Newly onset migraine with other weirdness

[JasonMcAuley]

About 2-3 weeks ago, my girlfriend noticed my pupils were dilated to different sizes. At the time, I didn't think much of it because it went away, and I wasn't feeling abnormal. I hadn't noticed any weird dilation over the next two weeks until last Friday, I got to work and started feeling really nauseous, dizzy, and immense head pressure with different dilated pupils yet again.

I went to the ER, and got a CAT scan which turned out to be completely normal. Over the next few days I would continue to get the waves of nausea, and all throughout the day my head would feel... Off. Like cloudy almost.

I went to the optometrist to see if they could find anything strange through my eyes (using the optomapping), and everything was perfectly fine.

Last night (5 days after I had my CAT scan done), I started feeling the usual nausea I have been getting in the evenings, but it got even worse! Not only that; I was having tingling sensations every so often in my wrists, forearms, around my knees, calves and feet (on the left side). Then suddenly I was hit with immense pain in the left side of my head, so much that I was unable to move without the pain causing even worse nausea. Now, Ive never had a migraine before; but if I had to guess what one was, that would be it.

This morning, my head felt better, but still not 100% (still have pressure, some minor pain); and still having periodic tingles in the left side of my body.


Over the past 6-8 months, I have gone through a lot of emotionally trying periods, even to the point of falling into a bad depression for a while. I was on effexor (an anti-depressant) for a little over a month (I stopped taking them about 3 months ago). Could this just be a week long stress induced migraine? Have people heard of migraines causing abnormal pupil dilation?

I am suppose to get a referral tomorrow to see someone else; but I am wondering if people have had these same symptoms.

[mom2makinlee]

I have had the same issue with some of the same tests as you also...I know it has been a while but did you ever find out what was wrong?  Or did this go away?

[JasonMcAuley]

Just a follow up question. I went back to the doctors a few days ago; and she ordered an MRI. Now; i've already received a CAT scan; what different things can an MRI be used to determine. I've heard that it takes higher resolution images; so would this be used to determine OTHER causes other then tumours (is it just that tumours tend to be much more obvious, and are easily identified on a CAT scan?)

[JasonMcAuley]

The pupil size has been on going for weeks now. Its improved a lot since the day I was in the ER, the differences now are very small. Its possible this small difference has always been there; and that I'm only noticing it so much now because I'm very aware of my pupils, and check them so much now.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

Difference in pupil sizes is just normal for as long as the difference does not vary too much "A small amount of anisocoria or difference in pupil size is normal. On some days, a person’s right pupil might be larger than the left and on other days, the pupils might be the same size or the left might be larger than the right. But if more than a small difference in pupil size is present and persists, you may have a neurologic problem."

Source:http://www.nanosweb.org/patient_info/brochures/anisocoria.asp

However in your case, you have also experienced other associated symptoms like nausea and a sudden onset headache. I suggest that you have a follow up consult with your neurologist so that a complete neurologic and physical examination be done. Anisocoria may not need any further evaluation when there are no other associated symptoms .A referral to a neuroophthalmologist may be necessary.Migraine is only given as a diagnosis here when all other conditions have been ruled out. An infection, a vascular problem or effects of medications have to be excluded here.

[JasonMcAuley]

I would also like to add. The pupil dilation alternates eyes randomly. There was one instance I remember seeing my left pupil being bigger before I started brushing my teeth and by the time I had finished brushing them my right was bigger. So its not exclusive to one side.