Vertigo and flying

Thanks for answering this question and thanks Sarah for posting it. I have (what they believe is Meniere's) and I have a flight in April. My ears have always bothered me when flying but I haven't flown since 2011. Since then, vertigo, tinnitus louder than normal, loss of hearing and distored hearing in the left ear, etc... I have read some real war stories about vertigo and flying and I'm already anxious over the whole affair of flying. 

Hi Lily,

I'll be flying in April...2 long flights. There and 2 long flights back. 

I'm seeing the hospital physio on monday who'll do the nasty manouvre on me again, so I'll ask her too...and my GP. And anyone else who can advise. ...I really dont want Vertigo to ruin my life.

But ..re the angle and placement of my head...it does impact on the dizziness. Upstraight? No problem..but, as you say ( never considered it) the angle of the plane in relation  to the ground is something I must enquire from an ENT or the physio, Also the sitting up..head at an angle ..

Good grief..this vertigo thing is a horrible, underestimated condition. I hate it! No one seems to be able to define it. 

Research is what i'll do...But I will go! 

Sarah - when you say, no one seems to be able to define it, you are exactly right. I spent 2 1/2 hours at an ENT that specializes in Vertigo. I went through a battery of tests. He billed my insurance company over 1700 dollars and there agreed contract rate was somewhere in the 700 dollar range. I was charged 3 DIFFERNT CO-PAYS if you can imagine, for 120 dollars. To make a long story short, the couldn't really define why I had such an intense attack of vertigo that awoke me out of a sound sleep where I couldnt move off the side of the bed. I was vomiting and in a complete panic... The ENT doctor saw me for exactly 90 minutes. His crew did all the testing. I was left with these results from the ENT, "if you lose your hearing for two consecutive days again, come back and see me, we will investigate Menieres.. I was totally taken aback that after 2 1/2 hours and a bill that would choke a horse, I left there no better than I went in. I will not return there and this doctor was the 3rd ENT guy I've seen to try and give me some relief and peace of mind. I think the study of vertigo, tinnitus, Menieres, migraines and everything that is connected is nothing that is treatable with any success. I think doctors need more education and schooling to initial find what the cause and effect really is. I'm not a doctor and didn't go to school for 12-13 years. I'm just a patient that has been sucked dry with co-pays and exams that go in circles.

God Bless.

Interestingly my father at 85 was diagnosed with Meniers and suffered so much he tried to kill himself. While in the hospital for that, they did lots of tests ( free) and discovered he needed a pacemaker ...which subsequently stopped the dizzyness and nausea etc. so, no-one  seems to be able to define any of these horrible debilitating symptoms as being one thing or another or how to treat it. I may have to go back to China and see the Chinese Traditional Medicine hospital there. They fixed my severe bronchial illness.! First....I have to fly! 

Glenn, I was lost in admiration of the North American medical system till you clarified it was 90 seconds not minutes!

Not that it's much better here. During my recent visit to the ENT specialist, he spent 3-4 minutes taking a very perfunctory history and looking into my ears before sending me off to get my blocked ear rinsed out by the nurse and a hearing test by the audiologist. He then saw me for all of two minutes after that to announce I'd got some hearing loss in my left ear: "But I've seen worse", and promptly ejected me, refusing even to discuss the vertigo. I haven't had the bill yet, but at least I know the balance after the State insurance contribution won't come to more than about €50 (USD 53). I don't know how you folks cope with your medical costs.

Medical costs, Lily, are such a hot item topic and so political, it's frustrating and draining. Our new president is totally abolishing Obamacare and I'm not sure where that's going. I am used to having good insurance from employees in the past. I have usually enjoyed very small co-pays, even from specialists. On January the 1st I retired and went to a medicare supplement. It's a whole different ballgame now. I'm not sure how the elderly do it and I can see why some people never see a doctor. 

I'm really unsure what the answer is but something needs to be done in this country with healthcare. Insurance companies make it miserable for the doctors who have to overbill and overcharge to get their fair share and medicare/medicaid pay on a sliding scale. 

Like you, I have hearing loss in my left ear. I also have terrible tinnitus and and vertigo that comes and goes, complimented by bad migraine headaches. Personally, I feel I have two or three separate issues going on. I can have 2 or 3 good days and then a run of 5 bad days. 

I'm hoping that new drug that is in the testing stage, I think A-101, proves to do something for tinniitus and Menieres.. It's really the only hope on the table right now for tinnitus.

Anyway, thanks for your response. 

Glenn, actually Obamacare is make believe insurance. I know because I had it the first year after going part-time at work. Pay your premium but before anything major like x-rays or blood work, you need to pay to satisfy your deductible. Most deductibles start $5,000.00. The higher the premium the less your deductible, but even with this amount paid there's a cap, I think it's $15,000. Medicare is actually a better plan, but it's pricey.

thanks for that info, Sochima -

This insurance game is so new to me after being spoiled with the best insurance from a municipality.. I barely had a co-pay.. Now I'm getting hit with 120 dollars for one visit to a specialist and it's a shock.. 

I hope better days are coming for insurance in the U.S... I'm just not sure anything that great will happen. It's so politically driven with pigs at the trough.

Depending on what supplement plan B your on, it's best to take on a secondary insurance with plan B. Your co-pay will only be like $10.00 to see anyone in the plan. It really does pay to have part B with a group.

I hope they don't touch Medicare. I believe seniors deserve to have the best medical services available to them, especially when they paid into the system for it.

Yes, I took supplement B... 10 dollar copay for my regular PCP and 45.00 for a specialist.. That's why I was taken aback with 120 dollar in copays because my last ENT did 3 different tests and got 3 different co-pays.. I thought that was excessive and unncecessary...

Thanks again -

This doesn't sound right, you should complain.

First I called the doctor's billing office.. The gal at the billing office told me to call the insurance company, Anthem. I called Anthem and was told because he  (the ENT) conducted three different tests, he is entitled (by contract) three different co pays, or actually, my initial 45 dollar co pay plus an additional 75 dollars. I'm going to appeal it but the appeal process with them is less than pleasant.  Again, pigs at the trough..

Wow, this doesn't sound good. More like vultures. Good luck.