Migraine Headaches Support Group

Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.

1,556 Members

3,347 Posts

0 Online

Ayreish 01/10/2011

Hello, everyone! I've had migraines off and on in the past, but recently I've been getting more and more of them. I have been doing some research and thought I would ask a few questions here since I'm not really getting anything except the standard "this is what the definition of a migraine is, here are the common symptoms, etc." from the different websites I've been on. I was wondering if anyone has experienced dizziness before and during the migraine? Also, have you experienced the migraine pain sort of waxing and waning in intensity? And finally, what's the longest you've experienced a migraine? I'm asking because Thursday I was at work and started feeling a bit lightheaded, got a headache and by the end of the night was so dizzy and in so much pain I literally crawled up the stairs to bed. Friday I ended up in the ER where the doctor there decided I have Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and told me to do the Epley Maneuver. Well, I'm not really dizzy doing the EP but it makes my head throb like crazy! I can hear my pulse in my ears in this whooshing sort of way like I'm upside-down. I noticed that I'm not really dizzy until the Motrin wears off, but even taking the Motrin I still have a headache. It hasn't gone away at all in the past 5 days, just gotten more intense as the Motrin wears off. I'm also sensitive to light and noise, much like migraines of the past. The only difference is the dizziness and length of time this has lasted. Maybe there's something else going on? I'm not sure so I wanted to get your opinions. Thanks for taking time to read all this!

angee7 01/10/2011

I suffer with migraines. I take a lot of medicine to prevent them,Topamax 300mg a day, Cymbalta, Trazadone (for sleep), and I even get BOTOX injections every 3 months for the migraines. When I feel a migraine coming I try Advil, then Fioricet, then Maxalt, then Imitrex injection.
To answer your question about dizziness. I am always either lightheaded, or extremely dizzy. I have complained about it for years.
Finally, last October I fainted, went down like a sack of pototoes. I busted up my knees and messed up my shoulder real bad. Now, my Doctor is looking into my dizziness, and he has found that I have very low blood pressure; like 78/50 while standing. He has prescribed medicine to raise my blood pressure. It's helping, but I am scheduled to be tested for Addison's Disease.

My point is find a Doctor who will listen to you and look at every symptom. I thought dizziness went hand and hand with migraines, well it didn't in my case. I suffered for 3 extra years for nothing.

Good luck to you!

trayne91 01/10/2011

I'm getting that, too. Mine just upped in frequency in the last month and now trying to work through it, but I have one right now and I did get dizzy watching tv. I just kind of went whoosh, almost like vertigo, but not that intense. Mine has been up and down in pain all day, so it comes and goes, too.

deleted_user 01/10/2011

You didn't mention, but if you take topomax it can cause vertigo. Don't know if that could be contributing. It is not a symptom of mine.

Ayreish 01/11/2011

Thanks for the replies! My headache seems to have gone away... mostly. I'm still feeling a touch dizzy off and on, but not like I was. I'm not taking any medications other than a few supplements, so I know its not a side effect from that. And really, today the dizziness only seems to be happening when I move too suddenly, and its not so much dizziness as my vision takes a minute to refocus sort of thing. I'm just happy the headache has finally gone!

dangergoinoff 01/11/2011

I don't have a great deal of experience with migraines so make of this what you will but I was finding that when it was quite intense if I stood up about 5 seconds later I would get an immense pounding in rhythm with my heartbeat at the epicentre of the migraine which gave me that dizzy like feeling plus a huge amount of pressure in that part of my head. I also was getting the whooshing heartbeat in my ear like I had water or something in my ear.

Ayreish 01/11/2011

Spoke too soon when I posted earlier... headache came back. Ugh! I really wish this would stop already! I'm getting really worried about how this will impact my ability to do my job. I just started a couple months ago so I don't want to jeopardize keeping it. But if I can't figure out what's causing the pain and dizziness, or an effective way of treating it that won't come back to bite me in the butt, I'm screwed! Any suggestions on that aspect?

deleted_user 01/16/2011

I've had migraines for about 18 years now and have been through a slew of medications to prevent them. On occassion I get dizzy, but nothing where I have felt where I was going to pass out. Usually I feel more disoriented than dizzy. As someone else mentioned, I would really be concerned if these are or are not actually a symptom of your headaches, something you're taking or something else entirely...in which case only an actual professional will be able to really tell you that. You did mention something about supplements, which is also something you should bring to the attention of your doctor as well since that could possibly interfere with any other medications you are taking if you haven't already. It is better to cover all your bases in that regards especially where your health is concerned. Before I was diagnosed with migraines, I had gone 7 days with one untreated...which was the most painful experience of my life. Going through all the tests and whatnot is definitely not a treat but I would definitely be sure you are getting everything out in the open with the doctors and they are listening to you and what is going on so you don't end up thinking its one thing when it could potentially be something else or maybe even delay getting the right meds the first time around, you know?

Good luck,
~Theia~

Ayreish 01/17/2011

Thanks for the reply! My doctor knows what supplements I'm taking and I am always asking questions and making sure he is aware of what's going on. I had a follow-up appt. with the NP in his office and she did a series of tests. Her conclusion was that it could be a migraine, or it could still have something to do with BPPV. She suggested I make an appt. with my GP once he returns from holidays, and I think I'm going to since I'm still getting minor headaches off and on and feeling unbalanced off and on. I was given medication for the dizziness and told to continue taking the Motrin as needed. I'm only taking both when its absolutely necessary. I'm wondering if maybe my diet has something to do with what's going on since I've been eating more sugary and processed foods lately? I know one woman who suffers migraines on a regular basis and she stopped eating gluten, sugar, etc. and has had some relief. Could be worth looking into I suppose.

deleted_user 01/18/2011

Dear Ayreish, isorry you have these awful headaches. Dizzyness seems to be one thing that some get. Also have you been tried on inderal or norvasic? These are blood pressure meds. that are used in some patients with it lessening the frequency of them. Also amitripitiline and excedrin. Be sure to research all of your meds so you will know all the side effects because some cause dizzyness. I hope this helps. Hugs

Join the Conversation