I traveled 5 hours and spent the night in a motel only to go see a doctor and him spend 10 minutes with me. He told me there was nothing he could do for me. Changed my medication to Robinal and Lasick and told me to come back in 6 weeks if I did not feel better. I was incredibly frustrated. I do not know what else to do. The attacks are becoming more frequent. I had gentimicin injection 8 years ago but have started having attacks again. it has taken over my life right now. Don't know where else to go or who to see. Has anyone had any luck with an ENT?
You experience while incredulous and insulting is not uncommon. You will see on this website that many people have gotten relief from Anti-viral medicine prescribed by in some cases an ENT or a primary care physician. I would recommend an ENT or even better a Nuurootologist. That is a doctor who is both a Neurologist and ENT. You need someone who understands what the cause is of your symptoms and adjust treatment based on the success or failure of it. I would begin by looking over this sit and read the threads as they contain a.lot of information. Then any doctor you see, you will be prepared. Good luck.
Well supposedly he was a neurologist. That is why I traveled to see him. I am reading up on this site and hopefully something will help. Thank you
Personally I would focus less on the title of the doctor vs one who will listen to you. Do you best to find a doctor (even your general pract) that will prescribe anti-virals. Many have success. There are plenty of options out there - I too have had more than one dr tell me that there was nothing that they could do for me, and those were the same ones who wouldn't even consider anti-virals, those were considered specialists for Meniere's...
He told you the truth, there is nothing -he- can do for you. But he is not the only doctor in the world. Keep looking. Dr Derebery at House Ear in LA was able to help me. There are others too. Ask around this board.
Since you drove to AL once, see if you can get an appt with Dr Gacek in Mobile, AL. His dad is the one who has done a lot of the antiviral studies and from what i have read here he also supports that treatment option.
Yes, go see Gaceks son. I almost went many times when I lived in Atlanta. I had the experience you had when I flew out to the house clinic. I saw Derebery for about 10 minutes and she recommended I see I neurologist and sent me out the door. After flying across the country from Atlanta booking a hotel for a week because I was told that was how much time she needed etc. I don't know where you are based but I had a pretty good ENT in Monroe GA, Dr. Miller. He was open to the anti viral theory and let me try many of the things posted on this board as long as I had research to back it up. He always spends a lot of time with his patients and always calls to check in sometimes at 10pm at night. He was a great doctor. Can't say that he found my cure but he never quit trying. There is a vestibular neurologist at Emory. I was going to meet with him before I moved to the west coast. Haven't heard amazing things about him. But he does specialize in vestibular conditions and he is a neurologist. I am pretty familiar with specialists in the Atlanta south east area as I went to see about a gazillion of them. Let me know if I can be of more assistance.
Did you finally get any relief from your menieres. I just had gentimicin drops and my head is just crazy!
I've been to three ENT's and one neurologist. So far, the neurologist has been the most helpful. The first ENT diagnosed me and then told me he didn't feel like he had the experience to help me so sent me to another ENT that specialized more in vestibular issues. I got two gent injections with him. He was awful on my third appointment and made me feel about two inches tall so I found another one. So far, she has been good. She really hasn't done anything earth shattering to treat the Meniere's but took good care of the ruptured eardrums. The neurologist decided to take a rather unique approach and I'll go with just about anything to keep the attacks away. I'm on trileptal. He said he thinks it can help block the signal between the vestibular nerve and the brain. I don't know if its coincidence or if that is what is working but have't had a major attack since starting on it and symptoms have gotten tons better. Still have tinnitus and full feeling but I can live with that as long as I don't have the vertigo attacks. Those are awful! My last appointment with the ENT was a couple of weeks ago and I don't go back for another six months unless something comes up. She said we'll recheck hearing then to see where it's at. I have horrible static in the left ear and it's sensitive to noise. The right ear has a more roaring kind of sound off and on and also I can occasionally hear my pulse in my right ear. Good luck! I hope you can find a doctor to help!