I had two 'migraine aura' episodes in four months (one in December where I thought I was hallucinating, then forgot how to work the TV remote, and one in mid-April where I had what I know now are 'typical' migraine aura visual disturbances, followed by aphasia - I couldn't speak properly and couldn't read words that I knew I knew). I went to the hospital the second time, convinced I was having a TIA ('mini stroke'); the on-call doctor and internist he brought in both agreed it was a TIA and immediately put me on anti-clotting meds, increased my cholesterol and blood pressure meds and 'warned' me it could happen again or, worse, I could have a full-on stroke it I didn't better manage my exercise and diet (which were only 'moderately acceptable' according to them; I am not overweight or terribly out of shape and I eat fairly well). However, when a neurologist was brought in, he immediately said it was migraine-related (mostly based on my description of the 'aura' - bright lights and zig-zaggy lines and a circular, growing shiny 'blind spot' ) and after undergoing every test possible (CT scan, EEGs, MRIs, heart and artery ultrasounds, ECG) and finding NOTHING, it looks like he was right. I've always suffered from headaches whenever there are severe barometric pressure changes but I never considered them 'migraines' - he says that's exactly what they are and that what I experienced could happen with or without a headache following (I did have a headache later, but I attributed it to stress and anxiety). It's a relief to know I'm not 'at risk' for a stroke, but frustrating to think that the other doctors didn't even consider this as a possible diagnosis (I've also had angina-like 'attacks' in the past 5 years [chest pain, tingling in my arms and legs] that have sent me to the emergency room in a panic and I've been for every heart test imaginable and they all come back 'clean'; the neurologist tells me this is another 'common' symptom of 'migrainous episodes'.) There needs to be more information 'out there' about this condition - I bet a lot of people are convinced (or told by their doctors) that they've had a mini-stroke (and are on meds they don't really need).
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I had two 'migraine aura' episodes in four months (one in December where I thought I was hallucinating, then forgot how to work the TV remote, and one in mid-April where I had what I know now are 'typical' migraine aura visual disturbances, followed by aphasia - I couldn't speak properly and couldn't read words that I knew I knew). I went to the hospital the second time, convinced I was having a TIA ('mini stroke'); the on-call doctor and internist he brought in both agreed it was a TIA and immediately put me on anti-clotting meds, increased my cholesterol and blood pressure meds and 'warned' me it could happen again or, worse, I could have a full-on stroke it I didn't better manage my exercise and diet (which were only 'moderately acceptable' according to them; I am not overweight or terribly out of shape and I eat fairly well). However, when a neurologist was brought in, he immediately said it was migraine-related (mostly based on my description of the 'aura' - bright lights and zig-zaggy lines and a circular, growing shiny 'blind spot' ) and after undergoing every test possible (CT scan, EEGs, MRIs, heart and artery ultrasounds, ECG) and finding NOTHING, it looks like he was right. I've always suffered from headaches whenever there are severe barometric pressure changes but I never considered them 'migraines' - he says that's exactly what they are and that what I experienced could happen with or without a headache following (I did have a headache later, but I attributed it to stress and anxiety). It's a relief to know I'm not 'at risk' for a stroke, but frustrating to think that the other doctors didn't even consider this as a possible diagnosis (I've also had angina-like 'attacks' in the past 5 years [chest pain, tingling in my arms and legs] that have sent me to the emergency room in a panic and I've been for every heart test imaginable and they all come back 'clean'; the neurologist tells me this is another 'common' symptom of 'migrainous episodes'.) There needs to be more information 'out there' about this condition - I bet a lot of people are convinced (or told by their doctors) that they've had a mini-stroke (and are on meds they don't really need).
June 3, 2014 - 4:06pmThis Comment
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