jtiegs

Well after all my kvetching I finally got a decent caring response today from someone I didn't expect.

On Friday I put in a last ditch call to my neuro otologist (whom I had a good experience with on the first visit, and a disappointing experience with on my follow up.) I was hoping to consult with SOMEONE about my condition and newly developing symptoms before leaving town for a month, my first opinion is on my discard list, the second was this guy, and my third opinion referral was in limbo. Anyway, he called me back today, and was quite open to discussing my situation.

So, I explained to him the situation and discussed my
latest symptoms. He asked me to describe them further (wow, no one asked me to do that) so I did. He said he feels confident that my ears are "acting
up" but he isn't certain exactly what's the cause. He said he feels from everything I have said that it's definitely my ears. I guess he must not have been completely convinced before. Anyway, he told me to do a low-salt diet (icky) and take the Klonopin every day. This is the same as he prescribed before, but I challenged him on the compensation issue and taking Klonopin. I also asked him about Meniere's and he said at this point it's not quite fitting, but it could still end up that way. He said the pattern isn't completely consistent with Meniere's so he still isn't willing to go there yet. He asked whether I had done the diuretics (which I had, with unpleasant effects) so he didn't think I should go back on at this point. All of this is sort of repeat, but what he said about the compensation was that it isn't really an issue in my case. He said it's an issue when someone has a dramatic sudden balance upset. Not a drawn out episode. He said basically that what I have read isn't true for a case like mine and that there will be no measurable loss from taking the Klonopin daily (side note: this is the second doctor to tell me this, but I have no confidence in the other doc, so I blew it off). The reassuring thing that he said is in most of these cases like this, the ears act up for a period of time and that eventually they get straight again (I keep hearing that..). He asked me again to trust him on the Klonopin (2.5 mg 2xs a day) and use it to get through this rough time. He told me to call him again when I get back from my trip (wow, more interest in my condition! Where did that come from?).

Now I know some of this is stuff he already told me, but I found his compensation explanation new and interesting. I forwarded this info on to a doctor I know and trust (family) and he said he thinks I should try what this guy is telling me.

What are my fellow dizzies thinking about all of this?
Thanks,
Julianne