Hey All,

I just got my appt from Prof Halmagyi for August 10. I'm not sure if they are aware that I already went through a caloric test in Oct 03 - probably not because they have scheduled me for another one in the same place. The last one was horrific AFAIAC and I def don't want another one. Is there any point in having it twice if the first one showed nothing? Have any of you had it twice only to find the second one showed something missed on the first? I know this test isn't exactly perfect nor accurate. Can't see the point of doing it again.

Thanks...Scott

I would NOT want to do that again. I would let them know you have already done it. I wouldn't be surprised if things slip through the cracks at the doctors office. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster when they did that to me. I cried throught the whole thing and had another audiologist hold my hand through the entire thing. I was never so freaked out at the doctors office in my life.

Can you tell I'm not a fan of that test. I hope you don't have to do it again. I'll cross my fingers for you. Let me know what happens.

Hi Joy,

I know what you mean. For me it was like being fired out of a canon into outer space, rolling and spinning in all directions, my eyes flickering all over the place and sweat pouring out of me. I walked out of the clinic looking like I had just done a few years in some war - a stunned mullet! I then went on to have the worst feelings of terror and panic of my life that evening. Even 10 mg of valium couldn't calm me down. No way - never again.

Scott

Scott - most good places will re-test as they will want to see for themselves PLUS they have different equipment.

Yes I have had it done twice and yes, the 2nd time showed something, 1st didnt...2nd was done by v reputable person as you know...

I'd get tested again...

xxx

hi scott
im quite new to this board,I dont envy you having that test done again!!!Before i went to see my neuro-otologist i looked up on the net what tests they might do,i saw that one and thought i hope she doesnt want to do that!!!When i saw her she wanted to that one but i wouldnt let her do it.I half did the rotary chair one but couldnt tolarate the whole thing.The only trouble is that she wants to do it in sept when i see her again.On the web site its says that it will only make you feel dizzy for a few minutes but reading messages on here that doesnt seem to be the case.Maybe if you dont have a dizzy problem that might be right but for people like us its torture!!
Im really not looking foward to having this.Dont blame you for not wanting it again.I,ve had a lumbar puncture in my mission to finding out whats wrong with me(not nice at all),but i think i,d sooner have that done again than have that caloric test!!!hope your ok,take care
xbombshell31x
xx

Scott

Great on the appointment

...agree with C/L on the ENG....if negative/or replicates original ENG---then its a compensation problem/issue---treatment will then be focused on that--

...if not...it's a new/another injury...treatment will focus on that---

either case...done by him...it will be accurate... not pleasant---perhaps...but accurate...don't know much that is nice with this junk---except getting rid of it.....which you have a substantial amount of effort/"sunk costs" invested to date....

Confirm/reestablish the baseline---so as to not "slip" back into uncertainty

:cool:

Hi Scott
Agree with CL and Subs, go for the test. A bit of pain for a large potential gain!

The more information you have about this junk, the better armed you are to deal with it.

Remember that you are in a better place right now with the panic and anxiety than you were at the beginning of this, so you will be better able to deal with the feelings this test may produce.

Also, when I compare it to having my two kids, after the first I thought I could never do that again, so much pain it was horrible, but when I did go into labour again with my second 18 months later, I knew what to expect and was mentally prepared for it. I can't say it didn't hurt, but I was so much less focussed on my own pain and was more into this wonderful new person coming into the world. Experience is what teaches us and you have experience this before, you lived through it, and you will again.

Hope you are having a good day, (or is it night for you??)

I'd go through labor a million times over and over and over....if I could trade it for this nightmare. I didn't cry once while in labor for 3 days and now I can't stop.

Anyway, I'd do the test again so that maybe you can get to the bottom of this. Good luck and we will all be thinking of you.

Gloria

Thanks for the input guys...looks like I'll have to do it again. I might ask Halmagyi's office what they want to do (knowing I had it done in Oct 03). If they say caloric number 2 is necessary then I guess I'll just cop it.

Suppose it can't be that bad considering I understand the anxiety bit, am on an SSRI and can always hit it hard with valium that night if necessary.

Let the good times roll! :eek:

Scott

Good luck with that. I will say that the first time he blew air into my ear was the worst. After I recovered from that, and stopped freaking out, I was more prepared for the rest of it. I realized the dizziness did stop as soon as the fluid in my ears stopped moving. I guess if it will help them figure out what is going on, you should do it. Just try and find a mental place you can go, as to cope with the dizziness it produces. My heart does go out to you, good luck with it all.

you guys are freaking me out!! I have not had my test yet, but my doctor wants me to have it and I am waiting for insurance to okay it! I really have heard horrible things, but my doctor said that it only lasts a short while and there should not be an residual effect. That is not what I have heard! :eek: I never have wnated that test. It has taken 8 long months to get to where I am now and I don't want anything to set me back that far!! :nono: I will be so nervous, I will probably throw up!! :rolleyes:

Okay... don't panic. Just be prepared. I was told it would feel like a canoe ride, and it didn't . It was more intense than that, so I freaked out. If you think about what they are doing it will make more sense. They ARE stimulating your vestibular system by making the fluid move in your ears. Which should make you dizzy. So, a response is a good thing. I had a strong response to it. Supposedly not as strong a response in my left ear as my right, but it felt the same to me. I still need to see the doctor about it though.

Try to go in there prepared to get dizzy from it. If you get really dizzy, don't freak out, it DOES GO AWAY SOON AFTER THEY FINISH blowing the air into your ear. I freaked out because I had no idea how long it would last. When they are done, it does calm down and then go away. I felt fine walking out of the office, but did feel a bit off for the next two or three days. Nothing major, just a little more off than usual.

I know in previous posts on this thread I said I would never want to do that again, and that is true. It's not something pleasant, but you will be fine. And if iti gives you answers, then it is a good thing. Try to calm yourself down while it is happening. If you can do that, then it won't seem so bad.

Good Luck!

thanks. I will try to remember the advice while the test is being done. Also, I do think that I can tolerate alot more than I used, we have to to live with this disorder!! :p

FYI for those who are just now reading this thread - I'm sorry. I am so glad I knew nothing more than this was hot and cold water in the ears. I was scared of throwing up on the spinning chair test (I did not do that one). I can tell you this - the Caloric Test was Terrifying for me. I've had steroid shots, facet blocks, and 20 IV drips in the past 6 months and the Caloric Test was the worst medical test I have EVER experienced. Needles are nothing compared to this. I hope that it is not as bad for others as it was for me. I am really suprised I was able to keep from throwing up. But as I write this onle 2 to 3 hours after having the test, I still may throw up. Not pleasant, and the technician asked me if I wanted her to stop testing after the first ear and cold water, and my answer was an resounding YES - please stop. But I knew I had to stick it out. And it's even worse knowing they are going to make you spin that hard 3 more times! They have to figure out a better way to test for inner ear problems. It's bad enough we are already dizzy, but to make us worse? Yikes! Just my two cents.

i may be wrong but doesnt the rotary chair test the same area of ear? anyone had the rotary chair test? whats it like compared to the caloric? sounds quite unpleasant

I`ve had 2 caloric tests (with water). During the first one I was made to keep my eyes closed which was very unpleasant, but during the second one which I had a few years later at a different hospital, they couldn`t understand why I`d been made to keep my eyes shut and let me keep them open (so not as bad).

Felt groggy after both tests and looked rather a pale shade of green, but I`d have them all over again if I thought that it would help to find out the cause of the ear disorder and maybe get rid of it.

Good luck to all who are having them done.

Sally :angel:

I had the rotary chair test and it didn't really bother me at all. Actually I felt no different after it as I did before it; felt the same.

Mine showed my eyes were moving a little faster than my brain was compensating.

That was a good question about the rotary chair test versus the ENG test. Is there a difference in what the two test show. I was curious as to why my docter didn't do an ENG but did most other tests.

Can any one there to answer this?