hbep

Hi Emsybobs,

Sorry the ENT was a pain, although afraid, based on my experiences with ENT's, that I'm not surprised.

I do think to remind you you're not a) bananas or b) Likely to show anything at all on an MRI - ENT's do this as a precaution, it's totally standard, anyone would be given one with your/my symptoms, and 99.9% of the time it comes back negative, that I should post this section of the article written by the vestibular research nurse...

Written by Sue Pesznecker.

"Entry-level position is the otolaryngologist or ENT (ear-nose-throat).These docs have completed med school, a 3-5 year general surgery residency,
and a 2-3 year ENT residency. They may or may not become board-certified.ENTs take care of a wide variety of conditions involving the ears, nose, and
throat-- mostly sinuses, tonsils, ear tubes, etc. Many of them become head/neck surgeons and care for cancer patients few of them may become self-educated about the inner ear, but their training actually contains little inner ear work.

I'll be honest here, Emsybobs, many ENG's come back negative - sometimes because people have already compensated to a degree, and also, I was surprised to find out from the neuro oto I saw today, because it doesn't test all chambers of the inner ear, so isn't 100% reliable. Apparently my tests was borderline -- i.e indicated there might be a problem, but might not. My treatment has been based not simply on the tests, but also the expertise of the neuro oto I saw who listened to my symptoms, initally no vertigo, but non specific visual dizziness 24/7 that became vertigo at 8 months in, and had the knowledge and experience to know a vestibular disorder when it was staring him in the face, take me very seriously and treat it.

The ENT you saw really does sound like a turkey. Do you really want to wait for her to read you ENG results, tell you its negative and send you off to the wrong specialist - a neurologist!!!!!! Everything about your condition sounds like the inner ear. She's already not on your side, she's already failed to spot the completely and patently obvious - honestly Emsybobs, demand an NHS referral from your GP(you are totally entitled to another opinion) to the National Hospital of Neurology in London, it's worth travelling for, you'll probably be seen inside 6 weeks, they'll do your tests on the same day and they'll actually be qualified enough to give you a proper diagnosis. Use the ENT only to get your MRI result, if you get in to the National before your ENG under this ENT, you can scrap it, and run a million miles from this prize joker, who, I'm afraid to say, will probably just mess you around some more if you continue under her.

There's a time to cut your losses and stop dealing with people who don't respect you or the fact you're ill and move on to people who will give you the help you need. It's only my opinion, Emsybobs, but I was almost on my knees with the rubbish treatment I recieved from ENT's - the joy of having left those jokers behind is amazing.

I'm sorry you went through this, as I did, and many other on here, it's horrible, but there is a solution.

[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 09-29-2003).]

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hbep