Symptoms of Meniere’s Disease come in cycles. The patient suffers multiple episodes lasting several months at a time; then, it generally subsides. In some individuals, the symptoms seem to be more severe in spring, fall or when under extra emotional stress.

The most unpredictable and frightening symptom of Meniere’s Disease is vertigo. The vertigo in Meniere’s Disease is thought to result from an accumulation of excessive fluid in the inner ear. The fluid pressure stretches the membranes, that divide the compartments of the inner ear. As the membranes of the inner ear stretch, hearing diminishes and tinnitus worsens. When the membranes are severely stretched, the fluids of the inner ear may rupture them. This results in mixing of the fluids, one rich in sodium, the other rich in potassium. The mixture of these fluids is thought to bring on the vertigo.

After the membranes rupture, they eventually heal, but some hearing is usually lost. Surprisingly, with salt restriction, careful dietary planning and a mild diuretic, the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease will often subside. In some cases, hearing can return to normal.

Three stages of Meniere's disease:
1. Early stage: sudden and unpredictable episodes of vertigo. Often the patient will experience nausea, dizziness and vomiting during the episodes. An episode may last from about 20 minutes to a full 24 hours. During episodes there will be some hearing loss, which returns to normal after it is over. The ear may feel uncomfortable and blocked, with a sense of fullness or pressure (aural fullness). Tinnitus is also common.

2. Middle stage: vertigo episodes continue, but are usually less severe. Tinnitus and hearing loss, on the other hand, get worse. Some patients during this stage may experience periods of complete remission - symptoms just go away and seem to have gone forever. These periods of remission can last several months.

3. Late stage: vertigo episodes become even less frequent, and in some cases never come back. Balance problems, though, continue. Patients will feel especially unsteady when it is dark and they have less visual input to help maintain balance. Hearing and tinnitus typically get progressively worse.