Anyone on here had balance testing done, I get extreme head pressure and dizziness daily and my hopefully surgeon (still hadn’t decided) wants me to go through 3 hours of torturous balance testing, anyone done this? Got any results from it?
Hi yes I went through this the all famous 3 hour testing of tilt table spinning chair water in the ears etc. it came up with nothing of conclusion. I did it to go through all the motions to see if it was vestibular in nature. It wasn’t awful but it wasn’t something I would want to have to do again. I did drive myself it was about an hour away. I wouldn’t recommend that but they didn’t tell me I couldn’t either. Please feel free to ask any other other questions you may have. Happy to help in any way I can.
3 Likes
Thanks for answering, I’m not looking forward to it, I’m 90 percent sure my dizziness is caused by my jugular vein compression, but as my surgeon doesn’t think that he wants me to have these tests done before he decides if he will do the surgery or not, it’s very frustrating
2 Likes
Hey Debbie,
Ahh, yes. Welcome to the ‘Medical Roundabout’. I had a neurosurgeon do a very similar thing “ohh, no, no. Your symptoms aren’t related to anything I’ve done…” and he sent me on that ‘roundabout’ and around and around and ar… only to then, reluctantly, agree that maybe, just maybe, I was correct.
My only recommendation here is that you follow through with the suggested tests. You can scream it from the top of the Empire State Building, but until they have another medical professional’s opinion confirming the diagnosis, our opinion is often taken as hearsay.
Best of luck with it all.
Merl from the Modsupport Team
5 Likes
I agree dizziness is caused by too much abnormal fluid in head caused by Vascular compression trapping blood/lymph fluid in head. After my second styloid surgery that is crystal clear to me now as at 6 weeks Post op I do still get some trapped fluid when upright a while & once trapped in base of skull areas it results in dizziness, which clears once I lie supine for JVs to open & clear trapped fluid. This condition does affect vestibular system in my experience but not due to usual known causes. After first styloidectomy walking felt like was in take off mode on a plane, but that has settled now. It’s tough medics don’t know/believe us, but don’t give up. D
3 Likes
This is super helpful - thanks, all. I didn’t even know that balance testing was a thing. I am a newly diagnosed patient and just trying to learn about all the various tests I should ask about. I definitely have balance problems, especially when I turn in one direction too quickly and when I bend down and lift back up. I have fallen twice over the past few years as a result, which is a real drag and has me nervous. I will talk to my doctor about this!
1 Like
Good point Mod Support!
A good friend of mine in medicine has a saying I remind myself of when I get frustrated “The system must be satisfied”. You can apply this to many of the red tape, unreasonable procedures outside of medicine too.
No matter what your argument is against this, this doctor appears to use this testing as a tool for his practice. He/she may even do it as a CYA or to satisfy insurance to justify surgery? Sometimes doc get set in their ways and will not budge. It sure makes sense that if you have documented IJV, it would cause dizziness. What not wait until after surgery and see if dizziness subsides before testing?
As for dizziness/vertigo…I went through testing last year with Nuero-otologist, did one Vestibular PT session that put me in bed for a week and most recently a battery of testing at Chicago Hearing & Dizziness. It was probably the most comprehensive testing I have ever had and the report was written like a thesis paper. That testing went pretty smoothly and I think the symptoms they can produce can vary by the skill of the technician. The most recent ones were not awful and I was glad we ruled things in or out. There is value in that from the testing.
I considered one test last year to be somewhat tortuous as I came close to vomiting (water in ear) and Eply manuever for BPPV. I didn’t have to do the tilt table thankfully which I have heard isn’t so pleasant. I would ask the doc exactly what tests? Look them up and read about them. Ask the doc what the purpose of the testing is and why is it of value before surgery?
After all my testing (included neck and brain angiogram), mine isn’t fully conclusive. I do know I have BPPV on one side, possible nerve compression in neck causing inner ear issues, and cervical related vertigo of unknown origin.
I wouldn’t recommend driving either and as Ddmarie indicated, they didn’t tell me I couldn’t. Luckily recent ones I had to only walk 2 blocks. The other I had to take a bus and ferry home and that was not pleasant as I had a massive headache. Ive read it is advised to sit in a recliner for at least 15-20 minutes in a quiet spot after the vestibular testing to avoid blow back. That was never offered and should have been. I hope that helps
5 Likes
Great info, @Snapple2020. Thank you for sharing!
1 Like