I need help diagnosing my mom.

My mother is in her 70s and has experienced episodes on severe "pressure" on the left front side of her head for over a year. It seems to be brought on by loud noise, bright light or chaotic situations. When the pressure is there, she has trouble thinking clearly and forgets words. We have seen specialist after specialist and done test after test and not one seems to know what to do for her. I see that migraines are sometimes caused by light or noise, but her symptoms aren't pain, just pressure. Does anyone know if this is a type of migraine?

i would suggest going to www.mymigraineconnection.com, by our own teri robert, migraine advocate. there you can read about all the different types.

your mom seems to have "silent migraine". here's another link from a headache clinic in PA: http://www.pneuro.com/publications/migraine/.

as a sufferer of this awful disease for 41 years, i would be ecstatic if i had the pressure and no pain. but of course, i do understand the mental concerns. most of us WITH pain have trouble speaking and making sense when in the throes of the incredible pain.

a headache specialist or neurologist is definitely in order, i would think dianne

I agree on seeing a specialist. Not to be nosy, but you said your mother is in her 70's? Does she have arthritis? Also, does she display any symptoms of Alzheimers or dementia? there can be a lot of different types of pain associated with dementia. I am curious to knw, but I am done for for tonight. I will check in again.

A neurologist specializing in migraines would be what you should look for. The symptoms do seem to be in line with what many of us experience.

She only shows signs of forgetting when she is in the middle of one of her pressure spells. No arthritus...

I can't remember much and have trouble even getting my own name right when having a migraine. I'm only 49.

It's very rare for the onset of migraines to occur past your 50s. She needs to keep seeing specialists. Have you gone to any universities?