Hi folks.
I have been fighting to make this decision for quite some time going back and forth and have come to the decision of seeing an neurotologist. Although I feel I am improving, I always having that little nagging question in the back of my head of what this actually is. In my heart I believe it is inner ear related and Subs has felt by my symptoms that this may also be the case , But I am always questioning myself and driving myself crazy. I have been making phone calls to the ENT clinic and other Dr.s trying to get them to refer a top Neurotologist in my area. There is no way my Health Insurance will pay for an out of state Dr. I first have to go through my primary care and then get a referrel. My question is do you have any suggestions as to how I find the best Dr. to see in my area. I have printed out the list for NY and the closest would be in the Albany, NY area or else I guess head into NYC. Has anyone in the US heard of a good Neurotologist in the NY Area. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I will be starting a new job in the beginning of October so I figured if I'm going to do this I better get moving. Like Jen said the improvements are so small that you wonder if you are getting better. Friday I had a 90% day then back to a 80% day then back up to a 95% day and then today back to a 80% day.
I question how much better I am because I gave up my job in May and I guess the true test to see if I am getting better would have been to continue to work so that I can see if I am improving or see if the symptoms stay the same. I'm sorry to ramble on like this but this head monster had made me so indecisive.

all the best
indecisive Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Sounds like a good decision to me. I know of somewhere I might be able to find this out for you, I'm not allowed to give out site addresses otherwise I'd just tell you. I'm from England, so to make sure I mention the right areas in my question could you list where your insurance covers, do I just say New York and New York City?

I can't promise anything, but if you let me know, I'll do my best,

best,

hbep.

hbep:
Thanks you so much. I am from the eastern part of NY.
About 2 hours from Albany, NY area and about 3 hours from the NYC area. I'm not even sure what Dr.s my insurance will cover. I know that within limits they do let you see a specialist outside of the MVP health plan. As stated, I have the list from the site Subs provided so if you come up with any names, I'll see if they are on the list and how far they are from me. thanks hbep, I send you a kiss and a hug from me.
Sometimes I get myself so worked up I could just puke.lol.

all the best,
Kathy

Hi Scant,

I'm on to it, hope to get some replies/info tomorrow. or day after. As I said I can't promise anything, so don't get your hopes up, but it's worth a shot. Here's hoping.

LOL - I know what you mean about getting worked up. It's that time of the month and I'm having a bit of a time of it. Fantastically good dizzy stretch, now followed by an irritating period of floating/water bed sensations. I liked Jen's phrase, a 'shockingly bad stretch,' sums it up nicely, it is shocking, of the 'What do you think you're doing body?' variety. Be gone head monster.

By the way, in my opinion this is a really good decision Scant, don't fret, it can't hurt, can it? It's also much easier to handle all this when you feel you've been thoroughly checked out. It was really important for me.

best,

hbep.

Hbep:
What other kind of testing do the neuros do differently than the ENT specialists. Just curious as to what kinds of questions they will be asking that will be different from the ENT. I really appreciate your help. A couple of names that I am looking at are a Steven Parnes out of Medical College Otolaryngology in Albany, NY and Another David Foyt,MD out of Capital Region Otolaryngology also from Albany. I'll understand if you can't come up with anything but really appreciate the fact that you are trying to help me all the way from the UK!!!!! I swear if I ever win the Lottery big I give my vow that we will have a reunion somewhere in the middle of the US and the UK wherever that may be since I am geologically challenged.
That would be pretty cool to met everybody.

Take care,
Kathy
P.S. Glad your dizzies are better. I have almost all my components to the johns of Ohio treatment. It can't hurt to get the blood flowing better up to the head monster and hopfully drowining the little Ba----d.

Hi Kathy

Tom Boisner from the Dizzinews site actually gave me the name of the neurotologist I saw in Australia! It was the same name that Kippers gave me, but it's interesting that he is in the US and he has contats here. Give him a try. Hbep knows about Tom - Hbep, is there any way Kathy could contact Tom without having to register on Dizzinews?

Jen

Hi there Jen and Scant,

Yup, there is a way Kathy can find out info from Tom, and here it is. He actually gave me phone numbers and addresses, but I'm playing safe regarding board rules. I think this is enough info for you to find them, Kathy.

The first one Tom mentioned is - Lawrence Z. Meiteles, at Westchester County Medical Center in N.Y. He also (as far as I can work out) practices at St Agnes Hospital. The other one is Hayes Wanamaker in Syracuse - those 2 bits of info should be enough to find him if you do a search.

Hope this helps. With regard to what a neuro oto will do. I think the tests are the same, although depending on the facility you go to, some have ever more advanced equipment which can be more precise in pin pointing the problem. I think the key is a neuro oto's expertise in reading test results, (it often isn't enough to have the tests done, the person reading them is also an important factor) and their extensive experience of treating dizzy patients and consequently the different nuances of dizzy disorders. As it's their super speciality they are simply more likely to arrive at the correct conclusions and the correct treatment plan.

Hope this helps, Scant, and yes, a board get together would be great, wouldn't it? It would be so interesting to meet everyone in person, put a face to the names etc...

best,

hbep.