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Symptoms: migraines and seizures
Let me start by saying, off and on for most of my adult life (I am 35) I have had passing out spells and migraines...sometimes together, sometimes totally unrelated to one another. In the past couple of years I have started having what my husband believes to be seizures. I always have a horrible headache (sometimes a migraine) either before or after these episodes. After seeing a Neurologist a couple years ago, he determined that I had a "brain malformation." I can't remember the true name, but I believe he called it an arterial malformation??? Anyways, he said at the time it was nothing to worry about, that these things rarely cause any problems. He showed me where on my head this was located. First of all, it appears that the majority of my headaches (which I have ALL the time...3-4 days a week) seem to reside in or around this area. Can these two things be related? Also, while sleeping last night, I had a seizure. I don't remember much, but my husband said that once I stopped shaking, I was trying to tell him that my left side was numb. He said I couldn't move my mouth and was difficult to understand as well as it appeared that I could not move my left side. He said I was quite out of it, so it could have been that I was just not understanding him when he told me to do things like move my arm or leg. When I did come out of it, my left arm hurt. Oh yeah, I do have mitral valve prolapse...I forgot to tell you that, but I'm on no medication for this. Can you guess as to whether any of these things are related? Or am I just one big problem after another for my family? Please give me your opinion. I know I need to go to the doctor, but I know this will just lead to test after test and right here at Christmas, I just don't think I've got it in me.
Thanks in advance.
Rebecca
Answer:
Symptoms: migraines and seizures
Dr Sinuhe has answered your question here:
Answer:
Symptoms: migraines and seizures
have they checked you for epilepsy? I have a rare form called cavernous angioma. I get really bad headaches too. I have bloodclots on my left side in between my speech and balance. I was born with it but it doesn't come on till your mid 20's. i fall alot and my speech gets slurred and sound like a drunk! when you come out of a seizure, you will have slurred speech and all the symptoms you said you have. I get gran mals and they are horrible. My kids saw the last one. I was at my mom's and just stared off into space and fell on the tile in my mom's kitchen tile right on my head. The ambulance knows me so well they sent me a survey to fill out...like I remember anything? how long do yours last? mine are about 7 minutes average. I get mine once a month or so and they say where it is, it is inoperable.Where is it in your brain? go to epilepsy.com and check out stuff there.
Answer:
Symptoms: migraines and seizures
Dr Sinuhe has answered your question here:
OMG!!!! i just wrote to her about that! I have that form of epilepsy. We were writing at the same time!!!! I suggest you go and get on some tegertol or dialantin . I am on 400 mg a day! This is serious!
Answer:
Symptoms: migraines and seizures
Hi, thanks for the response -
Remember that Dr. Sinuhe emphasized that the diagnosis needs to be made first. It is not clear you have epilepsy, or any type of malformation
Answer:
Symptoms: migraines and seizures
Hi, thanks for the response -
Remember that Dr. Sinuhe emphasized that the diagnosis needs to be made first. It is not clear you have epilepsy, or any type of malformation
No I do have epilepsy.......I am in a wheelchair at times and/a walker...I just saw my dr yesterday and the neurosusrgeon says it's inoperable. It's too dangerous. He said I have to deal with it for the rest of my life. I have seen plenty of neurosurgens and neurologists. So I guess a 4th opinion isn't worth it. Plus my bleeding is getting worse. I have it on a disc.
Answer:
Symptoms: migraines and seizures
Hi,
Thanks for the update.
From your original question it was not clear whether you had epilepsy or not. There was no mention of epilepsy having been diagnosed, also only anecdotal evidence of an unspecific "brain malformation" - Dr Sinuhe and I have to work with what little information is presented to us, and we always try to provide a generally applicaple answer, and speculate as little as possible, even though some speculation may be necessary in order for us to be able to answer at all.
Dr Joshua
Answer:
Symptoms: migraines and seizures
O.K.- I just have to throw my two cents worth in. :o)
Like the Dr's said, your best bet is to go haul your rump into your neuro's office.
It sounds like seizures, which will not stop by swinging the wand. I too had an AVM which was found after my first seizure sent me to the hospital. During that MRI they also found that I had had a hemorrhage a few weeks prior. Nothing was done, aside from starting me on dilantin. The Dr's said they would keep their eye's on it periodically & not to worry. I went on my marry way until it bleed again & I had my first surgery. The migraines started about a year later daily. Not to mention the seizures were consantly knocking on my door. Numerous drugs were tried, but to no avail. A MRI showed all of the AVM was not removed in the surgery, so off I went for another. The second surgeon did the job right, but I still have seizures. Migraines had been frequent until either the Keppra drug chilled it down, or it was the daily dose of magnesium & riboflavin. Imitrex comes in handy too.
So basically Rebecca, ya gotta put on a smile, drag to the Dr's & get the seizures under control. If it's an AVM the seizures may put damage on it & you don't wanta "rattle the boat".
I would suggest getting copies of that prior test. It had probably been the MRI. Not just the radiologists opinion. Get the actual MRI too. Might cost you a couple of bucks, but you will actally see what is (or is not) in that brain of yours. :o)
And for God's sake if for some reason down the road you need a neurosurgeon, don't take just anyone. I learned that the hard way.
Answer:
Symptoms: migraines and seizures
Thanks AVM69 for participating in this thread.
Rebecca, if you want me to take a look at the MRI, you can post here or send to me via e-mail some MRI images (ask your neuro for the slices that the finding is in), I'll have a look