Dizziness

Sorry if this is a repeat of a previous recommendation, but since dizziness seems to be a big problem with many of us “limbolanders,” I thought I’d toss this out here.

My dizziness has been an ongoing problem for me for over 4 years now….documented for that period of time with my PCP and neuro.

Recently I went to an ID doc and he was shocked that I had not been to an ENT and that no one had suggested I see one.  I briefly stated my symptoms, and again he said, “No one sent you to an ENT?”  I told him I did have a VNG and hearing test and he still insisted that I see an ENT because he thought I might have Meniere’s.

Two days later I saw the rheumatologist didn’t think I needed to see an ENT, but after hearing my some of the symptoms he agreed that I see should one.

Maybe I am just stupid, but it never occurred to me to see one, but then again, for too long I have relied on the advice of a few doctors who have been wasting my time.

Has anyone have any luck seeing an ENT to relieve dizziness/vertigo?

Wanna

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Kiddo!  Good to see you.  My vertigo was treated by an ENT who specialized in vestibular disorders.  I had biateral BPPV, and a "perilymph Fistula" a hole in my inner ear leaking fluid into the middle ear.

Meniere's Disease is a chronic and poorly treatable deterioration of the hearing and balance organs of the inner ear.  Classically it presents with bouts of severe, whirling and disabling vertigo, often lasting hours.  It also has fluccuating hearing loss, but over time generally has a cumulative permanent loss of hearing of varying severity.  The third classic finding is tinnitus, which is a perception of a sound in the affected ear.  The sound may be a tone, buzz, roar, clicking, static or any number of "sounds."  Tinnitus can be mild and intermittent or severe and disabling.  In my case I have had tinnitus for 25 years and it is currently among my worst symptoms. (I do not have Meniere's)

The cause  of Meniere's Disease is a buildup of pressure from too much fluid within the inner ear organs.  The first line of therapy is a low salt diet, followed by use of diuretics.  There have been lots a attempts to treat Meniere's with a surgical shunt, with varying success, mostly not.

All people who have a recognizable "position" trigger to their dizziness should be evaluated for BPPV, Benign (???) Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo, caused by loose crystals in the semicircular canals.  Sometimes the testing, which is easily done in the office needs to repeated several times to catch the crystals "as they fall freely in the canals" with position change.  This type of vertigo can be very disabling, but is close to 100% treatable by skilled people.

In my experience all ENTs feel they are quite capable of diagnosing and treating vertigo, but few really are.  I always recommend that people with chronic or recurring severe vertigo see a subspecialist in the field called an oto-neurologist or neuro-otologist.  These guys truly know their stuff!  You can find a speicalist by going to the VEDA - VEstibular Disorders of America website ( www.****.org) and searching for one in your region.

http://www.****.org/

This site also has good discussions about the different kinds of "dizziness."

Another good site is for an education on the topic is:

http://www.****.org/

Hope this helps.

Quix

[Wobbly]

Hi..this is the first reason I went to a Dr was because of dizziness....The Neuro sent me to an ENT...I went 10 years ago for dizziness, when the room moved back and forth and I could not move for approx 10 - 15 min and then off balance for weeks afterwards..10 years ago it lasted about 6 months and went away...

then in 2005 it started up again.  I went back to my GP, then Neuro then ENT again, they tested me with a few different tests and said it's not my ears?  Not Vertigo, Mennieres and didn't know what it was...probably Neurological.  

I don't know if I should try another ENT or specialist for ears...I do have tinninitis...very loud everday...it can drive me nuts at times..

I have more symptoms in the past few years, now I'm off work on sick leave. Vision is bad, Pain in joints, dizzy spells still weekly approx.  off balance, bad memory, speech problems. etc etc...had two MRI showing lesions, but not specific to MS?? waiting for C Spine MRI in a few weeks...and getting more blood tests done as I had high sed rate and postive ANA...so sorry for going on and on..

yes Dizziness is not fun....take care
andie

[Heather3418]

This is one aspect of life that you and Quix and many others here suffer from and I for one, am so thankful that i have not experienced it.  I cannot imagine what all of you go through, with this dizziness.

I am really epathetic to your plight.  I really am.  Please keep us posted on what you find out.

In case you noticed, Quix's web site references were **** out.  MedHelp does this automatically and is not  **** out by Quix nor I.  

Try to have a great day,
Heather

[Want to feel well!!!]

Quix-thanks I did find one web site...in spite of the ****

I have tinnitus (louder in one ear than the other…each with their own sound) and a low tone hearing loss.  The hearing loss has been a bit more evident lately…quite often I ask people to repeat what they said.   I also get these odd sensations like my ears are suddenly plugged up like I am suddenly in a higher altitude.  

The VNG test I had ruled out BBPV.  The “benign” part of that one baffled me also.  I watched a few videos of people with BBPV being tested and that looks like anything but “benign.”

I did read somehwere recently about a connection between autoimmune disorders and Meniere's Disease.

Hopefully the ENT can give some relief!!!  Forever hopeful.

As the world spins...

Wanna

[Want to feel well!!!]

Did you go to the Vestibular Disorders of America web site?  It has a lot of information.

Wanna