I posted here a couple times around 6 months ago because I was having dizzy issues, but I didn’t think I had MAV and now I only visit to catch up to see how Todd is doing. I am doing much better and would say I am at a 98% right now. I was never diagnosed and every test imaginable came up clean. I am thinking that it was either caused by anxiety or as a neurologist put it " sometimes the brain just has a disconnect with the body". I started therapy to control the anxiety and just went out and exercised like a mad man, trying to ignore my symptoms and just live my life. The dizzy’s subsided 2 months ago, brain fog went away 6 weeks ago and the anxiety has decreased as of two weeks ago. Thank GOD! Anyway, I made an appointment with a Headache specialist here in NYC 3 months ago when I was feeling terrible. The appointment was today and I almost canceled, but I figured it took me three months to get it so I might as well just go. So I went and the doc listened, but also seemed to have an agenda. At the end of the appointment, he thought that I was probable migraine. I didn’t have enough symptoms to officially be migraine. He gave me a prescription for Verapamil and told me it would make me feel better. Now I am feeling great right now and I am reluctant to take it. He mentioned that even though I feel good, he thinks it’s migraine and it ''hit" and should take it. But it’s been 10 months since the off balance feeling hit and I have never had a “migraine”. I think I might just hold off on it and deal with something IF it comes up? thoughts?
P.S. you the man Todd, I know you will beat this soon.
Sorry, I have no knowledge of Vermapamil. But wanted to thank you for returning to this forum and posting that you are doing better. It’s very encouraging to me.
Your welcome John, Honestly I never thought I would feel better. I thought I was stuck forever and this would be my life. But slowly but surely by off balance feeling, my anxiety and my brain fog started to subside. It’s been 10 long months, but I am working my way through it and I feel normal again.
Hey Deekon,
Thanks for posting and updating us with such wonderful news. If you are doing so well, why rock the boat with a med and possible side effects? It’s nice to know that if something should happen in the future you have options.
Which doc in NY did you see and what was the doc’s reasoning for prescribing you a med at this point when you are reportedly doing so well???
Hi Deekon,
If you are feeling good, then you don’t have a reason to see the doctor right? If you get on meds, then you need to see the doc, get prescriptions, have follow up etc…hence, your feeling there is an agenda. Medicine is business to docs, so therein lies his agenda.
Verapamil has a low side effect profile for many, but I would put that on a shelf…you may (or may not) need it later.
I wonder how he figured migraine? I personally thought my doc was nuts when he told me I had a migraine equivalent, since i have never had a headache in my life. However, I have had a couple incidents of vertigo after drinking red wine, and I got two visual auras after diagnosis, and I was in a truly stressed out place. I believe we might be people who have been functional with lower levels of serotonin, and as we age, and serotonin depletes a bit, we might not have enough and some stuff can start to manifest. With a healthy, low stress lifestyle the serotonin is working and we feel normal. THrow in some life changes, or an illness or whatever, and it depletes rather quickly…thus leading to a chemical imbalance of sorts…
Happy you did well on good living…
Thanks for sharing…
Kelley
Hey Deekon,
Thanks for posting and updating us with such wonderful news. If you are doing so well, why rock the boat with a med and possible side effects? It’s nice to know that if something should happen in the future you have options.
Which doc in NY did you see and what was the doc’s reasoning for prescribing you a med at this point when you are reportedly doing so well???
Thanks,
Lisa
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I don’t think I am going to go on it. I figure if I relapse then I will deal with it accordingly. I saw Dr. Cohen at the headache institue. He is an associate of Dr. Newman and they have their own little headache clinic uptown. I think he prescribed the medication because of the symptoms I WAS sufferering. It was a bit of a strange consultation. I explained that I am much better than I was, but he still thought I had migraine although I am recovered. I didn’t feel I was able to explain how I was feeling the way I wanted to. I spent a good portion of our discussion answering a questionaire. How I was feeling CANNOT be explained with a questionaire.
He examined me like every other doc has, but I had no physical signs. I probabley shouldn’t have gone to the appt, but since it took so long to get I figured what the hell. I can kind of see how he thought migraine becuase he asked all the right questions to get the right answers for a migraine diganosis. I am not saying he misdignoised me, but most of the other docs I have seen wanted more proof because a diagnosis and he seemed to be quicker to act.
I agree with you Kelley that stress had a lot to do with it. When I started to treat my anxiety I realized that I was putting myself under tremendous stress but didn’t know it at the time. Once I started focusing on the anxiety and becoming more comfortable with it, my symptoms started to fade.
Anyway, I am going to shelf my verapamil and go on feeling good. I am very happy to be normal again and I have a new appreciate for everything. Maybe it’s migraine, maybe it’s not, but life goes on and I am going with it.
what kind of exercise were you doing? And do you think that the exercise played a big role in your recovery. Also, did you make any diet modifications?
what kind of exercise were you doing? And do you think that the exercise played a big role in your recovery. Also, did you make any diet modifications?
Greg
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Hi Greg,
I have always worked out pretty frequently. I run in the mornings and then hit the weights at night. A few months ago I was having some issues at the gym, (my gym has crazy lights and is very crowded) and flet spacy and anxious all the time. But all I did was just stick with it and I adapted to my surroundings. I also found that the running really cleared my head and helped me focus. The biggest help for me was reducing my anxiety. Once I controlled that the brain fog cleared. I still am not sure what’s going on and maybe this doc is correct in saying possbile migraine. I still feel pretty good most of the time. Computer screens still annoy me a bit and I can an occasional mini spin, but it’s nothing like it was before.
I got a similar diagnose from a neurologist, he said Probably MAV, but also stated that it could also be caused from anxiety. He said anxiety alone won’t cause the dizziness, but can trigger the MAV. I also don’t get the headaches. He told me eat healthier and do some cardio and if I did that, I probably won’t be back to see him. He was pretty sure of it, just said give it some time like a couple of months and I’ll know if I’m improving or not.
After 1 month, the brain fog and anxiety are just about gone, and the dizziness is definately better than it was. I’m guessing to be completely better it’s gonna take maybe 5-10 months I don’t know. I got hit with a cold now, so that has set me back a little and have not been able to do the cardio that much. I’m just waiting for the cold to go completely and get going again. But I’m feeling pretty confident that this will go away without meds.
The neurologist that I saw, said that I should stick to this program and I would be able to get back to normal without the meds. He did say it would take a while though. He kind of explained to me that if I can get rid of the anxiety, I would indirectly get rid of the dizziness, and regular cardio is one of the best ways to combat anxiety. That along with seeing somebody for the anxiety. But he really made a point to state that cardio and healthier eating is the main key to my success, unless I had something very traumatic happen to me like a death in the family or something along those lines (which I haven’t had), then seeing someone would be first. So the cardio is a big deal for getting rid of this.
I just hope it works. And your story is gonna help me a lot to get through the tough days. Thank-you
Wow Greg that is really the same thing and diagnois I am going through and I can tell you first hand it’s working. When this started, I had convinced myself that I had every condition you can think of. I developed health anxiety and I almost had a nervous breakdown thinking I would never get better and couldn’t get a diagnosis. I have some migraine symptoms, but nothing like some of the people on here who are really struggling. So I did what your doc suggested and started anxiety treatment without meds. I went to therapy, calmed myself down during panic attacks, excepted that this is how I feel right now and I would get better and just went about my life and started to feel better.
However it did take 3 months of this before I really felt any different. So stick with it even when you feel like nothing’s going to happen. I swear after having brain fog for 6 MONTHS, one day I woke up and it was gone. Then the “nervous all the time” feeling went and now the mini spins are less frequent. You have to learn to distract yourself from thinking about how your feeling too, it helps. Stay positive and just keep moving forward, try not to let it bother you and just get livin. One day you will wake up feeling more awake than you have felt in years.
Yea, I think I’ve let this thing go on for too long and has gotten a little worse, but as I’ve been working out, I noticed that my symptoms are now feeling more like they did in the beginning. Which is good. It’s like I’ve gone back in time a little bit. Of course I know I have a ways to go. I’m not there yet, but very optimistic most of the time. I do have times where I feel like the exercise isn’t working, but that’s when I start thinking of the times when I don’t have many symptoms and I know it’s working.
Oh THIS is my favorite thread!! Keep talking gentleman. Went out at lunch to shoot some hoops. Totally inspired to run my butt off til this fades away. Going to print your posts out poster size so I can look at them every day. Thanks!!
Yea, I think I’ve let this thing go on for too long and has gotten a little worse, but as I’ve been working out, I noticed that my symptoms are now feeling more like they did in the beginning. Which is good. It’s like I’ve gone back in time a little bit. Of course I know I have a ways to go. I’m not there yet, but very optimistic most of the time. I do have times where I feel like the exercise isn’t working, but that’s when I start thinking of the times when I don’t have many symptoms and I know it’s working.
Greg
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I have had those feelings too. I have been in the gym working out feeling dizzy and all I want to do is run out of there and go home. But I just work my way though it. I bet I look a little crazy sometimes to others having to close my eyes to regain my composure but I don’t care. Sometimes I feel crappy 20 minutes into my workout or run and then BOOM, all is calm and clear and I feel like a million bucks. The more I fight through it, the less it lasts the next time. I know that in a month or so, I will forget I was ever dizzy at all.
This is some good stuff, this is just what I need to hear. I definatley can relate to the dizzy feeling during workouts in the exact same way you just described it. Well, starting monday I’m back to the gym. The cold bug is nearly out of me and I’ll rest up during the weekend and get right back at it to start week 5 of cardio.
Good luck in the future to you and thanks again for posting your story. This is some great advise that you’ve given to the people here.
I did not know I had a cult following …thanks Deek!..ha
I am go glad you are doing well…you deserve it.
As far as my advice…dont f### with it!
Your other 2% will come with time, I am fairly certain. Simply challengle your brain by putting it into difficult situations…it shopping malls, patterned carpets, exercise with VRT.
And if you really want to challenge yourself…go to the craps table like I do, hunker down with the dice and try to get on a heater with the crowd around the table cheering you on! If your vestibular system can handle the craziness and your body can handle the anxiety, you can handle anything.
And if you are lucky, call me up , and I will join you for your next round!!! :mrgreen:
Just continue to fight the fight and get out there and for the love of God, stay of the meds! You do not need them right now. (In my humble opinion) Let your brain figure this shit out on it’s own…it is almost there!!!) You got it buddy…few more months and you are posting success stories!!. See you in the funny pages. Your Gonzaga Basketball friend, Todd
