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Chronic migraine and dizziness

Posted , 9 users are following.

marie43202
marie43202

Just wondering if anyone is experiencing dizziness with their chronic migraines? After a lengthy run around with ENT drs and chasing around a variety of diagnoses, it has ultimately been decided that I am suffering from chronic migraines. This diagnosed after I suffered a non-epileptic seizure and fell unconsciousness for a couple of hours. So my questions would be, 1) has anyone suffered a seizure or fell unconscious due to a migraine

2) is dizziness typical with migraines and worse when walking into stores, or just simply walking outdoors?

3) I am now receiving nerve block injections, have seen some improvement when taking a full 3 week course, however my dizziness escalates for an hour after the injection so not much fun. Has anyone had success with these injections?

4) I am taking 20 mg of Amitriptyline at night (Nortriptyline was not tolerated well by me).

5) Any special sunglasses to wear?

6) Lastly, and very important, who has success stories to share?! I need encouragement as I haven't been able to work for 9 months now and don't see me working in the near future either. I'm very worried.

Thank you biggrin

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • claire18599
    claire18599 marie43202

    Posted

    Hi Marie

    Sorry to hear you are going through a difficult time at the moment.  I too have not been able to work since July.  The dizziness is something I suffer from especially if I have periods of light/sound sensitivity.  I spoke to my migraine nurse yesterday (first appoinment I had yesterday) and he suggested I had my glasses tinted so will try that to help with the light sensitivity The only thing I can do when I have my vertigo attacks is to lie down.  I am afraid I have not tried the same medication as you but something I can advise you to do is to join the migraine action group - you can access a migraine nurse who will phone you and can talk for as long as you need - she may able to advise you about your meds - their website is http://www.migraine.org.uk/contact-us.  Just keep taking little steps - I am trying to walk to the local shop everyday, resting when my body needs it and trying to get out a couple of times a week to the local cafe (I may feel awful after half an hour but otherwise you would end up depressed by staying in, also you need to be able to see what you can and can't do).  - we can take the steps together (like many others on this blog).  Take care and let me know how you go.

    • marie43202
      marie43202 claire18599

      Posted

      Thank you Claire for your message. I'm in Canada and unfortunately I don't think we have that type of service. I would need to make an appointment and half the battle is getting there. 

      What type/colour of tint is needed for the glasses? Yes, light sensitivity is a big problem for me.

  • DiddyC
    DiddyC marie43202

    Posted

    Marie, I'm so sorry to hear of your horrible ordeal with migraines. I have horrible dizziness with migraine, when I'm having one I feel like death. I find it hard to lift my head from the pillow. My teeth and jaw hurts my eyes water, face droopy on left side nose stops up and I get diarrhea, the top of my head goes numb and I shake. Not to mention I see spots and light flashes, very nauseated!

    I've never passed out with one but would have love too, maybe ide wake up with less pain! Not joking about you passing out though that's very scary!

    I got those shots in the back of my head on left side but they didn't help me at all, I hope they work for you. I tried every pain pills and migraine prevention out there, THE Only AND I mean only pill that helps me is maxalt. That tiny pill has changed my life. I have MSK, IC, fibromyalgia too so severe chronic migraines I just can't deal with anymore so maxalt is a blessing.

    I hope you find relief soon, be strong, pray and keep moving forward. Blessings!

    • marie43202
      marie43202 DiddyC

      Posted

      Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to read about what you are going through. Initially, the shots were not helping me but after 3 weeks, I started seeing improvement but they do make me even more dizzy immediately after the injection and the doctor has said I am one of the more sensitive patients because how tense my muscles are. Some people can apparently drive home after an injection. I would never be able to. Are you in the UK? I ask because some replies are asking if these injections are available in the UK.

      Thank you for letting me know about maxalt, I will have to look in to that. 

  • amber1620
    amber1620 marie43202

    Posted

    Hi Marie

    i also suffer chronic migraine and dizzy spells and have been assured by doctors / neurologist that the dizziness is related to the migraine.  I too take amitryptyline and this definitely reduced the severityand frequency but does not stop them, also had bad reaction to noritryptyline.  I've not head of nerve block for migraine, is this available in UK.?  

    • marie43202
      marie43202 amber1620

      Posted

      Hi Amber,

      I'm not sure if it is. I'm from Canada. Do you mind me asking what dosage of amitripytyline you are taking? The nerve block injection I received in my neck immediately relieved the tension in my neck. I could not move my neck due to the tightness and my goodness did it ever help. After 3 weeks, the range of motion in my neck is still much better, I can now sleep with my neck turned on the pillow. I have not had any injections to the head now for about 4 weeks and feel the headaches coming on more and with that the dizziness has intensified.

      Thank you for replying.

    • amber1620
      amber1620 marie43202

      Posted

      Hi I currently take 10mg but have taken 20mg in the past but suffered side effects so had to reduce. I don't think pain block is available in the UK for migraine, to my knowledge anyway. I also have neck vibrations when I lie down which I think is nerve related but no one seems to know!

       

    • jules212
      jules212 amber1620

      Posted

      Hi Amber... the nerve block injections are available in the UK.  My neurologist has offered them to me but I'm having physio specifically for migraine/Fibro to see if this helps in the first instance.    I'm having the same issues with neck which reverberates to my shoulders too... not nice and very uncomfortable.  
  • margarita95351
    margarita95351 marie43202

    Posted

    No Marie, I have never lost consciousness with a migraine and I pray that I never do...I did wake up in the morning yesterday with a real bad one. I do believe that I must have had the Auras in my eyes while I was sleeping so I did not know it Untill I woke up and by then? It was too late...the pain was already very severe. So I suffered all day with it. If I am awake at the first sign of the blind spots and the Auras in my eyes....I will quickly take some Anacins and that will keep me from getting the real bad headache...I hope that you do dot continue to get them bad episodes...keep us informed ok?
  • Baybee
    Baybee marie43202

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with chronic migraine nearly 3 years ago after 6 years of symptoms and tests. I get loads of problems dizziness is one along with speech and cognitive function disruptions, vision problems, nerve issues including pins and needles numbness and twitches, I always have a cloud in my head and headache everyday and migraine every 3rd ish

    I'm on 62.5mg amitriptyline PM and 50mg topiramate am/PM I suspect my dosages will be increased next appointment!

    Best advice I can give you is find out your triggers, I struggle with sleep disturbances and get a bad day after so always let my work colleagues know I'll probably lose my words or trip up the stairs today! So they just ignore it when I do stupid stuff also it I get hot or dehydrated so always open windows and I seem to get a constant stream of fluids given me! At home I forget unfortunately so I make sure I have my water bottle!

    • marie43202
      marie43202 Baybee

      Posted

      Hi Baybee,

      have you tried any alternative medicine/therapy? I am thinking of also trying acupuncture. There is a clinic nearby that reports to offer a unique type of acupuncture and claims great success with it. Unfortunately it is not covered under government health plan but if it works, I will beg and borrow, anything to get better and be able to work again.

      Yes, I struggle with sleep issues, have for a long time and that is a definite trigger. I was taking a small dose of immovane to help but I found with the amitrpytiline, I can back off to a very small dose of immovane. The only good thing with these migraines is I can sleep better due to the drug's effects, other than that, this sucks big time.

      Take care.

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