Migraine without the Headache, Smells, Hearing

[luckykitty67]

Hi, I have an odd question, and what I'm really wanting to know is are my weird symptoms related?  I know people say that some are signs of a tumor, and I read a list of "other symptoms" on surveys by people diagnosed with tumors, and I saw several of my symptoms listed.  

I have had amigrainous migraines since shortly after my daughter was born (I was in my late 20s then, I'm in my early 40s now)--meaning I get the aura but no headache.  At first I did get a slight headache, but it was nothing that required heavy medication like other migraine victims I knew.  Later, I had a theory that my headache came from eyestrain during the visual symptoms.  I found if I closed my eyes during the symptoms, I didn't get the headache.  I found a site that describes the vision pattern perfectly (schema pattern? something like that).  Goes away in about 1/2 hour or so.  I quit taking birth control after I heard they caused migraines and haven't taken it for over 10 years.  I attributed the migraines to that, and my "migraines" tapered off to about every 6 months and then I'd forget how long it had been.  Last month, I had my first amigrainous migraine that I've had in about 2-3 years--all visual aura, no headache.

My other odd symptom is smelling burning odors.  I can't stand to be around smokers because the smell seems to get into my nose and lingers for days, despite washing hair, using Vicks, anything I can do to get the smell out.  I was just saying when I had the migraine that I hadn't noticed the smell for a couple of months.  Well, that's back, but I was in the non-smoking section of a restaurant that allowed smoking and apparently wasn't well-ventilated, so I thought maybe that's the case... that was about 28 hours ago.  I avoid smokey areas like the plague.  I am currently experiencing this symptom.

My eye is twitching, too, but I read this could be dehydration.  Still, I feel I should name anything that might be related.

The other thing, and this comes and goes... is hearing things.  Sometimes I would hear a radio or tv on in another room, but when I told the kids to turn off the tv and go to bed, they'd tell me there wasn't anything on.  This happened so often, they're convinced I'm completely nuts now.  I try to sleep with a sound machine now so that I'm not awakened by sudden noise or silence, and so I don't notice this as much any more since using the machine.

I also read that several of the patients mentioned "breast discharge".  Mine are more tender than they have ever been before, and ever since I had children, they've never completely dried up.  The only other symptoms would be occasional memory loss and inability to concentrate some times.  

I feel I'm in fairly good health.  My blood pressure is usually about 110/60 or so, I'm around 125 pounds and trying to lose more weight, and I eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.  I am very moderate with my drinking, especially since I have a tendency to get depressed.  Cholesterol needs help, I've been told. :)  I try to get regular doses of meat since I've had issues with anemia in the past.  Sugar is my weakness as is not drinking enough water.  As history goes, I was born breach, had a concussion when I was 12 (with raccoon eyes), and I had a blood transfusion when I was about 23 when my son was born.  I rarely get sick enough to go to the doctor.

Please let me know if you think my symptoms are related or serious enough to indicate that I need to seek any treatment.  Separately, they all seem a bit silly, but I'm just not sure about them adding up.  I know I sound like a hypochondriac, and I don't want to waste a doctor's time running tests if all of these things mean nothing.

Thank you for any help!

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

You are welcome. If the symptoms recur I suggest that you get a consultation done.It is best to have baseline examinations for future reference.

Good to hear you have found relief.If this is the case, avoid any possible triggers. Take the new generation of antihistamne since they have fewer sedating effects.But the best defense for allergies is avoiding the triggers.

Do keep us posted.

[luckykitty67]

Thanks for your response.  

I am glad to hear that about the auras.  I had read it they were considered migraines, but when you lay all of the other wacky things out there, I was just a bit worried.

On the smelling things burning issue, after battling with the problem all day and having taken a decongestant already with no relief, I took an antihistamine, and this seems to have helped!  It might be the quantity of allergens and irritants in the air causing this, or that the exposure to smoke aggravated it.  Either way, relief is great!

Thank you for the help!  

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

I understand your concern and I know you are worried about this.

Firstly, let us take this a step at a time. Migraine headaches may present with auras .The auras may manifest as visual symptoms  they may be in the form of a speech defect , numbness and even mimic the signs of a stroke.In some cases, this is quite the contrary . Auras may occur without associated headaches. Usually the headaches follow them after an hour or so.Auras  without headaches is one classification of a migraine headache .

With regards to your other symptoms like confusion and hearing sounds, I suggest you seek consult with a neurologist. A CT scan and an EEG will be able to help. Also, do stay positive . Depression may lead to disrupted sleep and may even present with confusion and some hallucinations. But this is just something I need to mention, so you will be aware of this.Keep the healthy lifestyle. Try to spend more time with family and friends and keep a daily exercise regimen.

Do keep us posted .