epilepsy and migraines

[fringepod]

Hi,

I'm a 33 yo female, diagnosed with epilepsy (jme, have had ~15 gm total) and migraines since age 19.  I take valproic acid, 1000 mg/day (recently up from 500 as I had a couple gm's last month, probably due to lack of sleep).
To be honest, the migraines cause more disruption in my life than do the seizures (although I would sure like to get off that nasty drug depakote as it'd be nice to have kids one of these days!)  

Before a migraine starts, I get unilateral weakness, numbness and a general feeling (or I guess I should say, lack thereof) of discomfort that begin on one side of my face and head and moves into my arm and usually my leg as well.  This is the aura I get prior to a raging icepick of a headache, although it sticks with me throughout the length of the headache (the numbness).  Along with all this I am easily confused during this time (and have a hard time finding words and keeping on topic if involved in conversation,) nauseous (sometimes w/ vomiting,) have a general lack of balance, and am very easily tired from simple activity like taking a shower, or whathaveyou.

Think it's possible that these neurological symptoms I get before a migraine somehow connected to the epilepsy?  Anyone else out there with complicated migraines afraid to take triptans due to stroke risk?
Anyone hear of research relating epilepsy with genetic hemiplegic migraine--and what to do about it???  

Damn these annoying neurological dysfunctions!!!

Thanks all for sharing your experiences

[RobinN]

I had migraine for 30 yrs of my life. They were eliminated with ionic form of magnesium. I have not had one in 4 yrs. My daughter has seizures and she is being treated now with magnesium. It is a known anticonvulsant.

Migraines are now classified in the seizure catagory.

[christine23]

My son is 6 years old.  He has seizures with headaches over his left eye.  He feels numbness in his tongue and headache before a seizure.  He usually seizures in his sleep.  Does this sound similar to what you felt as a child?  Migranes run in the family.  So we are wondering, if this is the problem.

[Jane974]

Hello I have had migraines and epilepsy from the age of 2. I find that I get migraines a week before my periods and the first few days. Stress, emotion and lack of sleep triggers migraines and seizures. Since I was put on keppra and tegretol 2003 I don't have so much seizures anymore. I also fell pregnant which I had less seizures and migraines. My girl has turned out fine. I could not ask any better because it took the depression away.  
I hope you get better. Take care
             Jane      

[Beanie31]

Hi,

Just to alay your worries I get migranies, and searing headaches everyday. Just like you, I've got JME, I reckon it's def connected with the epilepsy just going to check with my doc to make sure though, as i forgot to ask my neuro when i saw her last. I think it's my age (34) and the hormone's that are making my head worse as the headaches, migranes & epilepsy have been so much worse for me over the last 5 years. I've even taken to wearing sunglasses indoors to try to keep out the light so your not alone.
Also I have another friend ,who's also 34, with epilepsy, who's migrane's get so bad that she go's to bed for a few hours in the middle of the day.
Take Care
Julie
XX