Stroke symptoms for 5 years...just diagnosed as migraines

One of the best neurologists on the east coast told me I had a mild stroke 5 years ago. He treated me with meds, as if I did. My symptoms kept happening. I was hospitalized over and over again. Brain MRI's were all negative. After one year the neurologist released me from his care and told me the episodes I was having were residual and I may have them the rest of my life. I learned to live with the symptoms...heaviness and tingling on my right side (arm, side of face) and most of the time it was pretty mild. I had no reason to question the doctor. I just took my meds like a good girl and prayed I didn't have a major stroke.

A few months ago I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (a horrible and painful bladder disease). Anyway, a month after this I started getting major stroke symptoms. One was so severe I had to call 911. Of course they admitted me...did the usual testing, etc. Everything was negative. But one interesting thing happened. The neurologist who came to see me in the hospital suggested that I might be suffering from migraines. I followed up with him in his office and we went over my MRI's. They were clear as a bell. He wanted to put me on Gabapentin for prevention to see if it works. The medication is debilitating. I was only taking 100 mg. at night to start and all I wanted to do was sleep and sleep (not to mention the fluid retention I was getting). I complained about this and he told me to open the capsules and empty half of the powder out and try that. I'm still in a fog from this stuff and I can't be...got a severely autistic son to see to...need to have my wits about me. I don't know what to do. I haven't even been taking this stuff long enough to see if it'll work.

Any thoughts...anyone?