Permanent Migraine Aura w/ Brain Fog

[Wildcat72]

From another persons post with some of my remarks below.  If someone knows what this can be please help!!

MatthewY , Dec 04, 2009 09:46PM
Tags: aura, brain fog, Migraine, visual snow, persistent migraine aura, Neurology, permanent, migraine aura, Migraines, fog, cognitive dysfunction
Male, 18

When I was 14 years old I started having episodes(which did not include headaches) where I would: Lose the center plane of my vision, feel completely disoriented, confused, and completely depersonalized; and would have pins and needles in my extremities and mouth area follow by numbness. When I have these episodes they last until I go to sleep. I used to get these episodes about once every 2 months, and they have been happening less and less frequently(haven't had a full blown attack in about a year). However, ever since my first episodes I have been in a permant state of migraine aura which consists of: Seeing falling circles, afterburn on images when I move my eyes, "fireflies" when I look at bright surfaces like white walls and the sky, visual snow which looks like tv static, and worst of all Brain Fog. I have been in the ever worsening brain fog state for 4 years now and I am looking for any solutions. The brain fog feels like severe mental exhaustion, like the kind you get from pulling all nighters, only it's like that all the time starting from the moment I wake up. The brain fog has gotten so bad that I am completely spaced out all the time and not able to study. I have trouble keeping up in conversations and learning new things, or performing anything that takes any amount of thinking. I was very bright before all of this.
I have been in and out of Neurology clinics for the past 4 years and every one seems to agree that it is Migraine Aura but they all say that it shouldn't last this long. So far no one has been able to provide me with a solution.
I have had MRI, EEG, EKG, and all sorts of other tests all of which have come back clean. I have been prescribed: Gabapentin, Maxalt, Celexa, Adderall, and Verapil, none of which helped and I am currently not on any medications.
The doctors that I have been going to see don't seem to care at all about all this. They just keep prescribing new random meds without any rationale just hoping that they are going to land on the right one. They also seem to want to blame it on anxiety but I'm anxious BECAUSE of my condition. I'm not saying that anxiety is helping me any but I am saying that it isn't the root cause.
Please I'm in desperate need of help as this keeps getting worse and worse. It has made my life very difficult and taken all the joy out of living.


I am 38 years old and have the same symptoms.  Anxiety because of the feeling not because of the anxiety.  Anti-Doctor at this point because they are no help.  I believe there are a lot of people with this similar feeling and no one has yet an answer for it.  Frustrated, and totally effecting my work and family.  The only thing left to do is a new life style change.  This includes healthier eating and exercise and good vitamins which i do not do.  I feel for you both because this is the worst feeling ever.  I am now going to a naturopathic doctor in hopes of a solution.

[lolomarie]

Hi, I am so sorry for your condition.  It must be very difficult for you.  I think you should try a headache clinic. I think, but not sure, that there might be one connected to The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.  I have chronic pain all over, including daily headaches.  These too cause me anxiety so I understand your anxiety.  I hope you can find a solution.

[scottcampers]

It sounds very similar to me. I have hemiplegic migraines.