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MAV? MS?

Posted , 4 users are following.

leah12192
leah12192

Hi all,

January 2014 I started having pretty bad headaches. Got sinusitus in February 2014 and it made my headaches worse. Have had a constant headache since then. All day everyday. They aren't bad now, as in I would have to go to bed to settle them, maybe 3-5 times a month. Other than that it's just a dull achy pain and I power on with my daily routine.

November 2014 I was given medication for vertigo as I was dizzy, head spinning etc. Medication didn't work for vertigo, painkillers don't kill the headache. Vertigo would come and go until recently...

Over the past 3-4months I have been constantly dizzy, extreme fatigue all day everyday, as soon as I get up I'm tired and it never changes no matter how much sleep I get. I also get blurry eyes every so often, but that doesn't bother me much. I have noticed myself slurring words and get stuck on what I want to say. I also get tingly lips on and off every day.

My doctor referred me to a neurologist concerned about the possibility of MS and he saw me yesterday. He said about Migraine Associated Vertigo, but also said I wasn't having the typical symtoms of migraines, I get enough sleep, not stressed, etc. He gave me lamotrigine which is epilepsy medication, but apprently used to control migraines. Although I have a headache all the time, it's not bad majority of the time and I don't feel it's necessary to treat it as it's not the problem. The problem is the dizziness and extreme fatigue.

I don't know a whole lot on either MAV or MS, so I was wondering does anyone think it could be one or the other or neither? And does anyone have/has anyone had the same type of symptoms as me and got to the bottom of what the problem is? Also, I don't particularily like taking tablets... Has anyone taken lamotrigine for the same type of problem and found it had a positive affect?

Leah

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Ginagirl
    Ginagirl leah12192

    Posted

    I personally suspect it is Sinusitis which needs antibiotics.. Have you seen an ENT specialist. Rule this out first.. Maybe the drug for Epilepsey is making you feel fatigued.. I agree too many pills can cause masked problems.do you suffer hay fever symptoms? This is an allergy problem.

    Vetigo is an Ear problem from pressure within. Sinus problems effect this as well from a lack of drainage.

    • leah12192
      leah12192 Ginagirl

      Posted

      Hi, Thanks for replying. I haven't started the lamotrigine yet so it couldn't be the cause of the tiredness. I don't suffer hay fever no.

      I was with ENT in August 2014. The specialist there said it was tension headaches and I think he prescribed me a preventative at the time. I remember it not working anyway. But, as I said the headaches aren't the problem. They have actually simmered down a lot compared to what they were a year ago.

      I'm just so confused cause of the tiredness and dizziness and they both seem to be getting worse. I'm almost falling asleep in work if I'm sitting doing the same thing for too long or if I'm watching TV I feeling myself nodding off. And, I'm constantly dizzy from 3-4months ago whereas before it was maybe once or twice a week.

      It is my understanding that the neurolgist gave me this medication to see if it helps and it's nothing more sinister like MS, but I'm just really disheartened by it all. I don't see how medication for a migraine I'm not having is going to help with tiredness and dizziness rolleyes

      Leah

    • Ginagirl
      Ginagirl leah12192

      Posted

      Could be Ménière's disease to do with the middle ear.. Check your BP this can make you dizzy sometimes ..if it drops too fast on standing up. Make sure you are not anaemic this will cause tiredness especially if you have heavy menstruel loss. It's about a state of ilimination..Glad it's not MS.. There is an article in Daily Mail about Vestibular Migraine Can't put the link but check it out? Do you suffer with travel sickness? Another symptom.

      I think it's an ENT issue..

    • leah12192
      leah12192 Ginagirl

      Posted

      My blood pressure is 130/80 and drops to 110/80. I am dizzy when I am sitting as well as standing up. I have been anaemic for years, but my tiredness with it has never been this extreme. I also take folic acid as a blood test in February/March revealed I was low on folate. However, a blood test 3 weeks ago didn't show any anomalies in B12 or iron levels, so that's confusing also.

      MS hasn't been ruled out unfortunately... I think the neurologist is trying this first before he jumps to MS. I would only suffer from travel sickness if I'm travelling backwards, i.e. on a bus or train where the seats can face the back of the vehicle, or if I'm travelling in the back of a car for a long period. Generally, I'm ok travelling.

      I really appreciate you really to me btw. Have you been suffering from a similar type of thing?

      Leah

  • candim
    candim leah12192

    Posted

    Hi, how are you doing on the lamotrigine?
    • leah12192
      leah12192 candim

      Posted

      Hi,

      I had to stop it at the beginning of September as I found out I am pregnant and it can cause birth defects. I had to stop it immediately so I had quite bad withdrawal headaches and dizziness.

      If I remember correctly, it did help with the dizziness quite a bit, but only a little with the headaches.

      Waiting on the results of my MRI coming back. I got it done 3 weeks ago

      Leah

    • candim
      candim leah12192

      Posted

      Congratulations on your pregnancy.

      That's a bummer that it only helped with the dizziness. I have both dizines and migraine, but also with an added bonus of persistent migraine aura that has never gone away since 2009. =)

      I am hoping to try this medicine soon to see if it may help me.

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