Update to went back to neuro

05/07/08

Chris Z

Topics:Migraine Treatment , Topamax , Alternatives , migraine tests

I know that for the past 27+ years my migraines have clustered, some lasting as shore as a few hours to as long as 2-3 months. The best way to describe them was as chronic cluster migraines at least in layman terms. The headache I had on April 14 scared the crap out of me, because I knew it was a migraine, but the symptoms were acting like a stroke. So I don't think it was wrong to state it was a Complex Migraine w/Stroke-like features is neceassarily wrong. It helped me understand how serious it may be. Many of the symptoms were new, some were not. I think the tests he has ordered is to come up with a more definitive diagnosis or if this is the onset of something autoimmune. The tests include MRI of head & carotids, Thrombosis panel, ANA and (can't remember initials) SED rate, and then TEE by a cardiologist. The dx on the orders is TIA or Complex Migraine. My CT scan from October shows no TIA's. I am taking 50 mg of Topamax and the pain is much reduced, just causes me difficulty in getting up in the morning. Right now I am taking Vicodin, tramadol, or aleve, if I have any active pain. Last week I thought amputation might be a good idea. Other issues I have are Fibromyalgia, and a chronic B-12 deficiency must give shot q 2 wks to stay in the 400s. This alleviates the neuro problems from that. Though my balance issues are starting to happen again. I'm falling a lot.

In this area he has a very good reputation. If I have reason to question him, or his practices I will definitely seek a second opinion.

Another thing that has helped has been a necklace I made with semi-precious stones that have energies to assist in headaches/migraines. I don't understand the metaphysical, but it it does no harm and creates beauty, I'm not challenging it!

So far, thanks for the input I have received. I will be asking more definitive questions once these tests are completed. I go Tuesday for the MRI & blood work and it may be a while for the TEE. That doc is pretty backed up.

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Answers (1)

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Teri Robert

Hello again, Chris!

I understand what you're seying about describing your Migraines in layman's terms. Still, it's difficult for me to offer you a lot of information without the accurate physican's diagnosis. What applies to Migraine without aura may well not apply to Migraine with aura, Basilar-Type Migraine, etc. See what I mean.

That said, if a Migraine lasts longer than 72 hours without a solid, four-hour period of pain-free time, while awake, that's a totally different matter too. That's termed Status Migrainous, and it's recommended that it be treated as an emergency because it can significantly increase stroke risk. See Stauts Migraious - The Basics. If the "standard" treatments usually administered for a long Migraine -- injections of pain and antinausea meds, steroid packs, etc. -- don't work, IV infusion of other meds used for refractory Migraines (descriptive term for Migraines not reacting to medications) may be tried to break the Migraine. See IV Treatment of Refractory Migraine.

The TEE is probably to see if you have a PFO, which may be a Migraine trigger for some people. That's fine, but if it's found you do have a PFO, the only way to legally and ethically have it closed because of Migraine disease is to be in a clinical trial. Since the closure device is still in clinical trials for Migraine prevention, it's not yet FDA approved for that purpose. That's why the only way to have PFO closure for Migraine is in the clinical trials. See PFO and Migraine - "Hole in the Heart" and Migraine?

Hope this helps some!

Teri