I have had the aura migraine for 46 years, starting just after the birth of my daughter. I get the aura, with no warning.

[ra72]

I take a painkiller right at the start, and usually I only have a mild headache and feel drained. Usually between 2-5 times in a year. Now, I have had 5 of them within 12 days. I have read of higher risk of stroke and heart attack with aura migraines. Should I be worried? Do I need to have tests? Thank you for any information.

[teadrinker]

Sounds like it would be a good idea to visit your GP if you are having an increase in migraines. I get the aura type too - they tend to keep coming back if I don't get on top of them, and I have also had several in a short period of time, which is frustrating, but GPs have reassurred me. Talk to the doctor about your worries about stroke & heart attack, and if they think you are at risk they will take action.

The Stroke Association have a fact sheet on their website which might help : stroke.org

If you type stroke & migraine into their search box you will find a factsheet on it.

Hope this helps. Try not to worry too much.

[ra72 in reply to teadrinker]

Thank you for taking the time to write. I will be looking into it with my GP this week.

[Juliapester3]

If your migraine symptoms change suddenly then you need to speak to your dr who can refer you for an MRI scan to rule out anything suspect. I,m not sure if this applies to frequency but would still speak to your dr first and if you,re worried ask to be scanned even if it's to stop you worrying. Once you have the results you can then assess what may have caused the change so you would need to keep a diary to see if you identify a trigger or pattern. I was the same as you I had the odd migraine for 15 years then went through a very stressful period in my life and they started coming once or twice a week. Unfortunately they stayed that way after things got better and have been with me ever since (8 years) I have done various things to minimise them ,and got them down to 2 per month ,which I would be happy to share with you.

[ra72 in reply to Juliapester3]

Thank you for writing. I'm going to the GP this week.

[Hidden in reply to ra72]

Update on my original post: went to GP and got the full panoply of tests including an MRI and memory clinic etc. Problems probably migraine changes due to stress (mainly reduced ability to cope with it!) and stopping a long standing prescription drug (chloroquine). Symptoms did improve as soon as I started investigations. All the posts really helpful so thanks to all.

[teadrinker in reply to Hidden]

It's interesting that you mention chloroquine. I took one dose about 12 years ago (as an antimalarial) & an hour later developed a strange visual disturbance, which lasted several weeks, and doctors couldn't explain what it was. Now wonder if it was linked to migraine - which in hindsight I was probably having occasionally in those days but they went undiagnosed until more recently.

Hope you are continuing to get better.