So i had a follow up with my ent today. He said my off balance feeling should not be there after a bppv attack. He said he is definitely considering mav but wants to do a VNG. It sounds terrible. Anyone have one?
I didn’t have too much problem with it. I was tired after, and the dots going across the screen bothered me when they switched directions.
It was not as bad as I thought it would be. The caloric testing is the most uncomfortable part, and it does induce vertigo, but only for a short few seconds. They then show a dot in goggle things you’re wearing that is still that you can focus on that allows the vertigo to stop. They give you some time to settle between switching to the other ear and you’ll notice that the vertigo does stop quickly while focusing on that stable red dot that is not moving.
Just breath deep throughout the tests and try to calm yourself that way. It really is not as bad as it all sounds. Have some cold water and a snack ready for yourself for after the test and maybe a benzo. Take your time getting up after the test and just sit as long as you need–they won’t rush you out. You’ll be alright!
It wasnt a big deal. Yes it does provoke some dizziness and vertigo, but we are all pretty used to that by now arent we? I was a bit scared of it too but I was fine, and I was no dizzier after leaving from doing the test. Im sure you will be fine. 
Don’t you mean an ENG?
[size=130]Electronystagmography (ENG)[/size]
The eyes are closely linked to the inner ear; these organs depend on each other for good balance and clear vision. Head movement or other stimulation of the inner ear sends signals to the muscles of the eyes via the nervous system; this is called the vestibulo-ocular reflex, or VOR.
The VOR normally generates eye movements that maintain clear vision with head movement. Electronystagmography (ENG) is a battery (group) of eye-movement tests that look for signs of vestibular dysfunction or neurological problems by measuring nystagmus (a type of involuntary eye movements). ENG tests are the most common ones administered to people with dizziness, vertigo, and/or balance disorders, although the test battery and some testing methods vary widely.
During ENG, eye movements are recorded and analyzed via small electrodes placed on the skin around the eyes. The electrodes attach to the skin with an adhesive, much like a small bandage. Alternatively, eye movements may be recorded by videonystagmography (VNG) using an infrared video camera mounted inside goggles that the patient wears instead of sticky-patch electrodes.
One ENG test evaluates the movement of the eyes as they follow a moving target. Another observes eye movements as the head is positioned in different directions. During the caloric test warm or cold water or air is circulated in the ear canal. The temperature change stimulates the inner ear in order to test the nystagmus response.
Yea, thats what it is. My doc just called it a VNG I think because they are going to use the goggles. It does not sound pleasant!
It is not pleasant to say the least. It made me worse for about 4-5 days after. If that should happen to you, just know that it will get better again. One of my docs told me that the rotary chair is just as good a test and if I had to do it over knowing what I know now, I would probably do the chair test first. I was okay with that one.
Julie
I got through it fine…actually the worst part was the water in the ears…oh lordy… 
& she asked me alot of questions, like name citys starting from a to z…i was so stressed that my mind kept going blank. :oops:
try not to over stress about it, you can drive yourself crazy with stress.
I’ve done that twice. The water in the ear induces a pretty violent spinning sensation, which is unpleasant but short, and then they show you a dot in your goggles which helps you to re-set. It comes at the end of the test, and by the time you sit up you are ok (at least, I was). So yeah, it is unpleasant but brief.
I found the rotary chair test much worse. That is like being strapped to an electric chair that makes you dizzy. I had to stop the first test, and on the second time around I had to go in and out of the booth several times before they could get the data on me.
I find it interesting that during the spinning caused by the water in the ear, you are still able to focus sufficiently to answer questions and make lists (they ask you questions like, “List all female names beginning with the letter B”). The spinning gets in the way of your attention span, but it doesn’t knock out your thinking. The fact that you can do this means that your vestibular system is divided from the thinking portion of the brain to a pretty high degree, which I found to be interesting.
It’s interesting that some places use water in the ear during the caloric test while others use air. I had air used during my test and not water. It seems like water would be a bit more startling and unpleasant :shock:
VNG = videonystagmography. Same as ENG except that instead of using electrodes stuck near your eyes to record your eye movements, they use video goggles (newer technology).
VNG/ENG is a very basic diagnostic test for anyone who’s dizzy. I think that usually the rotary chair would only be done later, if VNG/ENG was normal or did not give the doctor enough information.
The reason they ask you to say girls’ names beginning with A, then boys’ names, then B, C, etc. (or ask you to count backwards by sevens or something like that) is because with your attention distracted by the thinking task (which, yeah, is tough!), they get better readings of your eye movements. Don’t ask me why, that’s all I know. They don’t care about your answers, only that your attention is occupied by the task.
I’ve had two ENGs, and the caloric part (the last part, where they run water in your ears) is the most dizzying, but it passes quickly. I only sat there for a few minutes afterwards, and I drove myself home.
It’s an important and basic test in figuring out dizziness. Don’t worry about it. Your doctor will give you instructions before the test. Sometimes they will want someone to drive you home, which isn’t a bad idea.
I must be different to everyone else. On my first one, I was so dizzy after I was staggering down the corridor holding on the walls and was supposed to drive myself home. I did get over that one a bit quicker but still felt sick hours after. The second one years later, I only managed to complete half of the calorics, I was in complete vertigo and it lasted for 3 or 4 hours where I had to sit in the fresh air outside the hospital before my husband could drive me home. Also, the ECOG test (hole in the ear)
test for menieres gave me the 2nd worse vertigo attack of my life and the chap doing it said he hadnt seen that happen in the 20 years he had been doing it, I ended up being wheeled up to a ward (I could not sit up the room was spinning so badly) and there I stayed the night, injection of stemetil etc. did nothing to alleviate it. Not wanting to put anyone off or anything but unfortunately we dont all get away with it so lightly! The nurse (when I walked in) told me I would walk out the same as I walked in, she lied! Make sure there is someone to drive you home just in case.
Christine
— Begin quote from “Hask”
So i had a follow up with my ent today. He said my off balance feeling should not be there after a bppv attack. He said he is definitely considering mav but wants to do a VNG. It sounds terrible. Anyone have one?
— End quote
Really… wow. I have been told by my docs and Pt that you can definently be off balance, and have regualr dizziness after an attack. Docs were, ENT, and OTO/Neurto.
Thats what i thought!