Migraine

Hi ALL,

I am just so frustrated and scared right now that i don know what to do.

For the past week or so I have been having some very strange "spells". I basically zone out and, though I know what is going on around me, it takes a little while for me to respond. I also fainted after one of these spells on Tuesday.

I saw the neurologist here on Tuesday morning and had an EEG done. He said it looked ok. He also ordered a head CT, which I had Friday. I have a follow up EEG in June. He also suggested taking things slowly and told me to take the diazepam every four to six hours to help with these spells.

He was pretty perplexed at the situation. I think it is either migraine related somehow or possibly caused by the fle I had a few weeks ago. (i had similar symptoms after a virus about 5 years ago.

He is also going to send the results to the neuro in Birmingham. (I have to neuros=- one at a major university hospital and one here- in case of emergency.) They basically work together to treat me, which is great.

It is just really, really scary when this happens- it happened twice yesterday. I just don't know what to do.

The headache has also been absolutely horrible for the last week. Basically fluctucating between a 7-9.5.

I have a call into the neuos office to see if I can get someting to break the cycle.

I am just really scared and want it to stop.

I would love any advice.

Pain free days
sconesail

You're doing the right thing by working with your doctors and calling your neurologist.

However, a migraine that lasts more than 3 days is a medical emergency and puts you at greater risk for stroke. You should think about a trip to the ER if your doctor doesn't get back to you fairly soon. Your pain is severe, and you deserve relief.

I know that the ER is the last place you want to be, but this migraine attack has been going on too long.

Search for Status Migrainous for an article about long migraine attacks and stroke.

In the meantime, does ice or heat help? How about caffeine? Sometimes, something sweet, like an apple or raisins, helps me. Horrible for my weight loss, but good for my head. I've got several ice wraps I keep in the freezer, and I like a nice, hot shower, too. Do whatever you can to keep yourself comfortable.

Hang in there!

Gretchen in Mississippi

Quite honestly, unless you hear back from your doctor soon, it sounds as though it's time to head to the ER. You've probably seen this article before, but I'm going to link it again:

Status Migrainous - The Basics

Take care of yourself, and keep us posted. There would be something wrong with you if you weren't scared right now--something is going on in your body you don't understand. I hope your doctor can get to the bottom of it and give you some information and reassurance soon.

As Gretchen and Nutcracker said, pain lasting this long could be a real medical problem even with clean MRI's.

Please seek medical attention if your pain has lasted longer than 72 hours without a four-hour, pain-free break while awake. We hope you feel better soon.

It's good that your neuro had tested you and is following up. Do you get a severe headache after the episode?

I am actually on the computer at 5 a.m. because I had an episode. I got up to get a drink of water and all of a sudden I felt like passing out. I crouched on the floor and a bunch of glittery vision and flashes happened in my upper left peripheral vision. It scared me, so I stayed on the floor for a while and grabbed my phone. Now I have a throbbing migraine on the right side of my head. This isn't a normal aura for me (happened one other time 4 years ago)...but I think it was an aura.

I'm not saying that your episodes have anything to do with me. But maybe you are having an unpleasant aura.

Sconesail,

How are you feeling this morning? Did you break that migraine? Please keep us posted when you can, k? I'm thinking about you and hoping you're doing much, much better

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the replies.

I talked to the local neuro this morning and he basically said that both EEG and CT were normal and he wanted to wait and hear what the specialist in Birmingham said.

I called the specialists office this morning and they are going to call me back this afternoon. No one wanted to change anything yet. (I did ask if an IV of Depakan was a possibility at this point.) So I am basically waiting for them to call back and see what we can do about this.

I am just so scared as no one knows what is wrong or what is causing them and they just keep happening and I am scared to even go on a short walk alone right now, which is not like me at all. I just don't know what to do.

I really want to avoid a trip to the ER, but it is getting to the point where I may need to go. I am just so scared right now.

any ideas?

pain free daus,
sconesail

I know it's the last place any of us want to be when we are in pain BUT it is a necessity in order to get that migraine broken. I know you've already seen this article but it's time to read it again:

Status Migrainous

Please keep us posted, k?

quote:

I really want to avoid a trip to the ER, but it is getting to the point where I may need to go. I am just so scared right now.