Hemiplegic migraine

[Beknlee]

Hello. I’m newly diagnosed with hemiplegic migraines. I’m scared and so anxious that I’m going to have another episode. The last one landed me in hospital for three days. Today I’m having facial spasms when I smile. I don’t know if it’s an aura or not. Anyone else going through this?

[FN75]

Hello! Yes - it's quite unusual for me to find someone with the same issues as me! I started getting facial spasms after a couple of years of having HM 'proper' - it does seem to be part of the aura for me.

[wonkydonky]

Unfortunately I know exactly how you feel as I've been hospitalised twice with these. I got seen by a neurologist and was given topiramate for 3 months which definitely helped with the migraines, just made life very difficult and unpleasant for those 3 months. I am worse if I don't get enough sleep so take sleeping pills now. See your GP and I hope you feel better soon

[Val135]

Yes, had them for 4 years now. It's very scary at first but you get used to it. I take topiromate which helps & I sleep with a 'chill' pillow which keeps my head cool & is brilliant for me. Attacks leave me very stiff down my right side so I go swimming daily which seems to help too. The facial spasms used to happen regularly but now it's just numbness so has settled down.

i know it's scary but try to keep calm, things will improve with time and the right medication.

[Rachelcar]

It is very scary Beknlee. I had my first about 16 years ago and was hospitalised as they suspected a stroke (my whole left side was weak). It took about 6 months to fully recover.

I’ve always suffered migraines but they are not always hemiplegic and never as severe as that. Now I get facial numbness and spasms. For me it can be an aura one day and another day, it is the migraine.

You must learn to relax and chill or you will make it worse by stressing.

It can be scary but they do pass like any migraine and you will be ok afterwards.