Migraine without a headache

[TBird245]

I have been having dizziness since 2003. I have been tested for vertigo which came back negative. Just last month I went to a neurologist and he diagnosed me with migraines. He put me on Depacote. But I don't get headaches. I have been dizzy for three weeks straight. One of the weeks were so bad I couldn't even function. I also had a CT Scan done a few years ago and it came back that I had sinisitus. Can that cause dizziness? Over the years it got so much worse. It started off that I would get dizzy once or twice a year and now it's all the time. Please help.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Aside from vertigo and migraines, dizziness may be due to problems with your ears, acoustic neuroma, blood pressure problems, inadequate output of blood from the heart, sensory disorders or from certain medications and underlying conditions. Have this evaluated further to rule out differentials mentioned. Continue with the medications and if it does not work, you might benefit from alternative medicine such as biofeedback or acupuncture.

Take care and do keep us posted.

[TBird245]

Thank you so much for your help.

[margo1966]

Sinus problems can definitely cause dizziness, in my opinion.  (No, I am NOT a doctor, just a lifelong sinus sufferer.)  As for the migraines, your doctor probably considers you to have what is often called complicated migraine or atypical migraine.  It's basically migraine without the headache.  Migraine refers to a group of symptoms, not just headache as most of us think.  I have the atypical ones, too, and mine manifest as extreme sensitivity to light, dizziness, motion sickness, and irritability.  It can still knock you on your keester, even without the headache!  

Give the Depakote at least 6 weeks to see if it can get the symptoms under control for you.  There are other meds out there to try if it doesn't.  One thing that has helped mine a lot is a magnesium supplement.  Do a search on this site for magnesium and see what some others have said.  The kind you get at WalMart or a basic drug store won't do much to help - I went to a health foods/supplements store for mine after no luck with the store-bought one, and after two weeks I'm already feeling better.

Hang in there!