Anyone Familiar with **COMPLEX MIGRAINES**?

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DouglasPeeps

DouglasPeeps

Songster
11 Years
Feb 26, 2008
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Colorado
I am curious about how many of you here on BYC are familiar with this particular type of migraine. Until this past weekend, I had never heard of them. The symptoms are the same as regular migraines as in extreme headache, sensitive to light, vomiting, etc. They differ from a typical migraine in that they also have neuro symptoms that mimic a stroke.

Needless to say, this was not a good weekend. DD had one of these migraines. We spent the night in the ER and they ran a myriad of tests (MRI, CT scan, spinal tap) to rule out anything more serious, i.e. blood vessel that had burst, mass in brain, etc. Thankfully all came back negative, which confirms that she had a complex migraine. There are no words to describe what it feels like to see your 12-year-old mixing words, slurring words, unable to get the words to come out, or being confused. These neuro symptoms lasted about 8 hours and then gradually went away. She is still exhausted, but improving. It has been a rough couple of days. We meet with a neuro doctor that specializes in migraines on Monday.

So, if you have any experience with this, I am all ears....
 
Oh, my. Poor thing. I have suffered from migraines all my life. First, my vision gets distorted, then I start seeing spots, then it's like I have blind spots. All the while I'm just pretty much in a panic because I know the excrutiating pain in coming. Once the vision returns to normal the headache settles on one side or the other, usually right behind one of my eyes. It is horrible.

My son't b day party was this past weekend and we had like 18 kids coming + all the little siblings and parents for a cookout. While getting ready, you guessed it, I started getting a migraine. I was beside myself just thinking that I would my son't b day party. I took 3 ibuprofen right away. Then I thought since my bloodvessels in my brain were constricting, that's what causes the weird vision problems, I would take a baby aspirin to thin my blood a little. I have never had my vision mess up and then not get the headache. Except this time. I was so relieved. No headache, I was beside myself. I know it has a lot to do with all the prayers that I was saying and I also asked dear son to say a little one for mommy's head. We had a great party.

I'm so sorry your 12 year old has to deal with this. Mine are always brought on by hormones or stress (like the party). I sure hope you find a way to help her so she doesn't have to deal with these the rest of her life. It is a real handicap because usually as soon as my vision goes, I take sleeping pills and go to a dark room to sleep it off.
 
Sorry, I have classic migraines with the cool, spaceship light auras. As soon as I recognize the little flashing lights and blind spots I rush for the meds and rarely have the more violent effects. I'd love to know if your daughter's migraines will respond to medication. Hope she feels better soon and doesn't have to go through it again.
 
I'm sorry about your daughter. I have regular migraines so I can't help you with the other kind. It might be that she has had migraines afor a long time, but hasn't been able to describe them. Hopefully this is not something related to puberty and hormones, because that would take awhile to settle out.

Good luck with the neurologist.
 
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When I gave her ibuprofen at home she didnot respond. She didn't respond to the first meds that were given to her in her IV at the ER. She finally responded when given morphine.
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mom'sfolly :

I'm sorry about your daughter. I have regular migraines so I can't help you with the other kind. It might be that she has had migraines afor a long time, but hasn't been able to describe them. Hopefully this is not something related to puberty and hormones, because that would take awhile to settle out.

Good luck with the neurologist.

Thanks..... I have been wondering the same thing about hormones and her having them for a while. We are thinking now that she has been having them since the beginning of fall, but not to this extent.

I have a list of questions for the neurologist.​
 
I'm really sorry to hear that happened and your daughter went through all that.

I have regular migraines pretty often and take a prescription for them now. I sympathize with the scare you and your daughter had. I have had two "ocular" migraines over the years. The first time I had one they did all the testing to me to rule out stroke, but not the spinal tap. The next time I had an ocular migraine the neurologist didn't make me go through it all again. It wasn't as exhausting as you describe a complex migraine.

When I was in college I had to have a spinal tap. That alone wiped me out for two weeks. Every time I stood up I got dizzy and nauseous and I had no energy.

How about looking it up on WebMD. My neighbor swears by that site. I stay away though. If I went looking too close at symptoms and treatments I would turn a bruise into a tumor in 12 hours.

Maybe ask about environmental or hormonal causes when you see the doctor? My brother in law had migraines that were allergy related. He outgrew them after his teens. Lots of women report a hormonal link to their migraines.

I wish I could have been of more help in my response, but I'll add her to my prayer list at least.
 
"Did you know migraine sufferers have different brains from other people?

It’s true. The latest neuroscience reveals that those who experience migraines have marked differences in their brain structures. Migraine-prone individuals experience sensory input – including pain – differently from those who never get migraines. Their brain matter in the area that counts, the somatosensory cortex, is thicker. What scientists don’t know is if migraines cause brain matter changes, or if some folks are simply born with different brains and are therefore susceptible to migraines later in life. Folks with Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis have similar brain differences.

Unlike chronic tension headaches or reactive headaches (such as those brought on by consuming too much alcohol or caffeine withdrawal), migraine headaches are dangerous because they alter the brain permanently. That’s why it is essential for migraine sufferers to treat their migraines through both natural and medical avenues. Experts explain that it is imperative for migraine-prone individuals to limit the severity and frequency of their migraines; that is, it is actually safer for a migraine sufferer to take a limited amount of migraine medication in order to reduce the aggregate damage of ongoing migraines left untreated. This is a case where I don’t come down on the use of a pharmaceutical therapy (yes, you heard it from me). While migraine treatments can have side effects, the alternative – downing huge piles of pills in desperation when a migraine hits – is demonstrably worse for your health. Of course, there are often triggers for migraine, and it’s crucial to examine your lifestyle and eliminate any triggers - especially now that we know such violent headaches may alter your brain structure.

Common Triggers

- Refined carbohydrates

- Chocolate

- Overripe fruit

- Alcohol

- Sweets

- Caffeine

- Sleep deprivation

- Menstrual cycles

- Stress

- Smoke (cigarette/cigar smoke)

- Excess sun (or too little sun)

- Anxiety

Seeing a pattern here? Migraine rates have increased in recent years. While better diagnosis probably plays a significant role in this, I believe our standard American lifestyle is clearly implicated as well. Few folks eat fresh, chemical-free, sugar-free, unprocessed foods as a matter of course. Going further, our modern pace of living is incredibly stressful, both emotionally and hormonally. If you suffer from migraines, give my Primal Health lifestyle a try and see if that helps clear things up (link 1, link 2). If you’re a regular reader you know we focus on fresh, clean, wholesome foods, coupled with stress management (both physical and mental).

Migraine Myths

Curious about migraines? I’m lucky; I don’t get them. But I’ve got friends and family members and staff who have experienced these terrible, gut-wrenching, blinding headaches. For the record, a migraine is not simply a really bad headache. They are a true health condition, like inflammation or bipolar disorder. You can’t will them away and the pain is not an exaggeration.

- Migraines can’t be cured.

While this is generally true, they can often be controlled and even eliminated (if that’s not “cured”…). A staff member suffered migraines for years; after cutting out all carbohydrates from grain sources, the migraines cleared up permanently. Diet, lifestyle, and medical therapy can all help to keep migraines under control for good.

- Migraines are caused by allergies/toxins.

Conspiracy theorists wish it were true. Migraines are not caused by allergies or contaminants. While lifestyle plays a dramatic part in migraine treatment, it is unclear if lifestyle causes migraines, or if some folks are simply more susceptible to migraines due to brain differences. This recent study we discussed above seems to suggest the latter. While we all have a single genetic “blueprint” finished some 10,000 years ago, there are bound to be plenty of variations. Some of us are lactose-intolerant; others cannot metabolize alcohol; and others experience migraines. I believe migraines are likely due to a combination of slight genetic variation combined with modern lifestyle factors." http://www.marksdailyapple.com/migraine-news-and-tips/
 
I've only had one of those ministroke migraines, thank the Gods. I felt something "pop" on the left side of my head and I couldn't feel my left arm for like a half an hour...I was by myself with just Obelisk...

I usually get the "classic" ones though. Starts with the rainbow aura, then kablam.

Not to be too personal, but if she's in "that age", sometimes our lovely female hormones will bring on a migraine when it's our time of the month. That sets mine off along with air pressure changes and stress.
 
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Thanks...I have actually done quite a bit of reasearch. Just looking for some personal first hand experience with this.
 

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