It has been quite a while since I have written anything. After the winter from hell, I went into full blown Firefly (Regional Burn) preparation. I returned from Firefly with a bad stomach virus. After a week of that, I woke up with the worst vertigo I have ever experienced. I felt like I was in a washing machine, on the agitation cycle. This went on for 2 weeks. My doctor thinks I ended up with Vestibular Neuritis brought on by an Enterovirus. Once the vertigo started lessening, I started experiencing really bad migraine symptoms (auras, visual disturbances, light & sound sensitivity, and headaches).
This has been going on for over 2 months now. In addition to my PCP, I have seen an ENT specialist, a neurologist, and an ophthalmologist. I have gone through the full panel of vestibular testing, an audiogram, an MRI, and full ophthalmology exam. I have had various blood tests, including blood parasite tests, CBC, metabolic panel, SED rate (for inflammation), and a Lyme test. I have gotten results back on everything but the vestibular testing and everything has been normal. My MRI results were the first and probably only time in my life that I have been told my brain is normal. I may frame the letter from my doctor with that result. I think my diagnosis is Vestibular Migraines (AKA migraine associated vertigo). My personal theory is that it started as vestibular neuritis and after 2 weeks of trying to compensate for horrendous vertigo, my already overly sensitive brain "short-circuited" and it turned into vestibular migraines. I have been on short term disability since Mid-July and I ended up being let go from my contractor position. I can't look at a computer screen for more than 30-60 minutes at a time at a maximum.
I have been taking Amitriptyline for a little over a month and the constant vertigo and migraine symptoms are finally down to a tolerable level, but so many things trigger worse vertigo and increased migraine symptoms, including heat, loud noises, bright light (especially fluorescent), flashing lights, certain patterns, certain movements, driving through tunnels, looking at a computer screen (especially VJ clips), and more. I am trying to figure out coping mechanisms for the symptoms and triggers. It is a slow process.
So, that is what I have been up to. Hopefully others have had a better summer than I have.
This has been going on for over 2 months now. In addition to my PCP, I have seen an ENT specialist, a neurologist, and an ophthalmologist. I have gone through the full panel of vestibular testing, an audiogram, an MRI, and full ophthalmology exam. I have had various blood tests, including blood parasite tests, CBC, metabolic panel, SED rate (for inflammation), and a Lyme test. I have gotten results back on everything but the vestibular testing and everything has been normal. My MRI results were the first and probably only time in my life that I have been told my brain is normal. I may frame the letter from my doctor with that result. I think my diagnosis is Vestibular Migraines (AKA migraine associated vertigo). My personal theory is that it started as vestibular neuritis and after 2 weeks of trying to compensate for horrendous vertigo, my already overly sensitive brain "short-circuited" and it turned into vestibular migraines. I have been on short term disability since Mid-July and I ended up being let go from my contractor position. I can't look at a computer screen for more than 30-60 minutes at a time at a maximum.
I have been taking Amitriptyline for a little over a month and the constant vertigo and migraine symptoms are finally down to a tolerable level, but so many things trigger worse vertigo and increased migraine symptoms, including heat, loud noises, bright light (especially fluorescent), flashing lights, certain patterns, certain movements, driving through tunnels, looking at a computer screen (especially VJ clips), and more. I am trying to figure out coping mechanisms for the symptoms and triggers. It is a slow process.
So, that is what I have been up to. Hopefully others have had a better summer than I have.