Dizzy spells with a migraine

[bookworm1982]

Hi, I'm suffering from what my doctor believes is a migraine (never had them before, just turned 40). It's been almost three days now and I'm now on sumatriptan which is helping a little. But I've just had a dizzy spell when opening the fridge - just lasted about 2 seconds. Do you think this could be a sign that it's something more than a migraine?

Other symptoms are:

Headache just on the right side, mainly around eye and temple.
Feels a bit like a hangover/dehydrated headache.
Back of head aches too, almost feels a bit bruised to touch.
Sensitive to bright light.

What do you think? Anyone here an expert on migraines?

I'm getting worried now. Thank you. Xx

Extremely typical migraine symptoms so try not to worry.

The fact it's one sided and feels like a hangover is also very typical xx

I always get vertigo with migraine and in fact now that Im peri menopause and my migraines have reduced, the main symptom I sometimes get is just the vertigo with a 'heavy' head rather than the pain in my eye.

Sometimes I still get both. Awful disorder

Yes I get vestibular migraines which are often just visual field disturbance and rotational vertigo/dizziness, no headache. I think mine are hormone based too. I'm on amitriptyline which has been a life saver. I was checked for menieres and had a brain mri. It made Mre feel really unwell for a while but now much better, I still get random dizzy spells though for a few seconds out of nowhere.

Would recommend an ice pack to the back of the neck. Helps a bit with the bruised feeling. Lots of water, a lucozade sport and those migraine sticky strips for forehead.

Thank you for your helpful replies. It's now day four and not much better. The sumatriptan hasn't really helped. I took one yesterday, waited two hours, then took two. Today the headache is back again, so I took one again about an hour ago, no change. Also been taking paracetamol every four hours which I think is taking the edge off it, but definitely not doing a lot.

Does the fact that sumatriptan hasn't worked, plus we're on day four, mean this probably isn't a migraine?

Right now I'm in bed, pain about 6/7 out of ten.

Really worried it's a brain tumour. Should I talk to doc again?

Everything else is the ok, except for the little dizzy spell yesterday, and today I feel a bit sick. But that could be the side effects of sumatriptan. Otherwise no other symptoms.

Thank you for your help. I'm new to all this migraine stuff ☹️ xxx

As this is new and different for you, I would return to the GP. My first vestibular migraine lasted a few days and I couldn't stand up properly, but I was checked by A and E and then had an MRI eventually to rule out anything else.

It probably is a migraine but best to check. Sumitriptan doesn't work for me, I just use standard painkillers and an anti-nausea agent.

Thank you. I'll go back to doctor.

Anyone had a migraine that's lasted longer than three days?

Yes I have had migraine lasting 5-6 days which was mostly vertigo, dizziness and visual field disturbance. I then felt hungover and wiped out for 4-5 days after the vertigo had gone. Sumitriptan doesn't work on me either but there are alternative available. It's scary the first few times you go through this and I was convinced I had some type of brain tumour.

I find paracetamol does nothing for migraines for me, I take co-codamol instead and use those sticky cooling strips on my forehead. When it's really bad I just have to lie down and try to sleep it off.

I get vestibular migraines, had one recently that lasted like yours for nearly a week, mostly dizziness, then not feeling right for another week after that.
The prescription stuff knocked me out and Paracetamol doesn't work for me either. I find Anadin extra and those cool patches you stick on your forehead work best for me.

I had something very similar. I'm 54 and had never had a migraine in my life. It started about 6 months ago, headache round the temples and eyes, eyes hurt after reading and looking at a screen too long, fatigue, then occasional dizziness. After about 5 weeks I went to the doctors and I was treated at first with 2 courses of antibiotics and told it was probably sinusitis, again, something I had never suffered from before. I also had eye tests which didn't show any problems. After the antibiotics I was still no better so saw another, much better GP. He told me it wasn't sinusitis, he immediately sent me for urgent blood tests to rule out temperal arteritis, which I didn't have but I was glad he was being thorough. He then sent me for a CT head scan and I convinced myself that it was a brain tumour. It took about 3 weeks to get the results and thankfully everything was fine. He also prescribed a 3 month course of amitriptyline and told me to take as needed. They helped with the headaches and helped me sleep but I did feel a bit groggy. I never actually had all the tablets as I gradually started to get better. The doctor said that if all tests were clear he could only assume it was tension headaches. I was amazed when he said they could last for weeks. This was 6 months ago and I'm not A1 yet but I'm tons better than I was. I'm convinced there is some kind of virus going round. I continuously tested negative for Covid but my son said perhaps there is some kind of virus that doesn't show up in tests. I hope you feel better soon, I understand how worried you must be feeling.

Sorry, forgot to say that the back of my head also hurt, as if bruised. I have an armchair with a high back and I couldn't sit in it as it hurt the back of my head. Also, if I bent down I went dizzy. I also did a blood pressure monitor form for a week as I was worried because I could constantly hear my heartbeat in my left ear when I lay down at night. I had slightly raised blood pressure but that's OK now.

Migraines for me are about 5 days. Aspirin (4) and ibuprofen are better than paracetamol. I usually try and take them with a fizzy drink, especially if feeling nauseous, as it helps absorption.

Lots of sleep, dark rooms, cold towels(with ice maybe) on the head if it is throbbing. I find they can go quite suddenly....

Hope you are feeling better soon.

I suffer from the same OP. Almost 3 years ago, just as I was turning 40, they started out of the blue. Horrible headache and pain over right eye and back of neck. Dizziness and general awful feeling. Ended up in A & E as it scared me so much. I’ve had a CT scan and MRI which showed nothing untoward but an incidental arachnoid cyst/lots of cerebrospinal fluid.

I now have a prescription for Rizatriptan melts and daily Candesartan tablets. The cooling strips on the back of neck helps a lot, as do dispersible aspirin. Honestly you have my sympathies, it’s awful

Mine are all hormonally driven. Only ever had them during puberty, pregnancy and now menopause. The last couple of years have been the worst. Had one that lasted 10 days. I've just started new medication which make me sleep very deeply which is great but not ideal for school run!

Go back to GP for reassurance, I've had 2 hospital visits to confirm it's 'just' a migraine but it is scary. I lose my sight and speech when I get a migraine.

Hate to say it but it could be perimenopause causing yours. Which HRT could sort out.

I also get vestibular migraines. Symptoms sound similar. They usually last a day but "regular" migraines last 3 -5 days. I've had them since I was 12. It's new for you so if it doesn't improve then I wd say GP. Hope you feel better soon OP.

did you have chocolate ,lots of cheese , lots of tea/coffee or red wine before this.

Also google vertigo. Also when you feel dizzy does your stomach gets upset or you feel like having vomiting

I am a migraine sufferer OP. They started subtly when I turned 40 and now at 50, the feckers get me hospitalised. Mine are bad when they hit but they go in a day or two.
Last week, I had exactly your symptoms for 5 days. Scared the life out of me. I started taking feverfew and it may possibly be a placebo effect, but it worked! I also upped my water intake, started taking magnesium to sleep better and longer, B vitamins. I’m a different person this week. Try a cooling gel pad as well! You can get them on Amazon, place them on your pillow or underneath the pillow case. You don’t have to do anything, they just stay cool all by themselves. I find them great to nap on when I’m migrainey.

If you're taking paracetamol every 4 hours check you're not overdosing. Ironically, overuse of painkillers can actually cause headaches.

If it's migraine a different triptan might work better for you.

Migraines can vary in length HOWEVER covid is presenting as migraine and diziness right now. Have you done a test?