Vestibular Migraine

I am definitely sure, that the last lot of attacks I blogged about a few days back, are not considered Meniere's attacks. Typically, in an onset of Meniere's - there is a distinct lost of hearing. The ears are generally full and lasts for a while, days to weeks. There is significant blockage in the ear, until, such time, the hydrops in the middle ear release resulting in vertigo and nausea. 

In this particular case, there was significant soreness in the eyes, before the vertigo started, the ear blockage is insignificant, and there was no hearing loss associated with it, or ear fullness. There is a familiarity, like this has happened before - it develops and then the vertigo arrives - This migraine results in the nausea and feeling like my head is about to explode. 

Which brings me to this question.

There is no question the brain is plastic and ever changing. However, can the brain be wired to manifests a symptom based on one other. In other words - if you had vertigo due to hydrops - can the easy onset of vertigo be created through an alternate pathway, such as through that of migraine? 

If the above is true, what is the function of the brain to achieve such a pathway? Is the vestibular part of the brain closely related to that of anxiety? What kinda of regulation is best to control such behaviour? Perhaps, the use of hearing meditation, or some sort of sound therapy can assist with increasing the blood flow and healing of the vestibular region of the brain. Regardless, I wanted to throw this question out there - and also to share this ...

http://www.livestrong.com/article/307997-vestibular-migraines-diet/


I do feel though many people suggests that Meniere's and vertigo leads to anxiety orders. I would suggest instead of being the result, it may be the cause - or that it works side by side. But I am no neuroscientist. It is just how I feel, my symptoms became severely worst after long series of anxiety and depression. Maybe this is natures own healing path ? 

For those who are triggered by pressure and food. I had a chance to speak with a friend, who happens to be a doctor, and I explained a few triggers, including that of humidity, and pressure. He said that it was most likely due to pressure, and that it is a common feature of migraines. 

Hope this helps, I do feel a lot more lucid now, 4 days after the attack. 


update:
So it has been documented, anxiety can lead to vertigo 
http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/signs/vertigo
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Dizziness_and_vertigo

Went without Chlorella, paying the price

For experimental sake, I decided in the last week that I would go without chlorella. We went away for a weekend to an elevated area in the mountains, one of the highest rainfall areas in this region - and it wasn't too long before an attack came - frustratingly ending our holidays short, and no more climbing. 

So here I am after recovering somewhat, wondering what triggered it all. During the celebration of my daughters birthday, I had 2 glasses of champagne, and blueberries by the bucket loads. I remember feeling unable to open one of my eyes, and I thought it could have been allergies. But when I looked into the mirror, my eyes were no longer looking straight, one was again tilted higher than the other. Also, the madness of the weather didn't help - summer was at its craziest, the temperature peaking in the city at a little over 45C and where we were 40C, dropping to a mere 16C at night, followed by 2 cold rainy days.

Is it the vitamin D or the anti-oxidant properties of Chlorella ? Or was it completely placebo ? I remember sitting in the car, having forgotten I have forgone Chlorella - and watching the way I reacted. My head inclined one way to prevent triggering that crazy migraine that comes when the vertigo goes to nausea. Any movements - my breathing becomes short and body spasm, hands become completely numb, pins and needles, legs are uncomfortable, and I can hardly find it in myself to explain how I feel. 

Again, when I got home - I forced myself to drink a bit of water, and a vitamin D tablet. An hour later, woke up and I could sit up again without feeling like throwing up - was even able to eat a little bit. What happened ? 

How can the anxiety attacks and emotional roller coaster in the last 5 years end me in this state of chronic disability ? How can mental disease affect you so badly physically ? Is there a link between anxiety and the vestibular sensory organs or brain area ?

Answers

This is an opportunity for me to reflect back now on the questions asked.

Given how quickly I was able to recover by taking Vitamin D tablets, I think the main component in Chlorella that helped me so much was most likely Vitamin D. Furthermore, I recall during the time of my last big hoohaa around Vitamin D, and sunlight exposure, I was strong, my body was working efficiently when I wasn't feeling unwell, and yet my blood tests came back less than half the Recommended Vitamin D levels.

One of the biggest contributors to the increased difficulty of dealing with this disease is anxiety. Any signs of panic attack sends the body into spasms, and the best way to be in this situation is to remain calm and concentrate on nothing but the touch of my breath. Panic, brings more pain. 

There are numerous people out there with severe nystagmus on a constant basis that go on with their lives. The brain will retune and leave the vestibular organ as the primary source of balance, it can happen, but the best way to allow it to adjust to this new equilibrium, is to begin mindfulness and awareness, and not react, retuning itself to its new normal.

Conclusion

I've had a really good run, and chlorella has been a huge help to me. Be it its anti-oxidant properties or not, it has been time and time again proven for me, without it, I would suffer. Be it placebo or not, if I can believe that I am able to cope with snake oil and rid of my symptoms, then I can learn to accept that I can retrain my brain to not allow the panic attacks to follow through on its course.

But Vitamin D has helped me recover quickly so from here on onwards, I am trialling replacing my daily dose of Chlorella with that of Vitamin D. I am not sure why Vitamin D tablets are not sold in more than 1000IUs in Australia, however, we are a little backwards in Australia, we still advocate covering up and using sunblock uncompromisingly despite the epidemic of Vit D deficiencies, but I have ordered some 5000IU units online to trial for myself. 

Will update as I go.


BTW, a VERY good site on Vitamin D http://vitamindwiki.com/VitaminDWiki