Out of the blue, my husband had what we thought was a stroke but now believe was a migraine aura almost two weeks ago. The migraine auras have been quite significant where he is very confused, unable to speak sometimes, and not able to comprehend meaning we can't leave him alone because he is not (at least during the aura) able to take care of himself. This is followed by extremely painful headaches that leave him moaning in pain. We've been to the hospital 3 times and twice to a neurologist. He has had a series of tests and all of them so far (MRI, EEG, EKG, blood work, etc.) are clean. So we are left with daily episodes all at different times which have turned our life upside down. He takes Fiorcet and Liquid Advil when he starts to get symptoms and it seems the only thing that gives him pain relief is a Vicotin (which we naturally don't like because it is addictive). He has been prescribed Topomax and has been on that for 3 days. We see there are migraine sufferers everywhere but can't imagine life like this with every day occurrences. We have cut out virtually anything that we think could be a trigger foodwise and are trying to address things like stress, sleeping, exercise. But it seems none of that has made a bit of difference. My questions:
1. How soon could Topomax work for us at least to decrease frequency?
2. Is there a particular reason you think our neurologist didn't prescribe an abortive drug (e.g. Triptans)?
3. Does anyone have experience or know of anyone who has at age 47 all of a sudden gotten daily migraines with not history of headaches or migraines?
4. I wonder whether we need to quickly get to a migraine specialist. Our neurologist seems knowledgeable and we like him. But I found it concerning that the last time we were in his office feeling a bit desperate that he prescribed us Topomax and said he's see us in 3 weeks (which feels like forever) Should we expect a little more attention with something as significant as this has been?
Of course, any other advice is welcome. This is my first post ever on this subject. We are new to all of this and quite overwhelmed by the information.
Danielle
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kobblefish
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Triptans are known to be vaso-constrictors - if your husband has problems with blood pressure - or there is a suspicion that it might have been related to a stroke - then it probably wouldn't be wise as it could make other problems worse.
May be you could try ringing the neurologist on Monday morning - know that seems like an age away - and ask about the topomax as it isn't a treatment I've ever had. (I presume you have read through the leaflet that came with the medicines and that hasn't made things any clearer.)
Some people get migraines triggered by lights (especially flourescent lighting), or smells (paint or tobacco smoke can do it for me). Is it possible that there is something that has changed in your environment around the time your husband started getting the attacks?
1)sorry I can't help you with the topamax question as I,ve never taken it.
2) you were probably not given triptans as you are only allowed 8 triptans per month because they cause rebound headaches and Medication overuse headache (as do most painkillers) I think it's very important you read about this (google medication overuse headache) before your husband potentially falls into the horrible cycle of continuos painkilling medication every day.
3) I donot know of anyone that has had migraines start at 47 but things to consider are any changes in lifestyle or stress levels. Is it possibly hormonal (yes apparently men do get them! So worth having all hormones checked )
4) it's always worth seeing a migraine specialist , have you considered an appointment with the national migraine centre? I havnt been buts lots of people on here reccomend them.
I,m sure many others will post many more suggestions on here and it is just a case of working your way through the list before something works for your husband. As you have probably worked out there is no 'magical cure' its all trial and error. Good luck and hope your husband finds some relief soon it sounds terrible.
Sorry to hear your husband is not well. I would get him to see a migraine specialist as soon as you can as, in my experience, neurologists do their best, but don't know the latest treatments. Really don't know why he has been given Vicotin, rather than triptans, but he needs a good answer to that as the UK guidelines say never to use opiates. They are worth a read - see link below.
I have been taking Topiramate (Topamax) for 2-3 years now and would like to point out that its not a painkiller, or something that will provide instant relief for migraines. It is an epilepsy drug which also has an effect on the way the brain allows you to feel headaches. You start off a low dose and increase it very gradually. I have been adjusting my dose up and down over a very long period of time, to find what suits me. And there are side effects. It has helped me a lot more than the other prophylactics I have tried, but it takes time to work it out. From what I have seen on here, most people give up on it too quickly because of the side effects.
PS Paulacg - my neurologist does know all the latest treatments, and Topiramate was the latest one when I went onto it. In agreement with him I am sticking with it rather than jumping from treatment to another without giving each a proper chance to work. It has definitely been the best so far and as close to a miracle drug as I have ever got, and I have been plagued with migraines all my life. Another appointment with the neurologist in three weeks sounds good to me - after all, you have to give the treatment time to work so that you have something to report back.
I would also recommend getting a blood test for any vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Magnesium, vitamin b (forgot which one), and CoQ10 are all known to be helpful in some people. There is a good article not the migraine trust website, here: migrainetrust.org/assets/x/...
If you haven't already been asked to do so, I'd recommend getting a migraine diary started and track diet, stressful events, sleep, etc.
I had my first migraine at 49 aura numbness and tingling in the face and arm as well as the debilitating nausea, vertigo and sensitivity to sound light and smells. This was associated with onset of menieres disease. My migraines can be separate from MD episodes and respond well to triptans. I have also made major changes to lifestyle...lost weight, more and varied exercise major diet changes avoiding stress and classic triggers and migraines have reduced from 2 a week to less than one a month manageable with sumatriptan. Big shock when the first came though..thought it was a stroke!
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