I am trying to find out more detailed symptoms of MAV. I have had ear infections on and off all my life (I am 34). 13 months ago I started experience mild ear pain with no infection, and generalized dizziness. In the past 5 months I have started experiencing vertigo attacks, about 2 per month. I have seen many ENTs and neurologists. I have been diagnosed several things, such as eustation tube dysfunction, mastoiditis, and MAV. However, depending on which doctor I see, there seem to be disagreements about these diagnoses. I have been on several medications with no help.
For the MAV- I went on about 35 mg of Venaflaxine for 3 months with no change. I just stopped taking it cold turkey, and I guess I do not notice a change (other than my anxiety being a little stronger).
I am wondering if MAV diagnosis is accurate. I seem to feel worst general dizziness when I move my head and eyes at the same time. I have sensitivity to loud noises (when everything is quiet) and I have sensitivity to bright light… But not really to direct sunlight. For example, I work on a computer all day, and at least 40 times per day I experience a split-second flash of intense dizziness/panic when I close a window on my screen, or move my mouse arrow rapidly across screen. However, I can never intentionally provoke this sensation. This seems to also happen when I watch TV. As for vertigo attacks… They seem to have happened as a result of rapid head movement… However… When trying to intentionally stimulate a vertigo attach with rapid head movement, nothing happens.
Basically, the only time I feel relatively normal is if I keep totally still and try not to move my eyes much. Sometimes, even a hard swallow triggers the split-second flash of intense dizziness/panic. My ears always pop when I swallow, they are full a lot of the time, and I feel mild pain in one of them- but it is not infected.
When I am at home, and nobody can see how psychotic I look- I walk around my house with my eyes closed as much as possible. Again, it is the only time I feel a bit normal.
I have gone to a chiropractor to rule out cervicogenic vertigo. I wonder if I am making the right move by getting off the Venaflaxine. It is too expensive and time consuming to go back to my neuro-otologist who will just perform the Epley manuver (which is always negative) and then put me back on more meds.
In the few symptoms you describe, you do describe some migraine symptoms, sensitivity to light, noise etc. Could it be MAV? I could speculate, but you don’t include enough information on your symptoms, and the testing you have had done.
Are you dizzy all the time, some of the time? Does the room seem to rock back and forth as you walk? Personally, I can’t walk with my eyes closed, but that doesn’t mean much. The list of questions I could ask goes on, but I can’t think of them right now (brain fog :lol: .)
Brian
couldnt it be that dehiscense of the semicircular canal thingy? I guess the doc u see would know about that so probably not.
Typical symptoms are sensitivity to loud noises = vertigo/dizzy spells
Also I think you can hear things abnormally, for example a comb on your hair sounds a lot louder than it should.
“a comb on your hair sounds a lot louder than it should” - that is true.
What I don’t understand about MAV is the duration. When I research migraines, it always seems that the person with migraine experiences aura, then headache, then it goes away eventually. I don’t see how my problem is migraine if the light and sound sensitivity NEVER go away… and the only headaches I have are mild. And the generalized dizziness never goes away. Does that mean MAV is a constant, never ending migraine that may last years?
— Begin quote from “mcosman”
“a comb on your hair sounds a lot louder than it should” - that is true.
What I don’t understand about MAV is the duration. When I research migraines, it always seems that the person with migraine experiences aura, then headache, then it goes away eventually. I don’t see how my problem is migraine if the light and sound sensitivity NEVER go away… and the only headaches I have are mild. And the generalized dizziness never goes away. Does that mean MAV is a constant, never ending migraine that may last years?
— End quote
Not to scare you, but in a way, yes. In other words, this isn’t a MIGRAINE headache that is going on, but rather, the inflamation of the nerves, arteries, etc in the brain. A regular migraine causes this but goes through the cycle. The other stuff which you described (and all of which I have and can relate to) is related to migraine, but not a migraine in the classic sense, thus the name Migraine ASSOCIATED vertigo. Make sense? Anyway, while it can be an continuous problem, certain meds help calm the symptoms so that one can function. The trick is finding which meds work for you. Some people feel MUCH better once they find the right med, some almost totally normal. Others may note they feel “75%” or so. And it takes time.