Victory Over Vestibular Migraine: The ACTION Plan for Healing & Getting Your Life Back

by Shin C. Beh

Everything you wanted to know about vestibular migraine. All your questions about vestibular migraine finally answered. What is vestibular migraine? How is it diagnosed? What conditions are mis-diagnosed as vestibular migraine? Why are you always dizzy? Focused on sound, practical, science-based advice to help you get your life back, the ACTION plan for a holistic treatment strategy for vestibular migraine: A: Alternative non-drug therapies. Can vitamins, supplements, and herbs really help vestibular migraine? Can exercise help? Is there a role for medical marijuana? C: Life Changes. What triggers vestibular migraine? What can you do to fortify your brain against vestibular migraine attacks? What foods should you avoid? How do you design a sensible, migraine-friendly diet? T: Therapeutic options. How do you choose a rescue medication? How do you know which preventive treatment works best? What side effects should you watch out for? What options are safe for pregnancy and breast-feeding? I: Interictal Symptoms & Co-morbid Disorders. Is it Meniere’s disease or vestibular migraine? Can you have PPPD and vestibular migraine? How do you treat motion sickness? What’s the deal with hormones and vestibular migraine? ON: Onward! What mental techniques can help you conquer migraine, vertigo, and dizziness? How do you build a network of support? What does the future hold for people with vestibular migraine?

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Medical, Self Help

341 pages, Paperback

Published July 2, 2020

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a first and debilitating episode of vertigo, following 3 years of migraines 1-2x per month, I was diagnosed with vestibular migraine. At that point I was dizzy every single day, perpetually nauseous, and experiencing almost constant headaches. It was extremely difficult to function and live my life normally, not to mention take care of my 3 children, our household, and continue to work my part time job. I joined a few Facebook support groups for vestibular migraine sufferers and that is how I found out about this book. I ordered it immediately and read it cover to cover within a few days (while dizzy and all, which was a challenge in itself, but I was determined). I started changing my diet, eliminated caffeine, chocolate, sugar, grains, and taking some of the supplements at the dosages Dr. Beh recommends in this book, as well as doing/not doing other things he discusses that can be triggers. Within a month I was feeling SO much better, and I am 80-90% back to normal now, about 5 months after that debilitating episode that led to my diagnosis, by implementing these lifestyle changes (I do not take prescription meds). I am so thankful for this book and the detailed information and recommendations Dr. Beh offers to those of us with this condition. If you suffer from vestibular migraine, this book could change your life for the better!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. BAE am I right???

I really, really appreciate this book and I'm so glad it was written. If you have migraine, this is a must-read.

[Paul O’Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone out there who suffers from vestibular migraines, this is your new bible.

[Radostina Nikolova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life

[Britney Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!! Well written, educational and thoughtful! Gives me tools i need to describe this crappy existence to my doctors.

[Bernadette Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have been diagnosed with vestibular migraine, this book is a must read. It will help you understand your diagnosis and help you learn to manage the illness. The medical information included by Dr Beh is comprehensive and will give you the tools you need to discuss treatment options with your doctors. He also presents lifestyle changes you can make on your own that will make a huge difference. The book was easy to read and understand, with short chapters that were focused on all of the most relevant information about this chronic illness.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. I wish I had it 7 months ago when I was first diagnosed.

[Alicia O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important read for anyone with VM (or even a loved one of someone who has it). Although my VM diagnosis is fairly recent, I’ve had symptoms for about 3 years, and started researching VM as a possible cause for about 2 years. I have read Dr Bucholz’s 123 Heal Your Headache, which was very helpful. All this to say, I have knowledge of VM prior to coming to this book but I still learned from it. Lots of practical advice and hope! Strongly recommended!

[JuliAnn Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much great information. If you have VM or love someone who does this book is a must-have. Is it an easy light read? Nope. It feels more like a medical text book. But this illness is such a mystery and it can be so discouraging to not have any clarity or guidance. Dr. Beh understands this and gives you everything you need to know in one place. Highly recommend.

[Tom Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may seem like strong words, but other than the Bible, I don't think I have ever read a book that reflected what my life is like quite so accurately. In 2010, I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. Over the intervening decade, it swallowed my life. Vestibular migraine is a disease that so frequently mimics Meniere's that they are often confused for one another by both patients and doctors. It may be that I developed migraine later, it may be I have migraine and not Meniere's, or, as my wife suspects, I may have both. Regardless, to read this book is to read my life. It is that personal.

Shin Beh is one of the few doctors in the country that specialize in vestibular migraine, and I can tell. He constantly references things no one else could possibly know, not only referencing them but providing detailed and balanced approaches to treating them. Symptoms and underlying causes both. Much of the book was encouraging b/c the strategies he advises I already practice. On the other hand, much of the book was enlightening because it showed me ideas, treatments, and practices that I had not thought of.

Statistically speaking, one out of every six thousand people have Meniere's Disease. Migraine is much more widely experienced, but migraine rooted in the vestibular system is likewise rare. If you are one of the rare people that experience one or the other or both, I would practically beg you to read this. It isn't the Bible. Beh isn't always right. Treatments will continue to evolve. But the wealth of practical help you will find here is utterly immense.

[S.R. Karfelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I found on vestibular migraine. My copy is worn and covered in post-it notes, dog-eared and written in. It’s been immensely helpful. I’ve had vestibular migraine and chronic BPPV for about 25 years. It was a game changer over the advice I’d gotten from seeing my first neurologist (relax and go shopping).

Every time I have a bad bout of vertigo, I go through this book again. This is for others who’ve had this problem for decades, I’ve discovered that the worst of the worst vertigo is often preceded by allergic reactions to medication. Which happens more often than not when I take prescription meds. Especially antibiotics.

Anyway, you can get used to ANYTHING eventually, and you CAN have a wonderful life despite this miserable condition. I wish there was a cure! But there are ways to contain these episodes (mostly). Supplements, a gentler life (mostly), and all the water helps me quite a bit.

Figure out your triggers and be good to yourself!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2-1/2 stars

First, let me say that I do not normally enjoy reading medical texts. The only reason I read this is because I suffer from Vestibular Migraines and a vestibular therapist suggested that this book contains some good information (since many doctors aren’t familiar with it) and helpful tips.

I skimmed a most of this book. Frankly, it contained more information than I wanted. Dr. Beh was thorough but redundant. He also tended to be very long-winded when giving his thoughts about things (as opposed to medical facts). And he included a lot of general medical and well-being advice and information that wasn’t specific to vestibular migraines.

I was interested in the parts regarding the illness itself and the book validated a lot of my symptoms and made me confident with the recent diagnosis I received. In that regard, it was worth a browse.

[Comfy Womfy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This truly is an invaluable book to own if you are afflicted with migraine as a whole but, obviously, vestibular migraine is the main topic of discussion here and there is a wealth of information on the subject. However, there is far more to this book than just expatiated medical elucidations that one would expect to find in such a book. It's as much of a self-help book as it is a medical masterpiece on its given subject matter. There are some typos and duplicated text, but nothing too off-putting. It really is a brilliant book and It's helped me to attain rationale and clarity on my illness. I'll be forever grateful for its publishing.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contains valuable information!

Really important book for anyone suffering from vestibular disorders, especially migraine. There is so little information about this condition out there, which is why this book was so needed. Written in a down to earth and understanding way, and leaves you feeling hopeful for the future. I wish Dr Beh was MY doctor :)

[Brenda Scinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suffer from a motion disorder called MdDS and have had some new symptoms lately that my Vestibular Therapist suspected this disorder may be involved, so I read this to try and decipher what may be going on. I can not recommend this book highly enough for anyone questioning vestibular issues they are having. Such a thoroughly written and helpful resource.

[Nancy Gaitan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. I'm no longer afraid.

This should be the grail for anyone with VM. Found a couple of mistakes but nothing too distracting. I really appreciate the action plans mentioned in the book.

[Kelly Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is definitely informational, it is a lot of ... thus may help, that may help, or this or this.

It did cover symptoms well...but again it was a review of it could be this or that or that.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book

So informative and so inspiring at the same time. Told me all I need to know about this often confusing and debilitating condition. Couldn’t recommend it more.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best resource for vestibular migraine. Easy to read also, despite the heavy subject matter

[April Kelly-Maresh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful, Using some of the strategies in the book. Highly recommend if you are working with this condition!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone with migraine’s should read, great book!

[Christine Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative for anyone dealing with migraines, especially vestibular migraines.

[Chelsea Gilgore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful information and tips I will integrate into my life. Could have used an editor. There were many repeated sentences and paragraphs that took away from the integrity of the book.

[AlliD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive. Not everything applied to me, but what did, really worked.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Beh is the definitive authority on vestibular migraine, and his book sheds much-needed light on a condition often misdiagnosed. I picked up almost as much from a recent reread as I did at first.

[Marcey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive, as anticipated reads a bit like a text book. May be inaccessible to some and really helpful for others. There was a bizarre number of typos.

[Stephanie Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend!

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. This doctor has many ideas on how to help people with this condition.

[Liz Parkhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have vestibular migraine, think you do, or basically have any persistent vestibular issues, YOU. NEED. TO. READ. THIS. BOOK.

Dr. Beh is one of the leading neurologists focusing on migraine in the U.S. and one of probably only a few who focus on and understand vestibular migraine. His descriptions of the myriad of potential symptoms is helpful and helped me find actual terms to describe some of the things I’ve experienced, but struggled to describe. He offers a multitude of things to help including natural supplements and regimens, pharmaceutical options, dealing with VM with other co-morbidities, exercise, mental health, and the importance of accepting your condition while working to manage it.

This book left me with no doubt that I have vestibular migraines and gave me the tools and motivation to advocate for myself and push my ENT to consider it as an option and try prescribing me a preventative (which did help).

I highly recommend this book. Dr. Beh just released an updated third edition and I can’t wait to get my hands on it and see what new options or information he has now.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely excellent! There is far more in this than the meager info that most doctors dealing with this know of.
I was so helped by this! Covers every aspect of vestibular migraine.