Something I’ve experienced for years but have never seen anyone comment about is weather changes affecting your symptoms. Does anyone else experience weather related flare ups, or changes in their symptoms?
For me, it doesn’t always happen, but I get dizzy spells that will start up shortly before a strong storm and end a few hours after the storm has passed. When this happens, things usually start to get worse slowly about 20 minutes to an hour before the storm, with a spike when the storm first hits, and then a gradual fading. I also experience much milder but longer lasting spells when strong fronts come through. This is of the type that will last 2 or 3 days. The type of front that I am talking about here is the type that would change the local weather pattern for a couple weeks or longer.
I have read several articles about how weather changes can affect people with migraines, but have never seen anyone on hear mention it, so I thought I would ask.
Yea, weather changes affect my MAV. My ears get fuller and subsequently the dizziness kicks in. If the storms are mild, my symptoms are managable. Bigger storms rock my world. Some triggers can be controlled, but there is not much you can do about the weather.
Yes, definitely noticing an effect, I’m on the east coast of the US, New Jersey to be exact and we have been getting alot of snow recently. Making me feel "off’. This is the same time last year when I totally crashed and burned leading me to a new doc and new diagnosis of MAV. Funny thing is though I really didn’t notice it during the summer with rain storms to the extent that I am noticing it now. Who know’s, still learning everyday with this thing.
I have noticed a correlation with barometric changes (storm building up) and actue migraine attacks. Not always, but sometimes. Also very hot days with harsh sun glare - so tropical conditions/summer storms are not good for me. Also very high altitude.
Sure enough, Brian, when it’s gloomy, going to rain I can be eating and sleeping right and taking the drugs as prescribed, but I’m likely to be in poor shape. That’s living in the D.C. area; I hadn’t yet developed this stuff when I lived in PA, NJ and NY.
I expect to ask my docs about upping dosages prophylactically when weather and other known stressors challenge. Do others do so effectively? I have some lorazepam, which I took for a couple of days with low-grade aura; it did not noticeably make things better.
Winter weather is much more extreme for me than summer weather. We had a snow storm come through yesterday that I have been feeling for about three days now. I am much less sensitive in the summer, but I still feel the storms, hours instead of days. I also feel the effects of severe temperature changes, when the daily temp jumps by 20 to 30 degrees from the day before.
Thanks everyone for sharing.
Personally I can’t pinpoint which type of weather changes bother me. One time it can be when the temp jumps up, the next time it might be when it turns sunny. Storms are a hit and miss issue as well.
Weather changes bring out the worst of my mav. I am hypersensitive to weather changes and it drasticily affects my life.I need a walker as my balance gets bad with walking and motion around me. My face goes numb and sometimes it affects my speech.my neck swells up ear ringing starts then nausea. This is constant with me. I have lots of ear pain.elevation affects me as well. I cannot fly as the pressure is too much for me.l take nortriptline and it helps with some of the motion sickness.but the weather changes are so life altering in a bad way.
I am also affected by barometric weather changes. I once told my headache specialist this and he told me I was crazy. Needless to say we parted ways a long time ago. We got into a big fight about Topamax. He wanted me to start it and I did not. It turned into a cursing screaming battle which ended in him saying I could try the stick and berry route. I replied that he never gave me that option. He then rattled off butterbur and feverfew and various other alternatives and their potential side effects. To which my response was that they sounded more acceptable than the problems associated with Topamax. We fired eachother during this meeting as the student doctor stood there dumbfounded at both of our behaviors.
Anyway back on subject… Impending storms bring on a migraine for me as well as low cloud levels.
I am very interested in this thread. I have been on nori for 3 1/2 months, at 15 mg for 5 weeks. I had some great weeks, but the last 5 days have been bad. I live in SLC and we have had extreme weather changes during the past week. 70 degrees to 30 degrees and snow, back to 70 and sun today. I have never paid attention to weather changes and my disequilibrium. For those of you who are affected by the weather, how long does it last? Don’t want to give up on the med yet, if it might be weather related.
Thanks!
Weather has no effect on me at all. Other than causing me to curse when it p*ssing a storm outside and my brolly got demolished in the glorious New Zealand wind currents we have here! :mrgreen:
I am very interested in this thread. I have been on nori for 3 1/2 months, at 15 mg for 5 weeks. I had some great weeks, but the last 5 days have been bad. I live in SLC and we have had extreme weather changes during the past week. 70 degrees to 30 degrees and snow, back to 70 and sun today. I have never paid attention to weather changes and my disequilibrium. For those of you who are affected by the weather, how long does it last? Don’t want to give up on the med yet, if it might be weather related.
Thanks!
Peace,
Jen
— End quote
Jen, for me, if it is triggered by a storm it hits me just a few minutes before the storm and fades away as the storm is moving on. It it is triggered by weather changes, (such as a 30 degree change) it is about a half day to full day.
I’m not sure if my weather issues are because of MAV or anxiety. I dislike and am afraid of ALOT of different kinds of bad weather (heh, lifelong anxiety sufferer and control freak…it’ll have that effect lol). I like rain okay, and have not noticed any symptoms associated with it. But if it looks like it may be severe (like bad thunderstorm, or bad winds, etc), I get slightly dizzy and anxious beforehand. Of course once it’s over, i feel better.
