Migraine/numbness

[aleather]

I am a 22 year old female and have been getting migraines for the past 4 years but only one every 2 months or so. I start getting tingling and numbness in my right hand and arm first, that is how i know a migraine is on its way. the numbness then spreads to my right leg and to the right side of my face. I get blurred vision in my right eye, my speach becomes slurred and basicaly cant fuction normally for about 2 hours while this is happening. It is sacry and a really gross feeling to the point where i sometimes vomit.
I have had a few theorys, one GP said they are mini strokes but another is sending me off for a cat scan to check for a tumor. are these normal signs for a particular type of migraine or should i be concerned?
If this is a certain type of migraine  or mini strokes can this be treated and will they leave any long term effect as since the last one i have noticed that i am having difficulty stringing a sentance together sometimes and forget the appropriate words to use when speaking and my memory is not as good as it was.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Yes these can very well be symptoms of migraine. Migraine is usually preceded by aura which is characterized by symptoms like visual symptoms, ringing in the ears, tingling numbness, and slurred speech.
However stroke can also present with similar symptoms. Do you have risk factors for stroke like high BP or high cholesterol?
It is important that you get further evaluation done to make sure it is migraine and not stroke. There are very effective medications are in the market today to abort migraine attacks and also to prevent migraines.
If it is stroke then you may need to take medications to control risk factors along with low dose aspirin to prevent further stroke.
Hope this answers your question!