My understanding of compensation (having experienced it in the ātrueā sense after my BPPV episode), is that it occurs over weeks & months rather than hours. After my BPPV was fixed with the Epley, I still had positional dizziness when my head was turned to my left side (BPPV side) and when facing straight down for a few weeks. This positional dizziness gradually went away as I did the habituation exercises, but my VM/PPPD symptoms were unchanged throughout this process.
What I was referring to was simply the fact that a lot of the time, the VM symptoms seem to reduce in intensity (over the course of 1-2 hours) if I āpush throughā the unpleasantness, which doesnāt seem right somehow, since it seems like the migraine should be further ātriggeredā rather than alleviated. Just wondering what other peopleās experiences are with this.
For sure, I was dizzy/imbalanced for 3.5 years! Now I hardly ever have issues with my balance, nor vertigo. But who knows if thatās a mixture of compensation and other improvements? Was there something neurological that has recovered? Was it an inner ear improvement? I donāt think I will ever get an answer.
Iāve taken propranolol for a total of 4 weeks now - 2 weeks at 60mg, another 2 at 80mg, and just today jumped to 120mg extended release.
Overall Iām a bit better (maybe 30%), although thereās a lot of fluctuation. I am able to work on a screen from home (though I definitely have a mild to moderate amount of discomfort while working) and Iāve started heading into the office for half days 2x a week. Still havenāt tried watching TV. Sometimes when Iām at home and not too active, I can have a couple of hours where I feel 75% back to baseline, but it doesnāt stay that way when I get more active or do something visually triggering (like TV). However, in general, I donāt feel house bound anymore - I can function in shopping malls and stores, I can move around the city via public transit, and I can hang out with friends at my home or theirs. All of these activities cause a fair amount of discomfort so I donāt do them a lot, but I no longer feel like Iām having a seizure and/or panic attack when I attempt them. I still randomly manage to trigger terrible episodes of dizziness & depersonalization a few times a week, but they seem to be shorter lived - the worst passes within an hour and then the hangover lasts another few hours.
So I seem to be making progress, although it isnāt quick. My 24/7 symptoms are still quite elevated compared to pre-COVID but theyāre starting to become less intrusive. The really bad episodes of dizziness/depersonalization are settling down quicker. And the light and sound sensitivity is showing a meaningful downtrend also.
Now that Iām at 120mg ER propranolol, I plan to stay at this level for the next 4 weeks and then re-assess whether to try another medication or stay on the propranolol. I am getting better, but I am wondering whether itās the propranolol or simply time thatās making the difference.
It is so interesting what you wrote. The other day I told myself ājust accept and continue, keep walking,ā and it worked. I got home, no drama. Maybe both feed each other VM and anxiety. It is a circle.
@nycsg Completely recognize this! Chronic VM, varying in degree (no head pain). Feeling completely disconnected from the environment while walking. Being ultracareful about foot placement. Wondering why Iām not falling to the ground! But I keep walking - though completely unenjoyably - and can even say hello amiably, as required. But itās all a dream. Wondering, surely I look like a zombie, wonder if people will rush over to help or call 911! But, of course, I look normal (ha!). I think I dislike the feeling of disconnect more than anything else.
It is so devilishly hard to convey the mix of symptoms/experiences to anyone other than another migraineur.
