Migraine

Hello fellow migraineurs,

Are any of you out there suffering migrain without pain? I have a boatload of symptoms! Nearly every one of them are on the http://www.migraine-aura.org/
website. I'm determined to be happy and at peace no matter my symptoms. I'm just curious how many out there are living with the weird "other" symptoms that can occur with migraine. Any stories? My symptoms include auras, blind spots, deja vu / dreamlike / amnesia episodes, auditory heightened, pain and numbness in the extremeties. Many of these occur daily and have for about 6 years. I'm thrilled when I have a day or two without one of the symptoms. I recently took Aleve for a couple of weeks antiinflammatory effect. When I stopped taking it I had multiple symptoms per day. I had to start taking it again and wean myself off. Since I don't have head pain (dull ache once in awhile) with my migraines, I'm wondering if there are any meds out there that help anyone else? Thanks much!

Welcome, Diana!

That's an interesting site. Somewhere there, they've quoted me about some of my Migraine symptoms. I sometimes have auditory and olfactory hallucinations during the aura phase. The most common auditory hallucination is hearing what sounds like a conversation in another room. Definitely voices, but not loud enough to make out what's being said. The olfactory hallucination I have is, fortunately, the pleasant smell of bacon frying.

Careful of the Aleve. It can rebound on you.

Have you ever tried any preventives? They should help, even with your acephalgic Migraines.

welcome again,

Thanks Teri! Glad to be here.

Sounds like auditory hallucination would be disturbing. I know my half-remembered dream episodes are very disconcerting. The dream is almost coming back to me, changes, escapes, comes back. Very weird.

I just read about the preventatives. I do relaxation techniques and prayer. These get me through the most severe parts of the attacks. If I tense up they just get worse and last longer.

I take Plavix for blood thinning and am hesitant about other drugs. I only took Aleve because of bulging discs. Wow, what a rebound! Won't do that one again. That's what I mean about hesitant. Haven't ever tried any drugs for the MWA. When I was describing the symptoms to one doc he thought I was having anxiety attacks. I'm not an anxious person and refused meds for a long time on that one. I did end up taking Clonazepam (anti-epileptic) for about a year. Didn't do a thing for my MWAs, but sure made me loopy.

Next time I see my doc (new one, not the anxiety guy) I'm going to ask about drugs. Which ones should I ask about?

Thanks!
Diana

Diana,

I fully understand not wanting to add drugs and being concerned about interactions. One thing I strongly suggest is getting a 3-ring binder and keeping meds info in it. When I get the printouts from the pharmaacy with my prescriptions, I punch holes in them and put them in the binder, alphabetized by the name of the drug. I also put in there anything I read elsewhere -- online, magazines, etc. I also use a highlighter quite liberally to mark anything that might apply specifically to me. Since I have several other health conditions and quite severe and frequent Migraines (without preventives), I have no choice but to take quite a few meds.

We definite have things in common. I use medication, visualization, and prayer during Migraine attacks too. I even keep my favorite relazation CD on my iPod so I can take it with me everywhere.

Given your (quite valid) concerns about meds, I'd suggest taking with your doctor about some of the older meds used for Migraine prevention -- meds with proven track records and lower side effects profiles than some of the other meds. A few that come to mind are:

• propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA) - a beta blocker
  
• verapamil (Verapamil PM) - a calcium channel blocker
  
• Coenzyme Q10 - This is a dietary supplement that has been shown in clinical trial to reduce Migraines. It's also very good for the heart and several other things. The recommended dosage is 300mg/day. Also, it's recommended that you use only softgels as it's less effective once it's powdered to make tablets or capsules.

That's just a few of over 100 possibilities, but they're meds that I wouldn't have a second's hesitation using because they have so few potential problems. I've used Inderal LA in the past, but it quit working after several years. I use Verelan PM and CoQ10 now.

Most of the so-called seizure drugs are used for Migraine prevention, but they also have longer lists of potential side effects, so I thought you might be more comfortable with the others first.

Let's keep the dialogue going. Anything you want to discuss, just let us know. I brought up preventives to you because it concerns me when aqnyone is having such frequent Migraines, espeically in light of increasing research that points to Migraine being a progressive disease. It's beginning to look as if Migraines kind of showball if we don't work on reducing the frequency.

hugs,

Wow! Thanks so much Teri!

I really appreciate the list of drugs/supplements. I really do need to go see a neurologist. Yup, I haven't been to one yet. Just my regular doc and he just looks at me with the half-grin and doesn't even suggest anything. Crazy old lady, huh?

I'm going to try the Co-Q10. And once I talk to a neurologist, I'll take along the other two drug names and ask about them. I don't mind taking a beta blocker (blood pressure med?) as much as an anti-depressant or anti-seizure med.

I actually took Clonazepam for about a year when one doc thought I was having anxiety attacks. It's an anti-seizure med. I certainly had a change of personality with that one and it didn't help the symptoms at all.

Nuff for now. I'll be keeping in touch. Thanks again! Take care of yourself.

Diana

Hi Diana and welcome

I just wanted to add a link about preventatives that you and Teri have been discussing. Feel free to print it out and take it with you to your doctors visit.
Headaches and Migraine Preventatives: It's Impossible to Have Tried Everything!

Hi Nancy,

I've printed out the list (wow!) and am taking it to my doc next time. There sure are a lot of them out there. I'm hoping to find something to help that has few, if any, side effects. I have a hyper-sensitive system, and it seems that any and all drugs affect me very strongly.

Do you happen to know of any specialists on the east side of Washington state?

Thanks very much!
Diana

Diana,

Glad the list is helpful to you. Yes, beta blockers were originally developed to treat bp and heart issues. Severla of them come in time-release formulas, and they seem to be pretty well tolerated without taking the bp too low. Same with calcium channel blockers.

You're very welcome. Please keep us posted?

quote:

Originally posted by diana:
Wow! Thanks so much Teri!

I really appreciate the list of drugs/supplements. I really do need to go see a neurologist. Yup, I haven't been to one yet. Just my regular doc and he just looks at me with the half-grin and doesn't even suggest anything. Crazy old lady, huh?

I'm going to try the Co-Q10. And once I talk to a neurologist, I'll take along the other two drug names and ask about them. I don't mind taking a beta blocker (blood pressure med?) as much as an anti-depressant or anti-seizure med.

I actually took Clonazepam for about a year when one doc thought I was having anxiety attacks. It's an anti-seizure med. I certainly had a change of personality with that one and it didn't help the symptoms at all.

Nuff for now. I'll be keeping in touch. Thanks again! Take care of yourself.

Diana

Diana -

I'm new to the discussion group but read your posting with interest as I have some of the same symptoms. I was just recently diagnosed with migraines without headache syndrome along with fibromyaglia. I'd been seeing doctors for 2 years -- one of my previous diagnosis was Guillian Barre Syndrome (GBS) -- demylanization of nerves.

My symptoms include(d) anxiety attacks, sleep problems, thinking & attention problems, numb hands, feet and face, bad GI problems and heart palp / autonomic nervous system issues.

My symptoms happen EVERY DAY. I wake up every morining with numb feet and hands. so I dont' understand how I can have a migraine every day for the last 2 year. Any thoughts?

I am taking verpamil calcium channel blocker after seeing a specialist. It's really helped with some of the symptom especially the anxiety and thinking. But the numbness is still there.

Regards,

Mary

Here is a link for you that has headache clinics and doctors:Recommended Doctors and Clinics

Hey there~

I have occasionally had some of the symptoms without the pain, too. I've had the aura and the spaced-out feelings and no pain. What's the weirdest to me is the postdrome after effects. I will still feel drained like I've had a full blown attack. I also think it's important to treat it whether you have pain or not. Something's going on that's definitely NOT normal and I personally want it stopped in me. I take topamax as a preventative. It has cut what used to be Migraines that woke me up out of sleep with incredible pain at least every other day down to less than half that and sometimes those don't have pain. I consider that massive improvement.

Every little bit helps, IMO....

I've had more than my fair share of painless migraine. Mostly I get the visual and neuro "fluff" stuff, stutter, talk really fast, wander into things, and the like. Generally it leaves me very tired, sometimes to the point of lethargy.

I find that you just have to try the regular migraine abortive meds, like with any other migraine, and get it shut down.

Hi again. I haven't been able to be online for a few days. Work on a computer all day and don't feel up to being on one at night. Wonder if that has anything to do with the MWA.

I took Teri's advice on the CoQ10. What a difference! It may be a little premature but this is the second week and I have only had 3 minor (and I mean MINOR) symptoms. One very short aura, one very short pain in my ribs, and one very short blind spot. I hoping this is the CoQ10, not hormonal imbalance, and continues indefinitely. :-)

Thanks very much all of you. This group is GREAT!

Diana

This is the first place I've seen anyone mention the "half-remembered dreams" as an aura symptom. I first experienced those after giving birth 14 years ago, and the doctors attributed it to an after-effect of pain meds. Now, however, I am experiencing it again with a surge of migraines. So that's what that is! I'm not nuts, just a migraineur!

Ramona

LOL! We have to laugh, don't we. This disease can produce so many strange symptoms.

quote:

Originally posted by Ramona:
This is the first place I've seen anyone mention the "half-remembered dreams" as an aura symptom. I first experienced those after giving birth 14 years ago, and the doctors attributed it to an after-effect of pain meds. Now, however, I am experiencing it again with a surge of migraines. So that's what that is! I'm not nuts, just a migraineur!

Ramona