I have hole in my heart! Causing migraines ???

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Fri, April 17, 2009

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Hurricane Migraine

I just found out I have a hole in my heart. It may be contributing to my constant migraines, and it may explain why good medicines don't always work for me. I hope more reseach is being conducted - ASD or PFO and Migraines... Closing the gap to stop the cycle of Migraines. I'll participate!!! I am already about to have more scans done, and find out what I can do to fix everything. Having Heart Scans at 26, may have saved my life. People can die early because of this valve not being closed at birth. You survive until heart eventually fatigues. If you have constant migraines, get heart scan!!!

I've had migraines with Aura almost my whole life. I never knew that my heart was born with this hole. I've been through dozens of other tests and meds to figure out what is making me sick with constant migraines... thyroid tests, asthma tests, Polycystic tests, ADD meds, bipolar meds, Cat Scans, diabetes scans, lung scans, hormone tests, birth control changes, doctors listening to my heart... but still no one ever figured it out... One Heart scan - EKG with Emory and they found the hole in my heart.

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zoe ashcraft

4/18/09 12:30pm

I too have a hole in my heart- I don't know if I did it myself (in a self- inflictictive mood- put a needle in my chest) or if it had been there all along. But I had no idea it could cause migraines or head pain. Do you know of any data on this that I can read up on?

Thanks for sharing*

From somewhere over the rainbow~

zoe

Teri Robert

4/18/09 2:40pm

Zoe,

Please take a look at my comment to the original SharePost.

Teri

Teri Robert

4/18/09 2:39pm

At this point, most Migraine experts are NOT recommending that Migraineurs be tested for PFO because the trial data so far isn't really supporting that the correlation between Migraine and PFO is significant enough.

In the UK, the first trial of PFO closure for Migraine, the results were a 37% reduction in Migraine burden in the patients who received the PFO closure device and 17% in those who received a placebo surgery. Some regard the 37% warily because it's not unusual for clinical trials to have a placebo rate of up to 30%. You can read more about the UK trial in PFO and Migraine - What the UK Mist Trial Showed and find more information abaout PFO and Migraine in PFO and Migraine - "Hole in the Heart" and Migraine?

One of the US trials was shut down due to high expense; two others were discontinued because not enough patients enrolled.

At this time, you cannot get the PFO closure procedure done for Migraine unless you manage to find an open clinical trial.

Teri

Tricia

9/24/09 12:34pm

I thought I'd read about all possible causes of migraine. Then a friend passed along this information, and I'm floored -- I've definitely been concerned about my heart before, and now you can be sure I'm going to get tested.

There are clinical trials for the procedure going on now, too: http://www.premiumtrial.com/

Good luck to everyone who might benefit from this!

Teri Robert

9/24/09 2:31pm

Tricia,

Thus far, the trials aren't proving that PFO closure for Migraine is as effective as it was thought it would be.

I tried to find information on the trial you linked to on the official government clinical trials site, ClinicalTrials.gov. It's not listed there as an approved trial, and there are no other PFO trials in the US that are enrolling participants. Some of the US trials were closed due to lack of participants.

PFO closure for Migraine is not approved by the FDA, so the only way to get it done is to get into a clinical trial.

Will let you know if I find anything more about the link you posted. I emailed them for more info.

Teri

I have hole in my heart! Causing migraines ???

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