Totally devastated by this illness!!

Hi Helen

My doctor referred me to ENT a month after my first attack. Nothing is every quick here on the Isle of Wight.

Sorry to hear your feeling worse. The first 2 months I had the odd good day with no ear fullness or dizzy turns but this last month I feel bad every day!!

Went to the doctor again today and as my ENT appt isn't til November she suggested I went private. A bit difficult as I'm not earning any money as off sick from work and on low SSP rate.

Tried to do some painting of walls at home but gave up as just brings on the swaying.

I can't remember now what life was like before this came on.

I hope your doctor gets you referred ASAP. It's like being left in limbo to fend for ourselves. My doctor actually admitted she can't do anymore for me apart from give me betahistine tablets which do help a bit.

Hope you get a referral soon and try not to get too anxious as that's a killer. My anxiety went off the scale at first but I think it's under control now as I'm getting used to feeling unwell.

Let me know how you progress. At least we're not alone.

That's disgusting that your GP has suggested you going private Helen. Don't do that, why the hell should you.  I waited over 30 weeks to see a neurologist and even then i had to fight and push or it would have been much, much longer.

It really pi##es me off in the fact that if your GP was going through what we are i bet they wouldn't be palmed off and made to wait that long. I also found something interesting out when talking to neurology that going private makes no odds unless you can afford all your tests private as you still need your 1st outpatient appt through the NHS system before tests anyway.

Out of interest Helen when your ENT appt comes round in November how long will your total wait have been? Also it's a bit odd you've been given an appt for that far ahead, have you actually got an appt letter or have you just been told it should be Nov?

Hi matt

Yes I was dumb founded when she suntested it. I've had an appt letter with the date etc. My mother in law waited 6 months for hers too. I was referred in may and 6 monthas is the norm here. We have 1 hospital to cover the whole of the island and it's so understaffed it's scary.

I have been offered a loan my my in laws but not sure if I can pay it back until I go back to work. I never thought about the other follow up appointments. They could be 6 months down the line too so maybe I would be wasting my time and money. I just want to know what the hell I've got as bumbling my way by reading posts and Internet sites but until I have a proper diagnosis I can't start any treatment.

I've also waited 3 months for an eye appt at our hospital as I have pressure behind my eyes. At least I have that appt next month.

Bloody useless on our island as we are so over populated.

Thanks for your advise I will reconsider going private!

Thanks for getting back to me Hun yes anxiety is a killer I done the ironing tonight tht was fun grrr I find standing still really hard the best I feel is going along in the car looking straight ahead  but when we stop I feel like I’m still going it’s all so off my ears really ring tonight  likecsome one is running their finger over the top of a glass  you know when someone wets their finger  and rubs it’s round the rim tht and hissing grrrr   Let’s hope we get some relief soon the docs don’t seem to give a s**t x 

I think it's the same wherever you are Helen.

The town i live in now has a population of 100000 plus, when i moved here 34 years ago it was about 40000. Our hospital is now smaller than it was back then and we had two little hospitals which we no longer have.

Most of our hospital services have been split between the three hospitals  in my area's NHS trust. One is 20+ miles West and the other 20+ miles East. They've taken away our maternity services so people have to travel 20+ miles to have a baby. We have no emergency surgery services anymore. No paediatric services anymore. Limited cancer services, so most people are having to travel for chemo and radiotherapy in a sick and fragile state. Limited cardiovascular services.

A couple of my mates are paramedics and a large part of their shift is being wasted with them having to take patients to what hospital now has the service the patient needs rather than the closest as they've split the services. Sometimes that could be a 50 mile round trip.

My paramedic mates have also told me how they've done away with all the small ambulance stations that served some of the smaller towns in my area and if someone was to have a stroke they've got no chance as the ambulances are now to far away.

Sorry for the rant, but it's all bol##cks.

My god thats dreadful matt. Perhaps I should think myself lucky!