OUR STORIES
Mandi's Story
I became ill in March 2012. I woke up one morning feeling off balance like I had knocked back a few vodkas the night before only difference being that I hadn't, This became on and off for the next few weeks and then eventually it faded away. However to my horror it returned within a couple of weeks. My balance got worse I was very dizzy, light headed, my ears hurt, they felt full and painful and like I needed to pop them all the time. I went back and forth to doctors daily and was told it was a virus and it would go and then I was told it could be labyrinthitis, I had never even heard of this before. I tried all the medications from, cinnarizine to bethahistine and nothing worked, instead it just made me worse. I again went back to the doctors and was told it was all anxiety and to just get on with it and it will go. At this point I was so poorly that all I could do was go to work and then come straight home and go to bed. however I was getting worse. sickness came in dizziness was worse I started getting headaches, sore eyes, tight feeling in the forehead, sound sensitivity I lost my appetite and couldn't even socialise or even hold a conversation.
I decided to pay privately to see an ENT who diagnosed me with MAV (migraine associated Vertigo) and was given medication to try and control my migraine. However a week later I was that bad I ended up in hospital were I lost all feeling in my body and lost my speech and my face had dropped I was petrified. This eventually tapered off but I was given an MRI scan to rule out anything sinister. Everything showed up normal and I was advised by the neurologist that it indeed was due to migraine. I was switched medication and told to avoid certain foods. over the coming months I was having the odd good day but still a lot of bad days. I managed to go on holiday (flying wasn't a problem however the airport was as too much stimulation) however when I came back I was still the same. over time I upped my medication to a suitable dose and I started to get a lot more good days. I was doing a diet called the migraine diet. I bought a book called Heal your Headache 123 program which was a godsend (a must have).
By the December 2012 I was only having the odd dizziness and migraine spell. However due to personal issues I became quite stressed in the January 2013 and I relapsed. My dizziness came back my headaches were so painful I was unable to work. I was taken off my medication and my journey to find the right medication began again. I tried various ones all with nasty side affects. by this point I was so depressed and not eating not going out not socialising. I would lock myself in my room and just cry hoping that I wouldn't wake up. In April I started to experience other health issues which made me really poorly. I decided to stop my medication that I was on and eventually my vestibular migraines diminished. Being that the dizziness and migraines would only come at a certain time of the month and maybe if I had cheated and had a food trigger. I also saw another ENT who I was recommended to and he ordered me to have the caloric tests which showed I only had 13% loss which is within normal range, I was put on another medication for another health issue but which could also be used for migraine too. I will skip the rest and come to now. I am doing so much better. I have been about 90% most the time with the odd blip here and there. I believe that a well balanced diet, exercise, sleep, rest, little stress and possible (not easy) support and the right medication (or VRT for some) CBT / Counselling can really help you on your road to recovery. I don't think that I will ever be free from this condition as my body now has a weak spot however I do know a lot about it and how to handle it and can be at peace with it.
UPDATE 2015
I very rarely get any dizziness and only suffer with migraines when i have over done it or have eaten the wrong type of food. I have a new job away from computers and am able to enjoy life again. Keep the hope it will get better....time heals.
I became ill in March 2012. I woke up one morning feeling off balance like I had knocked back a few vodkas the night before only difference being that I hadn't, This became on and off for the next few weeks and then eventually it faded away. However to my horror it returned within a couple of weeks. My balance got worse I was very dizzy, light headed, my ears hurt, they felt full and painful and like I needed to pop them all the time. I went back and forth to doctors daily and was told it was a virus and it would go and then I was told it could be labyrinthitis, I had never even heard of this before. I tried all the medications from, cinnarizine to bethahistine and nothing worked, instead it just made me worse. I again went back to the doctors and was told it was all anxiety and to just get on with it and it will go. At this point I was so poorly that all I could do was go to work and then come straight home and go to bed. however I was getting worse. sickness came in dizziness was worse I started getting headaches, sore eyes, tight feeling in the forehead, sound sensitivity I lost my appetite and couldn't even socialise or even hold a conversation.
I decided to pay privately to see an ENT who diagnosed me with MAV (migraine associated Vertigo) and was given medication to try and control my migraine. However a week later I was that bad I ended up in hospital were I lost all feeling in my body and lost my speech and my face had dropped I was petrified. This eventually tapered off but I was given an MRI scan to rule out anything sinister. Everything showed up normal and I was advised by the neurologist that it indeed was due to migraine. I was switched medication and told to avoid certain foods. over the coming months I was having the odd good day but still a lot of bad days. I managed to go on holiday (flying wasn't a problem however the airport was as too much stimulation) however when I came back I was still the same. over time I upped my medication to a suitable dose and I started to get a lot more good days. I was doing a diet called the migraine diet. I bought a book called Heal your Headache 123 program which was a godsend (a must have).
By the December 2012 I was only having the odd dizziness and migraine spell. However due to personal issues I became quite stressed in the January 2013 and I relapsed. My dizziness came back my headaches were so painful I was unable to work. I was taken off my medication and my journey to find the right medication began again. I tried various ones all with nasty side affects. by this point I was so depressed and not eating not going out not socialising. I would lock myself in my room and just cry hoping that I wouldn't wake up. In April I started to experience other health issues which made me really poorly. I decided to stop my medication that I was on and eventually my vestibular migraines diminished. Being that the dizziness and migraines would only come at a certain time of the month and maybe if I had cheated and had a food trigger. I also saw another ENT who I was recommended to and he ordered me to have the caloric tests which showed I only had 13% loss which is within normal range, I was put on another medication for another health issue but which could also be used for migraine too. I will skip the rest and come to now. I am doing so much better. I have been about 90% most the time with the odd blip here and there. I believe that a well balanced diet, exercise, sleep, rest, little stress and possible (not easy) support and the right medication (or VRT for some) CBT / Counselling can really help you on your road to recovery. I don't think that I will ever be free from this condition as my body now has a weak spot however I do know a lot about it and how to handle it and can be at peace with it.
UPDATE 2015
I very rarely get any dizziness and only suffer with migraines when i have over done it or have eaten the wrong type of food. I have a new job away from computers and am able to enjoy life again. Keep the hope it will get better....time heals.