Not just a bad headache. I have blindness, numbness, confusion

Most of the forums I've been reading are about bad headaches. I haven't read through them all, but I was a little angry that the majority had not mentioned the most crippling experiences of the condition as I experience them. To break it down, my migraines occur as a process of debilitating and scary, almost psychedelic events.

1. Blind spot. Without explanation, a blind spot will appear on one side of my vision, almost like I looked at a bright light for too long, but it doesn't go away. It changes shape and size, and if you focus on it, it's like looking into a kaleidescope of reflectors.

2. Numbness. It sometimes starts in my fingers or my arm, usually spreading to my face, even my tongue. This always happens after the blind spot has come.

3. Confusion. By the time this sets in, the blind spot has usually subsided. The confusion could be a result of the drug-like effect of the blindness and numbness, but it inhibits my ability to process simple thoughts. What was I doing, what is the name of the friend I'm sitting with, why don't the letters on this menu make words? Last time, I couldn't even remember how to say, "mom."

4. Headache. The headache is the final blow of my migraine experience. It is not a common headache, but one that throbs for a few hours and with which common pain relievers have no effect. It comes with nausea, paranoia, an accelerated heartbeat, etc.

But this is what has been aggravating me about this forum. I keep reading about headaches. I don't intend to downplay the issues that some of the members have with persistent headaches, but I would really like to hear from those of you who experience migraines as an event and not just a bad headache. Please share if this relates to you. Thanks.

Hi,

Welcome to Healing well. So sorry to hear what you have been going through with your Migraines.

I agree that Migraine is an event when it comes especially experiencing the Aura (Blind Spot etc) that you do before the pain, and it is so debilitating. Thinking about your numbness, have you seen a Neurologist who is a Headache Specilaist? If you have not I would strongly advise that you do, even if you have to travel as it will be well worth it.

The reason for this is a 'Headache Specialist' has studied headache in a way that other Neuros do not, and better understand what the 'event' is like, and have better strategies for treatment.

For myself, I am one of those headache sufferers who is never pain free, but still get attacks of more severe pain and other symptoms like lack of concentration or confusion. When I get an exacerbation of my HC (Hemicrania Continua) I lose my ability to speak properly - look and sound like I am drunk and having a stroke at the same time! So I still get an 'event' which can last for 3 to 4 days in my case on top of the daily background pain. Funnily enough I have always called them '3 day events' lol!

take care

Ann

Years ago I was told I had basilar migraines - not sure they use that term anymore though. I experience numbness, confusion, difficulty in talking and also lowered levels of unconsciousness. They start insidiously - so much so that I am not even sure a migraine is starting. It comes to the point though when I can no longer keep my eyes open.......I can think pretty well and I know what is happening but my eyes have to close and I can't force them open and then slowly I kind of fade out. I can be unresponsive for at least 20 minutes to an hour though once I am back I think I have only been out for 5 minutes or so. After I am exhausted and also have lots of scalp tenderness. Our brains are very complicated and migraines are a very complicated brain event.