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My brother has been hospitalized for 2 weeks, diagnosed with Vertigo but showing no improvement

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Guest

My brother has been hospitalized for 2 weeks. He was diagnosed as having vertigo. He has been dizzy, nauseous and bed ridden for all of that time. The doctors claim that everything else (mri, blood tests, etc) check out fine. They have a switched him from one steroid to a different steroid and still nothing. He has only been seen by a specialist once since he was admitted, thus hasn't received much physical therapy. His family keeps being told the physical therapy is done as outpatient care. Does this sound like normal hospital protocol? We want to get him transferred but the hospital is basically saying we'd encounter this with any hospital. We feel like how can he get better with just meds, if clearly they are not working? We feel like more physical therapy is needed in order to see real improvement. Is this unreasonable?

0 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

  • victoria78511
    victoria78511 Guest

    Posted

    So sorry to hear that about your brother l was like that l didn't have the spinning Sensation l feel like things are moving and rocking when I'm in bed like I'm on a water bed when l walk l felt like l was walking on a trampoline l had all the test done all came back clear they told me I've had a trauma in my life causing anxiety stress Building up in my body trauma in my life my life they sent me for vestibular exercises did help and put me on antidepressants did your brother had trauma in his life and anxiety before all this started has your brother tried antidepressants

    • Guest
      Guest victoria78511

      Posted

      Thank you so much for taking the time to post your comment. My brother has experience some stressful life events. I've tried requesting a print out of all of his treatments/meds and was told he'd get one at discharge. (Ughhhh. I want it now so I can see what exactly he has been given) However, as I understand, at some point he did receive valium. I think that was only for a few days at most. I don't believe he is on it still. How long did it take before you stopped experiencin the spinning symptoms?

    • victoria78511
      victoria78511 Guest

      Posted

      I was give sertartine antidepressants it really helped me everything stared to go back to normal ask the doctor to try antidepressants I've been though hell and back the more l stress the more it would get worse do you live in the UK ?

    • Guest
      Guest victoria78511

      Posted

      Thank you for your answer. Do you recall how your doctors got to the point of treating you with antidepressants? At what point did they determine this? What tests had they done to form their evaluation? (Btw, we are in New York City, USA)
  • Lapka
    Lapka Guest

    Posted

    Absolutely doesn’t make any sense. Epley maneuver therapy may help him, but must be done by an experienced psysiotherspist. Good luck! 
    • Guest
      Guest Lapka

      Posted

      Thank you for your comment. That's what I figured. The regular hospital staff has come in on a couple of occasions and made my brother dons certain exercises only to cause him to feel worst. The actual specialist only came once. sad

    • victoria78511
      victoria78511 Guest

      Posted

      You said the doctor had your brother to do exercise was they vestibular exercises they will make him wores before he get better them are the ones l was doing x
    • Guest
      Guest Lapka

      Posted

      That's what I thought. Thanks for your reply.

  • rita52071
    rita52071 Guest

    Posted

    So sorry to hear. Needs to see a neuro ent dr to begin testing.  Meclizine and Valium can help with dizziness. While seeing the neuro ent make an appt with neurologist.  These appt can take up to 2 months or more to get.   Good luck.  
    • Guest
      Guest rita52071

      Posted

      Thank you for your comment. The main issue right now is that my brother is completely bed-ridden and has pretty much been this way for 2 weeks. (That's how long he has been in the hospital). The ENT specialist only has showed up once in the 2 weeks my brothe has been at the hospital. He has been seen by a neurologist and apparently he did not find any other cause for concern.

      The family and I are concerned because he has been on different meds all this time and still not able to hold down food. (He barely eats and usually if he does, he vomits at some point afterwards)

    • rita52071
      rita52071 Guest

      Posted

      The vomiting is all normal in the sense it’s due to the dizziness.  Where do you live.  Don’t know what meds they are giving him but some of these meds take at least 2 weeks to get a little relief.  Most time it takes a good month.  But agin it depends on what they are giving him.  
  • Waffalobill
    Waffalobill Guest

    Posted

    Vertigo is a symptom, not a illness. Hospital can only rule out tumors, stroke, etc etc. Next step usually is a ent. He looks for ear infections etc. The steroids will reduce inflammation. Some ppl get these symptoms after flying. Steroids help. Epeley menuever can help if it's positional vertigo. If that's no help a, then it's a trip to neurologist. Make sure it's not a brain thing. After him is a neurotologist. He's the guy deals with vestibular problems. That's when the real fun starts. VNG testing, caloric testing etc. With vertigo it's a game of eliminating what it's not first. This is a very hard thing to diagnose. Hospitals don't have the training to deal with most causes. It can be frustrating. The real problem is this,this whole process can take years sometimes. Aneurotologist deals with the vestibular system and it's connection to the brain. They are a very special Ed practice and sometimes you need to travel to get to one. I have to travel 3 hours round trip to the closest one for treatment.

    • rita52071
      rita52071 Waffalobill

      Posted

      Very good advise. I agree with you on this matter except I would go straight to see an otologist....neuro ent......they have the special training and they can do everything an ent can and more......and yes it takes years sometimes as we all know......a lot of times you need to wait two to three months for appts.  
    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill rita52071

      Posted

      Not sure where you are but in U.S. can't get into neurotologist without a referral. Primary doc will send you to a ENT first. He will order vng, brain MRI. Neurologist will review to make sure it's not a brain thing. If it's not then neuroligist will pass you off to neurotologist. Or ENT will. Either way that's the referral you need. Wish I could have jumped right to neurotologist. Would have saved me thousands of dollars. I knew I needed to see him. Been battling this for 12 years. It got bad 20 months ago. Out of control. Finally got the referral to neurotologist 15 months ago. Diagnosed with menieres. Had inner tympanic injections, diuretics. They did nothing. March I had endolymphatic sac decompression with shunt surgery. Still recovering from that.

    • rita52071
      rita52071 Waffalobill

      Posted

      Hope you have a speedy recovery. I’m in New York. I didn’t need a referral.  But if you do I would get it ASAP and make appt since it’s a wait.  Wishing you the very best.  
    • Guest
      Guest rita52071

      Posted

      The issue is that my brother is still at the hospital and this specific hospital does not have an on site ENT specialist. My brother has only been seen by the specialist once in 14 days. We are trying to get him transferred to another hospital and getting the run around. They don't want to a admit they can't provide the proper services and are making it difficult to get my brother transferred. This is a hospital in New York by the way. Queens, NY

    • Guest
      Guest Waffalobill

      Posted

      My brother has gotten 2 mri while hospitalized. No other concerns have turned up.
    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill rita52071

      Posted

      I am in upstate New York. Was referred to the university Otolaryngology in Syracuse. My insurance didn't resuurevavrefersl. The docs office did. Been going there a year last January. Had hole drilled in my skull March 13th. Still recovering.

    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill Guest

      Posted

      When I first started this journey they about 6 times. Finally the ER doc said ok, that's enough of those.

    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill rita52071

      Posted

      I am in upstate New York. Was referred to the university Otolaryngology in Syracuse. Been going there a year last January. Had hole drilled in my skull March 13th. Still recovering.
    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill Guest

      Posted

      When I first started this journey they did cat scans about 6 times. Finally the ER doc said ok, that's enough of those.

    • Guest
      Guest Waffalobill

      Posted

      Oh my! You have been through alot. What was the drilling supposed to accomplish? What effects has it had on you?
    • rita52071
      rita52071 Waffalobill

      Posted

      You have been through more than I could imagine.  Wishing you good health as you continue to recovery. 
    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill Guest

      Posted

      They cut behind affected ear. Drill to the endolymphatic sac. Put in a shunt to help it to drain. Waiting now for it to drain. Has to heal before I know if it's working. The trauma causes fluid to build up.

    • Guest
      Guest Waffalobill

      Posted

      I wish you a speedy recovery. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm hopeful that we get some answers and relief for my brother soon.

    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill Guest

      Posted

      I am the worse case scenario. Doc said I am in the 20% that take more aggressive treatment to help.
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