Hi, I am a 44yo male.
About 15 months ago while at work I suddenly became dizzy and somewhat lightheaded, a feeling I had never experienced previously. Following a battery of tests including thyroid, CMV, EBV, general chemistry and a brain MRI. The only significant findings were elevated IGA gliadin antibodies in the blood and a brain MRI which showed 13 scattered lesions which the radiologist said was consistent with demyelination but the neurologist dismissed as UBOs which were non-specific in nature.
Since this original incident I have had frequent headaches (several per month) including migraine with aura and tension type headaches as well as lethargy, eye soreness, yawning and tiredness which is not relieved by sleep. The neurologist believes what I am experiencing is chronic transformed migraine (I have always suffered from migraine with aura but certainly not in the same form or frequency and I am not convinced that this is the correct diagnosis) and has suggested combination prophylactic treatment, namely, a Calcium Channel Blocker with an anti-Convulsant.
My questions are:
Are there any other tests to be considered before accepting the transformed migraine diagnosis?
Is it possible the UBOs are as a result of my initial dizzy spell and are the cause of the symptoms I have been experiencing?
If I take the medication, how long generally speaking before improvement is shown?
How long generally is prophylactic treatment continued for?
Is it usual for 2 medications and in this combination to be tried in the first instance?
Thank you for your time