Migraines

Hi well a year has gone by. GoodDrs referred me to out of town neurologist i had seen before about the memory loss after migraines...had about 20 last year. But 2022 not as many and it seems just as I think oh havent had a migraine for a while, iget one! Anyway, last August neurologist said not to worry about the memory loss type thing but I did tell himabout odd frightening other attacks at home and long story short he ordered mri and I had small stoke April 2021. Anyway, today again ocular migraine and again after vision cleared could not remember names of friends etc., and got upset but as before as time went on names came back, i phoned daughter to come over as panicked... just wondering 'why' not thinking clearly after a migraine/ Anyone else?? I had ct scan last spring and have results here somewhere saying white matter.... but no follow up as had no family dr. and now nurse practitioners too busy as more serious issues other people have who are waiting for treatment but I do worry as Mum had Alzheimer's for many years an I don't want that life.... j.

Hi... had migraines since around 12 (and think had them before) and am now 77 !!!
At first I didn't notice, I suppose, the visual aura, but the headache and boy was it bad and frightening for a child. Mum gave me an aspirin and I went to bed alone of course... it was always on one side of my head and am not sure if I lay there crying or what..... or for how long but seemed a long time, for a child, then threw up (vomitted) and was OK. Not sure how many I had til Mum took me to local Dr.who made diagnosis.
Long story short then had them rest of my life ... ALWAYS with aura first. Yet I was not a "heachachy" person and rarely had a normal headache. The vomiting stopped at an age I dont recall but probably as young adult... and many times had to be driven home from work or take the bus to lie down, again only Aspirin, but could not see clearly and the pain was bad, one sided. Later could not see to drive.

The aura starts as a tiny part of vision is off and then its a tiny spinning almost circle, and a Dr. once said be glad you get it as a pre-warning of pain; but its scary. The circle is like tiny ZZZZs and VVVs joined together and i put cold cloth on eyes dark room and the circle gets bigger and brighter and moves and jiggles around for about 20 minutes and goes out of my field of vision. Odd that I think around by 40's I got the "aura" but not the bad headache... just when aura left felt a bit out of sorts. But before then the headaches lasted hours and two young children to look after during it all... and the post migraine ache.

But a Dr. then gave me my first migraine meds: Cafagot PH - think thats how it was spelled... Cafagot given go women miscarriaging that shrunk the bleeding blood vessels or so I was told and phenobarb. Well I am scared of meds and just took one; but one day I took the recommended six a day and couldnt wake up to go to work! So I decided I would not take any prescribed meds and just took OTC's also tried to pretend the flashing light were fireworks!

From then on I get/got about 10 or more a year and in fact 2 days ago got 2 back to back, one last week and 2 weeks before 2 more back to back. What is happeninng now is: sometimes during or after I have one I have memory loss: while lying there waiting for aura to stop, could not think of my relative's first names; another time, could not think of the medications I am on; recently could not think of my doctors' names.... very unnerving and once went to emerge had ct scan but told not a stroke.

I understand these are now called ocular migtraines and I never stop feeling scared when my eyesight is affected, especially since a few years ago being diagnosed with Glaucoma.

My thoughts go out to everyone suffering, I remember the pain. I too was around 12 yrs of age and find many adults got them pre-teen - hormones? genes?

Anyway, just my overly long story but probably will get them til I die and although the wicked PAIN has stopped, now I have a host of other illnesses (had cancer, have P.N.,24/7 tinnitus and ear pain, hypothyroid, tmj, ibs-d, fecal incontinence ... and often wonder if I was "born to be ill" or just unlucky - as a Pain Specialist once described it to me .. said I had been dealt a bad hand of cards!!! Imagine!

Take care and I hope you find some help soon... life's too short to suffer but seems if its not one thing, its another!!! I do not know a lot of people/friends but any retired all have one illness or another, or lots .... I am thankful that things were not worse but bad enough... but whereas I used to bounce back, that bouncing ball has no air in it any more. Best of luck and best wishes for a medical miracle so you can again enjoy "life." J. (sorry to ramble)

Where has everyone gone?

My doctor is not sure yet whether my headache is migraine. The thought was that it was temporal arteritis so I spent 3 days in the hospital getting very strong doses of steroid medicine. Next Tuesday I will have bi-lateral biopsies of the temporal arteries. If that is negative, they will look at possible CFL. Anyone out there with this condition?

HI... had ocular migraine today and did a search to see what is new and found even MY previous comments which I now remember making but then went into other rooms to find out abut other illnesses. I must admit I have so many other medical issues I am in different chat rooms and then forget where I have been, or have a new medical issue to search.... I really should write down on paper a list of where I have left messages etc..... J.

My doctor is not sure yet whether my headache is migraine. The thought was that it was temporal arteritis so I spent 3 days in the hospital getting very strong doses of steroid medicine. Next Tuesday I will have bi-lateral biopsies of the temporal arteries. If that is negative, they will look at possible CFL. Anyone out there with this condition?

I just spent the last 2 months getting tested for temporal Arteritis. I had a bio, MRI, CT, etc. all my tests came back normal. I had loss of vision as well as face numbness.

Until this morning I was terribly frustrated.

Today I just happened to have a follow up appointment with my neurologist. I ended up seeing his PA instead and he was a blessing! I filled him in on the rheumatologist stuff, and he quickly diagnosed me with migraine with aura. He said my loss of vision was the aura.
I got a shot and am going back in 2 months. Hopefully, I will start feeling better soon!