Migraine with Aura!?

Question

Hi, I have suffered classic migraine without aura for as long as I can remember, horrendous headache, pain that is that bad I cant sleep until I am sick, it lasts for a few days, horrible, I have recently been diagnosed with migraine with aura, a migraine known as hemiplegic migraine! I was taken to hospital with symptoms of migraine with aura and the Doc at the hospital told me he thought I had, had a TIA (mini stroke), scary as only 33 yrs old! I had CT scan, chest xray, ECG and blood test. My Doc has taken me off the pill (contraceptive), I can only have a barrier contraceptive. He has prescribed beta blockers which apparently reduce migraines with and without aura, is this true? Does anyone take beta blockers for their migraines? Do they work? Will I have to take them for life? I know I should of asked my Doctor but I was just happy that I hadnt had a TIA and couldnt wait to get home and tell my family. Please help!! Thanks in advance, serious answers only please xx

My migraine symptoms are: strange taste in my mouth, smell of burning, numbness in left side of body, mouth droops to left and dizziness. I dont have head pain, just slight ache over left eye.These symptons last between 10 mins to an hour! I had four of these in a week, then I had a classic migraine without aura, extreme head pain and vomitting! Other peoples symptoms may differ to mine!

Yes Marcus, I did mention taste to Doc, there was a time they thought my symptoms could be caused by a Temporal Lobe Seizure which is fits but they have settled for Migraine with aura for now!! I dont think they really know, I am due for a MRI scan so that should pick up what it is!! Cheers for your help xx

Answer 1

http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html

Answer 2

To be honest this sounds more like cluster migraine than classic with or without aura. If it is beta blockers might make it worse.

I used to suffer from cluster migraines misdiagnosed for years. When I was suffering really badly I took part in a hospital drug trial when it was first realised that beta blockers helped some migraine patients. The doctor had never seen a pain chart as bad as mine before.

Please go and raise this possibility with your doctor.
.

Answer 3

As a fellow life-long migraine sufferer, I am happy that you did not suffer a TIA, first of all! I have been on beta blockers, but they didn't do anything to help my migraines. I hate to say that, but it's just the truth. I need good old fashioned pain meds, a dark place close to the bathroom, and sprite and crackers. That's all that's ever worked for me. I do know that beta blockers DO help many people. They've been trying them out on migraine sufferers for years, and they do help many people, and I sure hope you are one of them. All the best!

Answer 4

i've had 5 migraines in the last two weeks, having probably had no more than 10 in th previous 8 years, so i've been looking a lot on the web to read about this - have you checked out the wikipedia entry on migraines, there is lots of interesting info on there and lots of links to other related articles - its a very good place to start - good luck, and try not to panic, someone somewhere will have had the same experiences as you and will be able to help.

Answer 5

I have been put on beta blockers seven days ago for bp I m on a machine for twenty four hours tomorrow. I had incephilitous 15 years ago. But since being on beta b s. I keep having. Bad head pain and lights in the eye that has a cataract in. The reason I have to have the monitor fitted is because my heart was beating outside my body and the paramedics took me to hospital. I was better before even with high blood pressure also I m a carer im really. Fed up and worried. Vera

Answer 6

I used to take the pill and it caused me to have horrendous migraines with aura (numbness, nausea, couldn't think/talk straight) so I tried many different versions of birth control and if you still want to be on the pill you can! go with progesterone only pills- the regular pills contain estrogen which triggered migranes for me almost immediately after I took the pill but the estrogen free pills ended my migraines.

Answer 7

Hey, Your symptoms sound exactly the same as my mums, she has been diagnosed with "cluster headaches" She was taken to the hospital, they thought she had a TIA too. She was given beta blockers.

Try looking up cluster headaches, they are not common in women (1 in 10,000 1in 1000 in men) but its spookily the same as my mum.

I wish you well x

Answer 8

What bothers me the most about your symptoms is the dizziness and the taste in your mouth. Do you get the taste before anything else happens.
You see when epileptics are about to fit, they get a strange taste in their mouths and then fall to the floor because of the imbalance the fit causes.
I am wondering if you are slightly epileptic. Did you mention the taste in your mouth to the Doc? If not, you need to.

Answer 9

I am an alternative medicinal therapist and i can tell you that orthodox medicine is useless and they can harm the liver so the best medicine you can take for this, and it has been proven to be the most beneficial, is FEVERFEW capsules. i used to suffer like you and I still take them, they work. They take a month or two to get into the system so be patient. You get them from the health store. I give my patients these and have had good results

gloriashealth@btinternet

Answer 10

Headache is a pain in the head, scalp or neck. Headaches can be
caused by minor problems like eyestrain, lack of coffee or more
serious reasons like head injury, brain tumors, encephalitis and
meningitis. Taking painkillers continuously can have harmful side
effects, so it is better to modify your lifestyle. More information
available at http://tinyurl.com/q8696

Answer 11

I sometimes have migraines where I go blind after the flashing lights, is this what you mean by migraines with aura?