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Avatar universal

Complicated Migraine at age 33?

Good day all.  I went to the ER in November and was diagnosed with having had a TIA.  When I was released I went to see follow up doctors. I saw a Neurologist and she was bewildered. She didn't know what to tell me. In her final notes she diagnosed me with a complicated migraine. During the appointment she said that a complicated migraine is gotten by 15 year olds. She said I'm far from 15. :)  Then she goes to her colleague and they can't decide what's wrong with me.  I was diagnosed by the ER with a TIA and then because they can't decide I feel she just labeled it a complicated migraine. It's ok not to know the answer. At the time of the stroke symptoms I had I was using the birth control patch Ortho Evra. I was told by everyone to stop. I did. I haven't had any other kind of episode. No headaches before or after. I had a dull ache in my head while I lost vision and had numbness in my left side in November when I went to the ER. Is there a way to really tell the difference between a TIA and a Complicated headache?   My question really is, is it common for a 33 year old to have those complicated headaches? Will they happen often? This is the first and only time I have ever had anything like this. Is it common that it happened out of the blue and while I was using the birth control patch? Is it safe for me to go back on the patch if she said it was a complicated headache?

Thank you!
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Avatar universal
Hi everyone.  I was diagnosed with complicated migraines in 09 while suffering what I thought was a heart attack at the age of 44. I have been a migraine sufferer since I was 14 and in 89 suffered an anurysm that started with a migraine and ended with blindness.  Was able to get all but 1/3 vision back in right eye and was told I had thrown an embolism and there was no cure.  MRIs every six months showed no change until MRI in 94 showed it was gone. Since then I have had all the symptoms listed above, starting with numbness and tingling in hands and feet after birth of third child in 04 to disconnected feeling, forgettfulness, weakness, headaches, vertigo, passing out, running into walls and not being able to piece together sentences.  In 09, when the chest pains started, was rushed to hospital, CATs, MRIs and numerous other test showed heart of 12 yr old, but complicated migraines with possible stroke.  Was told to take excedrin for migraine and find a neurologist if it got worse.  Over past two years I have had seizures, vision changes, migraines almost daily and constant pain in hands and feet.  Migraine specialist wants to rule out epilepsy so went to epileptic neurologist yesterday and will undergo sleep deprived test at end of month and then 2-4 day testing next month.  Was told it is to rule out epilepsy but will be given topamax regardless.  Had asked about the anurysm but did not get an answer and was blown away to see that others here have had that too and found PFO.  Will ask about testing for that as I feel certain there has got to be a connection.  Thanks for all info and it is good to find a supportive community although I hate that it's because we all have and are suffering.  My prayers are with each and every one.
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Avatar universal
Having just read all the posts, even those dating back to 2008, it is incredibly sad and yet somehow reassuring, to find so many people afflicted with Migraines. I have suffered with migraines since the age of 9 following a terrible cycle accident, and I am now almost 35. I have never had a scan, though I am hopeful that my referral to another neurologist will lead to such an investigation.  
I have actually just this moment experienced an episode, where I lost all feeling in my left hand, as well as experiencing the gradual worsening level of confusion.Usually all my migraines are preceeded by an aura attack, which acts as a warning to signal the onslaught of accompanying symptoms (such as numbness to one side, loss of speech and being able to form 'coherent' thought processes and loss of memory) before then moving on to the terrible headache, usually located to one side.
I would like it to be noted here that since discovering the over-the-counter medication Migraleve, my migraines are easily controlled.As soon as the aura/numbness/loss of speech symptoms etc hit, I take two pink Migraleve. Within 30 mins all symptoms have gone and I never have the follow-up headache. Only on rare occasions do I experience the full symptoms and headache.
Despite this, recently my attacks have been happening much more frequently, including one episode where I was rendered completely blind in my right eye! This was scary, for with no accompanying symptoms, I was recommended to go to the eye hospital to rule out a detached retina. Having no problems with my eyes I am now due to see a neurologist in October, and it may mean that my migraines have become two types: Migraines with aura and Occular/Optical Migraines. This is becoming increasingly scary, for when you go online, there are so many reasons that could be the cause, you simply cannot know where to start, and obviously most specialists hide underneath the huge umbrella that is 'Complicated Migraines'. In other words, migraines can be so sporadic and varied in nature, there can never be one definitive answer to their puzzle. The best we can all hope for is the continued feedback on forums such as this, advising of new medications tried and tested by those experiencing these debilitating symptoms....Us. I therefore thank you all for your posts.
If you are able to try Migraleve (unsure how worldwide this is) I would definitely recommend giving it a go, for I have tried all meds (preventatives included) and nothing has worked so well. Let it be noted that they are designed for those suffering from the symptoms experienced before the headache.
Please take care everyone and may you all find an effective solution to at least make your lives more manageable and less controlled by migraine.

Clara  


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Avatar universal
Hope you saw my other answer to you that you are definately not too young to have a stroke at your age as you were told with my recommendations.

But yes, you can begin to have migraines at any age.

But I would definately get it checked out by a scan.

Sara
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Avatar universal
is it possible or likely for migraines to begin in adulthood?
I went to the ER a few days ago because I got a terrible headache, then got dizzy and tunnel vision, then my left side went numb, including my face.
I was told i was too young to have a TIA of stroke, and that it was a complicated migraine. I'm just confused, cause I've never had any history of migraines. The only headaches I've ever had is the occasional one if I get dehydrated. And since that episode, I've had lingering numbness/tingling and a constant "walking around buzzed" feeling...but no headaches to accompany these lingering symptoms. ????
I'm a 26 year old female. No significant medical history. very limited alcohol consumption (only on holidays/special occasions). don't smoke. don't take birth control. low blood pressure. eat healthy (organic, all-natural, mostly vegetarian and vegan meals). rarely ever even take so much as a tylenol.
What in the world is going on?
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Avatar universal
How often do you suffer the migraines?  Have the meds and Botox helped you at all?  Have you tried anything else?  Then I can fill with some possible answers.
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Avatar universal
I too suffer from complicated migraines.....I'm on a preventive and all the drs. do is to give me meds.  I've had mri's ct scans to no avail.  I lose my speech, balance, coordination and now my eyesight on some occasions.  I also answer people back in Spanish..They seemed to have increased since my kids were born and after a head injury 5 years ago.  I'm just tired of the pain meds and botox....any suggestions
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How big was your PFO? was the procedure and recovery of closing PFO difficult? i have a PFO (4.4cm) and experienced 2 TIA or complicated migraines. I would like to have more children but I am being told I need to have PFO closed first. I am scarred that I may have stroke during pregnancy.  
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sorry it blurred out my e m a  i  l  add at the end but  just i guess just reply here and let me know what you think. please.
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I am 21 years old please Froglaz... let me help you before you have what happen to you what happened to me. Not to scare you or anything. That is exactly how it started with me!! It is going to start going up the arm gradually.   this is what happened to me after what happened to you.  Not saying this will happen to you but its worth checking !! I have some advice!!!!
i have basilar migraines... i go blind cant see then i have this 10 mins later...  My left thumb went completely numb along my with my entire arm. Then the next time my left face. Then my left arm thumb face tongue then my left tumb arm face tongue and I couldnt speak and I lost my balance and I was completely confused.
Then the headache awful of course throwing up all that... the next day i was fine other then freaking out of course. so i went the hospital found out ..i had a stroke but it was not from that specific time. it was a silent stroke. i must have been sleeping. but i have no risk factor other then i have migraines!! so i had the tee ekg all those tests. had a large pfo.. had that closed.  get that closed if you have one!  people have different opinions on that... but mine is to close it.
i have tried over 150 medications nothing has worked for me so far. i have tried nerve blockers they don't work. does any one have any other suggestion? i know about the pace maker with the electrodes but they are not allowed in my state yet and i do not want to be on the trial and maybe get on the "real" side. migraines are serious as everyone here knows :(
love to hear back on here or ***@****
mary

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Avatar universal
I also have experience many symptoms like all of yours. I am 18 and first started having migraines two years ago. The first time I was at school and had been having a head ache for a day or two on the right side of my head, it progressively got worse and at its peak my left finger tips started going numb. The numbness got worse and traveled up my hand to through my left arm and my mouth and tongue became numb. I also suffered loss of vision and comprehension. My mother came and picked me up from school and I laid down flat not moving and slept for many hours and that seemed to help it go away. At first we thought it was just dehydration because it was the heat of the summer and I was playing tennis everyday but it occurred again a few months later, and again, so we went to the doctor. They at first believed I had MS and gave me multiple MRI's and CT scans. My GP noticed a small spot on my right frontal lobe and I got an appointment at UCLA medical center and the neurologist diagnosed it as complex migraines saying the spot was too some to be a tumor. I later found out he was a migraine specialist and I dont fully believe his diagnoses. Since then I have still had many episodes mirroring stroke systems, also with the numbness travelling up and loss of vision, once I was trying to read and couldnt understand the simplest word and began panicing because I know that I should have been able, the same also occurred with speech. With family drama and going to college distracting me I havent sought out more info, but they seem to get worse and worse and the last few days I have been experience horrible headaches on my right side again prompting me to come and read all of your posts.

In particular MiMiflos have interested me the most. I never considered the fact that it could be caused by my heart and had never heard of a PFO. I remember my mom telling me that I had a heart murmur when I was born, and I am not sure if that could tie into this, but I also experience light headedness, weakness, and a tremor in my hands quite frequently (mostly in my left hand) I thought it was maybe due to low blood pressure or that I had bad circulation but maybe it all is together.. I appreciate everything you guys have written, and if anyone else has input or similar weakness id like to hear from you...
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Avatar universal
I want to thank you for taking the time to write what you have. I am going to be short and to the point. All the same things happening to me 44 years of age started at 34. Think I had a TMI this past week. Went and they are doing all of the things your wonderful Neurologist has done for your family.

I now understand why these tests were ordered. What they may find.. and I am guessing they will... and I wont be as shocked.

I have also been placed on Verapimil and aspirin. I feel  better about this now.

Thank you for what you have written here.
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Avatar universal
Last year I suffered from Dengue fever, my first sign was waking up numbness and tingling on the entire left side of my body, which did not go away. A rush to the ER didn't do much, since they said it wasn't a stroke and I'd have to wait. When I finally was seen by the doctor, he dismissed the possibility of a TIA or stroke. I had a clear CT and all other tests were clear. Finally another doctor suggested dengue after worsening symptoms appeared. Within a month, I recovered on paracetamol, but the pain was still there on the left side. Four months later, the pain lessed and I was able to work for 4-6 hours before I felt extreme fatigue and pain setting in. Feb. of this year, I had a stressed 2 week course I was pursuing (graduate student), the next thing I know, I had numb patches on my left leg and arm, the left side of my throat was completely numb as well as my tongue and I was blurring in my right eye, accompanied with a dull headache. I later found out I had a UTI, apparently on the left side due to the left-sided spasms I was having. I was placed on cipro, adverse side effects, back to the ER, severe side effects still persists. The issue now, is that I was going completely numb on the left side of my body while on the cipro and after using it. Now I deal with a constant pain on the left half of my body, including my head. The neuro diagnosed me with complicated migraines. I was intially on topamax, which worked for several months, but moving back to the caribbean, the heat was unbearable with the meds. I was then placed on sibelium, which I'm currently on, but while it helped initially, the side effects were unbearable, I was then told to use half the dose, which helped somewhat, but now I have the persistent left-sided pain. I don't know what to do anymore. I wish my neuro was more understanding, that I was sensitive to fluoride.

Anne.
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Avatar universal
I have a 21 yr old daughter who suffers from severe migraines. This started approx 2/3 yrs ago when she collapsed unconscious during a migraine for about 30 minutes and a second collapse later that year where she blacked out for about 15 minutes.On each of those occasions, she had severe migraine and symptoms started before loss of consciousness with tingling in arms and feet, total paralysis of left arm and leg. She was tested with EEG, cat scans etc for seizures and eventually diagnosed with Basilar Migraine by a neurologist. She was put on Topamax for about a year and the migraines did abate but she had side effects of numbness and tompamax was stopped to see how she would do without it.
Her migraines are most definitely directly linked to the time she gets her period and the neurologist said the hormones are directly linked to it. She was advised to get something to stop her periods .The Bar pill was put in her arm but had to be removed because of very bad skin blistering and then she went on Dianette pill. Yesterday she blacked out again for about 10 minutes and the doctor this morning told us she has to stop Dianette and can't go on any pill with oestragen and prostragen so is going to try her with Marina coil. She is treating her migraine with Arcoxia and solpadol. Does anyone out there know of a suitable contraceptive pill that will help regulate her hormones and won't cause stroke as the doctor suggested that was a real possibility on many of the pills out there for severe migraine patients. Can anyone recommend a pain reliever outside of imigrine or zomax type which neurologist says are not suitable for her?

Thanks from a concerned mother Bilberry.
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Avatar universal
So sorry to hear about your situation.  Even though they couldn't confirm that it was a stroke, it may well have been one since you were in the stroke ICU and other things that you wrote.  Just for your information, a number of stroke survivers do have bad headaches for weeks, months or even years.  That is not to say that there aren't many treatments for them.  That was the very worst problem I had after a major stroke that was confirmed.  

As to your other problems, if it is a stroke, you will regain more and more with time, especially if can get physical therapy or even speech therapy.  I have also read about such severe symptoms with migraines.  So it could be either a stroke or migraine.

With your migraines, get a neurologist or headache specialist other than the useless ones that you have seen already to get some relief.  

Send a reply to me if you have any questions about what might help.
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Avatar universal
To pick up where I ran out of characters on previous post. Too long-winded. lol:

BTW. I have 3 adult daughters--ages 28, 34, 36. ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE NOW BEEN SCREENED AND ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE PFOS.

The 36 y/o PFO is very small and not significant and she doesn't need any treatment. She also doesn't have migraines or weird neurological symptoms.

The 34 y/o was having significant symptoms, migraines with aura, significant shortness of breath with pregnancy and activity that she didn't realize how bad it was at the time. When she was 32 (one year after my PFO closure,) in my presence she had a 2 to 3 minute episode of complete loss of vision. I made an appt for her to see my cardiologist who did a bubble echo and it showed a large hole with constant shunting. She went for closure and it was found that she had an ASD (which is closed the same way). She is still leaking a small amount after closure and they have done further tests that show she has a small PFO that was masked by the ASD but they don't recommend any further procedure except yearly monitoring at this point.  She still has migraines but her other symptoms are dramatically improved.

The 28 y/o has a PFO that is leaking all the time and is worse than mine, but for some strange reasons she isn't having any neurological symptoms. Her migraines are without aura and she gets tired and short of breath easy. BUT the FDA has established criteria you have to meet in order to have closure--which are stroke, TIA'S or warning symptoms of possible stroke--the things all of you are having). So, she cannot get her PFO closed (the device costs about $25,000. So once again the lobbyist strike and the FDA is basing criteria upon cost--my opinion but I'm convinced I'm right!). In other words the FDA is saying, "wait until you have a stroke or a partial stroke and then we'll let you get it closed".

So, I guess my message to you is not to let anyone convince you that you are over-reacting or that "it is no big deal". I would urge you to be aggressive in your search to find a doctor who will take you serious and aggressively pursue finding out what is going on. I don't care how long you've been with a doctor or how nice he/she is or if he/she has been the family doctor since your grandmother on down, if he/she is not pursuing what is going on, then get other opinions and keep getting opinions until you find the right doctor. Don't give up and let them convince you that it is just you and to "just make the best of it"

Good Luck.

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Avatar universal
MiMiFlo here.

I'm  sorry I haven't responded to your posts but my husband has been very ill and haven't had time to be on blog.

My first comment is to all of you. It doesn't sound as though you've had a Bubble Echocardiogram done. I urge you to insist that your doctor do one to rule out a PFO or to refer you to someone who can. This is especially important for "psychimom" and "defdiz". Psychimom, ask if they did a bubble echo to rule out a PFO while you were in hospital. Defdiz, I think hormones are certainly related. My episodes were worse with ebb and flow of hormones. With Pregnancy, I'd get what I called an "orgy" of migraines around the 6 weeks point but after that, I didn't get any during  the rest of my pregnancy and they would be better for a while after birth of my children  (well except for that one episode where my words were jumbled and not what I wanted to say).  But, Defdiz, you started when you were only 3 y/o. That is a bit young for hormonal causes. Which is why it really makes me think you should have a PFO or something called an ASD (anterior septum defect) ruled out.

(DISCLAIMER. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE MEDICAL ADVICE OR INFORMATION. I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND NOT QUALIFIED TO GIVE MEDICAL ADVICE OR INFORMATION.)

So with above disclaimer in mind, let me tell you what was explained to me and what I understand about  a PFO and ASD and why it is so important.  A PFO is normal for fetuses while in womb but when born, it is a hole that is supposed to close. In some people it does not. ASD is, however, a heart  birth defect but is also a hole in the heart. Both are holes in the wall that separates the left and right side of the heart. Either one can cause major problems. One of the main risks associated with having a significant PFO is stroke. (not all PFOs are big enough to be a risk) and TIAs (ministrokes or the kind of neurological events that many have described that eventually resolve but in the meantime scare you and limits what you can do). The other problem with big PFOs is that if a significant amount of blood is "shunted" (in other words passes through the hole to the other side of the heart without going through the lungs) a significant amount of blood is being pumped back into the body without oxygen--which of course could mean that the body cells are not getting as much oxygen as they need. If the brain doesn't get as much oxygen as it needs, it has the kind of symptoms that all of us have described. If you have a PFO, it can be of varying significance. For example, some people with PFO only shunt blood when they do something that really increases the pressure inside the heart. With other patients (as was my case), the blood shunts with every single heart beat.  

My cardiologist says that the medical community is only now beginning to understand the problems with undiagnosed PFOs and a large number of neurologists and doctors still refuse to admit PFOs are a significant problem. He has found a large number of adults who have been diagnosed as all of their problems being attributed to migraines when in fact a significant part of their problem were PFOs. In fact, once my PFO was diagnosed, my neurologist of many years advised me NOT to get it closed (I made that my last visit to him). Boy was the wrong! So you are likely to get varying degrees of reaction.

Let me tell you how a bubble echo is done and how benign it is (of course you have to be at a facility that is set up for and trained in doing bubble echos. That is very important that they have both knowledge and experience or you may get a false negative or even if positive it may be read wrong).

My procedures have been as follows: The technician does a regular echo and after they complete that, a nurse comes into the echo room and inserts an IV into your arm. She has system in which she draws up normal saline into a syringe and then she shakes it to get what are called "agitation bubbles"--very, very tiny bubbles that are harmless. She pushes the saline solution into the IV while the echo tech does an echo picture of your heart. Then they ask you to do several physical things such as coughing, bearing down, sniffing, etc and the nurse pushes the normal saline with agitation bubbles into the IV each time. The echo machine is so sensitive that it can follow the path of those teeny tiny bubbles.

The normal path should be that the blood and the bubbles go into the right top chamber of the heart, then pass into the right lower chamber. From there the blood (don't know how if you can still see bubbles at this point) should go through the pulmonary blood vessel into the lungs where the lungs takes away the carbon dioxide from the blood and put oxygen back into blood. Then it passes back to the left upper chamber of the heart and then passes into the lower left chamber of the heart. From there the heartbeat pumps the blood back into all parts of the body to give oxygen to all the body cells and the process repeats with each heartbeat.

If you have a hole in the wall that separates the right and left side, when the blood with tiny bubbles enter the right heart, part of the blood and those teeny bubbles (the amount depends upon how big hole is and amount of pressure in your heart) will pass from the right chamber directly to the left chamber without going through the lungs. It will then be pumped straight back out to the body. If you have tiny blood clots or even tissue clots, they can pass directly from the right side of the heart to the left side of the heart without being filtered out by the lungs and be pumped into the small blood vessels in the head, causing a stroke or if not a stroke, a temporary disruption of the blood flow. And I already discussed how not getting enough oxygen to brain causes neurological symptoms.

And for Psychimom, there is a study that involves Migraine suffers and PFOs. The study came about because young people and people with no known risk factors who had strokes and were found to have a PFO as part of their evaluation (that is why I'm wondering if they did a PFO work-up on you--usually they will for cases like yours) would have the holes closed. Then in follow-up visits it was discovered that a large number of them were saying that their migraines were dramatically better. Henceforth the study was proposed and is now in progress in several big medical centers to determine if there is a significant relationship between PFOs and Migraines. I don't know what the result of the studies will be but I can tell you that closure of my PFO dramatically improved my migraines and weird neurological events.

As I mentioned before, however, it did not completely eliminate them because as the "new" neurologist, who diagnosed me with complicated migraines, explained, that although closure of the hole in my heart was  very important and alleviated a significant risk factor, my extra sensitive blood vessel spasms were still a problem. And that is where the "cheap" drug called verapamil has been so effective with me. I do still have an episode here and there. But they are very infrequent and not near as bad as before.

Now, however, my "new" old neurologist has retired and I'm trying to find a new one. So far no luck. I already know that most of the neurologists in my area are the "cookie cutter" ones and we for sure do not need what I call a "cookie cutter" neurologist.

(I'll continue in next post)
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Avatar universal
I had my first "seizure," for lack of a better word, at three years old. I saw little diamonds in the air for a bit, then started to get fuzzy in my thinking and communicating. I remember laying on my mom's bed, watching her curl her hair in her bathroom, and trying to tell her I felt "funnnzy." Then, the headache started, (and yes, I really was just three), and my left side of my body went numb. My cheeks, tongue, lips all felt swollen and useless. My left arm and leg had no feeling sensation except heavy. No tingling, no buzzing. I ended up vomiting and feeling like I was caught in a whirlpool.  Only sleep helped.
The next time this happened was my first day of kindergarten at a new school after a move, trying to use an awl to punch a design into a piece of leather for a father's day project. No auras, just instant "I can't keep a grip on this thing," and loss of communication ability. Same sensation of face being swollen on the left, and numbness up and down left side of body. Headache, and vomiting. Mom took me physician, who told her I had "petit mal" epilepsy.
These continued all through growing up, into my 20's. Four episodes in elementary school, spaced out, maybe two in junior high, and the most frequent attacks happening in high school, like two a month. I had many MRIs and CAT scans that revealed nothing, not even the presence of epilepsy. Migraine med's didn't work. Only sleep helped in making the episodes livable. Was found banging my head against the wall in chuck e cheese's one Easter (I worked there), because only the sensation of hitting my head against a hard surface seemed to lessen the pain, til the numbness kicked in and someone had to drive me home.
When I got pregnant with my first child, a girl, the episodes stopped. Cold turkey. For five years. Then I was pregnant with my second child, a boy, I had one "seizure" with diamond auras, very light headache, and left side numbness. No nausea. Got taken straight to ER, where they couldn't find a damn thing wrong with me.
Now at 31, and having three kids, I very rarely get even a bad headache, let alone migraine, and only experience either an aura every once in a while, or the left side numbness that isn't actually a stroke, but very stroke like in mimicry. Maybe the migraines are hormone related?  
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Avatar universal
So nice to read that people are having the same symptoms as me.
I am 25 and got married about 5 months ago. On honeymoon I got a Migraine that has not gone. It started with a classic seizure - severe headache, confusion, sensitivity to light etc. Now, for about 4 months, I have had mild pain above my left eye, confusion and weakness in my left side. I too have been to so many doctors, had MRI scans, Blood Tests etc. but to no avail.
I was wondering if anyone has been prescribed any medication that has made a difference to them? Is there anything that one can take to get rid of these symptoms?
I am feeling desperate right now and my poor husband is wanting the girl he proposed to back...
Many Thanks
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1748351 tn?1311687826
I too am an RN, this has been going on for me for 4-5 yrs now. At first they thought it was a seirzure. That was ruled out with 2 eeg's and many other lab work. I was put on topamax for migraines. Told that this would help, it did take the edge off, by decreasing the frequency of the episodes. However the intensity of the episodes are much worse when they happen. I do have an aura of dizziness, sleepiness, and confusion. My right side becomes numb, I can not move it, and it is spasdic. I also become aphasic ( can not speak), I now the words I want to say, but can not get them out. Eventually I will be able to start to speak, usually 30min. At that time, everything that comes out is backwards and very slow. It takes 3-4 hours to get normal speach back, but still is slow. Still my right side is numb, but I can move it, it is still extremely weak. Like everyone, I feel hungover for days. This last episode I was treated as having a stroke, blood clot in my head, and was in the ICU. They tell me that this is going to happen again and a bigger stroke could happen!! Guys, this is real!And its SCARY!!! I am now increasing my Topamax and on Aspirin daily, waiting...... I have a 6yr old that I need to see grow up. I have zero rislk factors. I am healthy and active, do not smoke, no BC, and cholesterol is normal. Dont do drugs, drink socially.  I am only 40.
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Avatar universal
On Thursday I was arriving to work and my right side of my neck down through my arm started hurting really bad, I looked in the mirror and the right side of my mouth was drooping.  I could still communicate so I called my cardiologist.  They sent me to the E.R..  Within 30 minutes I could not move my right side, speak, move my head to the right, or my eyes to the right.  I was 30 minutes from getting the blood thinner Stroke patients get and then my head started throbbing.  My arm started moving.  Over the next few hours I could slowly move my arm, and leg.  My face slowly came back to normal.  I am in day 2 and I have not regained my speech.  I have been diagnosed with a complicated Migraine.  I have also had a suspected TIA previously.  I some tests on Friday and during recovery  I could speak briefly after being sedated, but I don't remember anything.  Can anyone help me understand what is going on with my body. Why I can speak when I am sedated?  I am really frightened.  I am only 39 and feel like my body is giving out.  My mind knows what I want to say but my mouth won't form the words.  
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Avatar universal
I got all the usual tests when all of that happened, however, I haven't had any tests since then. I also went to a neurologist who said that there wasn't anything wrong with my brain. As a preventative I take topamax; I still have the speech problems though. My primary care doctor doesn't seem to think anything is wrong with me though and doesn't want me to take any unecessary tests. If I find out anything else, I will let you guys know :)  
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1708490 tn?1307972120
Okay, I am actually relieved to read all these posts. I am 42 years old, healthy, have no history of high BP, everything is almost textbook perfects in regards to my health. Dont smoke, drink or take drugs. I had an episode in late February that the left side of my body was numb, my heartbeat was irregular, speech slurred, couldn;t stand up or walk, or even pick up a pen to write my name. I had a headache a few days before, but not then. My husband made me go to the doctor, who immediately called an ambulance. BP was 220/130. They thought I was having a heart attack. The ER at the local hospital, ruled out a heart attack. That doctor sent me home with a prescription of pain meds. In the following week, my symptoms got worse, especially my speech and thought process. Exactly one week from the ER visit, my husband took me to a larger hospital, where I was admitted for a stroke. I spent 5 days in the Stroke ICU unit. While there, I had multiple MRI's, CT scans and who knows how many tests. The neurologist said that because of the time frame (Being there a week after symptom onset), the MRI and CT scan may not show anything if it was a small stroke. Two doctors told my husband and I that they believed it to be a stroke. One doctor said he could not determine if it was a stroke or a complicated migrane. All the other specialists (occupational therapist, speech therapist, physical therapist) said that all symptoms were indicitive of a stroke.  What the doctor who discharged me from the hospital wrote on my discharge papers was complicanted migrane. However, the medicines they sent me home with, are stroke medicines, (Plavix and a few others). I have spent 4 months and am still recuperating. My speech is still off, my balance is off and sometimes, I have to walk with a cane. The left side of my body has diminished feeling and numbness (also confirmed at the hospital), And my head hurts constantly now. (Also indicative of a stroke patient) How can this be classified as a complicated migrane, with symptoms as severe as what some have posted here? Or is complicated migrane the new *Mini Stoke* diagnosis to avoid panic in patients?
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Avatar universal
This is MiMiFlo and my long comments are just above. I'm assuming you read them. If you are still confusing words and having symptoms then you need a complete work-up. Did they do a MRI of your head and did they check you for a PFO? I'm not a doctor but based upon my personal experience you need a complete neurological and cardiac workup. If you are going to doctors who tell you that they can't find anything, then keep getting opinons until someone finds out what is going on. I don't know where you live or what kind of medical specialists are close to where you live or what kind of insurance you have. But, you may have to go to a big medical center if no one is giving you answers. But I do know that it is not normal for a 16 year to continue to have the kind of problems you are describing. Good luck. Keep us updated. If you have a specific question, ask and I'll check back in on a regular basis to see if you have posted a comment. I'll try to help in the limited way I can.

MiMiFlo
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Avatar universal
I'm 16 and started having "complicated migraines" almost three years ago. I was at school and I began getting auras, not like tunnel vision.. Just blurry and spotted. I thought I was tired and went on with my day, hovere, it all got worse from there. I couldn't write, I couldn't talk and I couldn't move my right side; it was numb. My face and tongue were numb. I was also slurring my speech and I was awfully confused. I couldn't say ANYTHING I wanted to. I recall trying to tell me teacher I needed to go to the office, I think he let me go because I freaked him out by my lack of enunciation... and lack of any kind of audible word. I began crying when I got to the office, because I couldn't explain just how I was feeling and what was going on. I remember it being very frustrating.

They called 911 and had me taken to the ER straight fomr school because they thought that I was having a stroke. By the time I got to the ER, everything had calmed down; the only noticeable effect I still had was that I was getting words mixed up even though I knew what I wanted to say.

When they told my I had complicated migraines, I was even more frustrating. My head DIDN'T hurt. I was mad I spent a whole day in the ER getting tested and prodded and all they could tell me was I had a complicated migraine -____- I haven't had any other "attacks" since then... and hard;y any other headaches and definitely NO migraines. However, I STILL confuse my words and I often find myself confused or distracted in mid-sentence. It's very frustrating and I wish I knew what could help that.

If you have any suggestions or possible answers, please let me know. Thanks :)
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