Monday, February 13, 2012
Friday, July 04, 2008 jackie brown asks

Q: Can TIA's be mistaken for silent migraines?

In the past 12 years I have had painful headache migraines.  I am a 65 year old female.

For the past 3 or 4 years I have had TIA symptoms: broken speech/ trouble finding the

correct word/ using the ending word of a sentence with a word that is totally out of con-

text/ slow speech/ going blank before speacking; Imbalance problems:  staggered walk,

bumping into things, can't walk a straight line, sway when I close my eyes standing still;

The attacks do not appear to be on one side.  I talked to a pharmacist recently and she

wondered if these might be silent migraines.  I have had MRI's, neurological testing by a neurologist, heart testing, etc.  Nothing can be found in all of the test.  My primary physician says she doesn't know what is causing the attacks although she believes it is nothing serious because of all the testing she has done.  Is it possible she has overlooked

the possibility of silent migraines?  I have quit going to the hospital and calling an ambulance and have just gone to bed.  The imbalance has continued from 3-30 days.  The speech problems go away within a day.  My ENT has checked me also...nothing.

thanks.  Jackie

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Answers (2)
7/ 6/08 9:33pm

Hi Jackie

 

I can't answer the question about TIA's but I can tell you that some Migraineurs experience symptoms similar to yours during the aura phase of a Migraine attack. There are actually four phases of an attack: prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome, but not everyone experiences all phases. I don't have aura. You can read more about that HERE.

 

Acephalgic Migraine, or Silent Migraine, occurs without the headache phase of a Migraine. 

 

Seeing a Migraine specialist may be the best thing to do, because they are the experts in treating patients with Migraines and headache disorders. We have a list of patient recommended specialists you can see by clicking HERE

 

Good luck

Nancy

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7/ 6/08 8:50pm

Jackie, I'm sorry , I forgot to tell you, by 6 am the next day, June 11th, I started coming out of it. They were running more tests, so I didn't leave the hospital until Friday morning, June13th.  I know everyone at the hospital were thinking TIA/stroke. Sure glad it wasn't! SubSailor566 (Bill)

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