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Migraine/lacunar stroke

On Aug. 9, '07 as we were going out for dinner my left arm became tingly and numb, thinking it to be strange, I just looked at it for a minute and thought I should sit down, I didn't feel well, in trying to tell my husband to "call 911, something was not right"...I found that I could not speak.  My husband said I was trying to talk but nothing was moving, all he could tell was I was making noise.  My throat felt very tight and constricted, he said I was kinda gasping for air and all I could do was slouch in my chair.  He did call 911 and they arrived timely.  In assessing me, they did an EKG and tested my blood sugar, which was fine.  I started feeling better even as they were on their way and thought to call them back to tell them not to come, but it was too late.  My husband said the "episode" lasted appr. 2-4 min.  Seemed like a long time to me!  I released the EMT's and my husband drove me to hospital where they again did an EKG, CT, lots of blood work and gave me something to calm me down and an aspirin.  My ER dr. admitted me for observation.  The next day I went through test after test, EEG, ECHOcardiagram, CAROTID artery, and MRI/MRA and numerous more blood tests.  All tests came back great, except the MRI/MRA, showing a mild stroke in the Lacunar area.  My neurologist said it was from a "migraine that was stuck and constricted enough to shut off the blood flow briefly".  I had, had a migraine for a few weeks off and on and really didn't feel well a week or 2 before the stroke.  I had noticed the last 2 migraines had changed in the aura areas.  I have had migraines for several years, with and without headpain, but almost always the visual aura.  The only other negative thing that showed up with the testing was my potassium had bottomed out and we are still working with it.  My legs cramp and are weak at times, enough that it is hard to walk sometimes.  I was in the hospital for a few days and felt better in the hospital, than I did when I got home for the first week.  It has been an uphill battle, I am up and down, the emotional aspects were rough at first, but I am doing better with that.  I would cry at the smallest things and just all of a sudden out of nowhere it seemed.  I felt as if I were on an emotional rollercoaster and couldn't get off.  I really didn't have any last effects with numbness of my arm, sometimes it feels a little weak inside, but my strength matches my right arm.  I still have some headaches, that has been hard to get rid of. For some strange reason I have pain in my Left ear too.  A week later I went back to the ER with similar symptoms, only more brief and not as intense.  I fortunately, had the same ER dr. he didn't seem to think I had another stroke, but just neurological symptoms from the migraine I was experiencing.  My potassium was again a little low even after being on potassium pills.  In the hospital I had been put on Aggrenox as a blood thinner and as I understand it put oxygen in my veins and arteries. I have since been taken off of it and put on 2 low dose aspirins a day.  In these almost 3 weeks post-stroke, I have my good days and my bad days.  I try to do a lot on those good days because it "feels good to feel good"!! then the bad days, I feel I can't do much and don't. As far as thinking goes, I am a little forgetful, it's kinda cloudy sometimes....does this go away?  When I went back for my dr. visit 2 weeks post, he put me on Verapamil to PREVENT migraines, am doing well on it, but still have slight headaches sometimes.  They come and go, so I take 2-650 mg. Tylenol, twice daily. I don't want the strong stuff that makes me loopy!  I need to know how long it takes to fee "normal" again, and if anyone else has had a similar experience?  Does anyone else have up and down days?  I noticed after I got home from the hospital, I didn't want to be around noise, crowds or people I knew, other than my close family, and even that was iffy.  I am taking baby steps in "re-entering" the world as I knew it.  It's working, but it seems to be slowwww!    I am so blessed that it was mild and could have been so much worse, I know God had His hand on me.  If anyone else has had similar circumstances I would love to hear from you.  
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Avatar universal
I just now found your comment today!  Thanks for your upbeat words.  I'm glad you got to make your son's last football game!  Since your post of my first episode with the stroke on Aug. 9th-07, I have just recuperated from another "complicated migraine" and another 3 days in the hospital,2-22-09,  it will be a mo. in 2 more days since that episode.  All the MRI's, CT's, Carotid Doppler, EEG studies and blood draws were clear. Although my potassium dropped again.  No stroke this time or TIA, they think, JUST... (Ha!)  a complicated migraine...but all the horrible neuro symptoms that mimic a stroke.  12 hrs. after the episode at home I had another one in the hospital, fortunately my husband had stayed all night with me, my arms were paralyzed that time. It was 1 AM in the morning, I had heart telemetry on me, it showed to be clear also. It was odd, I was asleep both of these new recent episodes. Still believing it to be CM, my Topamax was increased, still on aspirin, Verelan PM, meds to prevent CMs and the neuro started me on Magnesium at 800 mg per day, says that helps prevent too.  The thing is with the last one and this recent one, I didn't even have a headache until the neuro symptoms worst part was over.  This just doesn't make sense to me.  But I am going for a second opinion to a Stroke Center, instead of a Migraine center where they will just tell me something I already know, next month.  I am back to normal, except I sleep more.  My med. dr. wants to put me on oxygen at night, he thinks that helps migraines, I want to wait for the 2nd opinion.  I am a 52 yr. old female, with a very supportive husband who is great about this.  We are way too young to be in these situations.  I hope you are well and each day is getting easier for you.  I might add that this time for me, the symptoms were so much worse, BUT the outcome was much better, I don't know if it's because I went through it before, or if it really was JUST a CM, but I didn't go through a lot of the post-things I went through last time.  Are you on any meds that prevent CM's ??
It's still scary and I hate it for anyone that has to go through this, but am thankful for these forums,and for people like you and the others that live day to day and understand and are kind.  Thanks..... RoRo40!  God Bless!
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Avatar universal
I totally understand how you feel. I suffered a Lacunar stroke on October 1, 2008.  Mine happened at work.  Your situation sounds so familiar to mine, but mine went a step further. I had to have speech, physical and occupational therapy and still am not 100%.  The headache hasn't gone away and I too have those "cloudy" moments as well as the emotional rollercoaster rides.  It is taking a toll on my family, too, because they don't quite know how to deal with it.  I used a cane for about 2 months until I felt strong enough to walk with out it. My situation was hampered because my doctor was in denial that I was having a stroke and sent me home from the hospital.  I returned 8 days still still in the midst of have what I was told an "extended stroke that went untreated".  I was hospitalized a total of 8 days and was given tPA to break up any blood clots that may not have been seen.  It has been an uphill battle and my blood pressure, cholesterol and Vitamin D were all shot to hell during this time.  I had a TIA 6 weeks after the initial stroke and it's in the back of my mind constantly as to whether or not I've had "the big one."  It's especially rough because I am 40 years young!!!!  I lost the use of my whole right side, had blurred vision and was seeing spots, trouble eating and chewing my food, lost the ability to speak and think clearly, nausea, extreme fatigue and a headache like you would not believe.  That was three months ago.  I have those good days and bad days, too. I, like you, try to take full advantage of those good days.  I missed most of my son's high school football season, but promised him I would make the last game - and I did.  I started back to work the first week of January and that has been a struggle in itself.  My new doctor has told me she is ordering me to work half days until I am up to speed.  But this has really thrown me for a loop.  It is a struggle but yet I am thankful to be alive.  I feel you and when I read your post, I had to respond.  God bless you as you continue to recover.  
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