Hey! I just wanted to make a kind of FAQ about my neurological disorder and how it affects me personally. Spreading awareness and knowledge about invisible illnesses is very necessary since people have such a disregard for what they can not see or understand; my openness with this illness has helped many others diagnose a very enigmatic disorder!
What is Migraine Associated Vertigo?
Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV) is dizziness that is associated with having a migraine condition (remember, migraines are not only headaches; headaches are a side effect of the migraine disorder). So, in other words when I get a migraine caused headache (a recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by pain, nausea, problems processing thoughts or conversation and disturbed vision) I also get dizzy and I get the sensation of spinning - sometimes it is me and sometimes it is the room. If you have ever had “drunk spins” think of that. This causes me to have to lay down in a quiet dark place, otherwise I might vomit or pass out. I have non-vestibular migraine associated vertigo (meaning it is not caused from my inner-ear like some cases of vertigo).
What is a Spatial Disorder?
A Spatial Disorder is when one’s brain has a problem with processing. This ranges from basic visual sensory deficits that result in visual spatial errors to higher level processing of visual information that result in abstract visual disability. So what does this mean for me? My brain takes in sensory information triggers (i.e. touch, movement, smell, sight, sound, taste) and reads it skewed. When there is an overload of sensory “triggers” my brain gets overstimulated, which triggers me to become very sick (nauseated, migraines, puking, panic attacks, pass out). Sometimes - if not most of the time - it also triggers my Migraine Associated Vertigo (both trigger each other and work together to make me feel horrible).
So what does this mean for you Jamie?
This is a chronic invisible Illness; it is considered a disability. It matured when I was 20 years old and according to doctors its genetic. These two disorders have put restrictions on what I am able to do without becoming sick (nauseated, migraines, unbearable headaches, dizziness, visually impaired, puking, panic attacks, passing out); I also have a harder time fighting off normal viruses because I am already operating at 50% most of the time. By following these restrictions I am able to live the most “normal” life I can live - if I do not follow them I become very sick and am usually forced to take spot treatment medications, go to sleep and spend the rest of the day (sometimes week) in bed.
Above is the overview of the disorder. if you'd like to know more of my personal experience with it and how it effects me, below is that…
What is a Trigger?
Triggers are anything that might trigger an episode of being “sick.” Triggers have a HUGE range! A good analogy is to think of yourself in a pool with each trigger being another foot of water. You are fine until the water is over your head and you drown - it’s harder to come back from drowning than not getting there in the first place; so I am able to handle some triggers but too many at once have unfortunate results.
-Movement: This has a few different features: traveling and the movement of objects around me. I get very sick in cars, planes, trains, anything that moves. Also, I have a hard time with movement in front of my face or around me; a busy restaurant, stop and go traffic, walking behind people too close or even walking down an isle in a store are all prime examples.
-Volume: THIS IS MY BIGGEST PROBLEM!!! I cannot last long in loud places because it instantly triggers everything and I have to leave within a few minutes! No busy restaurants on a Friday night. No concerts. No blasting car music! No loud voices. No loud multiple people conversations.
-Hormonal changes: I am a girl, I have monthly hormonal changes. With this said, that change alters chemicals in my body which serves as a trigger.
-Barometric Pressure Changes: The weather changing. For example, if today is a rainy day or the weather changes rapidly..it affects me.
-Food: Although for the better, if I want to keep myself from having an episode I am unable to eat any food with MSG, preservatives or Nitrates. Restaurant food sometimes and food from a box etc… I usually eat a very clean healthy diet and this really helps.
-Environment: Things like overly lit rooms or under lit rooms give me a hard time; sometimes even ceiling fans trigger me, big parties in small rooms, indoor bars, concerts, movie theaters, busy restaurants, elevators.
-Sleep: I have to have a very consistent sleep schedule; if I stay up too late I immediately get sick- and then the next day is a nightmare. I also have to take a nap about halfway through my day to avoid getting a migraine around the evening- a nap can reset your brain, and when you have a neurological problem this really helps.
So what can you do Jamie?
Quiet and calm places are the best places for me; everything I do comes with a consequence and trade off. I try my best to attend conventions, meet with clients and travel but things are just not as easy for me since I am dealing with a chronic invisible illness. I will do my traveling a day early, get a hotel, spend the entire day/night (sometimes even the full week before) preparing myself for the next day, try to get a good sleep, and then go to the event the next day. YES JUST IF ITS AN HOUR AWAY I HAVE TO DO THIS 99% OF THE TIME. I try my best to be as “normal” as I can be and this is how I am able to make it appear that way. Medications do not help unfortunately; it’s been about 10 years of trial an error.
Thank you for taking the time to read this; I truly appreciate it. Hopefully this helps everyone understand what people with spatial disorders and migraine associated vertigo go through or helps someone looking for answers themselves.