Hi all.
I started having debilitating vertigo attacks, with nystagmus, 2 years ago, with dizziness/wonkiness most days.
My anxiety went thru the roof (always been an anxious person, that over thinks things).
As I have Meniere's Disease, with hearing loss, GPs just wanted to put it all under that umbrella, but I was having none of it.... it wasn't the same and I knew it; stuck to my guns and pushed to see a Neurologist. Took me 7 months to actually see the Neurologist, but she did say it wasn't the Meniere's and I was diagnosed with Vestibular Migraines.
Trialled a couple of different things but nothing seemed to help, except Diazepam, to ease symptoms after a vertigo attack. So I lived with it, taking Stemetil and Diazepam as needed (rationed the diazepam 2mg to emergency use only).
Then the hot flushes kicked in and I started doing research online, mainly here & Louise Newman..... realised I had been perimenopausal for years and was now full on menopausal.
Because I'd been on the pill since age 15 and changed over to the mini pill age 40, I hadn't had a period for years (or not a proper one anyway) and didn't really think about it.
What got me to the GP again was actually my gums. I've had sore gums at what would've likely been "that time of the month" for several years, but now I had them full time and the gums started to recede rapidly in the sore areas, leaving me with very painful sensitive teeth and a deep groove on one particular tooth where the gum's receded a lot. As it was covid times I struggled to get in to see my dentist, but when I finally did, she agreed that it was very likely due to menopause.
Messaged my GP who was great, put me on Evorel Combi patch straight away.
Within 2-3 weeks my gums had stopped hurting and my hot flushes (cold sweats and nights sweats) all but vanished.
But then the anxiety hit and went thru the roof.
By about the 6 week mark Vertigo attacks were happening more frequently again, I started getting ear pressure with more hearing loss (bear in mind I'm already pretty deaf, so it was quite scary) and I was feeling sick/nauseous most of the time.
Ripped the patch off one day at the height of an anxiety attack and called the GP. Broke down over the phone with the poor receptionist and got an almost immediate call back from the GP (think I may have panicked the receptionist, oops
). She got me in to see her within the hour. I ended up having a vertigo attack in the waiting room, so she had to help me into the room etc (so embarrassing, but at least she saw me at me worst); she also saw that my ear drums were being pulled in, hence the ear pressure feeling. She said I needed to stay off the HRT for a bit and we'd get the anxiety under control; I was put on Propranolol, which may also help with the vertigo.
So the Propranolol worked wonders with the anxiety, but not so much with the vertigo/dizziness and the menopause symptoms came back with a vengeance. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself as everything got worse for a while.... guess that'd be my hormones being all over the place at that point.
Asked to go back on HRT at the end of Feb, after doing more research on here (I'm still on the Propranolol). This time asked to go on Utrogestan, as the stomach issues made me think I may be Progestogen intolerant. Was put on Utrogestan and Sandrena 1mg; started them 28th Feb.
As before, within 3 weeks the worst menopause symptoms had started to tail off, but then another couple of weeks and the stomach issues started again, along with my anxiety rising sharply sometimes and my ear pressure being back again.
9th Apr, sent a message to the GP, asking to change the way I take the Utrogestan and possibly change to patch oestrogen (to try to avoid the oestrogen peaks and troughs). Couldn't even get a telephone appt till 28th Apr.
Thought, sod it, I changed Utrogestan to "vaginally" and although I'm still getting a few stomach issues I'm way better.
The great thing though (touching wood), is that my vertigo hasn't reared it's head in several weeks now and the wonkiness although hasn't gone, is much better.
This kinda proves to me that my "vestibular migraines", with it's Vertigo and Dizziness, is hormone related for me. Pity the Neurologist didn't ask me any questions about hormones etc last Nov.
Will be asking the GP on Thursday if there's anything that could help with the ear pressure (other than the emergency diazepam I'm currently doing).... and if she can't help, I'd like to talk with a specialist.
Sorry for the "war and peace", but hope it helps someone else in their Dizziness journey.
