strokes and migraines

[Nancy Strack]

I am just curious if anyone who has had a stroke also had a history of migraines?

[lissette gonzalez]

Well I can speak for my mother who died from a stroke. She never ever complained of headaches or migraine during her life. I think she had about 10 headaches in her entire life. So as far as my mom is concerned I dont think so.

[Nancy Strack]

Thank you.

My father had migraines when he was young but "outgrew" them. He had a stroke when he was in his early 80s. I inherited his migraines. Lately they are becoming far too frequent and the speech and dizziness are starting to concern me. My mother had numerous strokes (as did her mother) . I'm 62. I will make an appointment with my neurologist but thought I'd ask here, too.

[Hope for Stroke]

Hi Nancy, It may not hurt to get an opinion. I suffered from migraines and for me it turned out to be an aneurysm. An aneurysm can have little bleeds during its life and if you smoke it makes an aneurysm grow. Don't worry but do ask your doctor.

[Nancy Strack]

Thanks. I've had CT scans, MRIs and another test that I can't remember and supposedly it showed no aneurysms. I'll ask on my followup appointment if they could be too small maybe to be detected. I've never smoked, by the way.

[Peter]

Hello Nancy
My stroke was the result of a venous bleed from an arteriovenous malformation, AVM. I have spoken to many AVM sufferers and migraines are very common amongst them, in fact many were diagnoses with AVM's following CT for migraines. I did not have them, then there are migraines and migraines, you don't necerserily have a headache, visual problems and limb numbness or weakness are also common. Since my bleed I have had visual effects, I see strange looking flashing circles with areas in them that scroll through colours, very weird. Good idea to check it out with your doctor, a Ct will pick up an AVM and probably an aneurysm.

[Nancy Strack]

Thank you so much for your answer.

The aura that preceeds the migraine is more disturbing than the headache. In my case it starts with a blind spot and then an intensely bright tiny circle of zig zag lights starts to form and the circle starts spreading until it's completely out of sight. Then, if I haven't taken medicine, the headache comes on like someone hits me with a hammer. That's also when any other symptom (like trouble thinking clearly and problems talking) will come on.

We'll see what the latest tests show.

Thanks again. Your letter was helpful.

[Peter]

Nancy
You described my visual stuff better then me, mine is exactly the same as yours. I describe the blind spot as like looking at a bright light for a while, then when you look away it is still there, then it spreads out like you said with inbuilt coloured changing sections, until it goes out of your visual field, no headaches for me thank goodness but I feel a bit unwell.
When I had my stroke all I had was a severe headache for about 4 minutes, then I felt ok until I tried to read the paper, nothing made sense. Being a nurse I thought I have had a migraine or I have had a stroke. I went to the doctor he said you have either had a migraine or you have had a stroke. Had a CT, I had had a stroke, I wish I had had a migraine. Have a CT then you may know the answer, I hope it is a migraine.

[Peter]

Nancy
Sorry I missed your post about having had CT and MRI, as far as I know they will not pick up anything about migraines. You do need to consult your medico re this change though.
By the way my mother has those visual experiences as well, she is 87 and as fit as a fiddle.

[Laurie]

My husband had the ocular migraines a well. Sounds pretty similar. He had his for about 2 years prior to his massive stroke. Yes migraines and strokes do have some sort of connection. Please do something before it's too late. Read up a little on TIAs
laurie

[Chris Ball]

Funny you should mention it. When I had my initial stroke I was in the ER in less than 5 minutes, but I was diagnosed as having a migraine headache and released with a prescription several hours later. My quick -thinking brother got hold of my regular internist and drove me directly to another hospital where treatment began (finally)

[Jo]

That sounds so familiar....the first ER I went to said I was drunk and on drugs and sent me away. It wasn't until the next morning (and another stroke) that I was taken to another hospital and truely diagnosed. I wonder how many people are incorrectly diagnosed every day?

[Jo]

Hi, Nancy. I don't know if my case is anything but I'm responding anyway. My whole family has migraines and have had them since I can remember. I am 43 and had my stroke 2 1/2 years ago but it was actually caused by a chiropractor so I don't know if that counts or not.