I have not had a stroke myself from a migraine, but it is definitely a possibility.  I found out about this when I started reading newsletters and websites pertaining to migraine. 

The son of a friend of mine died at age 33 from a brain hemorrhage.  He'd had a history of migraines and was having what he told his family was "a mother of a headache" with severe pain, nausea, and vomiting.  Unfortunately, neither he nor his family realized the danger he was in.  By the time he was taken to the ER, he'd already said his goodbyes to his parents and sister.  His brain had been profoundly damaged, and he died at the hospital.

The possibility of stroke with a migraine is why it's important to contact a doctor or go to an emergency facility if a migraine is different from usual. 

raccoongirl

10/22/09 3:16pm

I had a horrific migraine followed the next day by what the doctors think was a TIA.  We'll never know for sure since the ER doctor sent me home that night.  I was told by my old neurologist (had just moved to a different state) to go back to the ER, but since 3 days had already elapsed we'll never know if it was a TIA. 

So my recommendation for anyone ever in this situation is if you're suspecting a TIA insist they look into further at the ER, rather than just getting sent home.

Nana Pat

10/22/09 4:37pm

You indicated that your TIA was diagnosed via a CT scan. That scan will be/has been read by a radiologist, who writes a report for your hospital records. You can request a copy of that report for yourself, as well as for any physician you want to discuss it with. You can call the medical records department of the hospital to ask for a copy of this report to be sent to you. It would be good if you also consulted a neurologist about this. The neurologist can request a copy of the scan, as well as the report in order to treat you.

I'm 35.  I just recently had a third stroke - two previously on the left side, and the recently on the right side.  As well, I've had dozens of TIA's or small strokes.  TIA's started at 19, the major stroke at 25, where I had to relearn writing and understanding language (Aphasia).  The aphasia is still present when I'm tired or stressed, and have a hard time understanding numbers over the phone - I actually have learned a little lip reading, as when I hear something, my brain has a hard time deciphering the words, but my eyes can help decipher b's or g's. 

Unfornatley, the best my doctors have to 'help' is a baby aspirin.  I'm healthy - no high blood press, no high cholestrol, etc.  My migraines happen at night while I'm sleeping - I will wake up confused, unable to remember my name, etc.  A few hours later, I'm better and can understand some language.  Then I know I've had a TIA.  I don't go to the hospital for TIA's, but if I'm still confused and weak on one side, I go the ER.  But there is little they can  do for me - if they believe me at all.  Just get another CAT scan, to confirm brain damage.

One doctor has said I have Sympathetic Vasospams - Where the arteries shrink to nothing, and parts of my brain do not receive blood - brain minus fresh blood equals dead brain in those spots.  There is little on the net to discuss this causal effect - only one site that has to do with SV in hands and toes, nothing about brain effects. 

The only thing that is common for my strokes and TIA's is that I am stressed - financially, or relationships, etc.  What you should do is learn to destress - mediatate, yoga, or anti-anxiety drugs.  Do your best to happy and stress free, and hopefully that will lessen your chances of migraines that lead to stroke.