Hi all,
As with the rest of you, I have a long history with dizziness and off-balance symptoms. I won't go into all my details, but very quickly: I had (likely) left-ear VN in October of 2005, got better over about 3 months, then was hit with (again, likely) right-ear BPPV in March of 2007. Add to that mix that an MRI found a small arachnoid cyst near my cerebellum, which CAN cause off balance and other symptoms. But with VRT's I began to feel better and was pretty close to 90% for much of the summer. I started downhill around Halloween and have been feeling off-balance and foggy ever since, so I decided to visit a local expert, Dr. Ian Purcell at the Senta Medical Clinic in San Diego. I should note that I had seen 2 GP's, 2 ENT's, a neurosurgeon and a UCSD neurotologist in the past, but none had ever definitively diagnosed me, so I was hoping for a final answer about the cyst and the other symptoms as well.

Anyway, I think I've found my savior in Dr. Purcell, as he and his PA listened to my entire story, took extensive notes, asked numerous questions, and ordered a VNG for a return visit. His initial thought (after viewing a video of a quick goggle test his PA did) is that my 2005 VN damaged my left inner ear permanently, and the March 2007 incident may or may not have been a replay of that. He also said that he didn't think my cyst has anything to do with this, and that we don't need a new MRI just yet. His prescription was for me to get a treadmill and do a slow jog for 30 minutes while looking at a book or magazine and "spotting" different places. I'm going to try it, but I've never worked out even once in my life and this guy wants me doing 30 mins a day...I'll have to work up to it I think.

Anyway, the point of this update is to let anyone in the San Diego area or even So Cal at large that these guys are great and I'm anticipating some quality ongoing care from them. I hope everyone of you finds some relief and better days in the coming year!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Dan,

I spoke to you before (I was the one with the pineal cyst, probably just born with it). It has no effect on my condition.

Anyway, one suggestion is definitely work up to that 30 minutes on the treadmil. I worked out regularly before my problems and 30 minutes healthy and in great shape is hard enough.

Good luck and I hope it helps you. It is good to finally find a doctor you can put some trust into. It took me well over 2 years of this junk to find one. I'm hoping my visit back to him next week will be productive and promising.

Best,
Gloria

hah, small world. I didn't actually see him but that's where the treadmill/reading thing came from. Definitely helped me.

Good luck!

hi herofix
my neuro-otologist in London tell me that a BPPV-like positional vertigo is not uncommon in vn sufferers. They don't know why it happens, or why it happens to some people and not others, it just does. Like you I have had left vn diagnosed, initially got hit in January 2006, and then in November 2007 I had a bad spinning vertigo episode a couple of minutes after I had suddenly moved my head. But it felt different to the vertigo attacks I had when I first got ill and after I had described what had happened and how I felt to the specialist he said it was definitely positional vertigo.

herofix, I don't know if you remember me but we talked before.
I have similar symptoms and also a MCM or AC.
When you talk about dizziness, is it spinning or just an unstable feeling and/or woozy in the head?
You still have the floaters or they subsided?
And do you suffer of headaches?

Hey yes I do remember and I was wondering if you were still on here as well. How are things going for you? Any progress in your diagnosis? My new doc doesn't think the AC has anything to do with my condition, though the ENG test only showed a 10% deficit on my right ear. No headaches though, and I've been exercising daily with a book or magazine close up to "spot" on and that seems to be helping. My general feeling is just one of slight off balance, no spinning or real balance loss. Some foggy head stuff occasionally as well, but not real bad. Floaters still present same as before, never fading. Let me know how you're doing too!

Dan

Dan, whose your neurologist?

Cathy

I'm not very well, I'm having troubles with neck/head aches and dizziness.
They are probably related and one may be the cause and the other the effect, not sure.
But the vestibular exercises you are making, they don't make you sick at all? Like nausea, headaches?
And how are you doing in neurological balance tests(Romberg, tandem walk, etc) ?
I want to ask you something which is not allowed here, but I see no option for private message? We are not allowed to get in direct contact?

Cathy, I am seeing Dr. Ian Purcell at Senta Clinic (at Alvarado Hospital) in San Diego.

Vaio, I'm afraid that there isn't any way to contact each other off this board. Even if you posted an email or something else, the moderators would erase it and you'd likely be banned. Just go ahead and ask your question...if it was too personal I wouldn't answer it anyway. ;-) But seriously, whatever issue you bring up might be useful to someone who reads this in the future.

As for the exercises, none of them make me dizzy or nauseated. The tests like Romberg and others I am able to do without difficulty or falling over.

Dan