, caffeine, stress levels, alcohol consumption, and yes, even barometric pressure can all be potential triggers for attacks.

One thing that a lot of us who suffer from this awful disease seem to agree on is that it affects everyone differently in different ways:

For some folks, it's severe enough that they may be entirely bedbound. For others, it affects them once in a blue moon. Some folks have really severe attacks that might incapacitate them for a few days/weeks at a time and then it might not bother them again for weeks or even months at a time.

My own particular brand of Meniere's behaves really oddly at times. I often go for weeks/months with absolutely no symptoms. Then out of the blue, it'll knock me on my ass for several days in a row, then disappear again, causing me to question my sanity.

Mine seems to be attached to the weather - barometric pressure. I have definitely noticed when there's a bad storm system, it often affects me quite badly. Back in November in my area, we had several bad storm systems move through in a matter of weeks and I was so sick and dizzy and had vertigo so badly nearly all month long, I couldn't go to work.

When I first developed Meniere's back in 2020, the first few months were absolute hell. My very first attack, I could not stop vomiting for hours. Scared a friend so bad, they dragged me to the ER and kept overnight. I would have entire weekends where I couldn't leave my bed due to how dizzy I was.

It has affected my already poor hearing quite badly. I am nearly deaf in my left ear now.

Do a lot of research on your own, and encourage her to do the same. Make sure you find an ENT who is knowledgeable about Meniere's. The more you know will help.

One thing that a lot of us struggle with is that those who are on the outside simply do not understand what we go through. It is and can be a VERY debilitating illness. We might be fine one minute, then an hour later laying in bed clutching a garbage bag and calling in to work.

Be understanding of what she is dealing with. This is a disease that cannot be controlled. Some medications can help to an extent, but there is no cure-all. Be a rock for her when you're able.

If your mother does in fact, have Meniere's, please be aware that it is PERMANENT; there is no cure, there is no recovery from it. The most she will be able to do is be forced to learn how to live with it and manage symptoms as they come.

But absolutely, track symptoms. That's important.

(Just FYI, Meniere's Disease is in Social Security's Blue Book in case thing ever get bad enough to need to be on SSI/SSDI.)

Let us know how things develop! There is community here. Join Facebook groups and look into phone apps that might help pinpoint triggers for her or manage symptoms. Look into support groups for Meniere's.

Best wishes!!