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Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Question Title: vertigo and migraineForum: Neurology Forum
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I suffer from migraine with loss of peripheral vision following a scintillating scotoma about once a year if I have a major stress. However, I suffer from opthalmic migraine almost every day. I have the visual stuff little flicks of light or most often wavy lines off to the side of my vision several times a week. I was tested by an opthamologist and a neuroopthamologist and they called it opthalmic migraine. Five years ago I gave birth and 3 months later turned over in bed and suffered from a severe attack of vertigo. It took many months to go away and after all these years I still suffer on and off from bouts of feeling off balance. I can look down and then up and feel like the room doesnt look steady for a second or two. Sometimes I feel woozy between my eyes or when I walk down steps i feel like my eyes arent steady in my head. I sometimes feel like the bed is moving when I lay down or even when I am sitting in a chair. if I am under stress it is worse and when i get tired also. I have been tested with ABR's hearing tests, posturography, MRI ENG with hallpike maneuver and was told everything was normal and thius they diagnosed it as BPPV. I have now heard that vertigo is or can be associated with migraine. I want to know if this is what I am actually suffering from and how I can find out. Thank you so very much. I also would like to know if it is vertigo with migraine will it be affected by pregnancy??
Dear Allie: The vertigo syndrome that you describe appears NOT to be related to migraines. Although it may well be BPPV, other diagnoses are also potentially possible. Although BPPV is slightly more common in women, I do not know of any association of BPPV and pregnancy. It is more frequent in older individuals. Your daily events of visual aura are somewhat worrisome. Although such a high frequency is potentially possible with migraine, the possibility of other diagnoses (such as seizures, vasculitis, or vascular insufficiency) needs to be looked into, if this has not been already done. Migraines can indeed be affected by pregnancy and the post-partum period, and by birth control pills. Good luck!
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