Silent Migraines

I am a 27 male who has been experiencing what my neurologist called "silent migraines" it all started 2 years ago and was intense for about 5 months with shimmering vision, feeling lightheaded like walking on a boat all the time, bouts of dizziness and a general spacy feeling these symptoms lasted days upon end, then i was ok for about a year with only the shimmering vision and a little bit of dizzy, then in sept of last year i started up again with dizziness episodes, photophobia, phonophobia, a couple time i felt strange rushes throughout my body kinda warm, lately ive noticed an increase in floaters when i look at a white surface of the sky and once in while when i move my head ill see stars in my peripheral vision. I was convinced i had a brain tumor or MS but have had 2 ct scans and an MRI w/and without contrast, and from what ive heard they almost never miss a tumor, but here i am with all these neurlogical symptoms. My neuro doesnt want to put me on prevenatives because of the side effects.He said i have a hypersensitive brain( Flourescent lights drive me crazy and confuse my vision.) I did have alot of headaches as a teen and now get them occasionally maybe once a week, Would it be typical to have these silent migraine symptoms for days on end, months even? I cant help but think i have some crazy brain disease.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

The chances of neurological disease causing these symptoms is almost negligible in your case since you have undergone 2 CT scans which have been clear and a normal neurological exam.
The possibility of silent migraine is very much there because your symptoms are similar to those one gets in migraine aura.
Silent migraines are also known as acephalgic migraines or visual migraine or painless migraine.
Since these symptoms are very similar to those of mini stroke it is important to differentiate between the two. Effervescent aspirin and beta agonist inhaler like Isoproterenol are helpful in aborting acute attack if taken soon enough.
Please discuss this with your treating doctor.
http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/silent-migraine.html

Thanks

[Ryan1981]

Thanks for your response,
                 mini-stroke was one of my concerns but my neuro assured me this was not the case, I was curious though, how can he be sure?

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

It is difficult to differentiate between the two but a detailed medical history along with neurological exam and tests like MRI usually helps.
The symptoms of mini stroke develop rapidly while those of silent migraine will develop slowly.
Also if you do not have any risk factor for stroke like high BP, cholesterol, body weight, diabetes, smoking and alcoholism the chances of stroke are very little.
Clear MRI or CT scan will also negate the possibility of stroke.

Thanks

[michaeljames]

Hi just about my background first in relation to the title of the debate. About six years ago I had a classic migraine for the first time and I was about 24. The symptoms terrified me as I had never had one before it was as if some one had splashed dark water across my vision which turned into blind spots they proceded to my peripheral vison in both eyes with all sorts of scintallating scotomas of all colours after that I had tingling down my left side and face the worst headache pain I had ever experienced and total confusion on my direction on where I was going i.e. struggling to find my way out of the hospital and being in the bathroom when I thought I was in the kitchen. I went to the hospital and they quickly dismissed me with some paracetamol to be honest I think they thought I was on drugs but  I am surprised they did not say it was migraine when I described the symptoms. Any way I had bad head for two days and stayed in a dark quiet room(bedroom). They scintallating scotomas calmed down but my left peripheral(both eyes) in the side and bottom corner was gone for about three months and during that time I felt washed out and looked pale. I then made a full recover then about a year later I remember having an another migraine this time just similiar visual symptoms then they went away after a short while. However about three years ago I drank  a full bottle of red wine one night which I assume triggered the most recent attack. This attack came on the next day including flashy yellow spots in my vision and what can only be described what looked like the sun burning away in my left peripheral both eyes once again. Now the colours died away but the blindness is still there in the bottom corner of my left peripheral and has been there for about 3 years now. Highly disturbing I must say. All the usual tests at hospital,slit eye lamp colour blindness, visual aquity which is almost 20/20 and the visual field test which confirmed the visual impairment only thing I did not have was an MRI which I refused as I was already stressed enough at the time and did not want to go thru that. The doctor said it was not essential anyway and was satisfied as everything came up negative in relation to eye disease and signs and symptoms of tumours he just put it down to mystery.I mentioned persistant migraine aura and he said that was diagnosed only when all other avenues were exhausted. Any way I would be more than happy with any advice or info you have on my condition its all came to the fore again as I am going thru eye tests again to pass my driving thankfully my condition seems to be static but how I wish it would correct itself.
Ps migraine does not run in any sides of my family but rather worringly stroke does!

[Ryan1981]

Its good to hear im not the only one,with these crazy symptoms. I just went to the opthamalogist to get my eyes checked out and he said eveything looked good, i was concerned becuase ive been seeing alot of floaters but the kind that look like thousands of lightning bugs when i look up at the blue sky or a white surface, he said they were normal.I think it may all be stress related as well my first episode came when i first moved out and the second came when i decided to go back to school, how long did your episodes last? my first one was almost 3-4 months before i started to feel normal again

[hava]

This exercise will get extra oxygen into the body and help with the migraine episodes.Drink warm water.Continue the exercise once a day after your migraine has eased.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 10 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

[michaeljames]

Hi Ryan just a quick answer to your question,

My visual deficit symptoms have been permanent for about 3 years now and I am strongly tempted to go back to the hospital for an mri and further tests which they offered me 3 years ago, silly me I declined in fear they might find something sinsister but now I would just like to know whats going on up there even though I there is probably nothing they can do in reversing the visual defecit it ill be disappointing if it stops me from driving if it does I think I will go back,

ps,
To Dr Noopur looking at my previous post would you recommend I go back for scans, is it worth it?

[michaeljames]

Forgot to say my first and rare classic migraine lasted for about 4 months as well, the visual symptoms that is and the washed out pale look. The headache lasted about 3 days.

[hjcrew1]

I am person who suffers from a prolonged aura. I  am also a registered nurse, as  person with a medical background I can tell you not all Neurologists know everything and especially not when it comes to complicated migraine. I was not happy with the lack of progress I was making when I first went to a neuro-opthy  to treat my symptoms and I got a second opinion and I am SO happy I did. It sounds to me like you may want to get another opinion. When I had similar visual symptomsas you, my neurologist (the second opinion) ordered a cardiac echo to rule out PFO (patent foramen ovale), and MRV MRI and MRA to rule out clots and dissection, a slew of blood work, and urinalysis.

[Tortoise]

So glad to have found this.  I started having migraines recently about 3 months ago. (used to get them bed as a kid)  I get the blind spots, then comes the numb left arm or/and hand, and after that I would get a bad headache.  But lately, i havent' been getting the headache, just blurred vision and sensitivity to fast moving objects and bright lights.  It is very scary stuff.  Went and had a cat scan that came back negative.  That was about 6 weeks ago, but the experience continues. Now I occasionally get aches in my hands and feet.  What's that about?   How long does this last?  It is scary and frustrating to say the least.  I am sitting here in the dark typing this with sunglasses on because would be albe to handle the screen glare..  Anybody else experience these types of symptoms?

[Ryan1981]

I get the same way light sensitivity and staring at a bright computer screen i can see floaters everywhere along w/dizziness and sound sensitivity sometimes i get a headache usually i dont, i know how frightning these symptoms can be. have you seen a neurologist? i have had multiple scans as well all negative i've been taking magnesium and vitamin b2 the neuro said the vitamin b2 helped with light sensitivity, it hasnt completly gone away but my symptoms have been less severe hope this helps sounds you are having silent migraines too.  

[Tortoise]

I have seen a neurologist.  I had 2 MRIs 4 years ago that came back negative.  Just had a CT Scan 6 weeks ago came back negative.  Just had another MRI a couple days ago and am still waiting the results.  I'm confident it will be negative, as is he.  Anyway, i would be interested to know if anyone has found any medication to be effective.  I have been reading about Feverfew.  This is an herbel remedy that studies have shown work on migraines.  Anybody try this?

[thirstpretz]

I know this thread is almost a year old but I'm thrilled to have found it.  I've been told that the little "pinwheel" effect that I've had in my right eye for the past week is an ocular migraine.  I've been searching like crazy to find people who have had them last longer than a few hours.  I'm going on day six.  My eye exam was normal, the opthamologist put me on Inderal but so far nothing.  I'm thinking that maybe I need to get a referral for neuro.  Anyone had any luck in getting their "aura" to go away?  I'm starting to get panicky and nervous about it.  I've got two young boys and this is unsettling for me.

[hava]

While you are trying finding answers, supplement the medication with the exercise I described on Feb 27,  2009 on this thread.

[FurballsMom]

You're definitely not alone with this.  This is the most common migraine that I get.  It's miserable, even without the pain of a headache.  My neurologist is planning on starting me on a beta blocker next time I see him.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? It is good that your eye examination was normal. Another consideration is cluster headache which present with excruciating pain in vicinity of eye, tearing, nose congestion, and flushing of face. Pain frequently develops during sleep and may last for several hours. Attacks occur every day for weeks, then disappear for up to a year. 8Excessive smoking and alcoholic beverage may exacerbate the symptoms.   Prescription medication may help. If it persists, it is a good idea to see a neurologist. Take care and do keep us posted.