Migraine Aura No Headache

[Advice1]

I have on average 3 migraine Auras a month now and as a male 50 yrs .I have healthy blood pressure ,cholesterol 5.3 BMI of 22.Non Smoker.

Eat quite healthy do a lot of walking but am concerned of the chance of Stroke with this type of Migraine without headache.

I have had 2 hemiplegic migraines ,a variant of Migraine Aura ,which i had without Aura but did have a numb hand for 5 mins also tingling moving up to my lip so the mimic of stroke is possible too which i mentioned to my GP and Cardiologist who both felt that was a hemiplegic on both occasions.

I have taken Propranolol in the past which worked at 10mg or 20 mg twice a day reduced them to 1 every 8 weeks but tappered off a yr ago as i was concerned of being on Betablockers longterm.First Migraine Aura was in 2000 then stopped and returned again 2010 onwards .Are there other members that have had Migraine “Aura Only”for many years i would be interested to hear about .There is a lot of mixed advice on the connection to stroke risk in Aura only migraines,

but some people have had Migraine aura for many years without Stroke .But the key maybe to reduce them anyway with drugs like propranolol outweighing the risk of stroke.

the link below from page 1 is quite complex but does look into the risks of Stroke in certain sub groups but is a bit complex to to get to grips with ,for myself ,and may not offer a complete answer .

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I would appreciate any ideas and thoughts and if you have suffered these migraine auras for many years?

[babs1234]

Hi. I started with migraines, mid teens.. I am now 64 and throughout the years my migraines have changed structure many time. I di go through a phase for a few years around 50ish of just auras no headache. For the past 4 years I have been having headaches no auras at least 15 days a month. Doc diagnosed Hemicrania Continua. Like you I worry about strokes especially as my mother suffered like me with migraines and then had a stroke at the age of 76. Having said that there are millions of people who suffer with migraines and don’t have a stroke. Ask your doc for a blood test to check your INR to keep an eye on the thickness of your blood

[Advice1 in reply to babs1234]

Thank you babs1234

for the advise i will check INR good idea.

Best wishes and hopefully your migraine free oneday!

[Pinkcat21]

I am a female early fifties and since July this year I have been having migraine auras sometimes six or four each month. It really is all new for me and I worry too about strokes. When I went to the doctors they didnt seemed that concerned and just offered medication. I am not on anything for them apart from trying antihistamines (I did hear they can help). I'm due to go back to the opticians as he did say to come back if they didnt clear.

[Advice1 in reply to Pinkcat21]

Hi Pinkcat21

i think the key is trying to stop the frequency of migraine attacks ,if you getting the same symptoms each time seeing aura for 20-30 mins is typically the norm affecting the same part of the brain each time

my GP explained if there was a stroke it would effect other parts of the body rather than same symptoms each time.That is probably why the doctor is not too concerned.The Doctor would probably mention avoid smoking and drinking too much and watch diet ,,,but i’m sure you know that already!

An emboli would travel randomly to any part of a vessel in the brain.And that would be in more line with a stroke.

They recommend a high dose Propranolol betablocker but discuss this with your Doctor (but not if you have Asthma)I was taking either 10 or 20mg twice a day it did appear to work leaving me up to eight weeks migraine Aura free ,but it may also be i just didn’t get any in that period ,anyway!! Confusing isn’t it....

I believe it is from being tired or stressed causing a chemical reaction that triggers it,but i’m not a professional,

and maybe not diet related at all as sometimes i eat a load of chocolate and get one and another time eat chocolate i don’t.

Maybe see a neurologist to get some tests ,but i have avoided the stronger type medication and tried propranolol from my Doctors advice.I hope your Migraines improve and you become migraine free eventually ,just try to get less stress in your life maybe!

BTW there is a online Qrisk3 which can be helpful anything with a result over 10% ,my Doctor said ,would be a person they would be more focused on.

Sorry for the long reply but thought it maybe interesting ,Good luck.

[Pinkcat21 in reply to Advice1]

Thank you very much for your informative reply! Yes I agree about diet, sometimes I think caffeine might be a trigger and another time it isnt! I drink red wine but I dont think this has ever given me migraine. I recently discovered my 82 year old dad has these migraine auras for some years now and I never knew. I did read they can be inherited. I am going for blood tests as being in menopause the doctor wants to check im not low in anything and I am seeing the optician again as he told me to come back if the re-occur. I suffer pretty bad health anxiety with every new symptom menopause has brought me, so any advice and information is greatly received and thank you for yours.

[Advice1 in reply to Pinkcat21]

Your welcome,

It is funny you should say you inherited Migraine ,it is in our family too on my mums side all the women get the Aura ,but a couple of other things to check is ,if you can try Magnesium Bisglycinate if Doctor agree in case it my conflct with other medication you may take, as many people are deficiant these days ,and the blood test only check for magnesium in blood not your whole body so not very good ,I also forgot to mention my mother has Pernicias anemia and Low B12,,Guess what ? I found i had a very low B12 result i had to avoid vitamin supplements before the blood test,,maybe Migraine is connected with low B12 levels,After B12 injections as had some neurolgical symptoms pins and needles in hands at night my Migraines reduced by 50% after loading dose having a B12 injection every 2 mths .I also seem to get more Migraines just before my next B12 injection is due.

I hope this is helpful too you

Best wishes and good health.

[Pinkcat21 in reply to Advice1]

Yes thanks, I think the doctor mentioned about checking for that, I will stop taking multi vit prior to test. Thanks for all your helpful advice!