How common it is for a lupus patient with often migraines to have a stroke?

[ribitribi]

[daisyd]

Do you also have Hughes syndrome. I have both Hughes and Lupus, migraines and strokes are common with this condition, maybe worth checking Hughes out

Good luck

Karen

[Tigerlily4]

I've had SLE for almost 30 years with accompanying migraines (bad enough on a few occasions to put me in hospital) but no stroke so far, touch wood!

[Sher78]

I had a stroke at 16 (that's how they managed 2 diagnose me) but not had 1 in the last 18 years. I get really savage headaches all the time (caused by lupus & APS). I've had a couple of small clots since but nothing major & in all honesty, once u've had a stroke it's supposed 2 make u more susceptible 2 more but so far so good ;0)

[daisyd]

Hi are you on any anticoagulant to stop blood clots, I have been on all these at different times Warfarin , Asprin , and Clexane so hope this prevents me from having from having another clot .

[Sher78]

Personally I've been on warfarin 4 almost 19 years (every so often I switch 2 clexane 4 a few months) & I've still had clots, even with a mentally high INR so although it guards against clots, it aint impossible unfortunately :0/ I had a couple of big 1's in my legs & also phlebitis a few times. I was looking at the APS/Hughes board the other nite & was stunned 2 read of a few people who were long term warfarin users actually having strokes, even with high range INR's so I guess nothing's set in stone.

[Riverbird]

Do not know, but I suffer with hemiplegic migraines that can mimic a stroke. Speech slurring, loss of use down one side, altered vision and confusion and feeling off-balance. It corrects itself, often within the hour. Sometimes you do not even get the headache with them. Whereas a stroke does not go away like that.

The first one I had was very frightening as I thought it was a stroke and was taken to hospital

where they confirmed the migraine diagnosis but I think they are not that common.

[ribitribi]

Hello to everyone and thank you for the replies and the information.

I will have to check with my doctor again for the Hughes syndrome although he never mentioned that. My daily treatment consists 200mg Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine), 5mg of Prednisolone and 100mg of Aspirin. My doctor advised me 15 years ago to have in treatment Aspirin just for precaution.

But what worries me a lot is that all my life I have been suffering from extreme migraines and lately I found out that strokes are part of lupus too.

I guess I will have to look about it with my doc. The more aware we are about our health condition the more worried as well.... :s

[Tigerlily4]

I appreciate it's easy for me to say "try not to worry about things that *might* happen" but quite honestly I'd have worried myself into a grave long ago had I not changed tactics. The extra stress it brings is not good for you and can make the disease worse. Much better to try to focus on other things and deal with additional symptoms as and when they arise (if ever). People (like me) with lupus but without Hughes syndrome do have migraines so they're not an indication that there's a more serious underlying process. Hope that helps! x