Dizziness every day

Do others wake up with a headache every day? Feel dizzy and feel like your body and head are swaying each day?

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Yes, all day every day. It can be quite common with VM.

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No headache whatsoever most of my ill days. Nor dizziness (largely because of Amitriptyline). Just imbalance and swaying (and tinnitus)

But symptoms come and go, ebb and flow, new ones appear and others disappear.

Eventually it almost all resolved (see my diary)

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Yes, until I found the right medications. I also got corrective lenses and went through both vestibular and vision therapy. And I stopped drinking alcohol and caffeine. I still have headache/dizzy days but my symptoms are usually mild enough that I can take a pill and get on with my life. Big improvement over where I started.

We’re all different so unfortunately there’s no straight path to get your life back – it can be a frustrating trial-and-error journey. Don’t give up!

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Did you feel like you was swaying, dizzy each day? Glad you are better, I can only hope for similar soon. I’m on 30mg Amitriptyline but doesn’t seem to be touching the headaches.

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I was dizzy and nauseous all the time in between massive vertigo attacks that lasted 3 - 10 hours each, about five days a week. I was very, very ill at my worst. Once the vertigo was under control with meds, the dizziness gradually got better.

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Which medication did you feel worked best?

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I rarely have headaches. My dizzy/vertigo days are always pain free, but the dizziness and vertigo are so overwhelming that I’m forced to bed in a dark room, so the results are similar, it’s that the discomfort is different.

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Topiramate daily, and clonazepam as a rescue med have been the most effective for me, although I take other drugs as well. Both meds have side effects. However my situation is on the extreme end of things so I either put up with unpleasant side effects or move into assisted living. I’m not typical by any means.

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Terrible day today, head feels like it’s moving all over the place, it’s hard to work. Not got much of a headache either today which is unusual but the dizziness is terrible. I’ve also noticed sometimes, when I get in bed I have a raising heartbeat but I have no anxiety etc. Very frustrating illness.

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It is. Disruption to work is the pits. Consider starting a diary when you feel up to it in Personal Diaries :open_book:

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A post was split to a new topic: Could it really be migraine?

Does anyone on here get dizziness like me every day? Heavy feeling in your head. Racing heart at times but not feeling anxious about anything other than this illness? Any recommendations on medication etc?

I had symptoms constantly and persistently for 3.5 years.

Look at the the big med poll.

But note this poll pre-dates Medication :pill: > CGRP antagonists

3.5 years omg! 18 months has been long enough and no end in sight! Hoping this neurologist appointment can find a miracle cure but not got much hope :sob:

It’s a long slog, but there is hope and you should eventually get it under control. You just need to work out which levers to pull (which isn’t easy!)

Scotty - I’ve stopped thinking in terms of a ā€œcureā€ and instead focus on managing the condition. By adjusting my expectations my mental health has vastly improved. You will get better – hang in there!

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Maybe that’s where I’m struggling. I guess as I’m only 34 I feel I shouldn’t be having an illness that’s really affecting my quality of life but that’s probably the wrong attitude as any illness can affect anyone at any age.

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I totally understand. There are many people of all ages who must learn to live with diabetes, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and many other chronic health conditions. We are not alone in our frustration. It’s easy to spiral down into a bad place, especially when you feel awful every day, you haven’t found an effective treatment and the future looks uncertain. In addition to VM I’ve had to deal with chronic pain from early onset osteoarthritis and a cancer diagnosis which turned my life upside down.

The key for me is to focus on making these health conditions as small a part of my life as possible. With VM that means I still have mild symptoms but I can lead a normal life – live alone, drive, travel, read, etc. I have made concessions – no alcohol or caffeine, maintain a regular schedule, take medications with mild side effects – but these are totally worth it for what I get in return.

One foot in front of the other, my friend. Keep searching, keep learning, keep pushing, keep trying. You will get better – maybe not all better but you will find your way to a ā€œnew normalā€ and it will be good. Honest.

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I would listen to SFNative. She’s a well respected contributor and has some great advice. I wouldn’t just accept that you’re doomed to deal with VM for the rest of your life. There are ways to deal with it and even cures if you’re willing to put in the effort to search for them with an open mind. Hang in there and never accept defeat to this!