Hi subs,

Are you still feeling normal? I sure hope you are still in a good phase. Here's what I would like to ask you:

I went for a second ENG on Monday. I am now 6 months into this. My first ENG was taken at 4 months, and it showed a 26% directional preponderance to the right. I asked the technician for the results but she could not give me the final results. She gave me a sheet with the raw data and sent me down the hall to go see if the doc was there and if he could interpret the results and talk to me. Of course, he wasnt there. So I took it upon myself to make the calculations! lol WHo knows if I did it right!!!!!! But I calculated a 17% directional preponderance to the right.

So here's my question. I understand that anything under 20% is considered "normal". But is it normal to change by a difference of 9% in 2 months for the directional preponderance? Could this indicate that I am indeed compensating? I do not feel I am improving, perhaps this difference has to get even lower. What if my normal is 1% or 0??? I will for sure ask my doc next week but I was wondering if you had an opinion on the matter.

Anyway, thanks for your help and please let me know how you're doing. If others are reading this and have input for me, please feel free to share it with me.

Sarah

Hi Sarah

Yep still at 100%!! :D

Well let see---it(medical research) says:

" The caloric test is a part of the ENG. It reflects an attempt to discover the degree to which the vestibular system is responsive and also how symmetric the responses are, between left and right. It is a test of the lateral semicircular canals alone -- it does not assess vertical canal function or otolithic function. While not as good as we would like, the caloric test is the best that we have."


..."Could this indicate that I am indeed compensating?".....

That is what the Doc's said in my case.......

..."What if my normal is 1% or 0??? "......

And it also says:

"a perfectly symmetrical recording of very strong responses would work out to a TR of 0. (TR= Total Response)"

So I would guess that might be the case theoretically---but prob not at the practical level---think just about everyone favors one side or the other slightly.

But---its the way you feel---that is important---things---are getting better--when I think back to when I was at the six month point---think I felt about the way you indicate---you do---but---guess what---you do get better--does take time---not sure what more you can do---your getting the necessary testing done---and--seeing the Doc's---unfortunately---for this---it seems like---time is what does it---it must be---nerves---healing--and regrowing---that takes time---and as they heal and regrow---an almost continuous--compensation process--must taking place---as things change(for the better)---for me---I'm convinced---it was that the nerves regrowing & healing---ever so slowly--but in most cases they do--come back!

:cool:

Hi subs

sorry I did not thank you sooner. Thank you!!! I am hoping that it is the case for me as well, that the percentage decreasing is indicating compensation.

I have trouble accepting that I am improving though. It's hard to believe as I am still so so dizzy. And both my ears are ALWAYS full...

Anyways take care, I will let you know when I am cured! Hopefully that will be soon, I am giving myself till Spring 2004. Boy, is that ever far away!!!!!!


Sarah