Part 2-Obscure Hashimoto’s Symptom No One Really Talks About (Vertigo)

Hi friends, 

I have some news to share with you. 

In my last post, “Obscure Hashimoto’s Symptom No One Really Talks About (Vertigo),” I shared how I have been experiencing an array of vertigo symptoms. 

I’ve seen a handful of doctors about my vertigo symptoms, but to no avail or official diagnosis. 

Through a YouTube video, I heard about a Neurologist, Dr. Shin Beh from Dallas. 

It took me 2.5 months to get a telemedicine appointment with him. 

And finally , my appointment day arrived a month ago.

We went down the list of my symptoms. 

I explained to him the different scenarios when I start to feel dizzy or off-balance. 

At the end of our visit, he said “you know what you have right?”

Although I suspected one disorder, in particular, I told the doc that no, I didn’t know what I had. 

I mean, how many times do we self-diagnose ourselves and end up being wrong? LOL

I really wanted to make sure I was hearing an unbiased diagnosis. 

SO….

My official diagnosis is called…..

Drumroll…….

Vestibular Migraines (VM).

FINALLY!

 I have a diagnosis with a name.

This means I’m NOT crazy!!!

I’m not making up these weird symptoms that no one I know can relate to or understand.

Cause Lord knows, I went through a season of being tough on myself for feeling this way and not being able to “get it together.”

I’ve had a valid medical condition, but seemed invalid to others (and even to myself) because it didn’t have a name. 

I was so down on myself for not being able to meet the “regular” expectations of life’s demands. 

Strangely enough, I am learning a lesson about God’s grace for me, for us through this. 

He is highlighting how hard I am on myself because of how I view Him. 

I often forget that He is a God of grace and longsuffering, He is patient, unlike my human nature. 

I can’t receive His grace, nor show it to others because I don’t even give it to myself.

 🙁 I just realized this as I’m sitting here writing this post. 

If you’re a type-A like me and are experiencing health issues that seem to be slowing you down, do not be hard on yourself like I was.

Stop and ask the Lord what is He trying to show you through this?

Ok, I digress…

So What Are Vestibular Migraines?

Here is how Web MD defines them.

“A vestibular migraine is a nervous system problem that causes repeated dizziness (or vertigo) in people who have a history of migraine symptoms. Unlike traditional migraines, you may not always have a headache.

There are many names for this type of problem. Your doctor might also call it:

• Migraine-associated vertigo
• Migrainous vertigo
• Migraine-related vestibulopathy”

In case you missed my last post, to recap my symptoms from VM are:

• loss of balance
• not being able to properly place me in a space
• feeling like everything is tilting to one side
• blurred vision
• jumpy vision
• double vision at times
• Migraines (1-3 a month)
• the sensation of ear fullness and pressure
• Nausea
• sensation of falling

As you can see the majority of my symptoms where not the actual headache itself, but the subset of symptoms from the vestibular migraine disorder.

That’s important to note, because you can still be having a migraine without the headache part.

This makes it really tricky to diagnose.

Hence, I’ve been experiencing these symptoms to some degree and frequency since I was about 23, but as 6 years ago, they have intensified triggering me to find help.

Here is a really in-depth video to learn more about VM from Dr. Michael Teixedo.

He explains my VM symptoms so accurately, I have never felt so seen! 

Also this video from the neurologist I saw, Dr. Shin Beh.

Next Steps

So now that I have the official diagnosis, what’s next?

• I was prescribed Topomax, an anti-seizure drug to be taken daily
• Maxalt, a migraine preventative taken as soon as I feel a migraine headache coming on
• and last but not least Valium (diazepam) to help calm down my brain activity and alleviate anxiety associated with VM episodes

Let me be real. 

It makes me nervous to be on all these medications. 

Possible side effects from said medications

Topomax 

• Nervousness
• Memory problems
• Dizziness – (I mean that’s exactly what I’m trying to get rid of!)
• Confusion or slow thinking
• Weight loss- mmm yes, please! 
• Loss of word recall
• Loss of coordination
• Tiredness
• Drowsiness
• Bad taste in your mouth
• Kidney stones

Maxalt

• May cause a rise in blood pressure
• flushing
• feelings of tingling/numbness/prickling/heat
• tiredness
• weakness
• drowsiness or dizziness may occur

Valium

• Drowsiness
• dizziness
• tiredness 
• blurred vision or unsteadiness may occur

More serious side effects from Valium

• mental/mood changes (such as memory problems, agitation, hallucinations, confusion, restlessness, depression)
• trouble speaking
• trouble walking
• muscle weakness, shaking (tremors)
• trouble urinating
• yellowing eyes/skin
• signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn’t go away, fever, chills)

As you can see, if I start the said treatment, there are a lot of overlapping side effects and the possibility that I may develop some of them. 

And lately, my symptoms haven’t been too severe.

However, because I’ve lived with this a long time, I know it’s cyclical.

Symptoms come and go.

Although I live with some of them most all of the time.

So, I don’t know if I want to subject myself to the possibility of feeling cruddy again due to these medicines. 

Because of my concerns, I contacted my cousin who is a Neurologist in Mexico, and will have a phone consultation with her to get a second opinion regarding the treatment plan.

Will the potential benefits outweigh the side effects?

I’m proceeding prayerfully about what the Lord would have me do. 

Other Preventatives

In the meantime, I can try and improve upon these habits to lessen my migraine triggers. 

• Getting enough sleep 
• Staying hydrated
• Wearing tinted glasses that the doc recommended such as Theraspecs or Migraine Shields
• Taking magnesium glycinate
• Eliminating dietary triggers
• Eliminating stress triggers

And what are some triggers you may ask?

• chocolate (sniff sniff because chocolate is my numero uno BAE)
• caffeine
• wine 
• bright lights
• loud noises
• environmental allergies
• change in weather
• lack of sleep
• high stress
• and many other things that can be very unique to each person
• Changing elevations (i.e., airplanes, elevators, mountains) 

I’m currently working myself back to following my Autoimmune Protocol Diet (AIP) blueprint. 

These are the foods I already know work for me from following this diet and reintroducing foods one at a time back in 2019. 

Coincidentally a lot of foods that can cause Hashimoto’s flareups are the same ones that can cause a VM flareup. 

This explains why I felt about 90% improvement in my symptoms back in 2019.

Conclusion 

Like Hashimoto’s, VM seems to be something I will have to live with. 

Because there has been a clear link between vertigo and Hashimoto’s as I cited in my last post, I didn’t think that there would be a whole new diagnosis to come with it.

I thought vertigo was just another symptom of my Hashimoto’s.

But honestly, I’m thankful that there is a name behind the symptom of vertigo.

I’m thankful there are things I can do to prevent a lot of it.

I’m thankful that in 2019 I discovered the AIP diet that was also helping my vertigo symptoms then.

This is all very new to me and as I learn more about VM I will keep you guys posted. 

I hope this will help anyone that has similar symptoms and can’t find answers from their docs. 

Keep pressing on for answers!

Keep praying and asking God for wisdom and help! 🙂

xoxo Miriam