chronic daily migraine/seizures/other symptoms

[astich]

Where to begin?  Aside from having a few migraines a month, I was very healthy (avid cyclist/marathon runner) up until a few years ago.  At around the same time (2010?), I began to have partial complex seizures (regular EEG was ok, 48-hour EEG while on meds suggested seizures while I was sleeping) and my migraines increased to daily or near daily.  The neurologist just passed this off as saying that people with migraines are high risk for seizures and prescribed Topamax (which did nothing but make me stupid).  

In 2011, after having constant fatigue/depression, my b12 was determined to be critically low (I don't remember the exact value, but it was double, not triple digit).  It was treated with injections/sublingual tablets and brought up into the 600s.  My gp said that was enough to be stored in the liver for years and d/c'd the b-12.   I stopped having seizures, but I was also switched to Zonergan (I attribute the b12 to stopping the seizures; my neuro says this is impossible and attributes it to the Zonergan, which I am still taking).  My migraines improved for a time.

I started having daily migraines again this year, and began Botox treatment last month.  It helped for a bit after a week or so (I had 6 days migraine-free), but I'm back to having daily migraines.  I have a lot of weird visual disturbances/trouble with focusing my eyes, but I figure that's just migraine aura.  I've also been feeling faint upon standing: I took my bp at the pharmacy yesterday and it was 85/50, pulse of 120.  My gums are bleeding all the time.  I'm always tired and can't wake up in the morning, but I'm also restless (especially my legs/feet) and have trouble sleeping.  My muscles are really sore and painful, especially around my shoulders/neck (the Botox helped this some; the neuro said those muscles spasmed the entire time).  I don't know if this is related, but I have chronic diarrhea again and frequent yeast infections.  

I am almost afraid to go to the doctor because I feel like they think I'm a crazy person, but I cannot even function.  I had to walk down 1 flight of stairs today and I thought I was going to die; this is pathetic for someone who is used to being pretty physically fit.  

Anyway, I don't know if this is the correct forum; my gp suggested (a few years ago) that I could possibly have some sort of autoimmune disorder, but he's usually quick to just pass it all off to depression or stress.  

Thanks in advance if you have any suggestions.  

[astich]

I'm already bordering underweight, so I definitely don't fit the profile.  I'm finding out that either can happen adult-onset, so I'm just waiting and seeing what the tests show.  Ugh.

[mkh9]

Hi Astich,
Wow, yes that is very high for a fasting blood sugar. I assume you have been checked in the past so this is probably type II diabetes? It can be reversed supposedly. Check out the video Forks over Knives or the Dr. McDougall book the Starch Solution if it is type II. you may be surprised. Weight loss plays a big factor too, and the BMI. Let me know how it goes. Think whole grains no white flour etc.
mkh9

[astich]

Yes, I'd definitely get your b12 tested and take a sublingual b12 supplement if you're vegan.  I don't eat meat but I'm not vegan (I eat eggs, not much dairy but will eat things with dairy ingredients); I don't think the b12 issue was dietary, though.  It was SO low and I get plenty of eggs, nutritional yeast, etc.  

I went to the dr today and it turns out that my fasting blood glucose was over 200, which is not what I was expecting at all.  I don't really have a strong family history of diabetes.  I'm awaiting an A1C result, as well as a b12 and vitamin d test result.  

I feel a little better today than I did yesterday but I am kind of afraid to eat.  Or not eat.

[mkh9]

Hi, and very sorry you have all this going on. Well, in my 20's I had a migraine variant where I would throw up and had abdominal pain only at night and no other symptoms so they didn't diagnose me for 8 years. Then in my thirties I started getting the migraines and then later auras with migraines etc. Now, I have similar problems except my EEG has a migraine pattern not a seizure pattern. I am seeing a neurolgist that specializes in migraines which is very helpful and she is great. I get about 2 migraines a month and had lots of visuals (auras, double vision, half of one eye blacked out, flying lights) , then I got bad vertigo out of no where and I just would fall. I was first put on cyproheptadine (an antihistamine) which is also helps with migraines but it didn't work on the vertigo, So she tried amitriptilyne, and that didn't work now i'm also on Topamax. Topamax has helped  so far but I'm still getting some visuals. We'll see. if you haven't tried amitriptilyne you might try that. I am vegan so I wonder if my  B12 is low as I'm tired and also hypothyroid but being treated for it. I'm going to ask them to add the B12. I would continue to take a weekly amount of 12 because even though you got up to the normal about you were low for a reason which they haven't found. You may want to get retestted and see where you are. I was iron defiscient and took iron pills and then they said I was normal so they told me to go off of them and I got anemic again. So I have to stay on them and get my blood tested a couple of times a year. It sounds like you may want to change doctors. Look for a migraine specialist if they have one. Oh, also, magnesium and riboflavin are another migraine treatment. It won't work for seizures but you may need dual meds. I get your need to be athletic. I was an avid tennis player and jogger and now I have a back injury, tendonitis and arm injury and I am walking instead but it drives me nuts. Hang in there and keep your stress down. Check your food ingredients for MSG, also called maltodextran, or hyrolyzed vegetable protein, nitrates, aged cheese, red wine etc. flashing lights you know your triggers. I hope this helps.
mkh9