Crap NHS and GP!!!! 38 weeks of 24/7 unrelenting off balance and dizziness!!!

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hi all, I had my 1st dizzy - off balance spell Christmas 2016. They became more and more frequent until the end of July 2017 since it's been 24/7 and unrelenting! On the 9th of Aug my partner phoned 999 and i was taken straight to A&E as on top of the dizziness my face, hands, arms, feet had all gone numb and they thought i'd had a stroke. I was seen by a stroke Dr and all was fine on that score. I had an ECG and blood tests and was sent home after 7 hrs. I was told it could be something vascular and my GP would be told to do an urgent referral for me to see a vascular surgeon. After having to push my GP my appt finally came through but it was 4 months away, how can that be urgent!!!!!? I had to fight and push and in the end i got an appt 10 weeks after my A&E visit. All my vascular checks came back fine and the vascular surgeon said i should see a neurologist, so my GP referred me. My appt has now come through fir 2 weeks time, which means i've waited 27 weeks, so that's now 38 weeks solid of off balance and dizziness and about 36 weeks since being ambulanced to A&E. I started to write everything down and since my A&E visit i've either been to see or had a phone appt with my GP 22 times begging for help to speed things up and for help but he's been totally unwilling to help!!! 

It's that bad i've not been to work since last summer. The dizziness and off balance is 24/7 unrelenting. When i sit down it's like the chair is bouncing, when i stand it's like i'm on a boat or somebody is sitting on my shoulders whilst somebody is pulling at my ankles, when i lay down it's like i'm on a swing. It's really that bad!! I'm only 45 and have a young family. I've not driven since the end if July because i don't wan't to take the risk and have become pretty much housebound due to it all. I'm thinking do i have a brain tumour, MS, Parkinsons and all sorts. If i do i can't believe how much trouble my GP and NHS trust will be in, namely East Sussex Healthcare Trust!!!

Thanks for reading and sorry for the rant.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    Have you had an MRI?
    • Posted

      Nope. Nothing at all Barbara. I've got to be honest i'm sick of reading online (not here) how people have a dizzy spell for 30 seconds their GP sends them for a CT or MRI and they see a neurologist within a week. My NHS trust is 27 weeks just for your 1st appt.

    • Posted

      And i've had it 38 weeks solid with no relief. Not 30 seconds.

  • Posted

    Hi Matt - haven't you removed the gallbladder yet ? Also,did you take any VNG test?

    • Posted

      Nope ultrasound spotted thickened wall and shadow end of Nov. Referred to see surgeon which was a 3 month wait. When i saw the surgeon he said he wanted upper abdo MRI and MRCP waited 4 weeks for this and now still waiting for results 4 weeks later. So it's now  5 months since i was referred to surgeon and i'm no further forward really. The uk health service is crap!

      Whats a VNG test? Sounds to complicated for the UK! They would probably try and kiss it better 1st.

      How about you? Have you had surgery yet?

    • Posted

      Not yet Matt. I'm figuring whether to have in India or at USA. Right now on a very low fat diet.

      VNG test is to test the vestibular disorder, if they find any..they will give some physical therapy excercise to reduce the symtoms.

      If you look at my major concerns are extreme bloating in stomach, burping and dizziness for me. Although dizziness was major concern for me earlier, now bloating and burping are so severe. I really like to know what is your major symptoms and how is your digestion going on? Do you feel bloated and burping?

  • Posted

    Hi,

    I was stricken with 24/7 vertigo 11 months ago. I have been housebound since that time, as I cannot drive. It has been a living nightmare. For your information, I’ve had the following tests done (I live in the US, so it has been easy to have these tests ordered):  Complete blood work and cardiovascular work up, MRI of brain, MRA’s of brain and neck (to check blood flow through the brain stem), x-ray of neck, MRI of neck, and VNG (which showed my inner ear function to be normal). Two of my docs, my ENT and neurologist, sent me to a spinal surgeon since the MRI showed significant degeneration in my cervical spine (bulging discs, stenosis, etc.).  They both believe my neck issues could be causing the vertigo. I saw the neurosurgeon yesterday. It was a waste of time. He didn’t take me seriously, and said there was no way my neck problems could be causing my vertigo, even though I’ve read about cervical vertigo myself. He is sending me to another, younger surgeon for a second opinion, who I hope has a more open mind. 

     I’m so sorry you are going through this. I have a husband who is a huge help, but I must take a cab if I want to go anywhere. My lifestyle has changed drastically as a result of this malady, and I am very depressed. 

    Let me me know if you have any questions. I will keep you posted. 

    Janet

  • Posted

    Hi. You might want to have your jaw and neck alignment checked. Jaw disorders can cause 24/7 balance problems. My experience.

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