I see Dr Jing Shen at Houston ENT (memorial city and willowbrook). She is only an ENT so she can only do so much, but she is letting me try the anti-viral approach. If push comes to Houston ENT can prescribe SERC, opt for injections (gent or steroid), or the standard menieres surgeries. Dr Shen has been very understanding and I would definitely recommend. I've also had a visit with Dr Vrabec at Baylor COM in the medical center and he does not believe that any non-destructive surgery works (including EDB). He is the top neurotologist in Houston so getting an appointment is a 3 month process.
Yeah 7 or 8 years ago or so I went to Vrabec.. Back then I waited 8 months lol... I did all the tests and sat in the chair and spun around and put the goggles on with the cold water then hot water in the ears.. It was a horrid experience as it brought on bad vertigo attack lol.. I was so scared. Then a month after the tests I went to actually see Vrabec to discuss results.. He said there was nothing wrong with my vestibular system. I tried to ask about the vertigo attacks and bad tinnitus.. He said none of that was from my vestibular system because if I had ear issues the tests would of proved it. Was a complete letdown for me. I waited 9 months to be told I was basically hallucinating it. I went to him because he was the best. But he came across very uncaring and cold and really like he had done his job so I needed to go home now. He barely spent 10 minutes in the room with me. My regular DR prescribed SERC. I had horrible insomnia on it and was forced to quit it early on. Thank you for the recommendation. I may go to her with her willingness to try virals out. How are the anti-virals working so far? http://www.texasearcenter.com I saw a Dr Joseph Chang online . He is a Neurotologist as well but works with a local ENT group. Unsure about if he is any good. UT health has its own balance disorder institute I have considered. I just cannot do Vrabec. Hell he didn't even recommend destructive treatment. Literally he said I was fine and to go home. Actually I guess he does deserve thanks in the fact that his treatment of me made me finally hit rock bottom and rise up and look for alternative treatments of my own. Which lead to JOH's wonderful treatment which provided me many many years of virtually symptom free living.
anti-virals, JoH, and diet have seemed to help for a few months but I have had some hiccups with dizziness and light vertigo recently. I jumped back to 3G of Valcyclovir and I am trying to get back to feeling normal (IE: no dizzys, no vertigo, less tinnitus and ear pressure). I am nowhere near as bad as I was pre-JoH and anti-virals but I am still not as functional as I'd like to be. Also I've heard good things about Dr Chang, but living in N Houston I just chose the closest ENT which was in Willowbrook.
I called Chang.. He only works off referrals so they asked me to send over everything from an ENT. I have not been to an ENT as never had one I went to that did anything for me. I tried to get my old test results from Baylor and Vrabec but said it would take a month so. Will schedule an appt with an ENT and go from there. The fullness and low end throbbing tinnitus in my right ear has been HORRID for last few months so bad I cannot even sleep on that side as it gets worse. I have increased lysine to 3000mg a day and started back on vertigo heel three times a day (which unfortunately I will run out of in a month)
I am at Houston ENT, 915 Gessner. My ENT is Dr. Mark Nichols. I've just been twice, once for the initial exam and then again for a bunch of tests - hearing and balance. I was at Baylor COM with Dr. Vrabec for 6+ years prior to now, but he was too busy to see me when my good ear took a very sudden and dramatic turn for the worse... So I switched. Dr. Nichols was very clear and precise in his diagnosis and recommendations. Did not spend a lot of time speculating or trying different stuff. I am to take a low dose of dieuretic, avoid caffeine altogether (which I am apparently not inclined to do), and keep the sodium to a minimum. He told me I had gone bilateral and that my good ear would eventual catch up to the bad one. 15 months or so later, I think I am better off now than I was then - but unfortunately I have no measurable evidence to support any specific action, diet, behavior, or otherwise to explain this change. It just changed... JMC
I have not.. But I will bring it up when I find me a Dr. Things hopefully have changed in the medical world since I gave up on it 10 years ago. Seriously any ENT or VRABEC or anyone I went to it was.. Yeah your ears ring you get dizzy. here take dramamine and pay the bill when you get it. Lot of information on here and examining a lot of things. Now I can add MAV to the list of things to explore lol.
I would like to recommend Dr. Fred Aguilar, the best ENT doctor in Houston. please visit the website for more information and Immediate Appointment:- https://www.entachouston.com/
I went to Jeffery Vrybec in Houston. He did my laby. He was a a really good doctor and would definitely go back. His bedside manner is different but he is strictly business! It is a teaching hospital.