blurry double vision, eyes crossing, "blacking out", hand weakness, dizziness. Some days it is sporadic, but off and on all day, today lasting all day. His doctor thinks these are migraines and has started him on amitriptyline and he is scheduled for an MRI, but not for 3 more weeks. I am getting more and more worried about this. Your thoughts?
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Q: My 16 year old son has been having classic migraines with aura for about 2 years. Recently he started getting other weird visual symptoms -
Answers (2)
11/11/10 3:14pm
Lucy,
"Blacking out" during Migraines is not common. True weakness, as opposed to numbness, occurs only with hemiplegic Migraine. You can read more about that in Hemiplegic Migraine - The Basics. I've never heard of eye crossing as a symptom of Migraine.
It's good that an MRI is scheduled so that other causes for the symptoms can be ruled out. How long has he been taking the amitirptyline? It can take up to three months to know if it's going to help.
In your position, I'd be concerned too. You could call the hospital where the MRI is scheduled and ask them to call you if they get an opining and could do it sooner. Beyond that, the only suggestion I can make is to get a second opinion if you're not comfortable with the current doctor's diagnosis and treatment. Of course, it would probably take you at least three weeks to get in to another doctor, but once the MRI is done, you can get copies of it for any doctor you wish.
Please keep me posted?
Teri
11/10/10 1:01am
It sounds like Migraines with Aura, which can last up to 24 hours minimum or as long as 72 + hours. An MRI also an MRI with Contrast is a very good idea to rule out any other possibiliaties.
I have been having Migraines with Auras since I was 16, mine are chronic as well as genetic. Amitriptyline can help it just depends on what dosage his doctor places him on. I would strongly advise against Topamax, When I was place on it....I had memory problems among other things. Most doctors have their on personal preference on a migraine cocktail that they prefer to give. I have been given DHE 45,Frovatriptan (Frova), Rizatriptan (Maxalt), Sumatriptan (Imitrex), Toradol tablets as well as the injections, Midrin, Prodrin, baclofen, Propranolol, Nortriptyline, Paroxetine (Paxil), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Topiramate (Topamax), Gabapentin (Neurontin), Divalproex sodium (Depakote), Treximet, Migranal, D.H.E. 45.....etc
You will find that many of the medications that they may prescribe will be Anti-depressants and Anti-seizure medication.
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By Lucy— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 11/09/10
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