Hello all, I have suffered from migraines since childhood. Now I have a full range of symptoms, awful smell, visual disturbance, nausea and intense pain behind either eye. In total they last for three days, then two days or more recovery as theyleave me feeling weak as a kitten. I also suffer from tinnitus, again since childhood (my mother and maternal grandmother were equal opportunity smackers around the head, they would hit left or right with equal abandon!) I have also been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder type II and complex PTSD. I have noticed that when I am moving into a depressive phase or high, I have more migraines, the tinnitus is really loud preventing sleep and the symptoms of the ptsd are very present. I read somewhere that in the USA 25% of Bipolar type II sufferers also have co-morbid migraines, and that there is talk of having a new category of Bipolar with migraines.
I have been on a whole range of different medications for the past 20 years, with varying degrees of success. Currently I am on Lamotrigine, Lefopramine and Levothyroxine (I also have a knackered thyroid). My GP prescribes Sumatriptan and some anti nausea meds. I can’t go on SSRI’s as they send me high. I also take Zapain as I have a hernia awaiting surgery.
Does anybody else suffer from these conditions? What has helped medication wise? Have you found that psychiatrists take into account the impact of the migraines? Any suggestions as to alternative treatments?
I feel quite wretched, migraines definately make depressive symptoms worse, very dark thoughts. I thought I could learn to cope with the Bipolar, but adding the tinnitus, migraines and the PTSD, it all seems overwhelming and bleak.
Many thanks,
Fi.
Long term Chronic migraines
Monthly migraines
Vestibular migraines 
Migraine and Tinnitus 
