Anxiety and Hemiplegic Migraines

Hi There,

I was diagnosed with hemiplegic migraines last year, but I've been suffering from them since middle school. I have aura, dizziness, vertigo, floating (almost out of body sensation), light/noise sensitivity, very tense and painful neck and shoulders, tingling/numbness in hands, forearm, face and tongue. I have been taking Nortriptyline 10mg for almost a year now daily and Midrin for the onset of migraine symptoms. These meds keep me from having to stay home from work with the migraines, so I’m able to function in life, but I still experience the symptoms almost randomly it seems.

My life has changed a lot for the better lately as I just got married and my husband is encouraging me to get the help I need (he's the reason I actually went to see a neurologist in the first place). I'm also beginning to accept that I have depression that may not be managed successfully without medication. I’m worried though about taking more medication because I took Topamax last year and turned into a zombie! I don’t want to go through that again. I've been seeing a therapist once in a while and working on my own to manage my depression, but I still have high anxiety almost all the time and panic attacks once a month or so. I’m wondering about my diagnosis…maybe this is all anxiety. Could it be?

Has anyone else experienced what I am now? Does anyone else have hemiplegic migraines and intense anxiety? Any advice or details about your own experience is appreciated. Thank you!