[MelodyL]

This morning, a fellow breakfaster told me a fascinating story. I know her for about 7 years. She comes in later than I do so we have never chatted much. Just to shoot the breeze. I never knew what she was dealing with.

She was widowed about 5 years or so ago. I remember we all comforted her and she continued to come in by herself each morning to have her coffee and breakfast.

This morning she said: 'I finally found out what was wrong with me"

I looked at her (I had no idea what she was talking about). I said 'what do you mean?"

She said "For 4 years now I have been getting dizzy spells. Usually two days on and 3 days off but always they came back" I said 'Oh I never knew this, you sometimes come in after I have left'

She said 'You don't know how many times the waitress had to walk me to the door because I got dizzy?"

I said OMG, I never knew,....so what was the diagnosis? Was it vertigo, your blood pressure, WHAT???"

She said 'I have had every test known to man for approx 4 years, cat scans, MRI's of the brain, etc. etc., my blood pressure is fine, my ears are fine, it's not vertigo, it's migraines"

I said "You have headaches??" She said "nope, never had a headache, they called this an INVERTED MIGRAINE"

I said "And you never had a headache during all of this, you just got dizzy?"

She said 'yup, and they have me on some medicine now and for 5 days I have not gotten dizzy". "I feel like I have my life back" Of course I wished her well.

I asked her the name of the drug she was now taking but she couldn't remember, she just said "It starts with N"

I said'then it's not Imitrex, right?"

She said "no, not that".

So I then said "You will have probably helped more people than you know because later on, I'm going on a website that pertains to all things neurological, so hopefully I will share your story and just might help someone"

So just wanted to share.

I had never heard of the term Inverted Migraine.

Melody

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by MelodyL

I asked her the name of the drug she was now taking but she couldn't remember, she just said "It starts with N"

Possibly naratriptan (trade names include Amerge and Naramig). Some can also get migraine relief from naproxen or naproxen in combination with a triptan.

OTOH, if it's something she's been on for 5 days, it may be a prophylactic. Lists of those can get quite lengthy.
Google: list of migraine prophylactics

Being on an abortive for 5 days is possible, but depending on which one may risk medication overuse headaches (rebound effect).

I've never heard of "inverted migraine" either, but I'm familiar with silent migraine, which is one term for migraine without headache. Another term/type is ocular migraine. There are others too, and since they often go by various/multiple names...

There is an inverted vision migraine or inverted/tilted perception disorder, but AFAIK that usually involves vision being inverted 180° -- not just dizziness/spells.

Doc

[mrsD]

I am not finding much using "inverted migraine" for a keyword.

But I did find this:
http://www.earcentergreensboro.com/m...ne_vertigo.php

If this site is correct, the N-word may be nifedipine. Or Nimotop(nimodipine). These are calcium channel antagonists and prevent spasms in the blood vessels. They are taken daily.

Also Naproxen is a possibility, but if she doesn't have pain, not likely.

I would also venture to say, that whatever she ATE at breakfast, may be triggering her. Caffeine and/or gluten? She might want to go gluten free for a while and see if the dizziness goes away.
Some people are allergic to eggs and don't know it... egg protein is often found in vaccines, and people who get alot of flu vaccines may become allergic to eggs.

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by mrsD

I am not finding much using "inverted migraine" for a keyword.

But I did find this:
http://www.earcentergreensboro.com/m...ne_vertigo.php

If this site is correct, the N-word may be nifedipine. Or Nimotop(nimodipine). These are calcium channel antagonists and prevent spasms in the blood vessels. They are taken daily.

Also Naproxen is a possibility, but if she doesn't have pain, not likely.

I would also venture to say, that whatever she ATE at breakfast, may be triggering her. Caffeine and/or gluten? She might want to go gluten free for a while and see if the dizziness goes away.
Some people are allergic to eggs and don't know it... egg protein is often found in vaccines, and people who get alot of flu vaccines may become allergic to eggs.

Oh, you reminded me, I forgot to mention that she can't eat certain foods now, and she absolutely has to stay away from caffein. She ordered de-caf. And we spoke about it. She said 'I cannot have chocolate, or anything with any kind of caffeine.

She did not come in today for breakfast. Probably tomorrow. When I do see her again, I shall politely ask her the name of the meds she is on. She's a very friendly soul but since her husband passed away she became solitary. I have asked her to join me at my table for breakfast but she always declined. She likes to sit by herself and read the paper. And of course, she is entitled to do that. Whatever makes her stress free is what she should be doing.

So if and when I find out any more info I shall be sure to pass this along.

Melody

[MelodyL]

Hi all.

Saw her this morning. Told her about this website. She knows nothing about computers, has one but never learned. She said "I've never felt well enough to use one, but I think I just might try. She was amazed that she could help anyone by giving me the info about her meds. She was delighted to be told that.

She will write down all particulars and the next time I see her I'll have info for you. She also told me to tell you that she is on 4 supplements that she faithfully has to take every day.

So hopefully tomorrow (or whenever I next see her), I'll get the names of what she is taking.

Melody

[MelodyL]

Good Morning all.

The woman came in this morning all excited because she had written down everything she is now taking. It's 2 weeks now and she's FINE.

Here is exactly what she is taking, and the dosages:


1. Nortriptyline HCL 10 mg. Once a day
After 2 weeks, 2 times a day, (which she will start doing tomorrow I believe)

The rest are all over the counter (she says)

2. Butterbur 50 mg 1 pill three times a day

3. Ubiquinol 400 mg 4 pills (once a day)

4. Vitamin B2 - 300 mg 3 times a day (I asked her and she said Once in the morning, one in the middle of the day, and one at night)

And I went over this with her just to make sure.

5. Citrate - 350 mg 2 times a day (I asked her "It's just called Citrate?" and she said "yes"


So there you have it. Straight from the horse's mouth.

Hope this helps someone!! And I would advise anyone to check with their physician before popping these pills. This is HER regimen. Don't know if it would be good for anyone else. I just wanted to share her story and her results.


Melody

[MelodyL]

Well I have an update.

The lady came in this morning. I walked over to her and said "How's it going?" She said:

"Well, I got a little dizzy so this thing is still there (whatever it actually is) and it comes and goes"

I said "Did you speak to your doctor?"

She said:

"Oh yeah, and the doctor said it might be the two things (she forgets what they are called) but it's on her nerves in her brain.

I looked at her and said :"You are not referring to an aneuryism right?" She said 'no, not that, but I can't remember what these two things are"

I mentioned the word cysts, and anything else I could remember that might be in blood vessels".

She had said "They are attached to my blood vessels and if I continue to get dizzy the doctor said he would go in and clip them off"

I just said "Oh, I see, well you know I'm rooting for you and you hang in there"

She smiled.

So whether or not she remembers exactly what two things she has that are attached to blood vessels in her brain, well ANYBODY HAVE A CLUE??

She said the doctor told her 'they are very common and many people have them on blood vessels throughout their body"

Thanks, Melody

[MelodyL]

Well!!!! do I have an update for you all that I felt I HAD to come here right away and share what I found out this morning.

My friend (who was the subject of this particular thread), came in the breakfast place and we all jumped up and welcomed her back. It's been over one month since we saw her.

I said "It's so nice to see you, how have you been, how are the migraines you were having?" She said:

"they werent migraines, it was my heart"

I sat with her and this is what she shared with me.

She had gone through all the tests which included EKG's for two years. Nothing ever showed up. Even on echo cardiagrams, NOTHING EVER SHOWED UP.

Then....AND THANK GOD, someone said "We are putting a monitor on your for a few days". THAT'S WHEN THEY FOUND OUT. A Fib!

Her heart was stopping for 8 seconds, she wasn't getting any blood flow and that's why she was always drop dead tired and getting headaches.

They put a pacemaker in her and, while it's slow going, she is getting better day by day. She is on coumadin and other stuff and I said:

"I am going on the computer and putting an update on your story because there are probably hundreds of people out there who are walking around exhausted and having headaches and they don't know why"

She was pleased to be of help and I'm delighted to share her slow but steady recovery.

So it was never migraines of any kind. It was her heart.

So pass this on to anyone who has similar symptoms. Hey, you never know.

Melody

[Emma]

Wow... it was her heart after all. How scary

It also calls my attention she got prescribed VitaminB2, I remember years ago someone mentioned to me that they help with migraines? Just curious.

And it's insane, I had never heard of inverted migraines, or silent migraines, or ocular ones before I read this thread! Crazy to realize all the ways one person can hurt like this. Thank you so much for sharing, I feel like I'm learning a lot

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by Emma

Wow... it was her heart after all. How scary

It also calls my attention she got prescribed VitaminB2, I remember years ago someone mentioned to me that they help with migraines? Just curious.

And it's insane, I had never heard of inverted migraines, or silent migraines, or ocular ones before I read this thread! Crazy to realize all the ways one person can hurt like this. Thank you so much for sharing, I feel like I'm learning a lot

I also have learned much from these forums.

Take care
Melody