Migraine

Hey guys.

Well I shared with you that I was having some great days this week. I really enjoyed that! Since then I am in another battle with what is very quickly turning into status. The crazy thing, I woke up this morning to an aura (I think) 9 nearly 10 years with migraines now and I didn't think I had them. As soon as I opened my eyes there was this race of black dots going across my vision. They turned into lines as they moved and this lasted less than a minute. No sooner than it was over, I nearly threw up and my migraine spiked about 5 min later.

I thought about it and I may have had a few others. Not many more than 5-10 though in all this time I have had migraines. They are usually very faint so I guess I just didn't pay much attention or made some other excuse. I know that I have seen white circles that almosted seemed like flashing spot lights a couple times, and some wiggling pastel colored blobs.

I thought that we either had migraines with aura or migraines with out aura. In all this time, is it strange that I have experienced so few auras? Is there a difference between migraines with aura and migraines without? I am thinking I should probably talk with doc at my follow up in 2 weeks

Hey Alaura!

First I want to say I am so happy for you that you've had some good days!!! That is really great news!

As far as the aura thing goes - if you were diagnosed without aura because you didn't think you had them - I would let the doctor know that you think you have had them and didn't realize it.

I have Migraine with Aura but I don't get an aura every time I have a Migraine. Sometimes I get aura with nothing else - just aura and don't even need to take anything because it never amounts to a Migraine. With that said, I have learned to tell the difference between my normal may or may not turn to head pain aura and my take something right this second, it's gonna be bad aura. I get flashes of light, floaters like little oil marks, little sparkley lights as what I call my everyday aura. I can get this and not have a Migraine - but if it increases more than I have normally - then I usually use that as a signal that I'm going to get a Migraine.

Days I have the vision blocking zig zag black and white aura are the days I know it's going to be bad. I have only had this type of aura about a handful of times since being diagnosed and knowing that it was an aura and to keep track of them.

Even Migraineurs with aura don't get an aura or may not get an aura with every Migraine. Do you know if you have any other types of aura? Do you sometimes smell things that are not there or hear things that are not there? Usually if I smell something that isn't really there (like toast, wires burning, cleaning products) it means I am going to have a Migraine if I am not already starting to feel it.

The difference in Migraine with and Migraine without aura besides the obvious is that some medications they say can affect a person w/ aura in a way that people without aura may not have. Example being birth control pills - they say that Migraine with aura puts you at a higher risk for stroke and some of the controversy is that people with this type of Migraine may want to consider another option besides birth control pills. I personally take them and have not had a problem. But some doctors may have an issue with this.

I'm sure you know we have a whole basics article about Migraine with aura - you can find it right HERE.

You definitely should tell your doctor so that you can get a correct diagnosis - and also if you think this is something new - as with any new symptom, we want to make our doctors aware.

Hope this helps!

quote:

Originally posted by Eileen Gray:
Hey Alaura!

First I want to say I am so happy for you that you've had some good days!!! That is really great news!

Even Migraineurs with aura don't get an aura or may not get an aura with every Migraine. Do you know if you have any other types of aura? Do you sometimes smell things that are not there or hear things that are not there? Usually if I smell something that isn't really there (like toast, wires burning, cleaning products) it means I am going to have a Migraine if I am not already starting to feel it.

You definitely should tell your doctor so that you can get a correct diagnosis - and also if you think this is something new - as with any new symptom, we want to make our doctors aware.

Hope this helps!

Thanks Eileen!

As far as smelling things and hearing things, yeah I do! I didn't know it was related. Just out of the blue, its like my hearing just stops or sounds severely plugged up. Then I get this real long whinning buzz/hum kinda sound. It can sometimes be a long beep, too.

All the time I catch myself saying, ugh whats that smell? All I hear in return is what smell . I def will be talking to doc! Thanks for the info, its what I was looking for I hope your head stays undercontrol too, I am still working on taming mine.

Hi Alaura,

If you've never had an aura like this one, please call your doctor in the morning and let him know, and don't wait the two weeks. The Migraine specialists seem to be in agreement that if your pattern changes, you need to report to your at once.

Please let us know what the doctor says, ok?

Alaura,
This is all very interesting and I think it makes good sense to call your Dr. as soon as possible to report this kind of change.

Since being on Topamax, I don't get as many of my usual warning signals that I'm getting a migraine, so maybe your new preventive may have some effect on your aura? But I have noticed even now that I do sometimes hear a buzzing sound in my ears right before I'm getting a migraine.

Keep us posted on what you find out!

Peggy

Ah! Peggy! You reminded me! That was what I was going to say!

When I was on Topamax, I hardly ever got an aura at all. I have not heard of any others besides Topamax that do this, but I'm sure they exist.

Also, some of my triggers changed too. I used to trigger easy off of cured meat - like Taylor Ham or bacon. On topamax, it didn't bother me. I know it was a trigger before but it wasn't while on the Topamax, or even since....as long as I don't over do it.

Thanks guys! I know I should call my doc, but I have already called in too much. There is a $55 fee and I just can't afford to keep up with that. So I will fill him in next wednesday. I have not had a visual aura since, but today I heard that buzz/ beep thing and my hearing almost stopped and the migraine spiked. So this is somethin to bring to doc's attention. I don't know that he will be able to do anything different though. That is interesting that topa can help with the auras! I was on topa for a very very long time, maybe that is why I am just now noticing that I do have them? Sadly the topa caused more problems than it made any attemp at helping, but I am so glad it works for you ladies Thanks for the info! I will let you know what doc says after I see him.

Could a change like this be bad or something Is that why I should have called him as soon as possible? Or just to report the change in my pattern...

Alaura,

Would you be charged just for giving them an FYI to give to the doctor so that they note your chart before your next visit? I've done that before - I call my doctors office and just ask them to give a messege to my Dr. if it is something she needs to talk to me about before my next visit, she calls me back. If not, at least my chart is noted and my Dr. is aware. I have a bad memory as of late, so the more I can remember to call and let them know, the better I am!

I've called just to ask for a note to be added to my chart. The last time I did so was after a very severe migraine event with some frightening symptoms leading up to it that I thought might be a stroke. When the headache hit, I figured out it was a migraine, and I was fine the next day. I called to leave a note for my neuro, told his staff that I just wanted him to be aware of my appointment in a few days, and that I didn't need to speak with him. He was a good egg, and called anyway, just because he cared and wanted to check on me. We decided it was part migraine, and part dehydration from the crud I also had at the time. He said he was glad I called, because if he thought it might be something serious, he'd be able to call and follow up.

quote:

Originally posted by Eileen Gray:
Alaura,

Would you be charged just for giving them an FYI to give to the doctor so that they note your chart before your next visit? I've done that before - I call my doctors office and just ask them to give a messege to my Dr. if it is something she needs to talk to me about before my next visit, she calls me back. If not, at least my chart is noted and my Dr. is aware. I have a bad memory as of late, so the more I can remember to call and let them know, the better I am!

You guys are right in the fact that I should just be able to call and leave a note, but I am just not sure. As soon as I figure out the policy, it seems to change by the next time I go and they have found somethin to charge for. I love my doc and the diamond clinic, but they can be money hungry.

It was that I could call and talk to the nurse with out a prob and no charge. I called and left a message with docs nurse and next thing I know, doc is calling me back himself. Which was nice that he did, but it wasn't neccesary. So that was a $55 dollar charge since I talked to doc. So I figured out that policy, it cost to talk to doc, but you can call the nurse.

I called the nurse weeks later and got that $55 dollar charge. They said it was because she had to discuss with the doc. I called later and talked to the nurse, got a charge because she had to call in the script. So it seems as tho they don't have much of a policy, its how they see fit. I am now learning just not to call. On a teachers aide pay, I just can't afford that with all the other medical expenses.

I have not had another aura tho, and will be able to discuss this with doc next wednesday. Thats the best I can do for now....

WHAT?

That sounds absurd.....how about email? ask them about that. Then ask them who will pay for your long term care if you have a stroke because you couldn't keep up with the calls at $55 a pop and weren't sure what to do??? (I'm not saying your having one - I'm saying in the event something were to happen and they have their patients "trained" not to call..... do you see what I mean? )

Nonsense.....

Really. . .

I agree with Nancy...This is you health you're talking about. Certainly it can't wait?

There is only one you, take care of you.

Dutchess

You guys are very right! I know that they shouldn't charge like this and I have questioned it myself. But I guess I weigh the pros and cons, my treatment is good and I can't find anyone better so far or even change right now.

I know that I have to be concerned for my health and stay on working for what I need. Even tho I am not calling in to doc everytime I should, I stay in very close contact with my PCP for that reason. I just saw her today in fact! She can't treat my migraines but she is very good at making sure everything is ok. She is also very understanding of all my meds and works to correct anything she can.

Alaura,
Why don't you call DHC and ask to speak to someone in billing/insurance or an office manager and find out what the policy is and your situation. I have called left msg with nurse, had prescriptions called in, so she had to talk to a doctor and have NEVER been charged. The paperwork I have from them says calls are for MD calls only.

Do they charge your insurance for these calls or you directly? I just think if something is inconsistent it needs to be questioned and answered.

lisa

Lisa,

Good point! I don't even know how they would charge insurance for that! It's not like an hour or 1/2 hour phone "appointment" it's a 2 second call!

I am going to investigate this one!