Did this sound like a migraine?

[gatorgal]

I had started having menstrual migraines with aura about 3 years ago. After a few months of this, the dr. put me on an antiidepressant for the migraines. All was well, for 9 months, no headaches. Then..
One day I was driving, in a matter of seconds, I felt my brain squeeze real quickly 3 times and then shift to the left. I immediately had vertigo, dilated pupils, high bp, nausea, etc. I went to my dr's office and he said that it was probablly just an aura for a migraine. The next day, I went to the ER because I was still having the same symptoms except the squeezing and shifting.
Since that day, my hormones have been screwed up. All of the dr's I have seen still insist that it was nothing more than a migraine, but I have never heard of a migraine being decribed like this. This incident was nothing like my migraines that I had before or after. I am concerned that it may be related to a pituitary problem since my hormones immediately messed up.
Has anyone else had a migraine/headache like this?

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
It is quite possible that what you experienced was a migraine attack. Migraines can occur in many different ways, like there can be only aura without headache or only headache with no aura or both.
Your symptoms of high BP, nausea and vertigo with light sensitivity are most likely a part of migraine aura.
What exactly do you mean when you say your hormones are messed up? Please elaborate.
Did you undergo an endocrinological evaluation which showed hormonal dysfunction?

[gatorgal]

Thanks for replying. Since that day, my periods had stopped. I had an FSH 58, LH 18, Estradial less than 20. I was dx'd with Premature Ovarian Failure. Yet, once I started continuous HRT, I still continue to bleed and now have small ovarian cysts on a monthly basis. My cortisol level runs low, between 5-7, my acth runs low 7-10, yet the endo said I passed the stim test because I reached exactly 20.
I have not had an attack like that since. But I still get monthly menstrual migraine with aura and still experience some degree of vertigo almost on a daily basis.
Thanks.

[gatorgal]

PS. Thanks again for replying. I have just been very worried because I had never heard of or experienced a attack like that (squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, shift). After that, I was in bed for 4 months  because the symptoms continued. None of my Dr. did an MRI after that. They had said that since I had one the previous year when my migraines started that it wasn't neccessary. The symptoms have gotten some what better since started hormones. I do understand that menopause and hormone fluctuations can cause migraines. but I am still worried because I don't feel that enough testing was done and because the quality of my life is not the same.
Thanks again.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

The symptoms of premature ovarian failure are the same as menopause. The cause of POF is not known but women with irregular menstrual cycles are more at risk.
http://www.pofsupport.org/information/factsheet/fact_sheet_english.pdf
It is very unlikely that the single incidence of vertigo, nausea and brain squeeze could trigger POF.
To be on the safe side and for your reassurance you can talk to your doctor about getting an MRI of brain done.