Migraine diagnosis

Hi,

I have suffered from migraines since I was eight years old, my mum suffered from them also. These migraines have changed over the years, they are no longer as bad most of the time but are far more regular, having some head pain most days now.

I have been seen by a good number of neurologists over the years and all have said migraines and tension headache combination, or complicated migraines.

My question is how have others here come to getting a diagnosis of migraine. As far as I know a diagnosis of migraine is a diagnosis of elimination, my diagnosis has been made by MRI and CT scans neurological exam and a full panel of blood works, I have also seen a migraine specialist a few years ago who also said the same.

I think what I am saying is have I had as many tests to confirm a diagnosis of migraine ?

Thank you, Peter

Peter - For me migraine was also a "rule out" diagnosis. I have had an MRI, 24 hour EEG and an MRA which were all normal. So based on my symptoms and my family history they fall back on migraines as the diagnosis. As far as I know there is no test that can confirm migraines. Leslie

I was dx'd purely on symptoms. Auras followed by excruciating head pain, nausea and assorted neurological effects. I've had them since age 12 and had classic migraines for the first 14 years, then they became chronic. I had one doctor tell me after about 15 years or so of migraines that if it was a tumor I'd be dead already. So no point in doing an MRI as a diagnostic tool. Not the most compassionate of doctors, but he had a point.

Alli

Hi Peter,
I went to the City of London Migraine Clinic and saw Dr Ann McGregor.
She diagnosed migraine and muscle contraction headaches.
This was from questions, my description of the pain and the fact that I had kept a migraine diary.
No tests at all.

I have subsequently had a scan at my local hospital.
I wont bother going for anything else unless there is a change in them.

If yours have changed and you are having daily pain, it is worth pursing.
It could be many things...my change seems to be because of my fibro which has got my neck.
I cant quite determine whether you doubt the diagnosis Peter, is that it?

Pen

Hello Peter

I have never seen a Neuro, pain doctor, or had any tests like CT or MRI. I've had chronic migraines since I was a child, and 30 years now. Most of the research is my own and I take it to my trusted GP who works with me in whatever direction I choose.

Reading the posts here and seeing what is available in my city, I don't hold out for much hope that I would get much better care elsewhere. My experience with specialists for other conditions has been horrible with a useless outcomes. (except once for the Graves Disease I have).

I glean information from these forum pages daily, and other sites, hoping to catch something that I've missed. Some new piece of information that says this will help, or that this person has gotten better because of......, but I don't see it. Day after day, I just seem more of the same that I have either tried, or is unlikely, or out of my reach.

Meanwhile, two days of rest, three days of pain, month after month after year after year. Try something new and hope, and you either have matching consequences, or sooner or later, it stops working. Does it matter if there is a diagnosis? It seems no one can do anything anyways.

I don't know if this is acceptance talking, or I've just given up. Sorry, today is a bad day.

Peter, do you think maybe that there is something other than a migraine going on with you?

Angela

Hi,

Thank you for your replies.

It is interesting that most people are saying that there diagnosis of migraine is mainly based on symptoms and history rather than specific tests to rule out other causes. This is also how I was originally diagnosed with migraine as a child, also migraine runs in the family i.e my mother suffered from it very badly for many years.

Until 1998 I would get migraines twice a week and they where the worse pain I can imagine, always in my temples mainly in my right, but on the second day they would move to my left, no med would touch them, and I would just go to bed and at the time wish I would die so the pain would end. Very few tests where done other than the odd blood test.

In 1998 my weekly really bad M stopped for no reason just like that but it was replaced with daily headaches, very similar to the migraine pain but far less sever, I could go about my day but always had the pain in one temple or other, sometimes I would get other mild neurological symptoms, and once a month I may get a killer M. This is the first time the doctors decided to start doing tests, MRIs and CT brain scans mainly. The out come was nothing was found that would cause the migraine so a diagnosis of complicated migraine was made. After a few months the daily head pain stopped being replaced with weekly really bad migraines again. This pattern repeated its self in 2002 then again this year ans each time scans are done, my most resent two weeks ago which was all clear, I have now had no less than six head scans.

Yes I do worry at times that there maybe more than just a migraine but I think this could just be my anxiety talking, I am an anxious person especially when it comes to health issues.

I was originally diagnosed by a very well respected Neurologist Dr Michael Gross at the Neurology Clinic in London, and he ran elimination tests including EEGs and Scans.

I think I need to stop worrying and come to terms with the fact that I am stuck with these migraines and try to find ways to at least make them liveable rather than look for reasons for them, after all what other tests could I have.


Peter

I think I need to stop worrying and come to terms with the fact that I am stuck with these migraines and try to find ways to at least make them liveable rather than look for reasons for them, after all what other tests could I have.

Hi Peter,
I think you might have answered your own question. I too have spent quite a while wondering and sometimes worrying about migraine. All to no avail. I raised my anxiety but not my hopes.

I have even less "reason" for migraines than you do. As I have said on here often. Not a single family member can be found....now they might be out there somewhere, but I have been in touch with all of my 30 cousins and aunts and uncles. Checked out everyone. Not one of them has migraine....its very strange. I guess maybe someone has to be first.

You however have your mother as a strong link, so I imagine that's what you have....migraines.
It sounds as if you have had some very good appointments and again....you have migraines.
I have had a diagnosis as I mentioned earlier. A CT scan and 3 neuro appointments, which consist of "what drug do you want next" (none of them actually).

Did you mention what you use for relief? I use Triptans. Their efficacy varies, but on the whole, sooner or later they do help.
I have given up on prophylactics....all the s/e and no relief.
As you seem to have become rather anxious about the diagnosis, might it be worth you trying some sort of anti anxiety treatment for a while....doesnt have to be drug, could be Yoga, hypnotherapy, whatever?
I tried CBT which is NHS here, but sadly it is a bit of a numbers game and I got a migraine and they dumped me from the programme, so I cant say how well it might help. But worth trying something.
The anxiety will not be helping Peter. I know that. I think all of us have to eventually come to recognise that: We have migraine, and sadly, for now at least, there is no cure.

So, this is where we came in. I think your last paragraph says it for you. Its good you now think that.
Migraine is very varied. Few of us fit the media stereotype.
Why dont you hang around here a bit more and you may find it all makes a bit more sense.
I have found this forum incredibly informative and supportive.
I hope it can do the same for you.

Good luck
Pen