Migraines, not Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA)

Does anyone else suffer from migraines and worry that your migraines are related to your aneurysm? For years I was misdiagnosed with TIAs because the symptoms are so similar to silent migraines. Fortunately, none of the CAT scans showed any bleeding so the doctors were as perplexed as I was! Now, at the recommendation of my neurosurgeon, I have seen a migraine specialist. Silent migraines have many of the same symptoms as TIAs and all of the symptoms of a migraine, but NO pain! The migraines are becoming more frequent now. Lately, I've had an episode about once a week. They leave me completely drained. All I can do is go home and get in bed. Sometimes I can't even drive I am left so weak. They are awful - because I like to be active.

Anyway, I just want to know if anyone else has migraines, with or without pain, and worry (like I did for years) that it's related to your aneurysm.

HI My name is Nicole and YES how i know what you are dealing with. I have had 2 this week. Started in my left eye (above and in) and I was out of commission ALL day yesterday and now today it is in the other eye. The doctors tell me that migraines and aneurysms are not related but seems to me they have to be. This is almost unbearable and naprosin and fiorecet DO not work i have tried it. I feel like if I address this with my doc who did the craniotomy he will answer again the two are not related. I have got to get relief from this not to mention the mental anguish it causes as that is what you think while you suffer through the migraine (maybe the aneurysm is going to burst)… I am open for any advice or suggestions Sincerely, Nicole

Hi, My name is Ken. I have been told that I had migraines but my systoms are not the typical migraine headaches. I am not sensitive to noise or light. As they go on I get totally drained and even have trouble moving my limbs. I wind up in the ER at least 1 or 2 times a year because I am sure that it is another aneurysm. The only thing that helps me when they are that bad is the pain medicine shots they give me. Two weekends ago I took my pain meds and went to bed. Now I am wondering if it is migraines.

Ken,

I do understand. On Friday I had an EEG and hope to get the results back this week. This MIGHT give my doctors a clue as to whether it’s migraines with seizure symptomology or seizures with migrain symptomology. Either way, I have the symptoms of both migraines and seizures. I do get the spaced out look, the confusion, the disorientation, the total wipeout - must go immediately to bed fatigue and the migraine aura, but I am Blessed in that I don’t have headache pain. I don’t have noise, light sensitivity either. I am more like in a trance state when I experience the migraines. As I said in my description, for years the emergency room doctors, neurologists and my PC physician told me it was TIAs, but there was never any brain bleed that they could find. They were baffled. It took my neurosurgeon to suggest that I see a neurologist that specializes in migraines and seizures as he was sure that my ‘episodes’ were not caused by my aneurysm. After doing much research - I agree.

Here’s wishing you a pain free, happy day!

Ken Stratmann said:

Hi, My name is Ken. I have been told that I had migraines but my systoms are not the typical migraine headaches. I am not sensitive to noise or light. As they go on I get totally drained and even have trouble moving my limbs. I wind up in the ER at least 1 or 2 times a year because I am sure that it is another aneurysm. The only thing that helps me when they are that bad is the pain medicine shots they give me. Two weekends ago I took my pain meds and went to bed. Now I am wondering if it is migraines.

I was diagnosed with two unruptured aneurysms, I had the coil surgery done in December 09 for the larger one and the other one will be monitored. Since surgery, I have been experiencing Ocular Migraines, first one was two days after surgery, and I was getting them once a month but the last two weeks, I have had 8. It is a zig zagging line that starts out small and gets larger and lasts for 20 minutes but no headache but I also have really bad head tingling and head pressure. My Dr. said there is no connection between these migraines and the aneursyms. I am going to see a Neurologist in a couple of weeks. Has anyone else experienced these kind of migraines with or without surgery?

Hi, I’m Marsha, and I am a suffer from weekly headaches with nausea and vomiting. I feel like I’m alone out here. Some medical professionals don’t really believe me or my pain level.

Hello Nicole, I’m pleased to meet someone that doesn’t think that I’m NUTS! I got started on a new drug called Topamax. I’ve been on it for about a year now, it works on occassion. It’s a preventative medication. But, I still suffer tremendously. And I’m out of whack for days after my migraines. I see a Dr. at Kaiser that I am very grateful for. She understands my problem and does whatever she can to accomondate my ailment for the time period. Are you a mother too?

Nikki Batts said:

HI My name is Nicole and YES how i know what you are dealing with. I have had 2 this week. Started in my left eye (above and in) and I was out of commission ALL day yesterday and now today it is in the other eye. The doctors tell me that migraines and aneurysms are not related but seems to me they have to be. This is almost unbearable and naprosin and fiorecet DO not work i have tried it. I feel like if I address this with my doc who did the craniotomy he will answer again the two are not related. I have got to get relief from this not to mention the mental anguish it causes as that is what you think while you suffer through the migraine (maybe the aneurysm is going to burst)… I am open for any advice or suggestions Sincerely, Nicole

marsha pryer said:

Hello Nicole, I’m pleased to meet someone that doesn’t think that I’m NUTS! I got started on a new drug called Topamax. I’ve been on it for about a year now, it works on occassion. It’s a preventative medication. But, I still suffer tremendously. And I’m out of whack for days after my migraines. I see a Dr. at Kaiser that I am very grateful for. She understands my problem and does whatever she can to accomondate my ailment for the time period. Are you a mother too?

Nikki Batts said:
HI My name is Nicole and YES how i know what you are dealing with. I have had 2 this week. Started in my left eye (above and in) and I was out of commission ALL day yesterday and now today it is in the other eye. The doctors tell me that migraines and aneurysms are not related but seems to me they have to be. This is almost unbearable and naprosin and fiorecet DO not work i have tried it. I feel like if I address this with my doc who did the craniotomy he will answer again the two are not related. I have got to get relief from this not to mention the mental anguish it causes as that is what you think while you suffer through the migraine (maybe the aneurysm is going to burst)… I am open for any advice or suggestions Sincerely, Nicole

I agree with you Nicole. If aneurysms and migraines are not related then why is it I never had headaches prior to my aneurysm surgeries. Also Marsha I don’t know what your dose of Topamax is but I can tell you that I took Topamax for over a year and then my insurance switched me to the generic Topriamate when it became available. I think that the generic Topriamate is less effective than the brand Topamax so maybe you just need to adjust the dose. Ask you doc for a Topamax level, simple blood test.

marsha pryer said:

Hello Nicole, I’m pleased to meet someone that doesn’t think that I’m NUTS! I got started on a new drug called Topamax. I’ve been on it for about a year now, it works on occassion. It’s a preventative medication. But, I still suffer tremendously. And I’m out of whack for days after my migraines. I see a Dr. at Kaiser that I am very grateful for. She understands my problem and does whatever she can to accomondate my ailment for the time period. Are you a mother too?
Nikki Batts said:
HI My name is Nicole and YES how i know what you are dealing with. I have had 2 this week. Started in my left eye (above and in) and I was out of commission ALL day yesterday and now today it is in the other eye. The doctors tell me that migraines and aneurysms are not related but seems to me they have to be. This is almost unbearable and naprosin and fiorecet DO not work i have tried it. I feel like if I address this with my doc who did the craniotomy he will answer again the two are not related. I have got to get relief from this not to mention the mental anguish it causes as that is what you think while you suffer through the migraine (maybe the aneurysm is going to burst)… I am open for any advice or suggestions Sincerely, Nicole

Hi everyone (esp. Nikki - I’ve missed you!!) my name is Mayra and I too suffer from headaches very often. I don’t know whether to label them as migraines or not, but they are strong and often. Like many of you, my neurosurgeon doesn’t think the headaches are related to my aneurysm. My neurologist started me on brand name Topamax about 1-1/2 yrs ago as a preventive measure. I think it did seem to help, but by a long shot no miracle drug. Like mentioned above I too was switched to the generic of Topamax and feel like my headaches have increased. I’m in the process of trying to get my insurance to agree to pay for brand name. I do take an herbal medication that my neurologist suggested by the name of Petadolex (butterbur) that I know does help. It’s nice to know we are not alone in this. Marsha you’re NOT nuts…just seems like a norm for us. Thomasina, good luck with getting the results. I hope you are able to get some answers.

Mayra

Hi Myra! Thanks for the reply. I wonder why everyone is on Topirmate. Of course, we all were switched to it when Topamax price increased. But I also agree that it doesn’t work as well. Insurance Companies do not want to pay for this medication. So the consumer/ patient will suffer as usual. Good luck in all your endeavors.

Mayra Kent said:

Hi everyone (esp. Nikki - I’ve missed you!!) my name is Mayra and I too suffer from headaches very often. I don’t know whether to label them as migraines or not, but they are strong and often. Like many of you, my neurosurgeon doesn’t think the headaches are related to my aneurysm. My neurologist started me on brand name Topamax about 1-1/2 yrs ago as a preventive measure. I think it did seem to help, but by a long shot no miracle drug. Like mentioned above I too was switched to the generic of Topamax and feel like my headaches have increased. I’m in the process of trying to get my insurance to agree to pay for brand name. I do take an herbal medication that my neurologist suggested by the name of Petadolex (butterbur) that I know does help. It’s nice to know we are not alone in this. Marsha you’re NOT nuts…just seems like a norm for us. Thomasina, good luck with getting the results. I hope you are able to get some answers.

Mayra

Thank you for all your replies. I have suffered from migraines since I was 18 years old. I had a ruptured aneurrysm at 25 years. Since my rupture I get migraine auras still but have been spared from a terrible headache thus far. I just get really tired and have a dull headache for a few days. My biggest problem is that they just terrify me since I had a rupture. I even stay home some days because I am too scared to leave my house and get an auora. How do you all deal with the anxiety. I don’t want to become an addict but I take a lot of xanax to “deal” with it. I have a blog if you are interested and I LOVE comments from survivors! walkingtalkingmiracle.blogspot.com
thanks for “listening”, Lisa

yup…I worry, worry, worry!

Do you have an aneurysm? I also have silent migraines and I have a small inoperable aneurysm.

I have had the zig zag lightning bolts in my eyes, and no headache. Even before I was diagnosed with an aneurysm, I have had symptoms and bad migraines off and on for years. Also, my eyes are sooooo sensitive to the light. Terrible, sometimes.

Hello group!
I had my first migraine at 23. Horrible sound/light sensitivity- vomiting and then sleep with a day of flat out fatigue. I only had maybe one of these a year- life was GREAT! Then about 10 years ago the migraines just escalated out of control- vomiting/dizziness/light/sound sensitivity- fatigue- it was Aweful- I was diagnosed with and had a 7 mm bilobular aneurysm at my left MCA- attempted coiling was unsuccessful- and I had a crani with a clip in 08/31/2015…… the result- the headaches initially seemed better after surgery- but within months I was back at it. I’ve tried pretty much every migraine med out there- I’m not tolerant to most medications and only took tramadol for my brain surgery. I did Botox which helped- but only lasted 8 weeks- Insurance of course will only pay for every 12 weeks …. I had a nerve decompression surgery 7 weeks ago and have had only one headache lasting 4 hours since!!! This has completely changed my life…. Look into it- it’s not for everyone…… I have been Headache free for almost 2 months- it’s been the best 2 months in 10 years!!! Good luck!