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Migraine
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Maven
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quote: Originally posted by JayDocTC:
For those of you who have aura: is there anything that you do or any medications you take that typically help reduce or "abort" the aura? How long do your auras usually last and when do they come (i.e., before headache, simultaneous, etc.).
Man I wish. Nothing I've ever tried aborts aura symptoms.
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| Posts: 501 | Location: Central Alabama | Registered: 01-13-2007 | |
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Maven
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It's disheartening reading some places that try to cookie-cutter migraine with aura. They'll tell you it must last only a certain number of minutes and always stops before the pain phase begins blah, blah, blah. My aura starts sometimes DAYS before the pain phase starts. And like yours, Helpeless, it goes throughout the entire attack. I believe the fact that the tripans don't seem to stop the firestorm of misfirings in my brain is why I'm ambivalent about them. They don't touch the misfirings, they don't help the pain, they cause crushing pain in my chest, they make the muscles in my neck squeeze so tightly that Imitrex once reduced my air flow, they cost a fortune, and I just don't see why Dr. Breathtakingly Arrogant is miffed that I don't want them for migraine. He knows I have basilar artery migraine--OH had one, what day was it last week, lost sensation in both arms and my vision just went darker and darker until it was at about 50% of normal. Stayed that way for about 10 minutes. It wasn't right for another 24 hours. And I had the migraine pain, nauseas, and motion-sensitivity along with it and cognitive dysfunction--worthless, I was worthless. I remember now--it was Saturday. I put in my blog that I was was worthless and useless in this state but that I'd be this way in any state, and Alabama was as good as any. 
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| Posts: 501 | Location: Central Alabama | Registered: 01-13-2007 | |
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Novice
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That is the most interesting thing I've heard in a long time concerning migraines. Maybe we'll see a cure in the near future!! quote: Originally posted by JayDocTC:
Fascinating - thanks for all the great info! I have never had aura (knock wood), so it is really interesting to hear from those of you who have. I can certainly imagine how aura would make dealing with migraine that much more, um, "challenging."
I was talking to a friend and fellow student last night who does laboratory research on migraines; he was telling me that some recent research suggests that part of the pathogenesis of migraine is related to mast cell activity in the dura. Mast cells are a type of white blood cells and are well-known for their involvement in inflammation, most notably in allergic reactions and asthma. Apparently there is evidence that the mast cells release small proteins as part of the inflammatory response. These proteins then act as neurotransmitters and appear to play a role in aura, facial and scalp pain and other migraine symptoms as they travel through nerves associated with the dura (one of the membranes that covers the brain and spinal cord). I discussed this with my neurologist this morning (she was aware of this research already, of course) and she prescribed some prednisone to take along with the abortives and/or rescue meds. It will be interesting to see if that helps. I've seen a number of folks on the boards here who are also taking steroids, but for those of you who haven't tried it yet it might be worth discussing with your physicians.
If anyone has tried prednisone (or other steroids) I'd be interested to hear what your experiences were...
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| Posts: 96 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: 02-11-2008 | |
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Novice
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The aura I have today is a big blob that I've had for almost 12 hours. I'm WAITING for it to just go away. I've had pain, vertigo and nausea with it also. quote: Originally posted by Helpless: My aura stays with me THE ENTIRE migraine. It's quite annoying - and they sometimes last 3 days...driving is fun...  Pam
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| Posts: 96 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: 02-11-2008 | |
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Novice
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I agree...aura presents itself differently all the time. I just posted this website because it really reflects how my heavy duty visual aura happens. It's shimmery, zigzaggy and looks so much like that video. My aura today is completely different. quote: Originally posted by MedievalWriter: It's disheartening reading some places that try to cookie-cutter migraine with aura. They'll tell you it must last only a certain number of minutes and always stops before the pain phase begins blah, blah, blah. My aura starts sometimes DAYS before the pain phase starts. And like yours, Helpeless, it goes throughout the entire attack. I believe the fact that the tripans don't seem to stop the firestorm of misfirings in my brain is why I'm ambivalent about them. They don't touch the misfirings, they don't help the pain, they cause crushing pain in my chest, they make the muscles in my neck squeeze so tightly that Imitrex once reduced my air flow, they cost a fortune, and I just don't see why Dr. Breathtakingly Arrogant is miffed that I don't want them for migraine. He knows I have basilar artery migraine--OH had one, what day was it last week, lost sensation in both arms and my vision just went darker and darker until it was at about 50% of normal. Stayed that way for about 10 minutes. It wasn't right for another 24 hours. And I had the migraine pain, nauseas, and motion-sensitivity along with it and cognitive dysfunction--worthless, I was worthless. I remember now--it was Saturday. I put in my blog that I was was worthless and useless in this state but that I'd be this way in any state, and Alabama was as good as any.
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| Posts: 96 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: 02-11-2008 | |
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Novice
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I wonder if a lot of us migraineurs have allergic responses to a lot of things. I absolutely do. How about the rest of you? I get hives for no reason a lot of the time. I have developed alleries to lots of meds since I was about 20 and ever since. I take plenty of benadryl  I wonder if benadryl helps with the mast cell inflammatory response also? hmmmmmm..... quote: Originally posted by JayDocTC:
Fascinating - thanks for all the great info! I have never had aura (knock wood), so it is really interesting to hear from those of you who have. I can certainly imagine how aura would make dealing with migraine that much more, um, "challenging."
I was talking to a friend and fellow student last night who does laboratory research on migraines; he was telling me that some recent research suggests that part of the pathogenesis of migraine is related to mast cell activity in the dura. Mast cells are a type of white blood cells and are well-known for their involvement in inflammation, most notably in allergic reactions and asthma. Apparently there is evidence that the mast cells release small proteins as part of the inflammatory response. These proteins then act as neurotransmitters and appear to play a role in aura, facial and scalp pain and other migraine symptoms as they travel through nerves associated with the dura (one of the membranes that covers the brain and spinal cord). I discussed this with my neurologist this morning (she was aware of this research already, of course) and she prescribed some prednisone to take along with the abortives and/or rescue meds. It will be interesting to see if that helps. I've seen a number of folks on the boards here who are also taking steroids, but for those of you who haven't tried it yet it might be worth discussing with your physicians.
If anyone has tried prednisone (or other steroids) I'd be interested to hear what your experiences were...
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| Posts: 96 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: 02-11-2008 | |
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I'm sure it's not when you have it, but I've never had visual aura with my migraines- this is scary but fascinating at the same time!
