Some questions about complicated migraines
I noticed that they are not very common, but I’m hoping someone here will know about them. Here’s her questions: How long after the initial episode does the lack of concentration, weakness, confusion, etc. last? What treatments have worked? Does anyone experience tremors after the episodes are over? What do you take for the headache that follows the episode, since you can’t take Imitrex or another vasoconstrictor? Does anyone know what their triggers are? Stacey is also diagnosed with fibromyalgia…mitral valve prolapse…gluten sensitivity…intolerance of milk products…and sensitivity to chemicals (mostly smells). She already is a vegetarian and avoids wheat gluten and milk. She is very careful to keep a clean home using all natural products. Stacey exercises and keeps a good sleep schedule. So, she is a little bit ahead of the ballgame in that she has already made many life changes for the FMS. Does anyone else know about this type of migraine? Thank you so much for all your help!!! We really appreciate it. These episodes are very scary.
By the way, the first episode happened two days after she began taking Prometrium (progesterone) for an enlarged ovary. She felt funny, eyes dilated, left side of body paralyzed, weakness, drooling, sweating profusely, tremors, and finally blacked out. The second time happened after stopping Yasmin birth control pills (few days later) and restarting Celexa (antidepressant). The second time was not as bad as the first, but she had several that day. And then another one two days later that was very mild.
She has already had an EEG, EKG, MRI/MRA, bloodwork–CBC, CMP, urine analysis, CXR. She has an appt. with a neurologist on Tues.
I don’t even know what to say. I thought that the symtoms that I get with my migraines were bad. I do know though that with being on all different kinds of meds and having the migraines for quite some time now, that I am tired all of the time. No matter if I exercise or not nothing seems to help that. I also am very confused at times, can’t concentrate or have a lack of memory but it doesn’t necessarily mean that I have just gotten over a tremendously bad migraine. My headache specialist told me that the lack of concentration, memory loss and lack of ability to speak sometimes has to do with the migraines and also with the medications that I am either on or have used in the past. I am so glad Stacey that you will be seeing a Neurologist. Hopefully he/she can answer all of your questions and help you out. I’m sorry that I can not help you out as far as the actual headaches are concerned.
I have complicated migraines, and I can tell you that artificial hormones can really mess with them. It’s best that she stays off the pill if she can. I also have polycystic ovaries, and my migraines get worse when the cyts act up. I have had 2 strokes from my migraines, which have resulted in partial blindness for me. These were diagnosed easiliy by an MRI. I would suggest that your friend see a Neurologist very soon, as this type of migraine is nothing to mess with. Complicated migraine is affected by the arteries constricting, and not opening again, so there is very little pain involved, only aura, the dizziness, numbness and wierd visual problems, like blurry vision and swirling geometrical patterns.
Because this type of migraine works more on constriction, the Triptans are out of the question, because those types of drugs only constrict the arteries more. I take Verapamil, a vaso dialator, (blood pressure med) which keeps my areteries open so they cannot spasm. It is an excellent preventative. My auras can last anywhere to 25 minutes to a few days, depending on the severity of the migraine.
As far as the ovary thing goes, I really sympathize, and I have been thinking about getting my troublesome ovary removed, so it won’trigger any more headaches. I also take an estrogen patch right before my period (5-7 days) to prevent the progesterone from spiking. This is what causes PMS and menstrul migraines. Progesterone can increase vaso-spasm and migraine.
The patch for my menstrul migraines has worked like a charm. Also, if she has fibro, her migraines may also be affected by inflammation. I have Lupus, a similar disorder, and when I get really “inflamed” or have alot of swelling, my migraines act up as well, so then I take steroids, which can also break an aura. I take a Medrol dose pack for that.
Thank you for your reply. No, Stacey will definitely not be taking any more synthetic estrogens or any progesterone. How are your ovaries on this protocol of the estrogen patch and the Verapamil for the migraines? And how does it all affect your Lupus? (Sometimes I wonder if Stacey actually has Lupus; she and I have many of the same types of problems, and I am checked for all the antibodies every year for Lupus b/c of all my rashes and pains.) It would be difficult for Stacey to figure out when to take put an estrogen patch on, as without b/c pills, she only gets her period sporadically. Maybe if they just set her on a schedule to take it (or she could chart her temperatures to figure out when she is close to starting), it could solve that problem. Since the withdrawal of progesterone (I know it climbs up to the withdrawal) is what starts your period, the addition of extra estrogen before your period would change the ratios enough to seem like a withdrawal of progesterone. Both times she has had these, her period had just started. In fact, it began within hours of taking the progesterone for the progesterone *withdrawal test– where you are supposed to start your period after taking the pro for 10-12 days and being off of it for a few more days. It certainly seems like her ratios of estrogen to progesterone are off, and maybe she does need more estrogen (what the gyn was trying to accomplish with the bcp’s). How does it work for you? She is going to the neurologist on Tues. and she will be asking about these things.
Then, she will be revisiting her gynecologist, and seeing the cardiologist and the gastroenterologist! She is fortunate in that her husband is a doctor in his surgery residency, and he was working with a surgeon on Monday whose wife has complicated migraines too.
So, that doc and her husband picked her up, and that doc set up all the testing and appts. for her. He even called the EEG tech back from her off hours to run tests for Stacey. Hmmm….I think we finally might be on to something for her. Thank you so much for all of your help. You are the only person so far who seems to have anything similar to what she is going thru. Thank you again!
I hope things are going well for her!
I have had menstrual migraines for over 25 years and I would love to find the cause not a bandaide. I just ecperienced a complex migraine with partial blindness, slurred speech, paralized on the right side. I know this has to do with estrogen and progesterone so why cant they focus on the problem? Please tell me what they find out. The migraines I get usually last between 9-11 days but often wil be 20,30, days long. I have 5 kids and I want to enjoy everyday with them.