Saw neurologist

[Murderfan58]

Saw the neurologist about whether I had stroke or TIA on 6th January. Found out why I collapsed my blood pressure dropped to the floor and it did while on acute cardiac ward so it's well documented.

He decided I didn't have a stroke or TIA but a migraine . But I have never had one before so didn't know the symptoms. But because my T still can't remember how to spell it was 170 that why they thought it was my heart then went that was ruled out after the angiography . Then it was thought to be stroke or TIA.

The pulse on the right side of neck is very visible and easy to feel as you can see it pulsing . But not my left side and the neurologist found it hard to find the pulse there. But going to organise a scan on both sides of my neck check the arteries.

Luckily he knows my neurologist who deals with my hereditary Hyperekplexia gene mutation SLC6A5 type 3 so will send a report to him as well and what he is going to have done.

I didn't realise how bad migraine can be and they can mimic stroke or TIA.

Does anyone have migraine and any advice they gave given me . Plus on the day I was admitted to hospital had started an UTI which I had antibiotics for .

I have low sodium levels again and need retesting on the 3rd at my GP practice.

Life is never dull 😁

[Ageingfast]

Dear Murderfan,

I found simple plain aspirin eased migraine. Then a glass of lager helped reduce the symptoms.

After fifty years of migraine, I didn’t know that a dozen of those attacks were in fact TIAs. I think the difference, for me, was that TIAs messed with my memory e.g. I didn’t know who I was nor where I was.

Then the full stroke got me. That was another ball game altogether. A week in hospital and months of recovery. And some permanent damage.

I now take clopidogrel and a bonus of that drug is that it virtually eliminates migraine and I have not had any more TIAs.

sooty

[Hidden]

I do remember 25 years or so ago the medical researchers were tying the two (TIA and migraines) together.

My migraines turned out to be associated with monthly period and disappeared after menopause. And I would always have them at weekends which my doc at the time put down to my not allowing them during a full-on busy working week but as soon as I relaxed. I too migraleve which is, as far as I remember, only paracetamol and caffeine?

[Murderfan58 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you replying . I forgot to ask if I have the same symptoms again what do I do . Do I just stay home and wait it out or go to A&E. I know you can't help me with that . But normally I ask all the right questions at the time . But yesterday was I felt I had wasted people's time . Until I read up on the migraine charity how they can effect people . Members of my HPX have described what happens to them and the warning signs one is coming on . And about auras an non aura migraine . Having to learn new information. Just when I thought I had a handle on my heart problem and my HPX my body throws up something new .

Life is never boring 😁

[Janeybur in reply to Murderfan58]

Hello, I had migraine since age 14, full blown aura, vomiting etc, but in Nov 2020 collapsed after persistent dizzy spells and stress the previous week. That was when my afib was diagnosed. But vertigo and nausea persisted for a good month afterwards. I read about vestibular migraine ( worth a read) and concluded that it was a fit for my symptoms. Migraine is awful to live with, but can be managed. Beta blockers can help. Now for me back to the more traditional migraine, but on treatment for afib and SVT. Still convinced the vestibular migraine promoted the afib, and once seen never forgotten!Wishing you well x

[Murderfan58 in reply to Janeybur]

Thank you I will research it. Sorry you have suffered so long . 🌹

[Lrfc]

I murder fan I had a cardiac arrest move 23 and a stroke 4 month later since then I have had 6 hemiplegic migraines witch mimic stroke.i go week on one side usually left side of face arms and legs . So I have 6 CT scans in this times which comes back showing no stroke .but at time of having them it's feels like a stroke. But fingers crossed not had one for about 2 months.

[Murderfan58 in reply to Lrfc]

Sorry you are going through all this . My CT scan showed no stroke or TIA but the stroke neurologist wants to have an ultrasound on arteries in neck to check for any blockages as they can cause stroke or TIA . Still thinks it was a migraine but wants to rule this out before saying for definite .

Thinking back an uncle had a stroke caused by blockage in his left artery in his neck . But can't remember what treatment he had this is going back 30 years .

Never thought talking to the neurologist to tell him about that. 🤦.

So will be glad to have my neck scans done and rule out any build up in them . 🌹

[MountainGoat52]

I had fairly severe migraines in my 30s. They came on very quickly and were usually triggered by stress. Often I'd be out of the office working on a job or travelling to site when I had to quickly had to find a lay-by to pull the car into. I kept chewable aspirin and bottled water in the car. It would take an hour or so to pass. Bizarrely when I was 40, I became self-employed and the migraines stopped. Obviously the pressures of my job altered.

Just as an aside, I do get visual disturbances with bright lights around the periphery of my vision. I have established that this is down to dehydration and it responds quite quickly once I get a drink of water. I have also established that occasional pains in my digestive tract are due to dehydration, so now I try to drink a minimum of 2 litres a day, preferably 3 litres as I was advised after my triple bypass.

[Murderfan58 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Thank you for telling me . I don't stress about anything the worst thing to ever happen to me 21 years ago when my husband died aged 47. So I don't stress about anything .

I have low sodium levels and have to be careful not to have more than 8-10 drinks a day otherwise it dilutes my sodium even more . Used to have problems to much potassium but been on low potassium diet for over 10 years. And not had problems since . My sodium levels have been low for years . But when I asked how to raise them was told to make to have salt . But sodium and sodium carbonate ( salt) are different.

Just hope the ultrasound on my neck arteries might show up something . 😊

[MountainGoat52 in reply to Murderfan58]

I'm surprised by the advice given to you regarding taking salt. I would have thought something more constructive would have been offered to allow you to hydrate properly.

Hopefully the scans will provide some answers to the issues you are experiencing.

[Murderfan58 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Thank you it was my GP who said about the salt. The neurologist wanted to wait for the scans to be done . Which I am happy about would rather have the proper advice once they have all the facts.