Atypical Migraine

Posted By Janie  on March 11, 1998 at 11:40:38:









I'm a woman, 40 yoa, and have been diagnosed with atypical migraine.  In the
past 2 years I have had only two "classical" migraines - sensitivity to light,
sound, intense pounding headache that lasts for 1 to 2 hours.
But my usual symptoms are 1.  a bright spot of light in both eyes that that
quickly (2 to 3 minutes) intensifies to the point that I am totally blinded,
2.  Then shakiness, weakness and nausea which progresses (1 to 2 minutes) into a
severe drop in blood sugar (usually down to 39 to 44 on a glucose monitor),
3.  Then an uncontrollable humger for salt and sugar (I have actually ripped
bags open in the store and used both hands to cram chips and cookies in my
mouth!  It's embarrassing)  4.  Then 8 hour or so of mild headache, nausea,
weakness and general malaise.  The blood sugar will quickly pop back up into
the 60's (within 3 to 4 minutes) and then slowly raise back to a normal
level over the next few hours.
If I don't take Tenormin 50mg and Pamelor daily, I had a dull aching headache
that NEVER goes away.  And I mean it lasts for weeks.
But what is really puzzling to all my doc's (including a neurologist), is the
fact that if I ingest salt as soon as I get the bright light "aura(?)", all
symptoms go away within 2 to 3 minutes and I feel just fine.  No nausea, no
weakness, no lack of energy.  In fact, I had an "episode" while standing in
a ski lift line.  I ingested half of a small restaurant packet of salt and by
the time the chair came around, I was fine and raring to go!  I have had
these episodes 2 to 3 times a day and if I take salt, I'm just fine.
2 MRI's 9 months apart were normal (with the exception of a small venous bulge
which was deemed benign).  2 5-hour glucose tolerance tests were normal.  No
blood level test has revealed anything abnormal.  I can't identify any
triggers.  I take 1 mcg synthroid, 100 mg Zoloft, 2 mg estrace daily in
addition to Tenormin and Pamelor.  These episodes began 4 week after a total
hysterectomy (BAH-TSO).
I have to add that my General Practioner has been extrememly thorough.  
The Neurologist confirmed his suspicions about migraine.  Am I just a weird,
atypical case or are there any other leads my Doctor's might follow?