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I've been off work for nearly 3 months

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lisa68580
lisa68580

I'm a 47 year old female who until nearly 3 months ago worked long hours in front of a computer, went to the gym twice a week, cycled regularly and walked everywhere. That was until one day I got up to go to work and could barely move, I'd suffered with minor bouts of vertigo before and Iver the years had a few nasty bouts of labyrinthitis but nothing like this. I had tests done the other year at ENT clinic and was told I suffer with migrains which made no sense to me.

So now I'm taking Betahistine I find I can potter around at home ok now but has anyone else had issues with memory loss, phantom smells with dizziness? Also I can't use a PC only my phone and tablet and I get easily flustered. I feel like I'm torally losing the plot and feel very alone as my family just get frustrated.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • DizzyLizzy68
    DizzyLizzy68 lisa68580

    Posted

    Yes, these symptoms sound like migraine. I also get "stupid", can't find words, have to wear sunglasses at work because of the horrible fluorescent lights. Mine did not come on as abrupt as yours, but I have read about others whose did. Like you, I've had minor bouts of vertigo over the years. I also have a history of migraine with aura since I was abt 20. But I never had all of this tinnitus and dizziness until abt 2 yrs ago. I am 48, and my Drs think this is all triggered by perimenopause.
  • DizzyLizzy68
    DizzyLizzy68 lisa68580

    Posted

    Have u seen a neurologist? Most will order an mri to rule out other conditions. Migraine disease can have some weird symptoms. My mom had a few attacks that were like a stroke, where she couldn't feel her arm, but it was migraine. Sometimes before I have an attack, I yawn uncontrollably and my eye twitches. You might want to see a neuro since they treat migraine a lot.
    • lisa68580
      lisa68580 DizzyLizzy68

      Posted

      I'm waiting on a appointment from Neuro and an ECG as I have irregularities and paplatations that leave me exhausted. I am currently waiting on latest bloods to test hormones as I have read that in extreme cases it could be menopausal. Will be pleased when everything settles down as I need to be able to use a PC and my phone is the only screen that doesn't make me feel nauseous. I still don't see how a migraine can last this long though.
    • DizzyLizzy68
      DizzyLizzy68 lisa68580

      Posted

      MAV can last months. Some people have used walkers and wheelchairs to get around while waiting for a working med to kick in! I was on a MAV support site where I read this. And I would disagree that only in extreme cases is menopause a trigger. Hormones are one of the major migraine triggers, which is why mostly women get migraine. It's definitely not the only trigger, but it's up there. 2 neuros and an ENT at Stanford told me it was not uncommon for a pattern change in migraine to happen at the perimenopause time. Think of migraine as a neurological disorder, rather than a headache disorder. Diet is huge as well. However I do think it's good to get the migraine diagnosis from a neuro- let us know how that appt goes. I also have a lifelong history of on and off palpitations. They're horrible!!! Have felt like passing out from them, but never did. All tests over the years have shown them to be benign. I think it's all connected- a super sensitive, over active nervous system!
  • laurence76206
    laurence76206 lisa68580

    Posted

    Hi Lisa,

    I woke up on the 19th December 2014 with dizziness and have been off balance ever since.  I was diagnosed in February 2015 with VN and further diagnosed with VN and Migraine in February 2016.  I was told that 40% of VN sufferers will go on to develop migraine and if Migraine runs in the family (which it does in my case) then the likelihood is I would develop migraine.

    Like you I have suffered fantom smells (wood smoke, coffee, lquorice, biscuit/wheat, toast, rubber etc) and have occasional word finding difficulties.  My consultant prescibed me Amitriptyline (20mg) for the migraine and this has improved my overall well-being and balance greatly.  I also try and avoid the 6 C's (caffiene, chocolate, chinese food, cheese, clare and citrus). I now walk 2-3 miles each day and average around 10,000 steps daily.  I am still off balance and still get occasional migraine symptoms but these are no longer  bad enough to disrupt my life.

    I hope you manage to get back to some normality soon

    best wishes

    Laurence

     

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