You can call me Fox, I'm 27 and from CT. After several years of "not feeling well," (nausea, dizzy spells, headaches, feeling like I'm always on "autopilot," feeling like I'm always on a boat, visual issues (difficulty focusing, eye pain/pressure, slight color desaturation -- all of these are daily symptoms), I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere and kinda want to cry from relief that it's not necessarily all in my head (well, I guess it is, physically, but you know what I mean). I'm sure many of you know how frustrating it is to go to your doctor and have them not know why you're continuously feeling awful, and how much it stinks in general to have all this going on.
I didn't have problems like this before and am wondering if maybe it is a result of (or at least exacerbated by) ECT (shock therapy) I had in 2004/05. Anyone else in a similar situation?
I don't know why it took so long for me to see an ENT about all of this (I've been to pretty much every other specialist there is). I had an appointment on Monday and after a few tests, he said that it's most likely what's called a "silent migraine." I don't get the headache part too often, but everything else is a daily thing. The dizzy spells come on unexpectedly and that's frustrating, since I work all the time. Apparently I'm good at hiding it. However, I guess the symptoms make sense, and I'm going for more tests in about a month.
The doc started me on Verapamil (sp?) yesterday and I guess we'll see how it goes. I hope to God it works, or at least makes the symptoms fewer and far between. Wish me luck?
It looks like you are on the right track. You have been diagnosised with silent migraines and they have you on verapimil. This is a daily medication that can be used to help prevent headaches. Hopefully once you are up to full dosage it will help reduce the silent migraine symptoms.
Good luck.
The Following User Says Thank You to tingles For This Useful Post: Fox84 (08-03-2012)
Let me know how it goes for you. I have also been diagnosed with migraines and like you, I get dizzy spells with and without headache, tons of pressure in my head, back aches, numbness in my face, etc.
I have been going to the Mayo Clinic for over a year and finally have a diagnosis after a multitude of tests and seeing specialists. I see my headache neurologist tomorrow. He is going to talk to me about Pamelor.
In the meantime I picked up a book called Heal Your Headache, The 1-2-3 Program by Dr. David Buchholz, MD, of John Hopkins. It has really opened my eyes, describes my symptoms in a way that I was trying to, but could not, and discusses dietary and other triggers. It's quite interesting and I plan on wholeheartedly following his plan. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
As I type now the left side of my face feels numb and the back of my head feels like someone is pressing on it as hard as they can, which makes me dizzy.
Just as a side note, I also get dizzy doing neck stretches. Not sure why, except I am attributing it to the constant inflammation from the migraine.
Karen
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox84
Hello,
You can call me Fox, I'm 27 and from CT. After several years of "not feeling well," (nausea, dizzy spells, headaches, feeling like I'm always on "autopilot," feeling like I'm always on a boat, visual issues (difficulty focusing, eye pain/pressure, slight color desaturation -- all of these are daily symptoms), I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere and kinda want to cry from relief that it's not necessarily all in my head (well, I guess it is, physically, but you know what I mean). I'm sure many of you know how frustrating it is to go to your doctor and have them not know why you're continuously feeling awful, and how much it stinks in general to have all this going on.
I didn't have problems like this before and am wondering if maybe it is a result of (or at least exacerbated by) ECT (shock therapy) I had in 2004/05. Anyone else in a similar situation?
I don't know why it took so long for me to see an ENT about all of this (I've been to pretty much every other specialist there is). I had an appointment on Monday and after a few tests, he said that it's most likely what's called a "silent migraine." I don't get the headache part too often, but everything else is a daily thing. The dizzy spells come on unexpectedly and that's frustrating, since I work all the time. Apparently I'm good at hiding it. However, I guess the symptoms make sense, and I'm going for more tests in about a month.
The doc started me on Verapamil (sp?) yesterday and I guess we'll see how it goes. I hope to God it works, or at least makes the symptoms fewer and far between. Wish me luck?
I have something similar to this - daily dizziness, numbness of face and arms and permanent blind spots near my central vision which is what concerns me most. These blind spots sometimes seem to flash and they are increasing in number.
The Drs seem to have ruled out things like MS after my MRI and LP came back normal but the fact that my symptoms get worse after exercise makes me doubt that. The opthalmologist hasn't found anything wrong with my eyes either other than some small bloodspots which resolved themselves. However I know it is possible that it could be some sort of silent migraine. I have suffered from migraines in the past without any auras but strangely I haven't had one of these in a long time now.
Have you seen a Retinal Specialist? Since you have permanent blind spots I will would see a retinal doctor to rule out any macular issues.
I had a detached retina five years ago and surgery to correct it and see a retinal doc every year. They can see and diagnose much more than an ophthalmologist.
Karen
Quote:
Originally Posted by 88Girl
I have something similar to this - daily dizziness, numbness of face and arms and permanent blind spots near my central vision which is what concerns me most. These blind spots sometimes seem to flash and they are increasing in number.
The Drs seem to have ruled out things like MS after my MRI and LP came back normal but the fact that my symptoms get worse after exercise makes me doubt that. The opthalmologist hasn't found anything wrong with my eyes either other than some small bloodspots which resolved themselves. However I know it is possible that it could be some sort of silent migraine. I have suffered from migraines in the past without any auras but strangely I haven't had one of these in a long time now.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your responses. The verapimil helped but gave me hives and welts so I had to stop. I have been on Topamax (25mg) for the last few days now but it is making me feel worse than usual and I can't afford to miss work and i don't really even feel comfortable driving the 20min it takes to get there feeling like this.
I wish my body wasn't so sensitive to meds.
The following user gives a hug of support to Fox84: mafixit (09-05-2012)
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your responses. The verapimil helped but gave me hives and welts so I had to stop. I have been on Topamax (25mg) for the last few days now but it is making me feel worse than usual and I can't afford to miss work and i don't really even feel comfortable driving the 20min it takes to get there feeling like this.
I wish my body wasn't so sensitive to meds.
I have been on Verapamil for 3 weeks now, ramped up to 120 mg. Last night I had such bad palpitations I was up all night. I am still getting headaches and am still dizzy. I will give it another week and then talk to the doctor again.
This is getting quite old. I yawned this morning and had a dizzy spell.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your responses. The verapimil helped but gave me hives and welts so I had to stop. I have been on Topamax (25mg) for the last few days now but it is making me feel worse than usual and I can't afford to miss work and i don't really even feel comfortable driving the 20min it takes to get there feeling like this.
I wish my body wasn't so sensitive to meds.
I have been on Verapamil for 3 weeks now, ramped up to 120 mg over the last 3 weeks. Last night I had such bad palpitations I was up all night. I am still getting headaches and am still dizzy. I will give it another week and then talk to the doctor again.
This is getting quite old. I yawned this morning and had a dizzy spell.
Newbie -- Silent Migraines? ECT? 
I have been on Topamax (25mg) for the last few days now but it is making me feel worse than usual and I can't afford to miss work and i don't really even feel comfortable driving the 20min it takes to get there feeling like this. 
