Could migraine answer my long search?

Full Question:

Since I was about 15 years old, I've had health problems.

Many symptoms including the more reccurent visual disturbance (floaters, flashes, light distortion) general fatigue, sudden onset of weakness, feeling spaced out, unreal, dizziness, nausea, unsteadiness when im standing up (as if getting out of a boat or elevator), fast heartbeat (120-200bpm), and many CNS related symptoms. Of course these brought me massive amounts of anxiety and an episode of shattering depression.

All of this got much worst after I got Influenza 4 years ago.

Recently, I've had something hapened to me wich was like my worst nightmare, my vision started to gradually blurr, a spot of light in the corner of my eye that started to grow, in my left eye and spreaded out through my whole field of view, minutes later all i was seeing was some brigth lights, lines, colors, a kaleidoscope from my brain, I was freaking out badly, the intense part lasted 20 minutes, overall took about 1 hour to subside, After some research, I've found it was a migraine with aura.

Never had it that intense again, only that once, but when I have my episodes of feeling bad, I get all weird, very sensible to light, sound and/or any stimuli, my body feels like it's in shock, sometimes I can barely walk I feel like I'm too weak and too unsteady on my feet. I just sit and wait for it to pass. Goes from 20 minutes to 4 hours.

It's easier for me to count the days that I feel ok than the ones I feel sick. Could this episode answer all the symptoms I've had before ? I never really have signicant headaches or pains, I feel that all my symptoms are related to my central nervous system and/or head.

I now take Bisoprolol in small doses for the tachycardia attacks I've had and it seems to help with all the other symptoms.

Thank you. Gudsy.
 

Answer:

Dear Gudsy;

You said that, after some research, you discovered that the episode you described was Migraine with aura? Has that been diagnosed by a doctor? Be cautious about self-diagnosis. There are other conditions that can product the same symptoms. Migraine is a genetic neurological disease. Is there any history of Migraine, "sinus headache," or "sick headache" in your family?

Migraine might explain most of your symptoms, but must be diagnosed by a doctor who can review your medical history and family medical history, conduct a full exam, and rule out other causes. If it is Migraine, it makes sense that bisoprolol helps as it is sometimes used successfully for Migraine prevention.

Good luck,
John Claude Krusz and Teri Robert

About Ask the Clinician:

Dr. Krusz is a recognized expert in the fields of headache and Migraine treatment and pain treatment. Each week, he and Lead Expert Teri Robert, team up to answer your questions about headaches and Migraines. You can read more about Dr. Krusz or more about Teri Robert.