Hello doctor, I have been suffering from constant headaches and dizziness. I have gone to the eye doctor multiple times, for eye dilation exam which came back normal, and then told I need to see a neurologist, which my eye doctor would not refer me to. My primary care physician has put me on antibiotics, which have made me sick and have done nothing for me, and now wants to put me on anti-seizure medication because she will not take the time to figure out what is causing the headaches and does not think I need an MRI. The headaches are all one-sided (the right), as well as the dizziness - all within the same spot. It gets worse with movement, and I have a job where I am constantly bending. Sometimes when I turn and then stand back up, I will be so dizzy I will stumble and then have to stand still and wait for the dizziness to go away. I have nearly fallen seven times within a week and almost got into a car accident because I was so dizzy. I was also at the hair salon getting my hair washed, and when leaning my head back into the deep sinks, there was so much pressure on that one spot of my head. On the ride home, I got my ophthalmic migraine, which I am sure was from that (I will see little black wisps like smoke that pulsate in front of my eye. Sometimes it is so severe it will nearly cloud my whole vision, and there have been almost three times. I have lost my sight twice entirely. Once when we were digging and once when I was walking around the zoo. The other time I came close, I was working at a nursing home, merely walking down the hall, and my vision started to go. I am not sure if the first two times were from heat, but I cannot stand the heat, and I will get very grouchy if I get too hot, even if others are not). Also, on the same night, that side of the head was so dizzy that I could not even walk and I could barely hear because my ears were so muffled. I also notice that at my job when one of the trucks go behind me and beep their horn, that side of the head will hurt. Also, if one of the big fans blowing on my face, I will make that side hurt as well. I should say I work in a plastics manufacturing plant working. There are loud grinders, but we all have eye protection and ear protection. I worked there for six months the first time, but I had to quit because I was feeling too horrible. I kept bumping into things. I have only lasted a month this time, and yet I still get dizzy. The nearly falling spells have only happened there. At my previous job in the nursing home, I was standing in a residents room waiting for them to finish in the restroom when, without warning, I nearly collapsed and had to stumble over to their bed. I need any advice because I have no support from either my family (who have told me straight out that I am simply making this up, so I do not have to work when I have never given them a reason to mistrust me) or from either of my doctors.
Hello. I read your question carefully and would explain that your symptoms are suggestive of migraine. Thank you for the detailed information, which can undoubtedly help direct me as a doctor toward the right diagnosis. As the headache is always in the same part of the head, it is advisable performing a brain MRI. It is also advisable consulting with an ENT specialist to exclude an inner ear disorder as a possible cause underlying the dizziness (as head movements trigger it). In the meantime, I would suggest treatment with Verapamil or Propranolol for the headache. Anti-epilepsy therapy like Topiramate can be a treatment option if Verapamil does not help (this is a commonly used drug in migraine). If the dizziness persists, while headaches subside with the above treatment options, I would recommend starting Meclizine or Dimenhydrinate for the dizziness (these drugs are usually used to treat vertigo). I hope to have been helpful. I remain at your disposal for any further questions whenever you need.