Basilar Migraine?

[Catydid]

Hello. I'm 26 years old and I've had migraines since I was at least four or five. Around the age of 14 I started having weird symptoms. Normally it will start with vision loss in one or both of my eyes. Typically it's in a half-moon shape of shiny, jagged lights. That is usually accompanied by dizziness, anxiety, confusion and clumsiness. As soon as my vision begins to return numbness starts. The numbness usually affects one side of my face or body (sometimes even one half of my tongue!) and sometimes the numbness "travels." It will start in one of my fingers, then stop and move on to the next, and so on all the way up my arm. It's not so much pins and needles as a feeling as if my arm no longer exists or is disconnected from my body. The most troubling symptom is what happens to my ability to think or talk. Typically I'll temporarily loose the ability to speak. It's not that my words are slurred, it's that I can't think of the right words to say, or can't remember what I wanted to say. My thoughts get confused and jumbled. I'll stop being able to remember the word for simple things, or forget what I was saying half way through speaking. It also affects my ability to write and read. When this happens in public it is particularly embarassing because I'm always afraid others will think I'm crazy or on drugs. Sometimes these attacks are followed by nausea, or a headache, but most often they aren't.

For a long time I was told that they were occular migraines, but that diagnosis never made sense to me. Firstly because of all the other weird symptoms, and secondly because my attacks would last for several hours, with one symptom after another, instead of resolving itself in a half an hour. Then I looked up some of my symptoms and ran across the Basilar migraine, which sounds so much more similar to what I experience. When I discussed this with my new doctor he said he wanted me to have an MRI and EEG, though I've had those tests before and they came back negative. I was just wondering how likely it is that I am indeed suffering from Basilar migraines, and if an MRI and EEG is really necessary seeing as how those tests were negative before. Is there some other test they can do just for the Basliar migraine, or will I only be diagnosed with a migraine-type condition after they have ruled out strokes and seizure? I'm pretty sure it's not a stroke since I experience no muscle weakness, but how would the symptoms of a stroke or seizure compare to what I've just described? I was also wondering if there are any further complications I should be worried about if indeed I do have Basilar migraines... Are there any other sorts of migraines that would give me these symptoms?? Thanks!

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,your symtoms point towards Basilar migraines only. Please continue seeing your neurologist . At home , exercises,massages may help you.Please repeat the MRI and go for a nerve conduction study as well . Hope this helps you. Take care!