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What is migraine with aura?KCBS reporter Serene Branson suffered a migraine with aura when she started to garble her words while covering the Grammy Awards Sunday night. Aura may sound magical, but it’s far from it. Migraines with auras can cause a variety of sensations. This could include visual disturbances such as flashes of light, zigzagging patterns or even blind spots. It could make the person feel numb or feel tingles in parts of the body. As it did in Branson’s case, it could include speech problems and confusion.The signs could be confused with a stroke. The link between stroke and migraine isn't clearly understood, but it could be connected to changes in the blood vessels or blood flow in the brain. And women who have migraines with auras are at greater risk for strokes, according to a 2009 study. |
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments
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Having the same thing, I can only relate that it is a pain to deal with. I currently take a Migraine preventer but sometimes that is not enough and I still have to find a place to go lay down and try to sleep it off.
Having Migraines for years, ( thankfully not often now since I'm older) I can totally relate. Mine start with not being able to see clearly, followed by an aura that is like a jagged mirror in colors. I use to have severe pain and vomit.. I now take Maxalt at the start, have to go lie down in a dark room and sleep it off. Its followed by the pain of a migraine for days. If you cough, sneeze, or bend over you know you have had one.. How I wish they could find a cure.... I might add,,, if you have never had a true migraine, your fortunate and should count your blessings!!!
I have the same.. I think it has to do with diet and it related to mineral content. (total guess, I know) .. It is triggered and then for a few days, weeks, they happen for about an hour or so a day.. Never had lost of speech, but I have felt like if I didn't sit down it would have covered my entire vision. It can happen anywhere. Keep hydrated. Lots of water prevents them.. I hope they figure out why it happens.
This reply is to all who have written describing their migraines - thank you! May I suggest we all print out this page and carry it around to show to the next person who thinks a migraine is "just a headache" and doesn't know about the incapacitating nausea, numbness, speech disturbances, and other symptoms.
I suffered from Migraines with neurological deficits (aura, numbness, aphasia, pain) for 30 years. During one of my pregnancies, the doctors thought I was having a stroke due to the same symptoms. It was very scary. I tried all the meds & nothing helped prevent or stop the symptoms, I would just have to suffer thru them. Since having a hysterectomy 6 yrs. ago, I have only had from 2-3 minor aura's with some pain. I believe there is a strong hormonal connection as well as weather, and diet. I empathize & sympathize with migraine suffers & hate when people say they have a migraine when they just have a simple headache, they have no idea what a migraine really is.
Frovia is a medication that can be really helpful for women whose migraines have a hormonal element. It didn't help mine at all, which was frustrating because Imitrex and Relpax had also been ineffective for me. I've had a hysterectomy and now, years later, Maxalt is the only drug that helps when a migraine starts. I'm also on preventives, but the thing that really annoys is that there seems to be no trigger I can avoid. The auras are bad, and when noise, smells, light and touch can all cause violent nausea, well, it's just not a pleasant way to live. God bless blackout curtains and foam ear plugs!
This is an ophtalmic migraine. I have it since the age of 16 and now I am nearly seventy.
when I have it I take homeopathy "Cyclamin"
for your information, I have also the classic maigraine.
In France, they told me that ophtalmic migraine is not dangerous at all.
don worry.
I have had these occasionally. One incident at the office allowed me to try some experimentation. I found that the although the aphasia caused incoherent speech, additionally I attempted and found I could not; type a sentence, dial the phone, write on paper, or draw anything meaningful on my whiteboard. And yet I was thinking clearly enough to try all those means of expression in a controlled way. It lasted about 10 minutes. I have often wondered if I will ignore a stroke thinking it is a migraine.
I had these aura migranes after a bad cuncution for years thing is im a guy i wonder what the difference is.but the headaches had all the same effects auras unable to speak right sensitivity to light i get them now and again but it all started after an accident.
I hav had bad migraines, the blurred vision, impaired speec and tingling on the top of my heasd, vomitting and sweats. Thankfully not all at the same time but i have gotten used to it all and need to take my meds and sometimes that doesn't work and like Michael i have to sleep it off. some co-workers and my self refer to the after effects as a headache hangover
Ever so often, I get the visual version of this migraine. No pain. I am told to just enjoy the show as it will pass. I guess I'll do that...
I also get the visual effects with no pain.... was told years ago by doctor that the visuals were a migrain with no pain... havent gone away but dont get them often but I had one a few weeks ago that was very visual....spiked tieras moving around. lasted about 20 minutes , then went away and no pain.Guess I am really lucky from reading the posts by folks experiencing the pain.
I had painless migraines with aura a few years back. I found the trigger was the 60 hz flicker of my computer screen. A real problem since I work in IT. I changed the refresh to 75 hz and never had another.
In my mid teens I had occasional Migraines with the jagged lines, aphasia, sensitivity to light , nausea and vomiting, and nearly unbearable pain. Now, 40 years later, all I get are the jagged lines once or twice a year.
I'm 50+...have had visual migraines since I was 18....I never had headaches either, I thought Id done too much LSD or somethin but when it got so bad I wasnt able to see my feet when I looked down, finally went to Dr who diagnosed it. After I had to go on antidepressants a few yrs later, the Dr told me it would stop the symptoms and remaarkably, it did...he said it was an incidental finding but it certainly works. Also found out all 3 of my brothers have same thing. ??
What you are experiencing is called "acephalgic migraine syndrome." I have the same thing and finally went to an eye specialist in Birmingham, Alabama for it. I thought maybe I had a brain tumor or something. Basically, what it is, is a migraine "without" the pain. He told me that there were medications to try to control it, but there really wasn't anything to worry about. They seem to get worse when I am extremely stressed, but they occur a lot less frequently now than when I first started having them. Not sure why. They last about 20-30 minutes from beginning to end of the episode and used to scare me to death. Now that I know what they are, I usually just sit them out till their over because I can't visually focus on anything when they hit.
I get these, it scared me to death the first time it happened. The smell of corned beef hash sets them off for me, and drinking some brands of coffee. These are often treated with vasoconstrictors, but next time I get one I am going to try the opposite approach and take some Niacin (The real flushing kind).
As far back as I can remember I have had migraines (age 6). I suffered them weekly. I tried everything (medicine) you can name. One I started vomiting I had to be taken to the emergency room and given a shot to make me sleep. To make a long story short I discovered odors caused them, as well as chalk when erasing a chalk board. I have to use unscented deodrent, shampoo, hair spray, soap, etc. If I cooked something I had to smell for a period of time, I couldn't eat it that day. What stopped them, retirement for one, and the fact that I had a TIA and was put on a blood thinner in 2008. I am currently 74 years old, and after years of suffering, I am finally free of migraines.
My teen has had aura migraines her whole life, and has been having seizures since age 11. Her seizures are mostly controlled by meds, but they are still there along with the migraines. She had a complex partial seizure once that looked 100% exactly like a stroke. This reporter better get an extended EEG to check for epilepsy.
I've had migraines with zigzagging auras since I was 12. Scared me to death first time too. They are very debilitating because I can't see where ever the aura is zigzagging and strobing, and the pain is excruciating. I got them once or twice a year, and then in my 30s and 40s, years apart. In my early 50s, I started getting them almost every day; felt like my head was going to explode. I had my blood pressure checked, and it was off the charts. After getting on BP meds, the headaches have practically stopped. High blood pressure can cause migraines.
I have had migraines with auras. I had a heart attack @ age 40 with no heart disease. It was caused by a spasm. My migraines were less than once every 6 months. I am not the picture of "a heart attack waiting to happen". Pay attention to the signs...I went to doctors trying to figure out what was going on and why I felt so bad at times. I was having vasospasms and it always felt like an abdominable problem...I thought it was gall bladder. Finally it went far enough to cause the heart attack and damage. Don't take it for granted...pay attention to your body.
I'm curious about the abdominal pain you mentioned. Where was it located, how long do you remember having it and where was it located? I have the aura and migraine pieces which have always gone hand in hand, but also an abdominal piece that never fit. Thank you in advance.
I've had what was called "ocular" migraines twice in my ligr, with double "greater than" symbols in my line of vision that were made of "strobing" refracted multi-color light.
The first time, I thought I was having a sroke. My speech was never affected. After each time, within an hour, I had intestinal issues, and I was told that was normal. I never heard the term "aura" applied to the condition, but that's exactly what they were. Mine were brought on by extreme stress. I'm glad I haven't had them again! Maybe it is because I now am on BP medicine? Hmmm.
Geesh. I meant twice in my LIFE, not "ligr," and my name is Rosemary, not Rorsemary! Sorry about that.
I have ocular migraines since age 13 like every 2or3 months .I go blind spots for 1 hour then really bad head aches for the day.I get them when i get flash of light ( sun reflection ) or something i ate . Now 52 i still get them and sometimes the words i say doesn't match what i want to say .Was scary to talk like reporter Serene but now i know i little more with this video report.
I try to avoid people when I feel it coming on. Over 50, I don't need to give anyone reasons to suspect senility! I work with mostly younger people and I think it would undermine their trust in my ability to manage. Being alone is not a great idea if it's a stroke however. I can't imagine being on live mic broadcast.
I get ocular migraines. Fortunately, if I take medication when the auras begin – they always appear before the pain- I will avoid the headache but not necessarily the nausea. Not wanting to sound like an ad, but I take Excedrin Migraine or Extra Strength, they are the same product with different labels. If I wait until the pain arrives, nothing will stop it.
I forgot to mention, I will sometimes have slurred speech if the auras are in my right eye. If they are in the left eye, I sometimes have numbness in the two small fingers of my left hand for a while afterward.
Agreed on the Extra Strength Excedrin.
I usually get a "warning" like very, very sensitive sense of smell (can smell the wood on the bottom of the desk top and it's making me nauseous) or no feeling in my left arm, not necessarily numbness. I am in control of my arm but it's like it's not mine. Wierd.
Then the "blind spot", then jagged lines with what seems like loss of peripheral vision but luckily have never experienced my speech effected. As the visual disturbance fades the headache increases in direct proportion.
Gotta time that Excedrin just right or your out of commission for quite a while.
I've only had about 4-5 migraines and feel so bad for people that get them often. I don't know what triggered the first migraine I ever got (at first I thought something was wrong with my vision so I went to an eye doc). The other migraines were related to hormonal changes (pregnant & when I cut back on nursing) but they were all triggered by the same thing – a bright light. It could be anything, especially bright sun light (like if I was indoors and suddenly I peeked out the window w/o eye protection). I'm so scared of sun glare that I never leave home w/o my sunglasses – even if it's cloudy...hey, you never know when the sun might decide to come out. Anyway, about a year ago I read an article about the blood vessels in the head and something about how putting cold compresses might help. I didn't think much of it until I started seeing a migraine coming on (I start seeing the aura stuff and then some blind spots then the nausea sets in and then I vomit and then I get a nasty headache and I end up curled up in a dark closet crying until I fall asleep)...so I decided to give the cold compress thing a try. I put an ice pack on the back of my head and lied down...didn't work much... so I got a pitcher, filled it with ice cold water from the fridge and also added a bunch of ice...I went to the bathroom, put my head over the sink (face down) and slowly started to pour the water to the back of my head. I filled the pitcher again and started over... by the time I went to fill a third pitcher I realized that it had worked... I prevented the migraine from happening. The same thing happened again about 6 months later and it also worked. I'm not saying it will work for everyone but hey, it wouldn't hurt to try.
I have migraines, but not very often anymore since my doctor recommended Magnesium Citrate Vitamin that I take daily. It's amazing how much better I got and how much less migraine I have since taking this vitamin. Although it's a vitamin, please check with your doctor if you want to give a try.
Yes, Renata, magnesium is the key. Thirty years ago, after the birth of my son, I began having migraines about once a week. I read about magnesium being helpful, so I started taking it with calcium each night before bed. Since then, I have had only one migraine, and my blood pressure stays low. Even though I tell people about magnesium, most still want to go to the doctor and get prescriptions that do who-knows-what to their systems.
As a fellow migraineur, I can attest that taking magnesium and potassium supplements has helped reduce the frequency of my migraines. So does keeping hydrated and well-rested and avoiding food triggers, tobacco smoke, certain perfumes and other chemicals that my brain doesn't get along with these days. I can no longer take some OTC or prescribed medications for migraines, because of another medical condition. Now I manage migraines mostly through prevention. I take Coenzyme Q10 and EFAs in the form of fish oil and flaxseed oil capsules, in addition to magnesium.
But no one can avoid every environmental trigger: a Harvard School of Public Health study found a 7.5 percent increase in the risk of a headache severe enough to provoke a trip to an emergency room by migraineurs for every 9 degrees Fahrenheit rise in temperature. Lower barometric pressures 48 to 72 hours before also correlated to migraine-linked ER visits.
We live in a toxic world which is helping our bodies concentrate its toxic load into our (omnivorous) selves ever more efficiently. No wonder so many people today are developing serious migraine disorders. So, if someone decides to try a drug in order to function more normally in this aforementioned toxic environment, I say, 'Go for it!' How different is that from someone with diabetes taking advantage of the latest medical breakthrough, in order to gain quality of life? Just do some serious research on migraine and disability, and it quickly becomes clear how seriously debilitating they can be.
I have suffered with migraines for the past 25 years and I think they are hormone related. I too have had auras and have had the slurred speech and Yes it has scared me. I find the Imitrex is my best friend if I can capture before it gets out of hand. No one know pain until they have suffered a Migraine. I forgot to mention Imitrex is very costly when you don't have prescription coverage. 11 pills are about $130.00. With husband retired and I am self employed I do not have prescription insurance.
I take Imitrex injections, and even though they are painful injections with wild side effects, it works within the hour. Been taking those injections for 10 years. I feel that l would have a very different life without them. Tried everything before it, incluidng pills, propholatic remedies, etc. Thank goodness for this type of modern medicine. Now if only they could find a cure...
There is a greater risk for stroke and it is often related to a heart condition where a prenatal hole in the heart leaks blood between the chambers of the heart. PFO or Patent Foramen Ovale has a genetic link and a link to a migraine with Aura.It can be detected with an ultra sound of the heart called a TEE transesophageal echocardiogram. It can be repaired with an umbrella shaped device positioned in the hole by inserting it through a vein as many shunts are done.
I had my first migraine with aura when I was a senior in high school. I am now 41. I have had about 4 to 5 other episodes in my life. I experience headache pain from mild to severe, aura, confusion, inability to speak properly (I sound crazy) but can think clearly, and my hands and face can feel tingly and numb. The next one was after taking the NY bar exam. (about 8 years after my first episode). After that, I've had them sporadically, but far enough apart in time, that I did not worry. For a brief period of time, I was suffering from them a few times per month. I went to see a neurologist and she did confirm that it is a bit like epiplepsy, in that it is tiny seizures (not sure I fully understand how or why). She put me on a low does of Depakote for some time which resolved the migraines. I discontinued Depakote after a period of time and did not have migraine symptoms return until my pregnancies in my late 30s). Have had no migraines or symptoms since then but I take a daily multi-vitamin high in B complex, make sure I stay hydrated and get enough sleep. The only "triggers" I can think of is hormones. This is because my migraines either occurred during my pregnancy (when hormones are raging anyway), or my non-pregnancy migraines which occurred after a stressful event in my life (finishing high school exams, bar exam, moving in with boyfriend). I would guess that the change in stress hormones after these stressful events triggered the migraines. The daily multi-vitamin seems to help significantly as I have not had any additional episodes, despite experiencing stressful events (loss of job). I highly recommend a multi-vitamin high in B complex (I take Solgar's VM-75 for the past 15 years. I got my husband hooked on them as well. If we skip a few days, it is readily apparent in how we feel, our energy level and general feeling of well-being. I am not paid by Solgar but I am a lifelong user of this product and it has helped me. I imagine any other multiple vitamin with the high doses this has of B complex will work well also). Good Luck!
These kinds of migraines are very debilitating, and can be quite scary. I've had them since I was a teenager. In recent years I have had great success with Botox Migraine shots. They are expensive and unfortunately I don't have insurance but they last 4-5 months and are worth every penny. I go from having 2-3 aura migraines a week to having NONE, at least until the shots wear off.
I've had epilepsy all my life and have dealt with these things without hearing more than a handful of people mention them. Why is it that now that someone has one on live TV the entire world seems to be inflicted with them? I don't think I've met a single person since this happened that hasn't told me that they have regular migraines, and just look at this board and any other message or comment board related to this story.
I don't know about everyone else but I don't talk about my migraines just as a matter of conversation. I've suffered from debilitating migraines...severe pain, inability to stand light or sound, throwing up...for many years, and have in the past couple of years started having ocular migraines, as well. I'm just so grateful that the ocular migraines for me, at least, don't come with pain...I just lose about 30 minutes or so as I develop a blind spot in the center of my eye surrounded by the wavering, zig-zag lines. They make me dizzy and sometimes a little nauseous, and the first time it happened, my daughter and I were worried that it was a stroke. When I went to my doctor, he said he gets them, too, as does his assistant. I don't know but I can't help but wonder if our current lifestyle, eating habits, etc., haven't led to more and more people developing these things. And like a previous message, I sometimes worry that I'll ignore an actual stroke, thinking it's just another migraine.
I've had partial seizures (epilepsy) since I was 22 ...I think this woman doesn't want to say she has the "e" word as it is easier to say she had a migraine because like you said...everybody has them...they are very acceptable...
It's interesting that you mentioned seizures. I don't get auras with migraines, but I do get them with seizures. I'm suddenly gripped with terror, my blood turns to ice, and I know that I'm about to have a grand mal seizure. It only happens a few seconds before the seizure, but it's enough time for me to get on the ground so I don't smack my head or hurt myself. When I come to, I'm surrounded by people (I must make a lot of noise) and I'm okay. It's so bizarre.
The auras that I get, better known as simple partial seizures, are a feeling of butterflies in my stomach, nervousness and also and overwhelming deja vu feeling...I used to get about 3 or 4 of these episodes before a complex partial seizure happened, where I was out of it but still there...a feeling out being outside my body...I had to shake my hands and sometimes spit and could hear people talking to me but couldn't really comprehend...and if that didn't get under contol then I would have a grand mal...The auras were a warning for worse to come...my brain telling me something was wrong...now I'm on 3 anti-seizure meds to control everything and they have been working for 2 years sucessfully...
People don't talk about migraines because of all the negative commentary - it's all to common for non-sufferers to blame the patient. Either the patient is uptight, or too stressed out, or can't relax, or needs to exercise more or less or whatever, or the person is out and out faking to get out of work or family obligations. It's tiresome. So a lot of people with the condition don't discuss it.
In response to your comment about how everyone is talking about this migraine issue since seeing the reporter thing on TV, it seems to be one of those things you dont talk about (unless you're in the middle of one!) because after you get past it, you dont really think about it much...as I found out after experiencing them for years and one day during a family get together, I found out all three of my brothers who range from late 30's to early 60's have had exactly the same symptoms as long as I have and we never knew it. Now my son suffers also, only his arent just ocular, he first gets the aura, then severe nausea and vomiting followed by an incapacitating headache that puts him out of commision for the rest of the day. Does anyone else have similar family history ?
Sounds like a partial seizure not a "migraine with an aura"...
It has been interesting how this has played out. With all the self diagnoses going on in the world today this woman's broadcast can have a positive outcome and a negative one. The over lapping symptoms of what we see happening to her and a partial seizure and the early signs of what is text book signs of a stroke are either going to enlighten some people or confuse them .
I have experienced what she is doing 100's of times and I start explaining this to the wrong doctor or e.r. worker I will be hospitalized in minutes and likely be treated as if I were having a stroke. I have had an "aura" my entire life and more than likely partial seizures also.
I received several phone calls after this aired, telling me that was exactly what I do while having a partial seizure . For many people term aura is very hard to explain and I have found still not taken seriously by many doctors . The link between migraine and epilepsy is also under studied and is very hard to find even discussion about.
I always have sympathy for any one ,but with the huge amount of publicity this has received it shows me again just how frightening this can be for other people. I say that because although my condition is much worse than this and oh so much more dramatic, it has never frightened me . I think this can be a good study in certain things to watch for in our friends,co workers and loved ones though and because it has so many over lapping symptoms please do not assume it is anything and seek the proper care a.s.a.p. Rick Wichita Kansas
Just to enlighten people a little further I thought this brief summary describing something different than what is happening to this woman but looks identical . This explanation is very brief and is a very small bit of information to a HUGE explanation . But I use it because it at least talks of aura and the hard to explain feelings a person may be experiencing,and because of the same symptoms but a completely different diagnoses. Educate ourselves and keep a closer watch on family and friends.Rick Wichita Ks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDccChHrgRA&feature=relmfu
what doctors may fail to tell you is that the drugs like oxcycontin and imetrex while the drug may stop the pain initially in the long run they eventually cause the pain to become more severe and the migraine with aura to be more frequent. get your eyes checked if your seeing flashing lights or such, could be your retina, and if not treated can cause blindness.
Wrong. Imitrex and other tripan medications will not cause rebound pain.
Sometimes people do get rebound pain from overuse of narcotics, but this is being found to be more rare than initially thought.
And oxycontin for a migraine is silly - that should never, ever be the first or even fifth medication tried. There are too many other good alternatives.
imitrex and imitrex injections don't cause rebound headaches; don't even begin compare imitrex to oxycontin
I have suffered from migraines my whole life. I had my first when I was a teen ager. It was debilitating. Sounds and light would make me sick and I would vomit. Over the years I tried many different things. I too would experience the auras accompanied with horrible pulsing pain. While some things would give me very minor relief I count myself one of the lucky ones. I had an open minded doctor that perscribed me medical marijuana. I have always been against drugs and pot smoking hippies, but I was open to try it. I am in my late sixteys now and I have used the medical marijuana with the onset of a migraine and I have done so for the last year. Nothing has worked as well as the marijuana. It is like night and day. It takes approx. 15 min to notice that I am no longer sensitive to light, nor having intense crushing pain. Unfortunatly most people don't have access due to the invested interests of the powers that be. However I no longer allow migraines to rule my life. I usually get migraines once or twice a month. If any of you live in an area that allows medical marijuana I would recommend talking it over with your doctor. There is lots of research out there showing that it works from many things and I can personaly attest its effectiveness.
When I was in my 20's I would occasionally get migraines, just the pain and nausea. I hadn't had any for over 15 years, then suddenly recently I had a couple of the ocular migraines with no pain, just the "lightning bolts", blurry vision and spot blindness. I freaked out the first time it happened and went to an eye doctor who told me it was a migraine. I also get this pressure on the top of my head and feel light headed and numbness in my arm. I think it has something to do with the issues I am having with bulging disks in my neck.
I have suffered from migraines since I was thirteen years old (I am 27 now). Between the age of 13-19, I would get several debilitating migraines a week (numbness and tingling, cloudy vision, unable to focus, vomiting, extreme head and facial pain). I missed so much school due to migraines that I had to get an attendance appeal in order to graduate. Around the time I went to college, I started to experience a visual aura about 30 minutes before a migraine would hit. It was VERY scary the first few times it happened, I did not know what was going on. I eventually learned to identify the progression of the aura to tell how far away the migraine was – my auras start as a small dot, then grow into a half moon, and then into a 'greater than' or 'less than' sign. If I take my medication as soon as the aura hits, I am usually alright. Otherwise, out of luck, out of commission for at least a day. I also agree with other posts about the "headache hangover." I was recently diagnosed with celiacs disease, and have been experiencing fewer auras and migraines since switching to a gluten-free diet. I am hopeful that the frequency of my migraines continues to decrease over time!
After 8 years of suffering ,I was diagnosed with severe cluster migraine, also experienced blind spots, confused speech, hemispherical pain on my right hand side of my head, widespread muscle pain, numbness in my face, loss of taste, smell, swollen and numb hands. No prescription drugs were of any use at all, including some older epilepsy drugs which apparently work for many people. Nothing at all worked until it was suggested that I follow a gluten free diet. I was very skeptical however without any other options, so tried an elimination diet for 2 weeks. No one was more surprised than me when my symptoms that had been a daily part of my life started to ease, then disappear. Thinking it must have been all in my mind I returned to my normal diet, and every single symptom reappeared including the cluster migraines. All through this I worked fulltime, was jogging regularly and should have been in peak health and fitness. Being Gluten Free I now am and have only had 1 Migraine since changing my diet some 10 years ago now. Nice to read of your similar experience Irish,
I get horrible migraines. After finding that I was unable to take migraine meds (side effects made me feel as though I was having a stroke), I found myself at the doctor once again in search of a solution. Finally, he mentions that some people find relief by simply taking magnesium. At first, I think it just can't be that simple, I mean, I had been taking outrageously expensive meds and suffering frightening side effects, how could a simple vitamin supplement help???? Feeling skeptical, I did some research. Low and behold, I find that MANY sufferers DO find a lot of relief from adding a magnesium supplement – something that is completely harmless, it's worst side effect is softened stools, and is dirt cheap to buy. I tried it, and much to my surprise, my migraines lessened considerably as I build magnesium up in my system. I still get migraines, but they are fewer and milder. I have to admit, I was incredibly angry with my doctors for not telling me sooner...and the more I talk to other sufferers, the more I realize MOST aren't being told. It should be criminal. Anyway, check out the studies for yourself!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8792038
Migraines are highly misunderstood, and, no, being chronic sufferer I know that the world at large does not accept them as well as epilepsy. At least you can see most seizures, but you cannot always see migraine. This woman did not have a seizure, she had a migraine aura. Many sufferers have these symptoms. There are many variations on migraine and the international classification of headache disorders list them all. Hemiplegic migraine actually mimics stroke in a frighteningly similar way.
I am so glad to see so many people post that they experience the same thing I do. No one I know has migraines, just me. And trying to explain what I'm experiencing is difficult, because people don't want to believe. I have aura, I vomit, I can't stand sound, except for white noise, I can't talk properly (although I've never yet lapsed into gibberish, I just use the wrong words), I type wrong, I can't walk well, and the pain is unspeakable. Some things work for a short time, then it's like my body figures out the trick and works around it. Mine is NOT blood pressure related, my bp is actually low 90/70 is completely normal for me. I so wish there was more information and more understanding about this disease, because it is so debilitating and the lack of understanding makes us be quiet about it. Non-migraine sufferers do not understand, and think you're making it up.
I have had the auras (jagged circles like a broken neon sign) since 1996. Used to get them very frequently but in the past few years I've only had a few per year. They last EXACTLY 20 minutes but I have no pain, dizziness or anything other than the visual effects. I can tell one is coming on when I notice a small blind spot while I'm reading. I close my eyes and I can see the glowing spot. It gradually spreads out until it goes completely past the edges of my vision. I feel lucky not to have gotten any pain with it.
Hi Mel, I read many of the messages and finally came across yours, it explains just what happens to me. The jagged small silvery circles which continue to grow until they grow past the edge of my vision and then dissappear, then there have been a couple of times that the vision in one eye has gone away for a couple of minutes, kinda scary! I've never had any migraines and from what I've read in some of the messages, hope I never do. My doctor told me that this is something that happens to people just before having a migarine. My good friend has seizures but she has never complained of having vision problems. Good luck to you! Cal
Thank you, Mel–you have described the same kind of migraine auras I've had occasionally since my late 20s. The blind spot in the middle of my eyes is like the temporary blindness from staring at a very bright light, only the spot doesn't gradually fade within a minute or so. That's the signal that an aura is beginning and that I'll have about 20 mins before the headache pain may start. During that time the aura spot (in both eyes) gradually grows into a jagged lightning-like crescent that eventually moves beyond the outer part of my vision. I take extra-strength Bufferin to try to reduce the pain which may or may not follow. Once I reached menopause, I noticed the pain seemed less and, in fact, I usually now get only the aura and no pain afterwards. My last aura was over a year ago.
I have had the "migraine w/aura" for many years. They precede a migraine headache, but not always my worst headaches. Other migraines, without aura, are sometimes worse. But very disturbing. Starts with a spot in the center of my vision where things are blurred and wiggly. This proceeds to enlarge, working itself from the center of my vision to the outer perimeters, finally disappearing to view. Usually a rather severe "migraine type" headache follows. Simply shutting my eyes, and trying to relax during the attack is the only thing that works. I have never found any medications, either over the counter or doctor prescribed that did anything to prevent this. The pain medicine will help with the pain after the aura is done, but still have a whopping headache! Usually only lasts about 15 minutes (aura). Have had this for about 40 years, without it killing me! Just FEELS like it will, during each episonde! Usually, resting quietly, eyes shut, until this phase passes does me the most good, folllowed by pain medication. I have used all the way from an aspirin to codeine to relieve the pain. One thing I will say to encourage anyone with this type headaches, they seem to lessen considerably with ge. I started having these headaches when I was a young adult. Am now 76 and they are MUCH MORE infrequent. So you do sort of outgrow the tendancy to them. My worst ones occurred during ages 25 – 60. Take heart. Hang on! JAC
If you have bad migraines and aura and have had them for years, go see a cardiologist. A significant number of migraine sufferers who also experience the aura phenomenon have a congenital heart defect that can easilly be plugged.
My sister had debilitating migraines for years. In the mid-2000s, physicians began to notice a correlation between migraines and small holes in the heart muscle. After being bedridden for half of the week for years, she got her heart fixed... and no more migraines. A miracle, really.
Hormonal changes, mainly pregnancy; wine, milk chocolate, stress, aged cheese are my migraines triggers. But out of those, wine seems the best trigger. I avoid any alcohol and yes with age my migaines seem less every year. I am 37 now and my suffering started with my first pregnancy at 26.
Silently many people here in the USA sufffer from migraines. As someone who spent the most of her live in Europe, I have to say the Americans have way more migraines than any country I have lived in.
I have had those for 18 years. Have been to the ER several times when the auras & vomitting have progressed to the point that the only treatment is through IV. I have had some similar episodes to this reporter's episode, including failing a written exam with my words garbled, mixed in with random symbols & numbers – it was so bad, the professor thought it was a joke, but when I later explained the headache, he let me retake the exam (got an A-). Maxalt & Zomig are the only meds that stop them when I can take them early on (when I notice the early symptoms), but in the US a lot of insurance companies are backing off their coverage (I used to get 12 pills a month for $15, I now can only get 6 pills per month at $75). Preventative meds don't work for me, so the drop from 12 to 6 pills is scary, especially trying to work a full-time job.
I had one of these 25 years ago, but it was much more severe. I was completely unable to communicate (complete Broca's aphasia) - I couldn't speak, I couldn't write, I couldn't dial a telephone, I couldn't even point. I was able to nod or shake my head in response to yes/no questions, but only if people were very patient and waited the 1-2 minutes it took me to make the effort. I also had complete temporary paralysis on the right side of my body (since the left side of my brain was the one affected), and the full boat of visual symptoms. I had two full days of these "prodromal" symptoms before the headache, then I had a headache more painful that I ever thought possible for three days, then I had two days of confusion and inability to carry out simple tasks. That's a full week for one migraine. I now take Topamax 100 mg every day as a preventative, and I carry Relpax, one of the tryptophans, with me wherever I go. I also keep a card in my billfold that says, "I'm having a severe migraine with aura, and I need to be taken to an emergency room for treatment with a tryptophan." On the other side, it lists my medical conditions, current medications, and the names and phone numbers of my neurologist, primary physician, and emergency contacts. For anyone who's ever had one of these that was severe, I recommend seeing a neurologist who specializes in migraine, and keeping a similar card in your wallet, in case you become unable to communicate. Being unable to communicate is the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me, and it puts you at the mercy of well-meaning people who have no idea what's wrong with you.
Another important piece of advice - do not use pain relievers to treat migraines. There are many types of very painful headaches, some with various other symptoms, and there are several types of migraines. Pain relievers do not help migraines and can actually cause "rebound pain," where after the pain reliever wears off, you get a headache worse than before you took the pain reliever. If you're using pain medication (over-the-counter or prescription) to treat bad headaches, and it's not working, you need a neurologist, so you can find out exactly what kind of headaches you're having and get the treatment that's best for you.
I hade my first migraine with an aura when I was 27 & pregnant with my 2nd child. Terrifyed I called my doctor right away. Fortunatly with me my aura usually starts before the pain hits and if I am lucky alot of times I can ward off the severe pain by taking my medication immedialty. Aura's are AWFUL. I so much understand the "jibberish", zig-zag's and blindspots. I feel for her. I always just hope no one thinks I am drunk when I speak, especially when it happens if I am at work. Poor lady, I feel for her.
Have had migranes my entire life (at least 4 per wk) and they were debilitating – nausea, vomiting, could not see out of one eye, etc. Although my blood pressure was only borderline, my doc put me on BP meds. The meds were for BP, but since then, I've only have migranes 1 or 2 times/year. Words cannot express how amazing it feels to be pretty much FREE of them! I've missed out on so many things because of the migranes – it is so wonderful to have a life now!
I've had these type of migraines since I was a teenager. For me years later I found there was a connection between the migraines and an unknown wheat and milk allergy. I am almost 40 today and I find I get these migraines when i have slipped an eaten something either knowingly or unknowingly that contains these two allergens. Food allergies are a good place to start when looking for the cause. I sympathize with anyone else who experiences these migraines. If you haven't experienced it you can't know just how painful they can be.
I also suffered from debilitating migraines after the birth of my children and during the years following when I nursed both of them, too. I know mine were hormonally triggered but so were many of my other "odd" symptoms that docs were writing off as "autoimmune". Since going gluten free, most of my symptoms have gone away and no more migraines as well. If you are deperate enough from the delibilitating effects of migraines then it's worth trying a gluten free diet. My migraines were so bad they were often accompanied by auras and always accompanied by severe shaking, nausea, vomiting and loss of ability to function... I couldn't even think straight the pain was so intense. Try gluten free, you have nothing to lose except your migraines.
I've been on a migraine preventative for a few years now because I would get headaches every single day for months (not crippling like a typical migraine, just light sensitivity and pain that didn't go away no matter what I took). One time I woke up in the middle of the night and half my face went numb with pins and needles and then it started to go down my left arm. I drove myself to the ER by my college and they told me I was having a panic attack or it was a reaction from the vodka redbull I had at the bar earlier that night (none of those things made any sense to me). I scheduled an appt with my neuro and drove 3 hrs back home to see him and he said migraines can sometimes have the same symptoms as strokes and that's more than likely what happened. I was scared out of my mind but now that I know there are different types of migraines, I'm more cautious and keep a migraine journal. Headaches are serious business and it's hard to explain to people what it's like to suffer from them when they don't have regular headache or have ever had a scary experience like I have.
So true Rachel, glad you're okay. Was just at a neuro about these and I'm one of the aura suffers as well. What killed me back in high school when I did not know what was going on was the counselor who said that because nothing was visibly wrong with me I was full of it –which was far from the case. This is the best story ever simply because not many people can commiserate with the bewilderment and excrutiating pain migraines put you in. I feel like I'm around kin. Seriously.
I can sympathize with all of you. I began to experience migranes as a middle schooler. I would be in class and suddenly feel like I was falling down a dark hole...my eyesight would grow dim...time seemed to slow down...colors became so vivid, it was hard to look at anything...people and my surrounding started to look "weird." People looked like walking, talking dolls to me. I remember looking at my teacher during one of these episodes and her head looked way to big for her body. To this day, I still get creeped out by movies where dolls come to life.
These"auras" would last about 15 minutes, followed by a major headache. My pediatrician diagnosed me as having migranes brought out by outset of puberty. It wasn't until years later, that I realized I had something called "Alice in Wonderland Syndrome." Thank God, this is a condition that people usually outgrown in their later teens.
JB – it was an abdominable pain that always pushed up into my chest. My back & chest would experience pain. Now I am on blood pressure medication (helps to control spasms).
I too, started having auras and then migraines w/the intense pain behind my eyes when I was in Junior High. Like others I came to dread the auras and would find a cave to crawl into and hope to sleep it off. The migraine hangover was tough, since any movement lowering my head was intensely painful. For me, I found that over time I could choose to ignore the auras (and the dread that came with seeing them) and go about doing whatever I wished and my body would seem to just "forget" I was about to experience a migraine. Nowdays, I link a quick phrase ("no headache, no migraine") with this decision, as soon as I realize I'm getting an aura and go about my business with 90% of the time, no migraine appearing at all. Guess I just got tired of giving in to these events and started psychological warfare to win back some normalcy. It's not perfect, but I'll gladly take a very rare migraine in my life over dropping everything to acknowledge one starting and enduring the subsequent consequences.
I had my first migraine when I was 12 (back in 1967), but the doctors didn't know what was wrong. I couldn't communicate for many hours. The doctors thought I took drugs or someone slipped something in my lunch at the school cafeteria. (I remember my Dad offering me $100.00 if I would just tell him what I took.) lol I stayed in the hospital overnight, but left without a diagnosis. I didn't have another one until I was 28 and pregnant. Scared the heck out of me! Then began my journey with migrainesl. A typical migraine started with an aura, then I couldn't communicate what was in my head, then the migraine hit ferosiously. After seeing a neurologist many years ago, that's when it was determined that what I had at 12 was a migraine. Up until my mid 40s, those were my typical migraines. The auro, non-communications, and 20 mins later, the migraine. I stopped getting the aura and communications problem in my late 40s. I went straight to a migraine with no warning signs. At least when I had the aura, I had time to take Midrin and Naprosyn which made my headache more tolerable. It was there, but no pain. My head felt like jello was inside. It still weighed me down and put me in a really bad mood. I didn't know migraines changed your mood so drastically until I read it in a book and a doctor told me I was much nicer after having 2 shots of Demoral. (I threw a washcloth at the nurse, cause it was taking too long to see the doctor, lol). As for now at 56, the past several years have been a better. I don't get them as often or as painful, but they last for 3 days. I can still function, but not as well. It still puts me in a bad mood which I take out on my poor husband. I have found that taking 800 mg of an over-the-counter pain reliever works best for me, especially if I take it at the onset. I tried Topamax (a migraine preventer) last year, but it just caused more migraines even at the highest dosage. One more thing in regard to seizures. When I was in my 30s, my doctor diagnosed me with Epilepsy. He said the seizure was bringing on the migraine instead of the other way around. He prescribed me Dilantin, but I never took it. I knew my problem was the migraine bringing on the "seizure" (aura and non-communication). Sometimes you just have to trust your gut.
Watch out for monosodium glutatmate – MSG and all of its HIDDEN forms (hydrolyzed or autolyzed protein). This is probably causing many of you migraines. I avoid all MSG and guess what, no migraines. I have a two day delay from the time I eat MSG to the time I have my aura. Everyone will be different but I'm betting it's the MSG poison in our foods that are giving many of you migraines.
I have Cadasil which is basically a stroke generator. I have had over 12 TIA's and 1 major stroke. I am still at 100%. I have heard and have been told for years that a plant we continue to call evil and bad for you and has shown 0 deaths can help. I have been using this medication for over 2 years and have had not one TIA or stroke. Makes you wonder. I'll continue living the great life I live and the rest can continue feeding the U.S Government 300 bucks for 1 pill. No thank you.
cluster headaches ugh! the worst. thankfully those come evry couple of years and go every day for 4-8 weeks. Immense pain for anywhere from 1-3 hours. Imitrex is a life saver.
I don't get massive headaches, but what happens to me is numbing of my right hand, starting at pinkie, then the numbing moves up my arm, then to my right side of face, mouth and nose. This process takes about 15 minutes. Then I get a bit of flashing light (very mild) for about 10-20 minutes after. I've experienced the garbled speech - it's more knowing what I want to say but not being able to formulate the correct word. And when I say it wrong, I know it at the time it's happening. The only thing that kept me from completely freaking out (if you consider calling 911 and having an ambulance take you to the hospital NOT freaking out) the first time it happened was the fact that my sister had experienced these years before, so I sort of knew what was coming. For about 3 years, the migraines would be pretty regular (starting around age 35). Then I started deep breathing exercises when I would get that feeling that one might be coming on - thinking maybe I needed more oxygen in my system because I tend to breath pretty shallow. I also have mild sleep apnea (where you stop breathing when you sleep) and make a conscious effort to not sleep on my back because that's when I stop breathing at night. I can also use a CPAP for forced air intake at night, but just sleeping on my stomach seems to do the trick – I know because I get into the REM sleep (where you dream) and I'm not slurping for air in the middle of the night and waking myself up anymore. I also cut out pretty much all red wine - maybe something with the MSGs??? - and haven't had any of the numbing stuff happen for about 2 years now. So, for me, I'm thinking it's an oxygen thing and maybe the MSGs were a trigger.