Re: Basilar Artery Migraine

Posted By CCF Neuro MD on February 07, 1998 at 16:52:29:

In Reply to: Basilar Artery Migraine posted by Nina J. Click on February 07, 1998 at 13:13:05:







: Are any of the Neurologist's at the Cleveland Clinic familiar with BAM? It seems to be very hard for Neurologist's to diagnose it. My migraines have changed over the last several months, Imitrex does not help at all. My last attack lasted for two weeks. I feel drunk, drop objects, stumble into things, pulsating headache above my right ear toward my eye. Throwing up food. My family Dr. says "stress" but the headaches wake me up at night they are so bad. I am 40 years old.  One of the reported best Neurologists in Dayton won't see someone JUST for a headache. Which is very sad. Karyn's Basilar Artery Migraine web page(s) have a lot of information on BAM and it seems to fit my symptoms.  Now I need to find a Neurologist that is open minded enough to listen or has direct experience diagnosing BAM. Any help would be greatly appreciated.




There is absolutely no problem with beung seen " just " for a headache by,
a neurologist here at the clinic, as amatter of fact you sound like an
ideal candidate for our specizlised headache clinic which is staffed by
physicians who subspecialize in this area exclusively.
The number for appointments is [phone].
As regards your symptoms I would agree that they are much too severe to
attribute too stess alone, basilar artery migrane (migraine) is so called because the
effects can be attributed to dysfunction in the posterior part of the
brain supplied by the basilar artery, these symptoms include, unsteadiness
which may resemble the gait of a drunk person, poor co-ordination ,slurred
speech and nausea. All of this is very similar to your story, so the diagnosis
must be seriuosly considered as part of your assessment and treatment plan.
I am sure that if you seek an opinion here yopur symptoms will be taken
seroiusly and I wpold encourage you to seek further help.