Friday, November 28, 2008 JofME asks

Q: Can early strokes in family history have any connection w/my migraines?

I have had headaches since I was 17, but after each child (I've had 3) the frequency has seemed to increased.

These headaches are debilitating. It's starts with the aura where I can't see anything on the side of me. Sometimes it happens with my right eye, I can't see anything or it gets fuzzy. Then the headache comes so fast sometimes I can't get to my meds in time to get ahead of it.

I've been on everything to prevent, stop, ease the pain.... nothing works. Once the aura starts, I have maybe 20 min. tops to give myself an injection or I'm out for 3 days. I get vertigo so bad that I fall over. It's scary for my children to see. I even fell over at a public funcion and had to get put into an ambulance. That was when I told myself I had to find other options.

I get cluster headaches after the migraine because of the medications taken to ease the pain and symptoms of the migraines. I have been out of work since Oct. 1 of this year. I've been trying to figure this out. I got off any extra medication that could increase the frequency of the headaches. Plus I take narcotic pain relievers (for another condition) but it doesn't touch the pain.

My doctor got Botox approved through my insurance in the begining of Nov. and I went ahead and got the shots. I was very hopeful, I went 2 1/2 weeks without a headache! But 4 days ago I got a migraine and it put me out for 3 days. I went to the in-laws for Thanksgiving and half way through the day I started to get another headache. I was in tears it hurt so bad! I read an article a friend sent to me and it had this website address. I had to lay in bed half the day today because my head hurt so bad.

I worry because of my family history. My grandmother had a stroke when she was 29 yrs. old and my aunt had a stroke when she was 35 yrs. old. This was on both sides of my family. My blood pressure runs high at times but the doctor took me off my blood pressure medicine. There are other issues to be considered and that is I have bipolar disorder. I like my doctor,but I would like to get another opinion. I've tried to track what I eat/drink and try to limit my caffine intake. Any other suggestions?

Answers (2)

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Teri Robert

12/ 2/08 12:49pm

JofME,

Family history of stroke can be frightening, and rightly so. With such a history, it's important to work with your doctor to manage modifiable risk factors such as diet, smoking, birth control pills, exercise, etc. High blood pressure is also a risk factor for stroke, so it needs to be managed.

It's doubtful that your family history of stroke is related to your Migraines, but you need to know that having Migraine with aura does increase your risk of stroke. The increased risk isn't anything to panic over, but certainly, you should discuss it with your doctor, and it makes it more important to control those risk factors that you can. For more informtion on Migraine and increased stroke risk, see Migraine with Aura Linked To Cardiovascular Disease in Women and Migraine and Stroke Risk.

I know how easy it is to feel as if you've tried everything out there, but there are so many medications that can be used for Migraine and headache prevention that it's literally impossible. You can find a list of potential Migraine and headache preventives in Migraine preventive medications - too many options to give up!

Be sure that the doctor who treats you for Migraines and the doctor who treats you for bipolar disorder work together. Some medications can be used to treat both.

If your doctor isn't able to help you, it may well be time to consult a Migraine and headache specialist. It's important to note that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine and headache specialists. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.

I know you're going through a rough time. If you'd like some additional support, come join our discussion forum. You'll need to register again once there because it's a separate membership database, but you can use the same member name, email address, and password that you used here. You can find our forum at http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/migraine/forums.

Hope this helps,

Teri

Lori Bowles

2/19/09 6:55am

Hi, my name is Lori, has your Dr. checked for a PFO? Patent Foremen Ovale is a small hole in the heart that is usually between the right and left ventricle. Most people don't even know they have one but suffer from migraines all their lives. There is also a high possibility for strokes, the only symptom that you have that doesn't quite fit is high blood pressure but I would still ask to get checked. The procedure is very simple, its called a Doppler test and completed in a cardiologist office normally by two nurses.

It might be worth talking to the neurologist about. Hope this helps

Q: Can early strokes in family history have any connection w/my migraines?

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