How does migraine make you dizzy?

Specific Illnesses & Conditions VM/MAV
1

Okay, normally I come on here and read posts and get very encouraged about the possibility of one day getting better - which, I whole heartedly know I will - somehow, one day. I’m not taking any meds, guess I think this will just go away on its own (but apparently it’s not). I have Venflaxafine (generic Effexor) at home which I’m afraid to take (read too much about it), i seem to suffer all side effects of any drug. Today is rough for me, and maybe it’s just getting to me. How the hell does migraine make you dizzy? And I don’t mean vertigo, just constantly mildly dizzy with head pressure and a small amount of pain. I’m able to work and function but this is getting ridiculous. One day I was normal, the next day I got lightheaded and it hasn’t gone away for over 8 months now. I honestly feel this is all stress/anxiety related and I know that makes this all worse but how do you NOT get anxious over this crap? HOW DO YOU FIX THIS???

Sorry for the venting, just having a super bad day. I’ve read things about Effexor (some good but mostly bad) and if anyone has good things to say about it please let me know. I feel like I probably need to take something cuz I just can’t shake this f-ing lightheadedness/dizziness - it’s all damn day. It, as you all know, interferes with my happiness. I’m jealous of people who have no idea what this is like, people who live their lives so easily and feeling physically good. I don’t understand how this happened, don’t know how to fix it, don’t know what I did to deserve this. Just tired…forgot what it feels like to feel normal and it makes me sad and angry. I’m sitting at my desk at work crying and I could easily go home and let this thing beat me but I refuse to do so.

Basically asking how this thing makes you dizzy?? Understanding what’s going on would maybe help.

Thank you for ANY feedback,
Bridget

2

Migraines its mechanism and how do migraine meds work are still an enigma. All I can say that perhaps migraine causes distortion of sensory information being relayed to the brain and this is what causes false sensation of movement(vertigo, lightheadedness, head presssue etc).

3

Well, this whole thing completely sucks. Do you personally believe anxiety and stress can trigger a long bout of migraine? I asked my neurologist the other day and he pretty much threw anxiety out as a trigger for this but when it started I was under a ton of stress. I’ve been stressed for years and then something major happened in my life. I think the buildup created this little storm.

4

Yes I believe anxiety and stress can be one of the triggers. However anxiety can also be an aftermath of the migraines. (meaning migraines and vertigo cause a non anxious person to become anxious ).

5

Bridget, I don’t know the answer to your question, but I am having a horrible day as well so thought you’d like to know that even though we are on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, I feel your pain. I took my first dose of nortriptyline last night (having switched from amitriptyline) and have never felt worse in my life. Hang on in there: we will both get better.

Jack

6

— Begin quote from “Jackpad”

Bridget, I don’t know the answer to your question, but I am having a horrible day as well so thought you’d like to know that even though we are on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, I feel your pain. I took my first dose of nortriptyline last night (having switched from amitriptyline) and have never felt worse in my life. Hang on in there: we will both get better.

Jack

— End quote

Thank you Jack. We will get better, I honestly feel it :slight_smile:

And Methanol, thank you for your replies.