Medway balance clinic

Hi Laurence

Thanks for your reply. I actually live in rossendale, Lancashire so Leicester is nearer to me. I'll look Mr Rea up as it may save me the long journey to Kent!!

Hi Laurence,

I know that you ahve been struggling a long time with this stuff.  Have you been able to find any relief with Dr. Rea?  How are you doing overall?

Terry

Hi Pinky,

That would be much closer for you.  Just for interest Mr Rea will be on TV on the 31st March helping a lady who had been dizzy for many years before seeing him.  It is channel 5 and called medical Msyteries.

Best Wishes

Laurence

Hi Terry,

Good to hear from you again.  My VN was further complicated by migraine so Mr Rea has prescribed some medication to help that and to help me sleep better.  I have been feeling some improvment these past 2 weeks so hopefully I will begin to see some more improvment over the next few weeks/months.  

How have you been, has you dizziness now completely gone?

Laurence

Not completely gone but, to a point that I can function.  I am around 95% recovered and feel that the remainder may be something that I have to live with.  My GP told me last week that once there is damage, and the neuro signals have to find new paths, that it just feels different to the brain.  My issues are more equilibrium related and I find some environments give me problems.  Large open areas make me feel a little off balance.

Hope that he can help you find the relief that we are all seeking.  This is truly a strange disorder and it is complicated by so many things. 

Best wishes.

I think you are right about having to live with a small percentage of dizziness as it seems many sufferers do not totally recover.

I am probably at around 70% but the thing holding me back is the lightheaded/faint feeling I get.  I am hoping the tablets will also sort this out.

I have recently had an ECG but I am pretty sure that will be ok.  I think the faint feeling is also due to the VN as I know others have complained of this.

best wishes

Laurence

Ok it's in my diary and I'll look out for that. I'm really looking for a drug free route as much as possible as I'm not on any meds.

Hi Pinky,

Mr Rea will always take the drug free route to begin with, unfortunately for me I am also suffering migraine which is aggravating the VN so hence he has prescribed something for that.  Just like the Medway clinic, Mr Rea also has an excellent balance clinic testing for everything, this is at his Londion Road clinic also in Leicester.  He has helped me greatly. 

The Medway clinic also sounds great, you are now spoilt for choice.

best of luck

Laurence

I've phoned up both places now. Mr Rea even had availability this Thursday but nobody can take me then. I think I'm going to go private as I'm fed up of waiting. Did he diagnose MAV for you? How long have you had this? Yes both places sound good. I guess it's now where I can go to be seen the quickest.

Hi Pinky,

I also went private and still am.  Mr Rea diagnosed VN initailly but as I am still suffering and after providing him with a further list of symptoms he has also diagnosed silent migraine.  These are likely brought on by my poor sleep pattern and tension around my neck and shoulders so hence he precsribed me something to help my sleep and the tension which in turn will help the migraine and dizziness.  I do feel like I am making a slow improvmenet since starting on a low dose, the diose increases over the next 2 months so I may feel even better over the next few weeks.  I also carry out the VRT prescribed by his physiotherpist, Andrew Clements, no doubt you will get to see Andrew also.

Mr Rea is an extremely nice men and very knowledgeable.  He carries out lots of seminars on the subject and treats peaople from all over the world so you will be in good hands.

Best wishes

Laurence

Thanks Laurence

I have to ring his secretary on Monday to see how long the waiting list is on the nhs. If it's too long, I might just go private. It's always good to go on recommendation and it helps that he's a nice man as my ENT man certainly wasn't!!!

I really hope you continue to improve.

All the very best

Pinky

Hi Pinky,

No problem, it will be interesting to hear how you get on and what you think.  

Have you been given a diagnosis or was your GP uncertain?

Best wishes

Laurence

My gp said labyrinthitis, but I had a hearing test and there's no hearing loss. My registrar ENT said BPPV and made me do Brandt daroff exercises, my senior ENT did the dix hallpike and said I didn't have crystals, my first VRT audiologist said vestibular neuritis and my private physio is saying the same - vestibular neuritis. So I guess that must be my diagnosis!!

Mr Rea will confirm 100% what thre problem is.  He will arrange for all the balance tests to be done before a second appointment with him and bespoke physiotherpy will then be arranged.  This is all done in a very short space of time, usually 1-2 weeks.

All the best.

Laurence

I feel that's what I need - a proper diagnosis from someone I trust and knows what they're talking about. The longer this goes on, the more worried I get and hence, anxiety which provokes the dizziness. I need reassurance. I'll get the ball rolling when I've spoken to his secretary on Monday. Thanks for your help Laurence.