Hi everyone!
I just wanted to give an update on my MAV. I haven’t posted in ages but I do still get on here from time to time to check and see how you’ll are doing.
I’ve been taking Zoloft for about 4 months now at 50mg’s. The vertigo has improved tremendously (with the exception of hormone fluctuations). I’d say overall the vertigo has improved 65-80% compared to how I felt last year at this time (yes, I’ve had this for well over a year now 
During hormone fluctuations I’m still a wreck.
However, my headaches have become a MAJOR problem. That’s one of the reason’s I haven’t posted lately. I hate the vertigo so much more than the headaches in general. But now my headaches have become more frequent and severe than ever. And yes, Zoloft may be part of the culprit but there is no way I’m getting off of it! I have followed the migraine diet for a long time, I know which foods are my triggers, I exercise etc. I’m pretty good about the migraine lifestyle. I’ve been cursed with such a strong familial migraine history on both sides of my family.
Due to these horrific headaches I have developed a condition known as Adie’s Pupil. This means that I have had severe damage (from a migraine) to one of my pupils and now it will not constrict with light. It basically stays dilated. It’s a permanent condition and it’s very upsetting. So I have to wear special contacts and sunglasses to make my pupils appear the same size and the sunglasses bc my eye does not constrict.
So now I’m going to give Topamax another whirl. I’ve tried this med before and didn’t last long on it due to the sedation. But now I’m much wiser about meds and I know it’s going to be tough in the beginning but hopefully the benefits will outweigh the side effects eventually.
I thank you’ll for all the support and kindness SO many of you have shown me through this horrific time in my life. Things can get better…!
Thats excellent news!!! I am stilll searching for my magic pill. wish u luck on the topamax. topamax will be my next med trial if periactin fails me.
Cheers
Nabeel
Hi Elisha,
So happy to hear that the vertigo is improved, but very sorry about the damage to your eye. I hope the Topamax trial works out for you.
N
So happy to hear a mini success story (minus the eye)! Any small increase in well being is something to be celebrated : )
Sarah
You’ve been on my mind a lot lately - wondering how you are. It’s wonderful to hear you’ve seen some improvement. I’m so sorry to hear that you’re having to deal with yet another issue due to this dang illness.
Hoping that topamax works wonders for you!
Stay stong!
Cherity
Elisha,
So crazy…yesterday I was thinking of you and was going to message you today. I am very happy to hear about your success that just makes me so happy. 
60-80% is cause for celebration! I am so very sorry to hear about the headaches and eye problem. I’m glad they didn’t come during your worst. That would’ve been too much to bear!!!
How did you find out about the problem with the eye? Did your neuro figure that out or an eye dr? Did you just recently get it or did he say you’ve had it for awhile. Wow, it just seems MAV is never ending and affects so much of our bodies. I am so sorry that it’s permanent.
So your starting topomax? I just started 5 days ago. My dr has me up to 150mg on the fex and that really seems to be the Magic dose as I’ve been doing better than ever. But I feel I needed one last tiny mountain to get over and Dr Fife feels topomax is that drug. I sure hope so because it hasn’t been the easiest drug to tolerate. But I’m willing to endure it for awhile if it’s going to get me to 100%. Are you taking topomax for the headaches or for the eyes? Have you been able to drive wit your recent improvement? I hope so.
Keep in touch about the topomax. It will be good to have someone else going thru it too. I’m wishing you the best of luck with it. Happy for your recent success. Yeah!!!
Thank you everyone, yes, it’s very nice to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I feel like I’m ever so slowly getting my life back. I am not out of the woods yet however.
Mary-so glad to hear you are feeling better as well. I know you’ve had a lot of struggles! I noticed my eye and then I saw a Neuro-Opto and then a Neuro. The Topamax is mostly for the migraines but if it can help get rid of the rest of the vertigo that would be amazing! The pupil does not cause any pain or anything it’s just scary that a migraine can do so much damage. I hate the way it looks and I can’t wait to get my special lenses! I wish you the best of luck with the Topa as well. I know it’s a scary drug but my Neuro told me it’s not as bad as we think!
Sorry about the eye and the headaches. Glad to hear about the dizziness improvement. I had been getting the headaches at least 15 days per month when this all started and although the dizziness is improved a bit, the headaches diminished greatly. I had a whopper two weeks ago and I am so grateful they aren’t like they used to be thanks to the diet and lifestyle changes. Having a migraine headache is just the pits and you forget until the next one comes along! I have a tumor on my optic nerve that I have to have scanned every six months and I always hope that the pressure, etc from migraines doesn’t ever make it burst or get worse. I’m with you…it is a scary thing to think about all that this dumb disease can do
Please keep us posted on your progress
I’ve known about your progress, but seeing it written all out, it sounds even better 
65-80 is amazing!!!
I followed you here because we had many similarities minus the female issues, I too am having a good stretch with verapamil and Celexa with .125 Clonazopan every afternoon at 3pm, which takes out the edginess built up over the day.
Very busy at work right now, but will update soon…this site did help a lot!
good luck to you!
Hello Elisha,
I have wondering how you have been going - I figured you must be kicking goals as we haven’t heard from you in quite some time - that’s always a good sign. Great news you’ve found some relief. I’m sorry about your eye - that is the very last thing you need now. I have been taking Pizotifen for about 6 weeks. Not much relief as far as dizziness goes yet but it helped with my headaches. I haven’t had a headache is 3 weeks! Have you tried Pizotifen. It is relatively easy to take - although since I increased my dose I am struggling with the initial fatigue. Keep us posted on your progress! Good luck Elisha
Kylie
TeddyPan- I’m so sorry to hear about the tumor on your optic nerve! I assume it’s benign? Does it cause you any problems with vision?
JayBird-Good to hear from you! I’ve thought about you a lot and wondered how you were doing. I’m glad to hear you are having some relief as well.
Lisa- 
xoxo
Kylie-That’s great news about the headaches. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about piz. I’m sure you know we can’t get it here unless we order it from a Canadian Pharm which I am hesitant to do. Hopefully Topamax will end this nightmare for me. Hang in there Kylie! You are so sweet, thank you for your support as well!
Let us know how you go with Topamax. Dr Granot has already written me a script for this one. I worry about the fatigue it causes but it couldn’t be worse than the dizziness. Major spin out in Supermarket today… I think my symptoms are getting worse! I am going to crank up dosage tonight and give this pizo a really good trial. I really hope you continue to see improvements. Stay in touch.
Kylie
Hi Elisha—It is a vascular benign tumor. It has grown in the last 7 years (they found it on an MRI I had for these headaches and I didn’t have it on a scan for sinuses 7 years ago)and they have to do scans on it every 6 months because if it gets to a certain size it could cause blindness. There is also the small chance it would burst. It is in the very back of my eye cone and the orbital specialist says he doesn’t even want to think about what he would have to do to get it out and save my sight. Anyway, I don’t worry about it since there isn’t a darn thing I can do about it and it doesn’t have any effect on my dizziness. I’ve started on Inderal from the cardiologist for my newly diagnosed SVT-AVNRT and today the neurologist said he was glad as it is a first line drug.
Hopefully your Topa will help greatly this time around. What type of lenses did you get for your pupil? Do you have to wear them for the rest of your life?
Im so glad you are doing better!!! Im currently on Pizotifen 1.5mg and doing decent. I think its helping. But I still need to wait it out a few more weeks to really know. Did Zoloft slowly help or was the improvement dramatic at a certain point in time?
Dear Elisha,
So great to hear from you! And I am so glad to hear about your progress! But also, a understanding hug, cause it soundt like you still have a battle to do.
I also feels better. But as you the vertigo/dizzy has settled down, but the headache is pretty bad to.
Best from Line
Teddy Pan- I hate to hear about the tumor. I know that must be unsettling but as you said, there is nothing you can do about it. That’s how I feel about my eye, there’s nothing I can do about it so I try not to think about it. There is a chance I can develop blindness in it as well, along with the possibility that I can lose all the color in the iris
The contacts are being made for me, in my unaffected eye I will wear a tinted lense which will keep that eye from constricting to make my pupils appear the same size.
Darren-I was unsure about the Z for a long time. After about 2 months I really started to think it was making a difference. It wasn’t until about the past two weeks that I’ve had major improvement. The vertigo is without a doubt the “calmest” it’s ever been. I still have motion, but it’s not nothing compared to how it was. The headaches are my biggest problem right now.
Kylie-Supermarkets are so tough! I’m terrified of Topa as well. But, if it can help it’s worth taking. I feel so much for you as I do agree that we’ve had the same symptoms. There is NOTHING worse than vertigo. It’s the devil! Let me know you feel!
Line- thank you for the hug Are you still doing well on Nori? How are you feeling?
Elisha, has your driving improved at all? It seems that a lot of people with driving problems like us have had great success with top. That was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to try it. My vertigo and overall wellness is at 90% with the fex but the driving still needed improvement. It was funny because I didn’t even mention top to my dr he just automatically recommended next. I just upped my dose last night a day early but only did a pill and a half instead of 2. Feeling a little tired but not too bad. Can’t wait to get through this. Ugh.
Anyway, let me know how the driving is going???
Hey Mary,
Driving has improved very much. We sound like we are in the same boat right now. Doing so much better but need to kick out the last bit of torture! I’m so glad you are tolerating Topa fairly well!