What is this?

[Jerm224]

Hi my name is Jessi and I am an 18 year old female. Since I was about 14 or 15 I have been getting headaches and severe migraines. Over the years they have gotten progressively and more frequent.(almost every day now)Sometimes they last all day sometimes only an hour or so. Sometimes they are only little ones and I dont realy notice them, but every now and then I can't even open my eyes. They are also accompanied by severe nausea.Over the counter medicines don't touch them any more. I also see bright white and yellow lights whem my eyes are open. When this happens I can still see everything around me just with these lights hoping around. I know migraines can be accompanied by auras but these lights come and go as they please not when I have a migraine or when I'm getting one. I also get very dizzy and light headed when I stand up too fast.(sometimes even when I'm sitting) Its like I'm drunk and stumbly I cant really coordinate myself. I am very fatigued as well. Today the weirdest thing happened. I was just sitting in class when the back of my upper arms suddenly felt freezing cold light someone poured ice water on them. After about five minutes it began to feel like little spots or dots of coldness then twent minutes later it went away.
Family history: my mom's doctors refer to her as a genetic cesspool and lucky me I take after her.
I am open to anyones opions and thanks in advance for any helpfull ideas

[sincerelyshel]

hey (: i've gotten migraines since i was a little kid too. i used to get them about 15 times a month, but then i started seeing a chiropractor. it turned out that my spine was not curved at my neck like it was supposed to be. for the past few months i've been undergoing traction that involves putting the curve back into my neck. i've not completed my treatment yet, but i've gotten down to about 5 migraines a month. also, when i do have migraines, they tend to last for a much shorter period of time. not all chiropractors do this sort of treatment. a good way to decide whether or not the chiropractor you're going to is trustworthy is to see if they take x-rays before they start treatment. you may have a completely different problem, but i just thought i'd throw that idea out there. good luck!

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

I suggest that you seek consult with a neurologist. Your family history appears to be significant and this requires further evaluation in your part. One primary differential here is a migraine with aura. This may present with visual symptoms, numbness, slurring of speech and sometimes tingling sensations. A CT scan and EEG may help rule out any intracranial involvement and an underlying seizure disorder.

With regards to your dizziness, do not stand abruptly from a lying  position. An ophthalmologic consult and assessment of the ears and nasal passages will help rule out involvement of these structures.

Migraine as diagnosis is only given once all other probable diagnosis has been ruled out.

[hava]

These are helpful exercises which will help in reducing the headaches and other symptoms.Mom should also do these.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for upto 15 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Anulom Vilom -  Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep breaths into the lungs.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 15 times

[Jerm224]

My mom is a genetic cesspool because migraines, cluster headaches, cancer, anemia, high cholesterol, diabetes, acid reflex, spinal stinosis, possibly MS, arthritis, RA, heart disease, stroke,epilepsy, are all in my family. Both my mom and grandmother went severely anemic and no one can figure out why this happened. My mom also has this thing where she just grows tumors. It is really strange.She has also had several pre-cancer cells removed through out the years.  
  My headaches were not always associated with visual symptons. The vision thing just happens whenever it feels like it.

[Jerm224]

My mom is a genetic cesspool because migraines, cluster headaches, cancer, anemia, high cholesterol, diabetes, acid reflex, spinal stinosis, possibly MS, arthritis, RA, heart disease, stroke,epilepsy, are all in my family. Both my mom and grandmother went severely anemic and no one can figure out why this happened. My mom also has this thing where she just grows tumors. It is really strange.She has also had several pre-cancer cells removed through out the years.  
  My headaches were not always associated with visual symptons. The vision thing just happens whenever it feels like it.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi Jessi,

You have mentioned that your mom has been referred to as a genetic cesspool by her physician.Is there any reason for this? Any condition which seems to be hereditary in the family?

You have noted headaches and visual symptoms which seem to progress over time.Were your headaches always associated with the visual symptoms?

A baseline neurologic consult is necessary.If you have not been evaluated before,you may need an initial assessment.A CT Scan and an EEG may be able to help.Blood tests including assessment of coagulation factors may be necessary.This sounds like migraine headaches with aura.However,it is necessary that other probable conditions like a seizure disorder has to be ruled out first.

Avoid any possible triggers such as bright lights,loud noises and extreme temperatures.Set regular time for sleeping and taking meals and exercise daily to improve circulation.You may need preventive migraine therapy if indicated.

[shannon3fh]

def sounds like migraines.