Aura Without Headache...How do I tell when to take my meds?

Hi guys,

I've posted before. I think my neurologist has done all he can, but I still get frusterated. I seem to be getting migraines without the headache. I had to come home from work this week because I was so out of it. I don't get flashing lights anymore as an aura. My aura changes every couple years. Currently my aura seems to be: pressure in the back of my head, lightheadedness, trouble thinking clearly. I'm supposed to have confusional migraine. The problem is that this can go on for days and I am having trouble telling when to take my abortive meds, because since I don't actually get the headache (or more obvious initial symptoms like flashing lights, or my favorite: hand numbness) I'm kind of at a loss.

Any ideas? My primary seemed to think I could be having rebound headaches, but my headaches can last for up to a week without meds, and my neuro said to take my meds for the week for headache or the above aura. My meds are naproxen, phenergan, and ultracet if it's bad (either the headache or the lightheadedness).

Angel

Angel - Most of my migraines are without pain.......I have the lightheadedness, confusion, pressure behind my eyes, and I also can be unresponsive - they have diagnosed me with complex or basilar migraines. From what several neurologists have told me abortive meds do not work on aura symptoms - they are just for pain. Have your doctors suggested any preventative meds such as verapamil or low doses of some anti-depressants like elavil or even the dreaded topamax? Aura symptoms do change over time (no one ever said migraines were boring!) and this can be very frustrating to deal with........please hang in there. Leslie

I get Aura w/o headache quite often, therefore I don't even try triptans anymore. I found I could never predict if head pain would follow or not and I didn't like the side effects of them ( or the cost! ) I gave up on them b/c of my Aura w/o headache. I try prev but don't have any I can brag about ( after trying 17 million of them ). I use pain meds and ergotamine for intense pain. Preventatives on and off ( again, w little success and lots of side effects ).

Wow am I negative!! Lol. I can always tell which posts i wrote in the throws of a bad one!!!
Sorry you are frustrated, and I wish I could have provided some light or hope, but I'm right there with ya on this one!!!

Good Luck!

Hi,

Thanks for your sympathy! That's the thing. I'm on a really high dose of Cardizem (a calcium channel blocker), which has helped a lot (I used to get really spectacular flashing lights). I've tried to take many preventives over the years, but usually get unbearable side effects. Cardizem is actually working, it's just like you said, I still have some parts of the aura, and my aura does last for days without any meds. I'm thinking this is just what I'm left to deal with. I did have two really good months, where I got very little headache, and not so much aura that my abortives helped.

Then the last two months. I think the hardest part is explaining this to people. When I went home my supervisor was like...so you have a headache....No...no, I have an aura. Oh....then why can't you work? Well, you see I'm lightheaded and I can't think very clearly. . Is there a way to speak up for yourself without scareing those around you?

And yes, I am diagnosed with complicated migraines. This is because I get wacky aura symptoms (and yes I think basilar migrianes describe many of my aura symptoms). I know the complicated part is because my aura can last for days, and can be stroke-like. I had an EEG a few years ago, and the migraine specialist I ended up going back to when I was in trouble said that my brainwaves were acting like they were drunk on it...and that by definition that is a confusional migraine. Except....again....how would you all explain that when it's best to really say, "look I don't feel well I need to go home?" Like explaining without scareing people....

Ug.

Thanks for understanding. It just helps so much to know I'm not alone. And that's the thing too. People are always so full of good advice about "stress" etc., but I know this is "normal" for me. It's kind of sad because I really don't even expect much better.

Angel