confused after seeing neurologist...Has anyone else heard of this?

[coffeeholic]

Ok I am a 45yr old female. I was dx with fibromyalgia in 97, however I have had migraines since I was 17 (right around the time I started smoking ,trying to quit)  Anyway, I recently went to an allergist who referred me to a neurologist due to my migraines and how they are causing facial pain when I have them. I had an MRI with dye done, long test they scanned my brain and neck area with out the dye then they scanned with the dye. (I have never had this done before). I recently was also dx'd with a little higher than normal blood test for rheumatiod arthritis.( Neuro. does not seem concerned about that.)  I have been put on a drug whose generic name is Propanolol (forget real name) which is a beta blocker and at 10 mg. it held off the migraines for awhile, but I would have break through migraines which were ten times worse than if I did not hold it off with the meds. My headaches last any where from 1 hour to 5 days, (no telling they have a mind of their own it seems.) With what the Neuro has determined, In a yrs time I have about 4-5 headaches a week. (some don't allow me to do anything) My neurologist said they are definately migraines. However, she wants to do that brain scan since sometimes they start from the base of my neck and I get a really sore neck where I can not turn my head with out pain. (So, I agreed to the test and finally had it done). I saw the Neurologist two months later (just recently the 18th of feb) She was surprised that the propanolol is actually holding off the migraines, with a few breakthroughs ( I had 4 this month already, last one lasted 5 days) So, she checked with another dr and stated I have fibromyalgia and concurred that is was ok to up my dose on the current medication I am taking so instead of 10 mg, 2x a day, she has put me on 60mg of the propanolol 1x a day(so far, so good). She stated it was wierd how this one med seems to be the only thing that has prevented my migraines, and everything else I tried either did not work or made them worse,(all the migraine meds they have out) I then asked her about the results from the MRI, she said she was glad I brought that up.  Then stated when they looked at the scans she noticed I had white spots on my brain, and that they are more than likely caused by my smoking. (I looked at her puzzled) She then went on to say that smokers get white spots on their brains due to the carbon that is in the cigarrette when we light it and smoke it. ( she is a former smoker)  I jokingly brought up that maybe I am allergic to smoking, since the headaches seemed to have gotten worse after I started smoking at the age of 17. She said it was possible that I am allergic to the carbon in the cigarette. That was the basis of our conversation about why there are white spots on my brain scan. She did not mention that they could be due to anything else other than smoking or some can be caused by the Migraine itself because I get such severe ones.  I have not seen my MRI, nor have I read the papers that come from the person who views them so I don't know what it says. I only know what she says. However, back when I was diagnosed with the Fibromyalgia in 97, I saw a number of dr.s and out of those, three of them said they would not be able to see if I have MS. because there is no test for it, and one doctor told me it was too expensive to get the tests so he did not recommend it, and the other doctors pretty much ignored my question totally about the possibility of MS. however, since way before the dx of Fibromyalgia, before I knew anything about that or MS. My gutt was telling me I need to be checked for MS. and yet I knew nothing about it, nor had ever really heard of it. When they dx'd  me with Fibromyalgia, I told the dr he was wrong. Every doctor I have seen since then, I tell them I was dx'd with fibro in 97, but still do not believe I have it since I don't have the type of pain that most fibro people have. Now the brain scan comes and there are white spots.  I want to know if any one else has ever been told that their white spots are because of their smoking?  This is the first time I have ever heard of it, and with all the research I have done since finding out about the white spots, I have read NOTHING at all about whites spots being caused by smoking.  I am so confused...I definately want a second opinion, and I think my GP will be as confused as I am.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. Although without being able to examine you I can not offer you the specific advice on diagnosis and treatment that you need, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about your health concern.

Generally, one sided headache & orbital pain (eye pain) with numbness symptoms could be suggestive of migraine. In addition, migraine headache frequency increases with the depression & anxiety. If your doctor has diagnosed it as general anxiety, counseling or psychotherapy, physiotherapy, treating related stress and avoidance of triggering factors by doing meditations/yoga can be helpful in recovering from the condition. Additionally, it will be helpful to keep the headache log where you can record and specifics the headaches, including how long they lasted, any triggering factors like sunlight, bright light and chocolate that you may have noticed. This will help your doctor to determine the nature of the headache and factors that causing the headaches, therefore what kind of treatment needs to be started. Hope this information proves helpful to you.

Take Care & Regards!!!

[selmaS]

Hi I am not a dr, but I was told u can have these white spots or lesions from having migraines....MS is demylation of the nerves....having the white spots or lesions, they can do blood work to look for MS banning...I am not sure the terms, but was looked at for MS, lupus and lymes...all to find I have chiari....so that is y I know a little...there is a MS forum here on MedHelp where u may get more answers.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Multiple-Sclerosis-MS/show/322