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Migraine Headache
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Posted 3/29/2006 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi my 14 year old daughter has been having "flashy lights" for about 4 yrs now the first time it freaked her out and I rushed her to the dr's and he examined her and said it sounded very much like migraine, she had another bad one with massive headache about 2/3 months ago with partial loss in one eye, again classic migraine, I was told. However she had a seizure on 6th july last year after having these flashy lights and now she's being given a MRI for epilepsy, he says he's not looking for anything sinister and is expecting it to show nothing!! now when I do a google search for these "flashy lights" It always comes to migraine realated articles!
I'm really panicing now as last wednesday I went back to the hospital for out patients appointment and expected him to discharge her as he was going to do 6 months prior to this but when she discribed these "flashy lights" thats when he started thinking epilepsy. However on the epilepsy forum noone has expierienced these same lights.

The symptoms are:- Purple or coloured lights to the left side, she gets dizzy sometimes saying the room is actually spinning and only sometimes goes on to have really bad headache but not always! We have been keeping a diary of them and they seem to happen once or twice every 2 weeks!
Has anyone else expierience this?
Sharron

Posted 3/30/2006 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
sharon- i remember being a child and having some of the same experiences- dizzy- sort of like i was in slow motion and the rest of the world flew by and i can acutely remember the spinning...and sparkles- before i actually got full blown, throbbing, one sided, puking, weak migraines in middle school. they came with periods- initially.

my neurologist told me that while it is assumed to be a problem with blood flow pressure to the head, many researchers suspect it could be some form of epilepsy/seizures.

i am glad you are getting her help. i am glad the doctor is serious about helping her. i have no answers- just more than half a my life time dealing with them. i am still here! will be 37 next week and there are great medications for them when they are full blown. keep reading, talking, asking questions. you sound like a great mom and i know you'll get to the bottom of this! try not to worry- you are so on the right path!
Posted 3/30/2006 9:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sharon,
The flashing lights that your daughter complains of are the second sign I get if a migraine is on it's way. I have had migraines for as long as I can remember, at least 20 years (I am 32 now). The flashy lights lead to me having pretty much total vision loss for up to 12 hours, during this time I develop a terrible headache which feels like a knife cutting my head in half. The flashy lights occur even if I am in a pitch black room.
What your daughter is experiencing definitely sounds like migraine, though it is great that you are seeing a doctor to rule anything else out.
Good luck with it.
Posted 4/25/2006 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Sharronm, Your story has just described exactly what I went through when I was 15 in school.
I started having migraines that quikly evolved into seeing sparkles to the left centre of my vision, I then went blind where the sparkle was (not my whole vision) this used to last for about 2 hours or so.
When I was 17 years old I had a seizure after the sparkles had occured, I was taken to hospital and as with you daughter I had a CAT scan and all the rest of the tests which came up with no ideas or any firm results other than I was technicaly fine.

The specialist said it is epilepsy and he would try me on a few drugs to see what would help and luckily the first one hit the nail on the head, I had to adjust the amount of mg taken each day but the sezures stopped.

I am now 32 and fit free for 8 years I can drive etc. and I do all the things that everyone alse does. Although I still see the sparkles every month or so, after 15 years of this I havent yet found anything that stops them such as diet, enough sleep etc. (Achahol is very bad brings on the sparkles every time the morning after, so tea total is the way to go) If you find anything please let the forum know.

I find that the only thing that gets rid of the sparkles is a dark room and sleep, normaly the morning after I'm ok.

The best idea is to keep a diary of everything eaten, how you sleep, emotional experiances such as stress, anything that you think may affect it. I find that flashing lights are also a big factor and I have looked into this because I work on computers and as we all do in our teens watch TV. It is best to get a LCD flat screen monitor it helps and stay in a well lit room whenevr watchin TV or working on the PC.

I am sure all will go well, and the best thing to do is to stop worrying.

Post Edited (Mart) : 4/26/2006 9:37:08 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/25/2006 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! This sounds exactly what I have--Unfortunately I hate to tell you that I was diagnosed with epilepsy a few years back when I was 31--I have passed out several times over the years--I get that flashy light thing and start feeling very bad--when I have a seizure--I know I am going to pass out--they told me that it was seizures because when I would pass out over the years I would lose control of my bladder. For the last year and a half--I have had the same type symptoms -the dizziness or "aura" sensitivity to light and sound--but know I get pounding migraines in the back of my head--but no passing out! It is very frustrating--I am a single mom with a 5 and 6 year old--I used to teach aerobics and now I had to quit a wonderful paying job and ---it's just really hard--it could either be migraines or epilepsy--the one key thing that I would think would let you know if it was epilepsy is --does she lose control of her bladder when she goes out? The doctors told me that was the clue--that is how they diagnosed me--but like I said --now I have migraines and have not had a seizure in a few years--unless that is what I am having now and they are just not full blown. I probably was no help--I hope and pray she will be alright. Jen

Posted 4/25/2006 10:45 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the post Jen...

As always...TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR FOR A PROPER DIAGNOSIS!!!

Just another two cents to throw in, On a few occasions when I would get a terrible migraine it would be a "different" kind...(Some of us have different kinds and can tell the specific type that are the "Oh, HECK" type where you automatically know they are going the be the kind that you wonder if you are going to live through) I had a very extreme and pronounced aura, didn't really feel dizzy just didn't feel right and there are no other words to describe it...and I would pass out. I have no idea how long I was out...if it was 30 seconds or 30 minutes?!?! I would wake up and my dog would be standing over me whimpering (I live/d alone)

I also have friends that frequently pass out when in the throws of a migraine episode...

My point is that it is NOT uncommon to have that happen during a migraine attack...still it could be one of many other things. None of us here are doctors or pretend to be, talk to someone who is and get a diagnons...that is the only way to know. There is nothing to be scared of...other than not knowing!

Sara

Posted 4/25/2006 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
He--thanks for replying--you know--I often wonder if I even have epilepsy--I am thinking now that it was always migraines--but then again-- the passing out thing has happened on and off all of my life. The "aura" that I get when I know I am going to pass out is so much more severe than than the "aura" that I am constantly having now with these migraines. I wonder if you can lose your bladder while you are passed out if it is a migraine? Does anybody have an answer for this? The doctors told me that was a sure sign that it was epilepsy?! This is so frusterating--Does anyone else find it very difficult to concentrate on anything as well?

Posted 4/26/2006 10:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jen

I am not sure about the loss of control of the bladder because it has been a while since I have actualy past out. I do find it difficult to concentrate sometime, for example when I am in a meeting at work, or writing a letters etc. I have worried about this as well, and just put it down to my medication (This maybe wrong)?

As Sara said we are not doctors and its easy to get the wrong end of the stick on these sites, so as I did when I was diagnosed - see other doctors for a different opinion.

I think that when something like this is happening to me that worrying and stressing about it doesn't help, I try to relax and go with it.

I wish you all of you all the luck in the world and your in my thoughts.
Posted 4/26/2006 3:52 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks All..

I have that "chicken or the egg" syndrome...which came first???

I have concentration issues a lot! Then I wonder...is it the Migraine, the pain, the medication, the worrying or life and stress in general? OR A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING?

Then I just try to relax and take one thing at a time...maybe it's just my high energy, do too much personality!!! yeah

If one of us ever gets the answer to it all-promise to let the others know!?!?

Posted 5/8/2006 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
I have had what I call sparkly/ static vision since 3/05 after a very hard hitting migraine.  Some say it is a migraine that has not developed.  Some people have had it a few days and some have documented having it for years.  Yes, see you Pediatric neurologist.  Yes loosing control of ones bladder in not necessarily unheard of but it is not uncommon especially for a younger child.  Migraine symptoms have a base of similarities per their respective type.  But lets not forget it is the brain we are talking about.  It is the least explored "continent" in the world.  Just be cause it sounds unusual to you or me doesn't make it out of the normal. 

FOR INSTANCE:  With some migraines I switch from right handed to left handed.  Can't find a doctor to explain this one to me yet.  

My point is it sound as though you are doing all you can for your child.  If a doctor cannot necessarily explain the one symptom......it ok.    My neurologist told me we've mapped the genetic code....now if we only knew where we were going we'd be in great shape.  By the way I hope a woman is driving because most ment won't ask for directions........ha ha ....good luck and gods speed.

Posted 5/8/2006 5:03 AM (GMT 0)

I take care of a girl with epilepsy.  Her "aura's" before a seizure are almost identical to my "aura's" before a migraine.

I thought I read somewhere that it's not uncommon for persons with migraine to develop or experience seizures as well.

In my opinion, if you're not getting enough info from your doc or neuro, get a second, third...even fourth opinion. 

Vic

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