Dizziness & Vertigo Support Group

I too have migraines with vertigo. I don't get too many headaches but I get vertigo horribly and usually end up in the hospital. They finally got me on medication that has helped and i have been vertigo free since june. They put me on a medication called Lamictal and I am also on valtrex because i get shingles. Ask your doctor about the lamictal. It's been a life saver for me!

Margo

thank you for your reply. Yes, I have read about treating this with Lamictal and also with Effexor I originally tried a Beta Blocker called Propaninol which is to prevent the migraines from occurring and stop the episodes of dizziness. Unfortunately I had trouble with the side effects and could not continue the medication. Beta blockers work by stopping the vascular spasms in the brain which are thought to cause the symptoms. The drugs Lamictal and Effexor are both different and work in other ways. I believe Lamictal is an anti convulsant and Effexor is an SNRI. From what I am reading the medical community is not sure why these drugs are beneficial.

Hi, I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. I am feeling much better, I never had the room go around, just more a feeling of unsteadiness and like I was on a boat and uncomfortable making quick turns. What I found interesting though is I have also complained about an almost constant pressure on my lower forehead, between my eyes. I was told by my doctor that it had to do with focusing because of the dizziness.

HI,MY NAME IS BOB AND I TOO AM HAVING WIERD HEAD SENSATIONS ANY TIME I FOLLOW MOVING OBJECTS SUCH AS BOUNCING BALLS, ETC. I TOO AM HAVING A TOUGH TIME GETTING A GOOD DIAGNOSIS. TWO DOCTORS JUST KEEP THROWING MECKLAZINE AT ME AND IT MAKES ME FEEL WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM.I JUST STARTED GOING TO AN ENT CLINIC AND INTGEND TO FOLLOW UP WITH A NEUROLOGIST THAT SPECIALIZES IN VESTIBULAR ISSUES. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON MY RESULTS. I LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO AREA, WHAT AREA ARE YOU IN? BALTIMORE HAS A GREAT VESTIBULAR GROUP IF YOU ARE CLOSE. BOB

Thank you for the replies. I'm wondering if this isn't going to end up being Meniere's disease. My vertigo is also like the sensation of having been on a boat . I don't get an entire room spinning effect.

Unfortunately I don't live near a large city. I'm in the rural Midwest. We have a school of medicine nearby but the specialists there are not in my list of preferred providers and are very expensive. I'm still searching for the right doctor with the correct answers.

I was originally diagnosed with an inner ear disorder 11 years ago. I eventually was diagnosed with migraines. I didn't believe the diagnosis at first, since I rarely had actual headaches.

However, I have found that zonegran (an anticonvulsant sometimes prescribed for migraine prevention) has virtually eliminated the vertigo! I still have episodic migraine symptoms, including light and noise sensitivity, nausea, confusion, etc.

I have been taking Doxepin for almost 3 months and at a dosage of 75 mg at night I have finally begun to get some relief from my vertigo symptoms. I am still having episodes of visual aura and sensitivity to odor and some types of light. Fluorescent light is the worst trigger for me and my visual aura is seeing a field of "floaters" with a blurring of my vision. I never dreamed this would be migraine until I read a book called " The Migraine Brain" by Carolyn Berstein which opened my eyes to how migraine is much...much more than a horrific headache. You don't even need to have head pain to be suffering from migraine! It is an excellent book and I highly recommend reading this. Thank you for sharing your story.

Sensitive, I just finished reading that book!
I am almost convinced that all of my vertigo is migraine-related...
We have many similar symptoms. Fluorescent light is my biggest trigger as well. Mine are also triggered by strong chemical smells (e.g., cleaners, cologne).
My neurologist has diagnosed me with Basilar Migraine.
I have tried almost every treatment for migraines, if you have questions.

Sensitive
I am new to this group. I have awful reaction to smells now and never did before. I have floaters and when I look in the cupboard at my plates they seem to jiggle. My doctor thought I was nuts. I get sinus migraines brought on by smells of anykind...cleaning products, air freshener, cologne and even garlic cooking. I thought it was a case of MCS but I agree with you it is Vertigo induced by a migraine. I will ask the doctor about the Lamictal.
Bunkie

Hi Sensitive. I've been having horrible migraines along with the vertigo as well. I was referred by an ENT to another neurologist, (my 3rd this year), to see if I have migraine associated vertigo.
It's frustrating. The first neurologist referred me to a psychologist thinking I was just anxious, (well of course I'm anxious, I feel like I'm constantly walking in a cloud on a rocking boat, lol!). The second neurologist referred me to a cardiac specialist who found a hole in my heart. I had surgery to fix that but then the vertigo became worse. I was then referred to the ENT who advised that nothing was wrong with my ears and is now sending me back to another neurologist. Argh!
So hopefully this doctor will figure out once and for all what is wrong with me. (Insert appropriate jokes here) :o)
I wish you all the best and please let me know if you ever need someone to talk to. I may be useless in real life but at least on here I seem semi-normal. ;o)
Namaste,
Kim