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Ear specialist?

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 Exocet 29 Nov 2016
Can anybody recommend a good ENT specialist in the Manchester area with an emphasis on the E? Since my plummet on Craig y Gesail in August I have been struggling to recover from the dizziness caused by a bit of a bang on the head, and it has been diagnosed as BPPV. The doc has done two sessions of the Epley Manoeuvre on me to no effect so she wants to refer me. Anybody suffered? Well, I know at least two people who have, but they seem to be able to sort it. So it's more a case of anybody got any ideas of where I go from here. The Mammut wall at Stockport is a nightmare and it doesn't bode well for Sicily in March if I don't recover soon.
 marsbar 29 Nov 2016
In reply to Exocet:

I didn't know what it was, so I googled it. I found this which may be helpful. http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bppv/bppv.html It suggests trying up to 4 times with the manoeuvre, and some self help.
 MargieB 30 Nov 2016
In reply to Exocet:
I had dizzy episodes for years and after a brain scan to remove the possibility if a brain injury/tumor I had the eply manoeuvre done. The trick is you havee to keep yoour head upright for 24 hours so no sleeping with head back on pillow but bolt upright for a night. This stops the re-adjusments of fluids in the ear reversing. My eply manoevre was very successful but two over time were performed.
I think I achieved the problem with flights- not literally though..
Post edited at 08:58
OP Exocet 30 Nov 2016
Thanks for that link marsbar. It's the most useful thing I've seen and suggests I should have made much more effort with the night thing. I did try to sleep upright but it was hurting my neck so I ended up lying down about at about 4am.The doc is supposed to be phoning me so I will mention that up to 4 times might be needed, get her to do it and then follow the advice much more closely. I think she is not very experienced on the condition and although she mentioned the staying non horizontal, don't think she emphasised it enough.
 marsbar 30 Nov 2016
In reply to Exocet:

Well I hope it works for you.
 FesteringSore 30 Nov 2016
In reply to Exocet:

Mine resolved by itself after two or three months.
 LittleRob 30 Nov 2016
In reply to Exocet:

I've had BPV on and off for a couple of years. 2 factors that seem to make it worse are:

Lack of sleep
Dehydration

The Epley thing works, but crikey its a horrid experience. Well it is/was for me.

Rob
 Sealwife 30 Nov 2016
In reply to Exocet:

I had an episode of BPPV whilst on holiday in Whistler (fantastic timing!)

Was utterly horrible and very scary when it first came on, you have my sympathy.

As medical insurance only covered life-threatening conditions I treated it myself by repeatedly inducing the sensation until my brain managed to become so accustomed to it, that it ignored the messages from my inner ear (or something like that - it worked anyway).

Google Brandtt-Daroff exercises for detailed instructions.

How I did it was, sat on a bed, went from sitting to lying down on my back quickly, waited for symptoms to subside, moved my head to the left sharply, waited for symptoms, moved my head back to centre, waited for symptoms to subside, moved head sharply to right etc.

I realised that it was only my left side which needed treatment, so concentrated on that. Three sets of exercises, three times a day. It lessened greatly after I started the exercises and was gone within a fortnight. I believe some people need to take anti-sickness remedies before doing them, I was kind of OK (i.e. didn't actually puke, but had a lot of cold sweats, hideously nauseas sensations.

I haven't had any recurrence but now have a horror of any spinning motion (hate hanging on a rope below an overhang for that reason, and will probably never go on a roller coaster or waltzer again).

Good luck.
OP Exocet 01 Dec 2016
In reply to Sealwife:
The Brant thingy didn't work for me unfortunately. I understand it is a mild version of the Epley which so far hasn't worked either. My insurance will cover it but I lose this years no claims bonus and no doubt my already horrendously expensive premium will go up again. But that's why I have it so that, as a climber who can't afford (from a climbing point of view) to wait too long for NHS treatment and doesn't want anything major in the middle of the climbing season, I guess I just have to suck it up.

OP Exocet 01 Dec 2016
Hi Rob
Although I don't sleep well and do get dehydrated due to a salt intolerance I think the 30 foot leader fall, head bashing and loss of consciousness probably was the cause, though the former might be contributing to the continuation of the problem I guess. Hope, even if I get it sorted, it doesn't keep coming back, though the Epley wasn't too bad for me. Maybe that's the problem. It should have been.🤔


OP Exocet 01 Dec 2016
It's 3 months now since the fall so think it's gone beyond the waiting time. But thanks.

 MargieB 02 Dec 2016
In reply to Exocet:
Has the brain scan been metioned- dizziness has other reasons that need eliminating? Not to scare you but perhaps you should mention this. I had a brain scan and that should eliminate other reasons and then you can concentrate on ears.
Though I suppose after a knock like that they fully investigated didn't they?
Post edited at 09:42
 damowilk 02 Dec 2016
In reply to Exocet:

You'll want to be referred to someone with an interest in Vestibular medicine, it's slowly becoming a seperate sub-specialism within ENT, and many ENT surgeons will not have an interest in it.
The first thing is probably to confirm the diagnosis; many conditions can cause vertigo, and BPPV is probably over-diagnosed as it's actually got a treatment and can be satisfying to diagnose and treat correctly.
OP Exocet 03 Dec 2016
In reply to MargieB: yes I had a scan at Bangor hospital after the helicopter rescue and they were happy there was no damage. Thanks for the concern.

OP Exocet 03 Dec 2016
In reply to damowilk: the doc seemed to be sure it was BPPV - my eyes were doing all the correct things. But I don't think she is experienced in it which is why I wondered if I should go to see a specialist. I'm inclined to try the treatment suggested by Dave J today and for the next few days if necessary, plus the semi reclined nights and go ahead with the referral if it still doesn't improve. Thanks for the advice all and watch this space.


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