Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, July 25, 2009 ally asks

Q: my neurologist and gynecologist disagree on if it's okay for me to be on birth control. help! :]

i'm 18 years old and a few months ago i woke up one morning before school and my hand was tingling. i blew it off and went to school. by the middle of the day it had gone all the way up my arm. by the end of the day the entire right side of my body was tingling. i wasn't that worried about it so i just kind of blew it off agian.  i went to dinner with my family and we were in a dark restaurant. my mother noticed that my right pupil was way more dilated than my left one. so my mom freaked out and took me to the ER. well after about six hours of being in the hospital and having multiple tests done they sent me home and told me to go to a neurologist. so the next day i went there and he told me that i have a thing called a basiler migraine.

 

i was on birth control pills at the time and i do smoke cigarettes.

so the neurologist told me i had to stop taking birth control pills right away.

 

so i did stop taking the pill and now i am trying to figure out what other options i have. my gynecologist told me that i could get the shot and i also have a few other options but she called the neurologist and he seems to think that i can not be on any kind of birth control at all.

 

so basically my neurologist and my gynecologist disagree and i have no idea who is right.

 

so can i be on any kind of birth control?

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Answers (1)
Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide
7/30/09 12:50pm

Hi ally,

 

Unfortunately, I am not a medical professional and therefore cannot tell you whether birth control is something you "can" or "cannot" take. What I can do is provide you with information and support about Migraine disease and Basilar-Type Migraine. How does that sound? 

 

Basilar-Type Migraine(BTM) is a Migraine with aura, starting in the brainstem, where both sides of the brain are affected at the same time. It is important to note there is no motor weakness with BTM,but may have what's called bilateral paresthesias (tingling, numbness, or uncomfortable) feelings during the aura. We have more information on this in the article:  Basilar-Type Migraine - The Basics.

 

BTM may be best treated by 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.

Good luck

Nancy

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By ally— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 07/25/09