Am I the only one w/ Complicated Migraine w/ stroke or just neuro symptoms?

[SSE56]

In Aug. 07 I had mild stroke due to a complicated migraine, rushed to the hospital, all the tests, conclusive by MRI.  Now 18 mos. later, during a bout of bronchitis, I had the same symptoms only a lot more severe, called 911 again, rushed to the ER and after a battery of tests, this time they told me it was "just" the complicated migraine, left sided tingling in my arm through my leg, that left almost as quickly as it came, I couldn't breathe, my heart was beating so fast, I could see it in my eyelashes, total weakness in my whole body, almost to the point of paralysis, then extreme tingling in my arms down to my fingers and my legs, equal on both sides of body. I felt as though I was going to pass out.  I didn't have a headache until I was in the ambulance and then the nausea, but it wasn't too bad.  The dr. said I was still having symptoms when I got to the ER, I was kept for observation this time for 3 days, as before, only this time they didn't believe it was a stroke or TIA, the CT, MRI, carotid doppler were clear.  12 hrs. later in the hospital, I had an episode in which I had the extreme tingling across my chest down both arms into my hands and all my fingers, I was on Telemetry at this time and absolutely nothing showed.  It was clear also.  Thank goodness my husband had stayed all night at the hospital with me, because when that episode happened my arms were paralyzed and I could not push the call button so my husband got the nurse, they found nothing.  Has anyone ever had this happen with a migraine?  After 24 hrs. I felt much better, although my neuro said it was not a TIA, I feel pretty good now, it's been a month.  Also I was on Bio Identical Hormones 6 mos. started before the first time and since this last once have been taken off immediately.  I'm not sure what to think, one dr. thinks they could be the problem, another says they aren't they problem, another dr. says he just doesn't know exactly what happened to me this time.   I am going for a 2nd opinion to I U Med Center Stroke Center in Indianapolis to see what they think,  Any thoughts, suggestions?  HELP!!!!!

[Nichole28]

I had this very same thing happen last March, I was picking my kids up from school and all of a sudden I was very dizzy and feeling like I was going to throw up. 20 minutes later I was unable to speak or use the left side of my body and I had involuntary body movements. I was taken to the hospital by ambulance and was treated for a stroke, they did a MRI and a CT scan and it came back all clear. The next day I started having seizures, they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me and after 4 days they sent me home. I started seeing a Neurologist and he told me I was suffering from complicated migraines with neuro symptoms that mimick a stroke. It was all very scary and hard to believe that a headache could do such things to you. It has almost been a year since all this happened to me and I still don't feel right. I have memory loss, some mild speach issues, headaches daily and migraines all the time. I some times get a loss of sensation on my left side, but no more seizures thank goodness. I did have a 72 hour EEG done which came back abnormal due to some spikes in my front temperal lobe on the right side. If you look up complicated migraines all the things that happened to you are symptoms same as what happened to me. I think the 2nd opinion is a good idea it never hurts!!!

[SSE56]

Sorry to hear you had a similar experience.  You are right it is all very scary.  I did not know having a migraine could do so much.  The first time it happened to me I was put on 2 low dose aspirin every day, then Verelan PM and Topamax, both to prevent migraines.  Although as you can see by my post, I still have them, although I would say they have greatly improved!  This last episode, my neuro did increase my Topamax and added Magnesium.  I had an EEG after both episodes and both tests were clear.  My speech came back, and the usage of my L. arm came back to normal.  After this last time, I came back to normal again, although it did leave me tired and I seem to sleep a lot, and I was having a hard time with that before.  My med. dr. now wants to put me on oxygen at night, I had a pulseox done in my home and it showed that for 38 min. during an 8 hr. night's sleep, my 02 level was 78%.  I guess some dr's. do that for migraines, I'm not sure I want to sleep with oxygen just yet, I'm getting my 2nd opinion first.  Has anyone else heard of this?  Nichole, do you take any meds that have helped you?  I cannot take any meds after a migraine starts, mine are the type that the blood vessels constrict, so to take Imitrex or something similar would be detrimental to me.  The thing with me is, I never had the headache first, I had the neuro symptoms, the last 2 I have had, the headaches are the last things to come, I find that odd!  I guess none of us understands this oddity.  I wish you well, if you have any more comments, I welcome all I can get... this forum makes me feel like I am not alone in this migraine weirdness!!!! By the way, I am a 52 yr. old female, with a very supportive husband, and that helps a lot!  Can't wait for the 2nd opinion, I think it's wise for me to go to a stroke center instead of a migraine center for them to tell me I have migraines, when I already know that.  Hopefully I will find out more than that.  I'll keep you posted!!

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,
Bioidentical hormones have been found to be helpful in treating menstrual migraines so they do not seem to be the likely trigger for complicated migraines.
Since your scans and Doppler and neurological tests were clear second time around the chances of stroke or TIA causing the symptoms is almost negligible.
Complicated migraines can cause these symptoms. It will be better that you consult a migraine specialist.

[SSE56]

Thank you for your comment on my experience!  I was hoping to hear from you and see what you thought.  My gyne believes the same as you, but my med. dr. will hear nothing of it and took me off of Bios immediately.  I felt stuck in the middle.  I believe in being an advocate of my own well being and health.  I am searching and may just switch to my gyne all together, being at my age which is 52 yrs. But that's neither here not there.  I appreciate your suggestion on this, I don't know where to find a Migraine Specialist, I live in downstate IL, is there a Migraine Specialist or Migraine Clinic that you would suggest?
I have a hard time wrapping my mind around all that complicated migraines can do, these forums help so much. I just never know if there is a time I should not go to the ER?   I do not understand how I can have all these symptoms and then the headache last.  It's all so confusing.  Thanks for your times, if you have a reference of a Migraine Specialist or Clinic that I can give me some answers then I'd be glad to hear.  Thanks again!

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing back. I hope you are feeling better today.
Please refer to the links below you may find the links useful in locating a migraine specialist in your area.

http://headaches.about.com/od/illinoisdocsclinics/Headache_and_Migraine_Doctors_and_Clinics_in_Illinois_USA.htm

http://www.*************.com/migraine/headache-specialists/illinois-39532-5.html

http://www.helpforheadaches.com/doctors/migraine-headache-specialists-illinois.htm

Hope this helps!