Just got bak from ENT. He thinks I may have BPV, but is requireing an ENG, BER and a site of lesion evaluation tests, as well as an MRI. TERRIFIED!!! Can anyone explain what an ENT,BER and lesion test is. I know what an mri is. Do the others entail being in a scary tube, like the mri?

I'm not sure about the other tests (although I'm sure they aren't really scary) but I do know about the ENG test. It took me about two hours to finish it. The first 1 1/2 they put these goggles on you that video tape your eye movements. So you have these goggles on you and you are looking at the wall that has a screen on it with a little dot that you follow around. Not so bad, for me it was kinda fun, like a little game :-) Then they lie you down and ask you to turn your head to one side and then the other. After all that you lie down with the goggles and they cover them up so it is pitch black. Then they will shoot cold air in one ear for about a minute, then warm air for a minute and a half, and do the same on the other side. This part of the test can be a bit uncomfortable to very uncomfortable depending on your reaction. What they are doing is trying to maximally stimulate your vestibular system. They are making the fluid in your inner ear move, which in turn tells your body you are moving. So you are basically in the dark, dizzy. It does calm down as soon as they are done, and will go away within a minute. They have you do concentration games (name a state that starts with the letter A, ect... ) to keep your mind off of it, which for me did help a bit.

I got very dizzy from that, like I was on a rollercoaster ride, and I did freak out. BUT I was unaware it would be this bad. I wish someone had told me. Then I would have been prepared. The first time was the worst, and after I saw how fast it stopped when they were done, it wasn't so bad. I think this part of the test is really important because they can see where you have weakness in your inner ear. Try to stay calm and realize getting dizzy is normal. It does go away soon after they finish, so try not to freak out. It takes a bit of courage, but if you can have mind of matter you will be okay. I didn't want to lie and say you don't get really dizzy because I want you to be prepared. That would have made it easier for me. I did walk out of the test feeling fine though. Good luck, let us know what happens.
Joy

Testing is good, it will give you the information you need to heal yourself. IF you get a diagnosis of BPPV there is lots you can do to help yourself. Did the ENT suggest the Epeley Maneuver? I have BPPV and it saved me!
Don't be worried about the tests, they may induce vertigo but it is temporary. I was spinning during the test but it stopped as soon as it was over and I even drove myself home with no problem.
Don't let anyone else scare you, it is like childbirth, everyone's experience is different, we all react differently so you can't use other's experiences to guide you!
Good luck

Well out of those tests I had a BAER test done, i guess thats what u mean by BER. Anyway thats such a simple test, u just lay down and they put headphones on u. Then they make a clicking sound for like 15-20 minutes in each ear and then yur done. It stands for Brain Auditory something Response and they are just looking at yur waves travel from yur inner ear to yur brain, or so I believe.

Thank you all so much, I feel a lot better knowing what I'm in for. The script that was written out calls for : site of lesion evaluation, ENG, BER. I dont know about the other B test the last post mentioned. I am mostly worried about the IMR. Am very Claustrophobic and am terrified to go within that death chamber. I've requested an open MRI and am waiting upon a referral from insurance. Terrified as to what they will find????? Hopefully nothing! My ENT said he really thinks nothing bad will show, as my symptoms point to BPV. He just wants to rule out things....(thats the scary part). I am so glad I found this board, I feel less alone.. Thanks for all of your help....let us all dizzys unite!!
Thanks again. :angel:

Oh and yes he did mention the Epeley maneuver.. said it really works. Does it?
Can anyone further elaborate on an open MRI? Do they have inject any dyes?

Sorry for so many posts but I found a site that sort of explains the site of lesion evaluation test: Did anyone have this?



http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/hearingloss/HL_tests.html

If it's BPPV, then the epeley manuever will definatley help, that's what I've heard. You're "ear rocks" are not where they should be and this will help put them back. I wouldn't worry about it being something more serious... I doubt it. I hope you feel better soon!

Sorry for so many posts but I found a site that sort of explains the site of lesion evaluation test: Did anyone have this?



http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/hearingloss/HL_tests.html

Anxiety27

The list of tests u are asking about are located in the Information sticky above(first post on this board) an "index" of the usual/customary vestibular/hearing tests are also located here:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/index.html

It is the same web site as located in the "sticky" except---just a different location on the "server"---when u get there just scroll down to:

"Testing for Hearing and Balance problems"

Their all listed...

Yes I had the "site of lesion evaluation test" its the same equipment as the hearing---just configured---slightly differently--to pin-point a functional area of ur hearing...

As for the "Open MRI" w/contrast---I had the closed---but know many---who did not want that---and selected the Open---same technology--ur just not "in cased" some claim it is not as accurate/definitive---but---not sure that's true....

In any case---all the Doc is doing is following the standard medical "cook book" for Inner Ear/Vestibular injuries---they (doc) first have to determine if the symptoms are being caused by a "peripheral" or "central" problem....so---while most(99.xx%) are Peripheral...they---to cover themselves for insurance purposes(U.S. predominantly) order the MRI as well as the other tests u listed....

If it's BPPV---a number of people here have it/have had it---it is the most "treatable" of all the "inner ear" injuries....as for Lab vis-a-vis VN...it is not unusual---some would say quite usual---for them to switch Dx's---a number of times...since the "Medical Cookbook" says...if the dizziness condition is accompanied by a hearing loss its "Lab" and if not its "VN"---truth is---they just don't know---since they do not have---the type of tests..to pin it down..that way...and it is not unusual for BPPV to follow a inner ear virus infection(Lab/VN,etc..)---since it weakens the inner ear structure(s)

For me---first they said "VN" then they said---nope it Lab---then the said Lab followed by BPPV---then they said BPPV with a failure to compensate because of "vision" problems

----truth is---the Dx's are "Probable Dx's", i.e., since I have excluded every thing else it has to be "this" (probability)...which is why they get wrapped up with all these tests....

Normally the "Tell Tale" symptom of BPPV is a "Latency" and "Fatiguing" when you do the MEP(or Epley)...on the side that the "ear rocks" have come lose in...not always...but for most of us...it is well covered in the "Info Archives"(sticky)....

Took me 13/14 months...of solid VRT's/Walking/Running etc...to "dump it"...it's been gone for two years now....

Oh---as for "Brain Fog", i.e., COGNITIVE ASPECTS OF VESTIBULAR DISORDERS---nothing unusual there---if u search on this board on that u should find a post concerning it.....for me...I had it so bad...I could not even sign my name...I still wonder to this day when I look at my canceled checks why anyone would have cashed them.......it's gone now also....

P.s. From Dr Hain's(its in the Info Archive "sticky"):

"The syndrome of acute, prolonged vestibular injury of peripheral origin is commonly called vestibular neuritis, although other terms such as "vestibular neuronitis," "labyrinthitis," "neurolabyrinthitis," and "unilateral vestibulopathy of unknown cause" have also been used."......

:cool:

Thank you so much subs30 for your extenive post. It Really helps to have found a site to go to where people have or had the same symptoms and have been told the same things by each of our doctors. Makes me trust them more. Have to say, BPV seemed unbelievable to me when I first heard of it. Thought my doctor was nuts telling me to exercise my dizziness away! Out of all my symptoms including my occasional dizziness when laying down, the fullness is getting to me. Even though hearing is fine, it feels as though it is off.

Thanks again, for the mri info...
One more question: Do they always use the contrast? Is it interveinously? Are there any side effects? Is it painful? Never had anything like that before, am a bit nervous.

Thank you so much subs30 for your extenive post. It Really helps to have found a site to go to where people have or had the same symptoms and have been told the same things by each of our doctors. Makes me trust them more. Have to say, BPV seemed unbelievable to me when I first heard of it. Thought my doctor was nuts telling me to exercise my dizziness away! Out of all my symptoms including my occasional dizziness when laying down, the fullness is getting to me. Even though hearing is fine, it feels as though it is off.

Thanks again, for the mri info...
One more question: Do they always use the contrast? Is it interveinously? Are there any side effects? Is it painful? Never had anything like that before, am a bit nervous.

Anxiety27

...."Do they always use the contrast?".....

Most of the Doc's will order the MRI w/contrast---no matter what---the reason---when done on the head/other body parts...also

However, lot of people don't like the idea---and request their Doc---to have it done without the contrast...and in most cases---the Doc will drop the contrast part...since...for an inner ear issue...the chances it will make a difference...on the film...is remote...they just like u to request it---so they are off the hook....insurance wise...harsh/sinical perhaps..but in a majority of the cases...true...

..."Is it interveinously?"...

Yes---for me--it was---think that is the normal/usual way its done...they just get it set up when the hook u up initially...and during the last 10/15 min---they active it...and they tell u before they do it...was a little warm...on the arm...other then that nothing....

..."Are there any side effects?"...

For me none...can not recall---anyone who had any---that I know---sure there must be someone out there that it bothered...but.....

..."bit nervous"...

Sure---but most of the people that do this---will tell u before hand exactly---what their going to do---and when---and while....I was sort of drifting off to sleep...and they kept waking me up....think at one time they had the music on...

..."Thought my doctor was nuts telling me to exercise my dizziness away!"...

Yep---right on---the brain's equilibrium center---needs to be retrained--to accommodate/compensate for the vestibular "sensor" injury

...and it does---through VRT's...walking...etc....that's how it recaptures---and then refines(accommodates for the "sensor" errors due to changes caused by BPPV injury to the "Sensor")...it...had previously learned and stored these in "memory"...and then this junk(BPPV) hosed the patterns up

---it sort of like---if u had a sole insert for your shoe---so that when u inserted it---for the first time---because of it plasticity---it conformed/formed to ur foot---and was designed/manufactured to hold that shape---unless something changed....

---then---something came along and changed the shape of ur foot(a ear rock)---it was still a good and useful foot---just sort of changed shape---slightly---well--u have to get that "rock" out---and then---you would have to walk---in ur shoe(s) for a little while---for the insert to---reform---to ur new and wonderful foot...and it does

...its call "brain plasticity"...it works...it happens all the time with "stroke"/"brain" injuries...and this ain't even close........that is why the first word of BPPV is "Benign"

....for some it goes quickly...for others...takes awhile longer...but once the "rocks" are out of the ear canal(s)...it just a matter of laying down/resablishing...the memory patterns that where stored in the equilibrium center---that allowed u to move---and balance---with little conscious effort.

....u started learning that...as a child...when u made ur first movements..which required---balance...ever watch...them when they first start to walk....but...they keep at it...and get it...established...and they are starting from scratch

...heck...we a least...are starting...with the patterns there---just needs to be recalibrated/reinforced...to were they were before this junk hosed it up....

Got a little carried away...there...LoL

:cool:

thanks again subs30. I do feel much better. I will keep you all in mind as I go in the death chamber (thats what I call it, MRI), actually I have opted for an open one, can't can't can't do the closed!
I truely appreciate your help sub! :angel:
What you have said is exactly what my ENT had told me. I just hope now that nothing more is found in the brain.....LOL!