Dizziness & Vertigo Support Group

Dizziness is the sensation of instability. Vertigo refers to dizziness with a sensation of motion. Vertigo is more likely than other types of dizziness to be associated with nausea, vomiting, or double vision, to occur even when lying down, and to feel better with the eyes closed. If you are a frequent sufferer of dizziness or vertigo, join the group and find support.

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Brain & Nervous System
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What is the ENG test like?

deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi everyone,
I am so upset today. I have been free of my symptoms for one week and today it came back. I can't take it anymore. Depression is settling in now. Dr. wants me to have an ENG but he said it is pretty uncomfortable. Can anyone who has had it describe what I might expect? I am nervous about it. Thanks for any info...
deleted_user
deleted_user
ENG (electronystagmography) or VNG (video nystagmography) takes 60 to 90 minutes. Your eye movements are recorded (with electrode patches or infrared video goggles)while you perform a series of short sub tests. You will be asked to watch a moving light (ocular motility testing), to sit or lay still in various positions (spontaneous and positional nystagmus recordings) and to rapidly lay down with head turned first to one side, then to the other (Dix-Hallpike tetsing for BPPV). Finally, you will lie on a bed with your head tilted up about 30 degrees while water or air is used to irrigate your ears, one ear at a time, one warm and one cool irrigation in each ear. Each time the ear is irrigated, you may feel lightheaded or dizzy for a few minutes. The tech should give you a 5-minute rest between each irriagtion to allow the symptoms to resolve.

More info on ENG (and other more advaned balance tests) here:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/testing/engrot.html
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi,
I'm most concerned about how long the dizzy part of the test will last. The whole 90 min? And also, do I have to be in the middle of an episode for this test to be effective? If not, besides the irrigated ear, what else will bring on the nystagmus during the goggle potion of the testing? Still worried about all this, but thank you for posting here!
deleted_user
deleted_user
You will not be dizzy throughout the entire 90 minutes. Each irrigation can produce symptoms lasting 1 to 3 minutes. If you have BPPV, the Dix-Hallpike can produce symptoms lasting seconds to a few minutes. With the exception of BPPV, you do not have to be symptomatic on the day of testing for the results to be meaningful. Nystagmus is sometimes seen during the spontaneous and/or positional recordings, usually not accompanied by symptoms.
deleted_user
deleted_user
For me, the acute vertigo from the tests only lasted a few minutes. However, I did have some lingering imbalance/nausea for about 24 hrs afterwards. I would definitely make sure that someone drives you to and from the appointment, and I wouldn't necessarily plan on going back to work that same day.
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