Comments on: Basilar-type Migraine – Strangest Migraine on the Block?

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:26:18 +0000

Hi Vicky,
I was diagnosed with vestibular migraines about 10 years ago after suffering for about 10 years. I went from doctor to doctor and they tested me for everything from Meniere’s disease, seizures, to multiple sclerosis. At the time, I was in college and I could barely function. I would have “attacks” where I would space out. I would take notes in class and when I went to read them later, they wouldn’t make sense. I would get vertigo attacks so bad I wouldn’t be able to walk. I would also get numbness in my legs, which made walking difficult. Most of the time this stuff would happen without a headache. I would also have problems with my vision where I would see flashing blue lights, and I would temporairly loose my hearing. I honestly thought I was loosing my mind! Finaly my friend heard about a doctor in my area that was referred to as “the dizzy doctor”. He is an otolaryngologist. She thought it was worth a shot for me to try as I was getting nowhere with everyone else. I made an appointment with him and I had high hopes that he would find out what was wrong as I swore it had to do with my inner ear. When I went to see him he had me fill out a five page questionnaire. He walked in the room, read the questionnaire, talked to me for about 10 minutes and then proclaimed I had vestibular migraines. I was furious! I thought…I waited all this time for this? I left there in a rage and cried for the next three days. He referred me to a neurologist and I decided to go and see him because I felt I had nothing left to loose. After a long examination the neurologist agreed with what the other doctor had said and put me on Amytriptaline, a tricyclic antidepressant. At first I was very hesitant to take it because it was used for depression and I didn’t have depression. However, my dad convinced me it was worth a try. It took about a month for it to start to work, but within several months I couldn’t believe how much better I felt! It was like a miracle. The vertigo was almost completely gone with the other symptoms as well! Currently, I am not taking daily meds for my migraines because I haven’t really needed them. However, I am in school again and the stress is enormous so they are beginning again and now I am also experiencing occular migraines where I loose my vision for about 15 minutes. I will be going back on my meds. I have tried many antideppressants for pain relief because some of them have had side effects I didn’t like, but they all worked quite well for the vertigo and migraines. Don’t be afraid to try them…they made a huge difference in my life! Good luck to you.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:52:51 +0000

Good Morning Michelle,

Any update on your daughter’s doctor’s visit? You have run through my heart quite a bit in the last couple of weeks, but I have been buried in writing an academic paper, so life gets put on hold while doing that.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:50:54 +0000

Good Morning Vicky,
Welcome to the site. Your story is incredible. Thank you for sharing. Could you tell me what symptoms you present with? What course of treatment are you on? How do you cope now?

By: Helen Smith

Helen Smith — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:23:38 +0000

Vicky, What so your scans show? Mine were completely normal. You have aura every day?

Helen

By: vicky montgomery

vicky montgomery — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:32:35 +0000

Hi all,
I have just fell on this web site as i search through all the info sites on basilar artery migraine.
I have suffered with this B.A.M for 14 years nearly and am still trying to understand this condition and as much as i try to gain controll over it it still worries me alot . I was 7 months pregnant when i suffered my first “attack” as i call them,and my husband and doctor were convinced i was suffering a stroke but after a hour or so i fully recovered.I was misdiagnoised with epilepsy and took cabamazapine for 4 years and walked round like a zombie basically and hey still suffered the terrible attacks which were actually being made worse by the wrong drugs i was pumping into myself every day then at a routine appointment with my neurologist i met a fresh newly qualified consultant who told me you dont have epilepsy you have basilar artery migraine. well you could imagine my horror when he said migraine,i thought no way does a headache do this to you but i believe he was right . I started to take betablockers for a short time and gradually weaned myself of them.I would love to tell you that im all better now and it all gone but i still suffer from them but have learnt how to cope with them and react to the warning signs. I am awaiting my mri scan on 3rd july as they have changed slightly and are interfiering with my everyday aura.
I would like to talk to any fellow sufferers.
Kindest regards
vicky x

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:12:33 +0000

Good Morning Michelle,

Thanks for your response and I pray that what I have shared will be helpful in finding the key for your daughter’s relief as well. I will keep you both in my heart as you prepare for the appt. this week. In my research regarding this problem, I have also come across studies that tested the effectiveness of different modalities on various migraine conditions. They did find that the most effective support was the inclusion of regular massage therapy alongside drug intervention. I know that I had been receiving massage for muscle related issues right after the accident, but since they sorted themselves out, the insurance company discontinued coverage. Once that happened, I went downhill fast and didn’t understand why. They have now been reinstated but it is still the early stages of discovery as to how it will affect on the long term. Just throwing out ideas. I’d love to hear that your princess is able to level out and reach the awesome potential she has been created with.

By: Michelle Colridge

Michelle Colridge — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:02:21 +0000

Wendy, thank you so much for replying, it is really great to hear from you and so interesting to hear about Toradol – we are seeing the neurologist next week and I will ask him about it. You sound like you have had such a terrible time too and thank goodness you have found something that helps – you sound like you are doing so well, I honestly hope that things continue to improve for you. It is also so helpful to hear about how you like people to act around you when you are having an eposide. Do keep in touch and I will of course keep you posted about my daughter.

By: Helen Smith

Helen Smith — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:02:08 +0000

Regarding Toradol, I no longer experience BTM but I still have migraine without aura and I also take toradol as needed. However, I inject myself. Toradol tablets do not seem to be as effective as the shots. I had to be taught to give myself injections but you can get toradol injection by prescription to be taken at home.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:46:36 +0000

Hi there Michelle. I am an adult who has just been diagnosed with basilar migraine. It started after a minor car accident 7 months ago. In the ER, the doctor ordered an injection of Toridal. Once it hit, I was fine. Nobody picked up that I could be experiencing basilar migraine and so I have experienced exactly what you have described above and have had many medical responses and assessments all coming to the same conclusion, I need psychological intervention. When I finally pointed out to my family dr. that she has previously diagnosed me with silent migraine and shared the research I had done on this with her, she condescended to prescribing me toridal to take on an as needed basis. I had no idea for a week later, that it is a normal treatment protocol for this condition. I began the treatment on a Holy Thursday and took one tablet every 6 hours for 18 hours. Then I went down to one tablet every 12 hours, then down to one tablet a day and now, I have been as long as 4 days without a tablet. I am extremely careful about any warning signs and absolutely do not push any limits. I am also hyper vigilent about keeping hydrated. I am living normally for the first time in 7 months. I have lost my whole academic year in university because of this condition. I couldn’t read, study, remember, sit in class ~ anything! Between Holy Thursday and Easter Monday I completed a 10 page research paper for the first time since the accident. I am not only normal, I realized now that I have had symptoms of this for a very long time and I am living in a state of health I have never had. Try the toridal. I needed people to not make a fuss and let me work things through when I went into an episode. I need quiet, soothing comfort. Keep me posted on how your daughter is doing.

By: Michelle Colridge

Michelle Colridge — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:59:21 +0000

My 13 year old daughter was diagnosed with Basilar Type Migraine in September – she is dizzy 24/7 and has 4 or 5 very frightening episodes daily of slurred or loss of speech, confusion, pain in back of her neck and general shaking – attacks go on for about 15 mins. We have tried everything but have found no way of helping her. Her triggers are bright lights, flashing lights, tvs, computers etc. Very difficult for her, and also extremely scary – hope we come across a medication or something which works soon!