A Ménière’s disease reminder

Posted By on November 16, 2010

A friend of mine posted about the Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. on Facebook and it was a reminder to me how devastating Ménière’s disease was. Back in the 1990’s I (and my family) struggled in dealing with the frustrating ringing, sudden attacks of vertigo and associated debilitating sickness (sea-sickness as I described it). Although bouts with this diagnosis can be widely different as to their severity, I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

AlanBShepard_19710205

One of the bright spots while suffering through the disease was knowing that the first man in space had to deal with it and eventually overcame it. He had experimental surgery (in 1964), but after recovery was able to go on to walk on the moon. Quite inspirational. The situation was well portrayed in the HBO miniseries “From Earth to the Moon.” See Episode 9, “For Miles and Miles” as it deals with Alan Shepard and his returning to flight status and on to the moon. (video clip below)

EDIT: The YouTube archive of the HBO video was removed, but worth seeing if you have or know of someone with Ménière’s disease.p

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  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
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