Hi I've just been diagnosed with Migraine-associated vertigo after 10 months of daily symptoms. The main ones are dizziness and imbalance, but I do also get headaches and weird neurological-type symptoms like numbness, slurred speech, confusion etc. I can not currently work it is so bad.
Has anyone overcome this? If so, what helped you? So far, I have been unable to tolerate Amytriptiline (massively exacerbated the dizziness, plus caused very bleak thoughts) nor Propranalol (caused faintness) even at their very lowest doses. I've just ordered myself every vitamin under the sun that has shown any promise with migraine, because I have to wait a few months to see a neurologist again. I will take meds if I have to, but in the meantime I thought I'd try more natural methods.
So, anyone had this? Did any vitamins help or meds or lifestyle changes? It's difficult to tell if anything is a trigger or not for me as it's a chronic daily problem as of 10 months ago and nothing changed in my life at that time that I can pinpoint as a trigger.
Many thanks and hugs to all who suffer from any type of migraine - you have my sympathy.
Hi,
your symptoms sound similar to what I suffer with Hemaplegic migrane. The thing that has helped me the most is Botox! With HM I get stroke like symptoms and I get admitted to hospital. But since Botox, I have never had any more admissions. The other drug I take is Flunarizine which has helped reduce the duration of HM.
Best of luck mudskippa hope this is some help to you
Thank you. I am so glad you found some things that have worked for you 
I will look them up.
Hi. I suffered similar symptoms & was initially diagnosed & treated for migrainous vertigo. After 2 years of suffering I was finally properly diagnosed with B12 deficiency & I'm now on the mend. Please google B12 deficiency & if it fits your symptoms get your B12 levels checked - it's saved my life no exaggeration!! Good luck
PS. I was initially prescribed the same medications as you & they both made it worse, probably because it wasn't migraine related!!
I've been taking a B complex sporadically for a while now to try and fight the awful fatigue - and my blood tests reflected that. But I'm so glad you found out what it was for you - it must have been a massive relief. Your reply will no doubt help someone else on these forums. Thanks.
My heart goes out to you I have been diagnosed with Migraine given Amytriptiline,
(no better) next step to see an neurologist ......
The only thing that helps me is to sit and do breathing exercises and try to just accept what is happening. Easier said than done, but a lot of the symptoms are worsened by worrying about them or getting fed up with them. Nutrition is essential but will take awhile. If you can't tolerate meds as I can't it is the only help there is. Good luck
This is really good advice. I'm trying to get back into meditation. I find it difficult as I feel ill 24/7, but I will persevere. I felt I was dealing with being constantly ill fairly well until I took Amytriptiline, which didn't agree with me. It really affected my mood and judgment. I'm trying hard now to get back to my accepting way of thinking, with the odd "fed up day" thrown in!
Good luck femmes! I hope you find something that works for you.
It is difficult when you feel lousy t accept, but as you know by straining against it the feelings get worse. I find that there are still day I don't want to do it because I feel lousy, but when I get started it doesn't go away, but my responses change. Good luck
Hello, I can so relate. I had very similiar thing happen to me and had to stop working as well. Could not tolerate amytripiline either. Decided to go natural route and things are much improved. I was very depleted due to chronic stress over many months. I learned by reading that my neurotransmitters in the brain were out of balance (serotonin and gaba levels). I take magnesium glycinate (very absorbable form), 5 htp (natural serotonin producer without weight gain), gingo biloba. I also take a supplement containing butterbur, riboflavin, 5htp, and feverfew called Butterbur Extra by Vitanica on a daily basis which is great. A good diet high in protein is crucial. Try eliminating all dietary triggers for a month and see how you do. It takes time to figure out what you are sensitive to. To learn more about neurotransmitters, a friend gave me a book called "The Edge Effect" by Dr. Eric Braverman and he describes the 4 neurotransmitters, the symptoms caused by low levels and what to eat to restore them naturally. It is a complicated process but if I can do it, so can you! Also, meditation and relaxation as well as daily exercise are vital. Keep us posted and hope these tips help! Patricia
Thanks Patricia. I don't really understand what has happened to me or why I would suddenly become sensitive to anything that would cause migraine. Nothing in my life changed when this started. I have no family history of migraines, I did get daily migraines for 2 years about 10 years ago but that was because I got concussion. Never had any other problems until recently. It's all a bit of a mystery to me. I'm 35 and female.
I have started taking riboflavin, taurine and l-theanine in the morning, and 5htp and magnesium at night - trying to find natural alternatives to the suggested meds' mechanisms of action.
I already eat a high protein diet and very little 'junk', no sugar or alcohol. I do drink lots of caffeine usually, so am cutting down - I can't imagine not having any! Have already cut out citrus fruit as I did start eating more around the time this all started, but could a couple of clementines a day really cause all this?! It's really puzzling. I have added in a ton of water as well.
I hope you feel better soon!
Hi,
So sorry to head you are having such problems. I'm not sure if this will help, but it's worth a shot. I had very bad vertigo after a head injury, and also horrible migraines. The neurologist prescribed me Zonegran and Imitrex for the migraines and did some exercised with me to get rid of the vertigo. He had me lay on a bed and tilt my head upside down and different directions. At first it was horrible and made it worse but then it improved and went away. I can't remember exactly what the exercises were but I'm sure you could Google it - it worked for me. Also, you may want to look into an ear nose and throat doctor. Most people I know that have had vertigo often have an issue in the inner ear, as that is what controls balance. Just a thought. I hope this helps! Best of luck!
Thanks Emily. I think the tilting you're referring to is called the Epley Manouvre which is really helpful for people with BPPV. I'm waiting to see ENT and Neurology again - it's a long road, but hopefully there will be some solution somewhere
mudskippa, your symptoms and medication reactions are the same as mine. I also have some light sensitivity too. Mine was diagnosed as vestibular migraines. I head it now for about 15 months. I can't work a regular job either. Right now my medication is only sumatriptan occasionally. It helps some, but I don't want to take it constantly.
Two things I've learned to avoid as much as possible are blue light and flickering lights such as florescent lighting and computer, tv screens. The medication that seems to help most is ergotamine, but it can only be taken ever so rarely, due to its high toxicity to the body. Like you, I suffer daily, well more like constantly. I have been able to lessen the symptoms by avoiding above mentioned lighting, and drinking lots of water.
Hi, Thanks for replying. Yes, I've found a few triggers now - blue and fluorescent light sets me off. I have a pink tint on all my screens now (using a programme called fl.ux for my laptop and something else for my phone,) I have pink tinted glasses to go into shops with fluorescent lights and that is bearable now whereas before I'd have to leave after a few minutes and sit down. I've replaced my bedroom light with a daylight bulb. Doing too much of ANYTHING makes me feel worse, whether it's reading, walking, or concentrating! I have a few other triggers but some days I just seem to feel awful for no reason at all from the moment I wake up. This weekend has been like that. I just felt sick and exhausted before I even attempted the shower. Ho hum. Are you under a regular Neurologist FuzzyBrain? I'm trying to change mine as he's a Headache Specialist and I don't really get headaches, more like head pressure. To be honest, they are the least of my worries. My worst symptom is the feeling of being overloaded like too much information is coming into my brain and I can't cope with it.
Again you are describing my life exactly! I've put f.lux on my pc, but couldn't use it on iPhone. What did you find for your phone?
Do the pink lenses really help in florescent lighting? I need to get some! That's my worst trigger.
My Neurologist isn't interested in helping me, now that she has "diagnosed " me as having vestibular migraines. She is only willing to prescribe meds, which I have had no real luck with. As I said, the sumatriptan (Imatrex) sort of helps when I feel the fuzzybrain and I know I need to function at my best capacity, which is still not great. It's an improvement, but I don't want to be taking them everyday. They are not meant for that.
I feel I am no longer me. I feel overloaded whenever I do anything, including holding a conversation, reading, watching tv, driving, computer work....the list goes on.
Have you tried 5htp or l-theanine? I haven't yet, as I'm a bit scared of the long term effects.
Yes we do sound very similar! I have an android phone and tablet and use something called 'Bluelight Filter' - there's bound to be something similar for iphone.
Yes I have specially tinted lenses tinted with a colour called FL-41, which is supposed to help with fluros. I don't go anywhere without them in my bag now. I can actually go round the supermarket without having to sit down! Ask around at some opticians until you find one that does them. You can get them tinted to different degrees. Since I only use mine for brightly lit places I went for a 40% tint and they really do the job. You'll need to get an empty pair of frames which sit closely to your face (I just got a cheap pair from an outlet) so no light can get in through the sides or top.
Yes I've had no success with meds - I've tried about 6 now and can't tolerate any of them up to a therapeutic dose. They either make me sleepy or insanely depressed and I can't take beta blockers as I have low blood pressure already.
I've mainly found lifestyle changes have helped (FL41 glasses, screen tints, changing the bulbs in my house from energy-saving to daylight bulbs) but nothing has made me better.
I wouldnt be scared of trying 5htp or l-theanine: they are both much better than taking the antidepressants.I actually have both on my shelf but can't take them at the moment as I have to wait to see my neurologist again before coming off my latest meds. after all my med trials, I am kind of longing to try and help this more naturally, but a little bit of my brain says "What if that one worked?" as I do hear success stories about ppl with meds. But it doesn't seem to be happening with me.
Mudskipper,
Did you get your migraines resolved? I had daily vestibular migraines for a couple if years, plus benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, extreme sensitivity to sound and perfume, anxiety and irritability (perhaps a natural result of fear of another migraine attack). My actual headache was always in the form of a tension in neck and shoulders. I also have a horrible time tolerating drugs but am now successfully on verapamil extended release (beta blockers didn't help at all). My migraines have gone from almost daily to 2-3 per month max, and the drug started helping within a week. My doctor said it is a very good drug for people with vertiginous migraine.