Finally Went For Eng etc., Only To Be Sent Home

hbep

Hi Nina,

Sorry you had a bad experience, reminds me of sitting in a dentist's waiting room once, (I am dentist phobic) with someone literally screaming in pain in the dentist's chair in the other room, lol. Not what I needed. I understand your feelings/thinking on this, although in case you change your mind at any point, it's worth reiterating that I was fine with the tests, didn't enjoy them, but no way terrible, I didn't have the caloric, only rotary chair, BUT 2 people I know both had them and were also fine, drove/got bus home etc... No prolonged effects. It's so different with each person.

By the way, laughed out loud at 'reluctantly and grumblingly'' - wow - has that been a description of me at every appt I've forced myself along to in the last 19 months.

Re VRT - I was given a list of 25 exercises to do one at a time which got harder as I went along. Although people are told different things, so who knows. My thinking is that yes, you should be progressing on to another exercise when you have 'finished' (no longer have any effect) from the one you're doing. The idea is your brain has learnt how to cope with that one and now needs new challenges.

best,

hbep.

__________________
hbep

willsmommy

Hi Nina!

What a pain - just after you had built yourself up to having the tests done! some-one with greater needs beats you too it!!! annoying!

I hear what you say about not having the tests done BUT I think you should have a careflu think about that. YES VRT is about the only cure going with this old lark BUT its helpful to be able to say yes it is all inner ear. NOT every body with these symptoms has inner ear. Emys is right in her decision not to have the tests but you will remeber that she has actually already had them all and the MRI so any central cause has been ruled out and had the symptoms once again confirmed by 2 independant specialist as coming form the inner ear.

Now I dont know your history and if these are repeat or first time tests or even how long you have had your symptoms. But I put off having the tests done in year 1 of this labs thing and that was a mistake. I have subsequently had numerous different diagnsosis and even some epleys!! lol. I think the testsing is good it can give you a clear picture of what is going on and can distinguish between inner ear and central. OK enough said, thats just my opinion.

Also as for the tests being bad! well they are absolutely no worse that having a filing in fact any unpleasant sensations are over quick like in under 2-3 mins each one. I had them all done after a 12 hour drive to get there and walked out and went into central London for dinner. So its really not awful by any means!

Good Luck

Mica09

I had the ENG test. It was not pleasant but I was able to go on with my day.

Ninamarie

Yes hbep I remembered your saying that you hadn't had such a bad time with the ENG, that was actually one of the things that made me bite the bullet and schedule it. That and the fact that I know that I cann't go back to the referring doctor without having had them done. No Willsmommy I didn't find it in any way annoying that someone else got my appointment, a) I knew that the only reason they could have been slotted in so quickly was if they really needed to be and having done it so tough myself for so many years I am totally sympathetic to the hard time being experienced by many others b) on the selfish side I was quite happy to take off as I didn't want the rotten test anyway, I've had rotten tests to last a lifetime and I'm fed up to the back teeth with them. But I am going to discuss it with the referring neurologist, just how necessary is that particular test as they're seems to be little doubt now that the problem is a vestibular disorder.

studyin

Hi Ninamarie....I cannot lie. The caloric test just about destroyed me. It really is different for everyone obviously just in the same way there are probably no two lab cases alike. But for me I was a write-off for at least 3 days following the test and didn't really recover to where I was before the test for about 10 days. It was weird...it didn't leave me horribly dizzy afterwards (although slightly more) but instead it really trashed me more emotionally if that makes sense. I became super-anxious and totally freaked out by almost everything that evening and then just anxious/ easily upset for the days following. My ears were all sensitive to noise, I was getting adrenalin shots and tremors for no reason - YUK. Anyway, nuff said. I still reckon it's worth the gamble to see that everything's OK and you'll probably walk away without too much drama.

Scott

jcrock791

Hi. Yes the ENG is not the most fun of all tests, but it can give you piece of mind for people like me who thought I was going crazy and vertigo was just a thing in my head.

They make you dizzy a few times by blowing hot and cold air in your ear and it goes away quickly and its good to know if you have nystagmus or other things the ENG can reveal as well as how serious it is.

Just a thought, feel better.

Ninamarie

Okay guys thanks for the feedback, I'll go back and have it done. You know there was a time when I took everything in my stride, scorned the very suggestion that anything would daunt me, but not now, have to be honest, not now. Years of contending with this has wearied me to an extent I would never have believed, has worn me down, just don't cope with things as well as I used to.

willsmommy

Hi Nina - Good!! think thats agood decision and I can TOTALLy relate to how these symptoms are very wearing, they simply go on and on! I often say to Emys, Belle and Brina that we could live with it if we just knew it was going to end and when!! But it just goes on and on and on. So I do really empathise ((((hugs)))) Ilia xxxx

Barnsley

Nina,

I can totally relate! I was completely healthy until this thing came along (I'm 40). Heck, I was even in a yoga class (healthy activity for sure) when it first struck. Tomorrow will begin my 16th month, and while I'm basically operating at 98-99% with some 100% days in there, any little setback at all just saps my confidence. I don't get so anxiety ridden as I did last year when I wasn't sure what was going on, but even with knowing it still sort of sucks because you just want to be normal and the fuzzy, rolly feelings to go away.

I will add to the ENG debate and say that I had BPPV, and the Epley maneuver got rid of the positional vertigo like a charm, but I had residual ***** feelings with trampoline walk and I wondered why. My ENT recommended the ENG and it did show a 22% deficit on my right side (the side affected by the BPPV). At least it brought peace of mind that I wasn't nuts and something really was wrong. Getting better could finally commence from there (and I didn't even have the ENG until I was 8 months into this!). I have heard others on this board tell that when the ENG shows nothing it may be because you've already compensated a bit. In any case, I agree with the others that you should have it. It could answer some questions for you. Sure the VRT will help or be the therapy suggested one way or the other, but it's amazing how much better it is for the morale to actually be able to pinpoint the source of the problem. I did not have any bad experience or side effects from the test. My husband went with me because they didn't want me to drive afterward, but truth be told, I could have. It's not a biggie and may be very well worth your time and trouble. That's my 2 cents!!

Cheers,
Terri