They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

“They” obviously don’t have Ménière’s disease, or any other incurable, debilitating, life changing disease for that matter. If they did, they would say, ‘I’m sorry about your diagnosis. I hope a cure comes soon. Let me know if you ever need help with anything.’

I want to say that I am sorry that you have Ménière’s disease.

I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I have had it since I was twenty-nine.

I woke at 5am one morning in early January, 2024, with the words Ménière’s Man stuck in my head. It’s a book written about Ménière’s disease, by a man. I’ve never read it. But I know that people are thankful for the information inside it.

Then I thought, where are the Ménière’s books written by women? There aren’t many.

How about WOMénière’s? WOménière’s? woMénière’s?

Sure, you may be able to glean lots of interesting information from books written by men, but let’s face it, they don’t deal with holding the responsibility of keeping the household going like women do (mostly) – groceries, cooking, cleaning, childcare (if you do have a partner who helps you with that, you are truly blessed!).

Men don’t deal with menstruation and everything that entails.

Men don’t have babies.

Men don’t go through perimenopause and menopause.

Men don’t have the fluctuations with hormones like women do.

We women have the rough end of the stick when it comes to Ménière’s !

Researchers have uncovered countless ways in which women’s and men’s bodies react differently to the same diseases, due to our hormones. There is A LOT that female bodies go through during a hormonal cycle, a stark contrast to the experience of the male body.

And so it began.

I accepted my own challenge to write a book about Ménière’s disease for women, and started on it. I figured that I was more than qualified enough to write it, Ménière’s being with me for 29 years at the time of writing this book. Exactly half of my lifetime.  

Mum of three. My Ménière’s started the year before my first was born.

Wife.

Teacher.

Ménière’s Research subject at the University of Queensland’s  Mind and Brain Institute.

Gentamicin to destroy the vertigo after 9 years of trying prescription medicines, herbal medicines and other alternative treatments.

Cochlear Implant to restore hearing.

Ménière’s Research Australia Ambassador who sits in on Teams meeting with Ménière’s researchers in Australia.

It was my honour to pen this book to help others. To describe the road travelled before others going through the same things.

To encourage.

To understand.

To give insight.

To give tips on surviving the Meniere’s jungle.

To say it’s okay. We’re in this together. You’re going to make it through.

To give hope.

I have put countless hours of medical research into Meniere’s Woman, and reading  anecdotal stories by women and questions they ask on social media.

Plus my own experience.

It’s time to honor us. Women with Ménière’s .

On the pages you’ll find tips, hints, research, personal anecdotes, secret women’s business, pregnancy, motherhood, grand-motherhood, understanding, inspiration and mindset, self-care, a period and Meniere’s symptoms tracker and a Ménière’s Management Plan, plus lots more.

And because this is your book, add your own stamp and style. I have left blank pages for your to glue/tape in clippings, inspirational verses or images that speak to you in some way, or write them in. Be creative. Be you.

Here’s a peek at inside the book. Ménière’s Woman. Honoring you. xx

You can grab a print copy at any online bookstore. But here it is at Amazon if that is easier for you: https://www.amazon.com.au/M%C3%A9ni%C3%A8res-Woman-when-gives-lemons/dp/0645158194/

The eBook is ready for a 1st March release on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/M%C3%A9ni%C3%A8res-Woman-when-gives-lemons-ebook/dp/B0CV74SZDM/

Profits from the eBook and Print book will be donated to Ménière’s research, as all of my Ménière’s books are. I don’t publish Ménière’s books for personal gain, but to help others.

Let me know what you think of the book if you purchase a copy. And, I hope that it helps you beyond what you thought it could. xx

Julieann Wallace is a multi-published author and artist. When she is not disappearing into her imaginary worlds as Julieann Wallace – children’s author, or as Amelia Grace – fiction novelist, she is working as a secondary teacher. Julieann’s 7th novel with a main character with Meniere’s disease—‘The Colour of Broken’—written under her pen name of Amelia Grace, was #1 on Amazon in its category a number of times, and was longlisted in 2021 and 2022, to be made into a movie or TV series by Screen Queensland, Australia. She donates profits from her books to Meniere’s Research, to help find a cure or successful treatment for everyone. Julieann is a self-confessed tea ninja and Cadbury chocoholic, has a passion for music and art, and tries not to scare her cat, Claude Monet, with her terrible cello playing.

Julieann Wallace ~ author julieannwallaceauthor.com

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