Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat

1. 

   Hello, i'm looking for some advice from anyone really, particularly anyone else who has migraine. I've been having migraine for about 2-3 years now, classical migraines starting with visual disturbance and aura, which generally fades in about half an hour to the headache and sickness. I don't have a trigger food or anything, it seems to be set off by visual triggers - like odd reflections on the car windscreen that I have to look through, etc. My last migraines came in a cluster of roughly 3 over about a week, which is a lot for me, and the last one was absolutely awul, the worst I've had. And then there was nothing for a few months, until last Thursday. I was on the second day of a course, with people that I'd spent pretty much all of the previous day with including going out to dinner etc. I started with the visual disturbance, and I wasn't able to take any pills (I would normally take Sumatriptin (sp?), paracetamol or cocodamol). It lingered for quite a while, probably about 45 minutes. When it went away, I had a slightly odd feeling, like it was all resolving back to normal, except that I didn't recognise anyone I was with anymore. these were pepople that I'd just been sitting eating lunch with but yet I couldn't recognise any of them at all, I was trying to put faces to the names, which I could remember fine, but I couldn't.
   After a while it gradually went back to normal, it didn't come back suddenly but by the end of the day at dinner I was normal. I didn't forget other things I'd noticed about people - like that one guy was really tall, for example - and I was able to use this to guess at who people were at the time. I also didn't get the migraine headache, just felt a bit achey afterwards.
   Has anyone else had this with migraine? I did ask my doctor who said it was probably fine but to come back if it happened again. I have an underactive thyroid and I think my medication isn't quite enough at the moment and I know that can result in headaches (I'm waiting for blood test result for that).

   I'm just looking for reasurance if anyone else has had this, and if possible a way to avoid it happening again?
   Sorry for such a long, and non-cat related, post!

   Posted 3 years ago by metsa #

2. 

   Goodness Metsa,I've had bad migraines for years now,some with aura some without. I am worried about the part where you say that you didn't recognize anyone. That can be a sign of a mini stroke or TIA,if I were you I'd go see the doctor to get worked up or talk to him to see what you should do should it happen again. You're obviously OK now but that is worrisome.
   They sound quite a lot like cluster headaches,I think that I would go to the doctor if I were you,it's easy to get complacent about headaches since you've had migraines for a while but that sounds a little more serious.

   Posted 3 years ago by Buttercup #

3. 

   Thanks, I did go to the doctor and she said that, as I'd been fine since, and I didn't have problems with movement etc, it was probably just related to the migraine. She didn't mention stroke or anything, but I think she called a neurologist too, to check. But she didn't take my blood pressure, which I expected. My age (24) makes most of the scary options unlikely, which is good. But it was a horrible feeling, I hope it never happens again!

   Posted 3 years ago by metsa #

4. 

   I agree with Buttercup. Listen to you FREE nursing assessments. The memory loss u state is worrisome. Iwould find a doc who would investagate The next one it could be permanet it could be an early sign of something worse ie stroke

   Posted 3 years ago by kathyanne11/13 #

5. 

   Thanks KathyAnne :)
   Migraines can cause a lot of neuro problems,my mother had vision difficulties with one of hers(she could only see half of her field of vision). Bright scintillating lights have provoked migraines for me,also smells. Just be careful,if they continue to be bad I'd see about seeing a neurologist.

   Posted 3 years ago by Buttercup #

6. 

   I get migraines a lot. With the crazy weather we have been getting (pressure fluctuating wildly one day to the next) ive had some bad ones. I wish I had some good advice. This has been a tough summer for me migraine wise. Could you take something mild on a regular basis to ward off the start of a migraine? It dosnt always help with me but it does seem to make them less intense.

   I agree with Buttercup, do check out if there is a neurological component. I found out I have a seizure disorder which is controlled with meds now, but before the meds the migraines were a lot worse. When I had seizures at night I would have breathing problems and sometimes not be able to breath or find I was choking. The doctor explained to me that the lack of sleep was increasing my stress and making the migraines bad.

   Hope you get things sorted and the migraines can be lessened. *white light and warm thoughts your way*

   Chey

   Posted 3 years ago by spacecatsgarden #

7. 

   Definitely be aware and talk to your doctor if there are any other weird things. I've had migraines for quite some time now. I am often left with strange after effects. Mine are a seizure type migraine and can leave me with a level of confusion and memory issues. It is a normal side effect, but something that needs to monitored closely to be certain it isn't more serious.
   Preventative medications can be wonderful, but do come with side effects of their own. Work closely with your doctor and do lots of research to find what works best for you.

   Posted 3 years ago by MeezerMama in OK; 10/23 #

8. 

   How very scary for you! Excellent advice you have received here at TDK. These symptoms sound like so called complex migraines. Could not agree more with the advice to get a comprehensive check up by a neurologist to, #1 make sure it is nothing else, #2 better manage treatment for your migraines.

   Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #

9. 

   I had migraines around the time of puberty that involved something similar to what you're describing, Metsa. First would come the visual aura, then the pain. After the pain left, my speech would be slurred and I would not be able to remember words. For example, during one of these episodes I was looking at a painting of a person sleeping in a bed and couldn't remember the names of the objects in the painting. One other time, I was trying to tell someone "I can't think" and it came out "I can't mind." Another time, I said "heard" when I meant "smelled." This would go away gradually.

   Posted 3 years ago by Leeny #

10. 

    I think what you are experiencing is a field of vision "collapse"...I have experienced these. It is very hard to describe unless you have experienced one, but I'll try. Take the top part of your field of vision and the bottom part of your field of vision and delete the middle part. The top and bottom collapse together. You cannot see what is directly in front of you, so whether you are looking at faces, your computer screen, or the car in front of you, it's gone! You can still see, but it's like the middle part of the picture is gone and the rest is just the periphery. This is a "normal," but not common visual disturbance in Migraines. You have peripheral vision, but nothing more. Hope this sets your mind at ease. It is a very disturbing thing to experience.

    Posted 3 years ago by CatRancher #

11. 

    :D Catrancher

    Posted 3 years ago by Buttercup #

12. 

    I've had that visual field collapse,that's a great way to describe it,I asked my friend what the hecks wrong with the TV and she looked at me "nothing's wrong with the TV". I was getting my first migraine,scared me to death.

    Posted 3 years ago by Buttercup #

13. 

    Thanks everyone for your advice, it really helps to hear I'm not the only one getting odd migraines :). When they started to come in a cluster, the doctor did mention that I could go on daily medication designed to stop them, but since they then went away for a few months I don't think it's worth the risk of the side effects from that medicine.
    I've googled 'complex migraine' and that seems to be fitting with what happened. As long as the forgetting faces can be a migraine symptom and not anything worse, I'll be less scared if it happens again, but I will tell my doctor just in case. I have always been happy with the care from these doctors and I think they'll work with me to investigate it further if it carries on. So for now, I'll relax but keep an eye on it.
    Chey, I also have to be tired to get migraines. I was tired on the trip because it was a strange place so i wasn't used to the noises. I haven't had any migraines since though :).
    Feeling more reasured now, thanks everyone!

    Posted 3 years ago by metsa #

14. 

    metsa, others have given you wonderful advice on migraines, I too have suffered them for more years than I want to remember. I have cluster migraines for the most part, but also classic migraines. Fortunately I do know my triggers, bright lights, fluoresant (?) lights, odors (cleaning products, perfumes/colognes, even some foods), weather pressure systems, annoying noises, and even tension headaches can kick off a wicked migraine. Had one this past week that lasted almost 3 days, had trouble even turning corners in the car while driving (so yes I quit driving those days, didn't want to hurt anyone else), lost a large portion of my vision in my left eye (had wonderful peripheral vision though)...the only way I got rid of this last one was going to the acupuncturist and they used both chinese & japanese methods to calm it down along with taking away most of the symptoms. There are preventatives that can be taken but like anything else, they don't work for everyone. Talk to your doctor about having a work=up on your migraines, they do and can change over time, plus your body can start to have no reactions to the meds you already take.

    Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #

15. 

    Oh, sorry, didn't see your post Catrancher.
    The visual disturbance part I get starts with random blind spots, the first time happened when i was reading a magazine and I thought I must be going blind :). And then i progress onto having, best way I can describe it, a large silver block with a glittering outline that wipes out almost all of the left side of my vision. It kinda seems to dance round a bit, but that might just be the egde; I'm totally blind in that area, but its white, not black.
    Thats what it started as, but the forgetting faces wasn't that. i could see the faces clearly, they just made no sense for recognising them. I don't think I had a mental map anymore of what anyone should like, and the faces were like that of strangers. I could pick out non-facial identifiers, such as clothes colours, hair bobbles, height and still remember them, but even with these it was hard to accept that the people around me were the same people they'd been a minute before. It was odd, I thought I must have got confused and somehow went with the wrong group, but I knew I hadn't.
    Aren't migraines wonderful for making you appreciate normal life :).

    Posted 3 years ago by metsa #

16. 

    Very interesting and helpful information here. I, too, get migraines...and it has been a long time since I have had one - knock wood!

    Good to hear you've got a good medical support system in place Metsa!

    Posted 3 years ago by 2 Popoki #

17. 

    I too have the migraine t-shirt!

    Bain of my life - well, they used to be. I'm now on daily preventative medication (pizotifen), which works incredibly well, but has led to some weight gain. Mine are largely stress related, and I was getting one a day (this went on for months). Before that I was on a take it when they happen drug called Zomig, and I still have that them now for when one creeps in under the wire. It's an excellent tablet, no side effects.

    I also get visual disturbance migraines, which don't result in a headache, but are scary, especially at first. I must thank Catrancher for an excellent description of the visual field collapse, that's exactly what it's like; I used to call it the kaleidoscope effect, but your description is much better! I seem to remember my doctor calling them basal migraines (can't be 100% sure of the spelling!). I can also experience grey patches over my vision, and the classic floaters/ziggy zaggy flickering effect.

    Posted 3 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

18. 

    I have gotten migraines off and on since age 16. There is no trigger for them but I am guessing it could be stress. I do recall having one back in May where I didn't recognize the faces on a tv show I had been watching along with my husband. He said he was worried about me when I told him that the show's actors had been changed. My mom says I should go in for a checkup because it could be mini-strokes. I have always been healthy so I did schedule a physical check-up but it isn't till Sept 10th.

    My experience with migraines is I get tunnel vision, one of my hands will go numb, become light sensitive and then nauseated. After all that it is when the major pain hits and I have to take several tylenol or advil and lie down in darkness. Thankfully I don't get more than one or two a year.

    Posted 3 years ago by SylMiaFelixMomma #

19. 

    This is an interesting discussion! I get the visual effects, but not the migraine. When they first happened (age 36) I thought I might be having some type of high blood pressure, so I laid down and made them go away. Sometimes they spread so fast across my eyes I am not sure what I am seeing. Several times I have been so frightened by what was happening that I have pulled over to the side of the road and made myself relax until they go away. I have to say, that for many years I couldn't tell people apart, so I do not get the effect that I don't recognize anyone, because I have trouble with this when I am in my "right mind." This effect I have gotten used to. I tell people apart by their body movement -- don't ask me, but this is how I know people. :) Elizabeth

    Posted 3 years ago by Cato1730 #

20. 

    Metsa, baby, you'd be surprised how many non-cat-related posts we've been lucky enough to have on this site!

    This site has provided more information, support, humor, recipes, etc. than any other I've seen.

    And I am so sorry about the migraines that you sweet people have been having. All of you are in my prayers. All of you!

    Posted 3 years ago by Emma #

21. 

    Metsa, I'm a migraine veteran. I've had all kinds of strange things happen afterward. Sometimes it's a couple of days before I'm totally myself. The strangest neuro problems I have are loss of proprioception, which makes me clumsy and makes it hard to type accurately, and a visual shift where everything looks like it's slightly to the right of where it should be. But occasionally I have trouble retrieving things from short-term memory. Names are the *worst*.

    Read Migraine by Oliver Sacks. You'll discover that nothing that happens before or after a migraine is really all that odd. the most important neuro symptom to watch for in yourself is sudden muscle weakness, not associated with a migraine, or other visual disturbances that come and do not abate. Hope this is helpful...Lisa

    Posted 3 years ago by lisaeylau #

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