Weird migraine symptoms, feeling worried :(

[Badtasteflump]

Hi, just hoping for some reassurance really. I’ve had migraines pretty rarely over the years, but in clusters - none for a few years then lots over a couple of months, then nothing for years again.

A few weeks ago I started having them again, about six over a couple of months. The pattern is usually the same - blurry vision, a shimmery zig zag that moves across my vision until it disappears. Then I sometimes get a headache and feel a bit spaced out for a while. I also get a weird feeling in my limbs like they’re disconnected or a bit numb during all this.

Today I got the visual aura, which passed but then my left arm got intense pins and needles and I couldn’t feel my hand at all. It really scared me but after a few minutes it seemed to move up my arm from my hand to my face, and for about a minute my face went numb.

I saw my GP about general migraines recently and he didn’t seem concerned that they were happening so frequently. He thought it might be hormonal (I’m mid 40’s and my periods have just started going unpredictable) and gave me Sumatriptan to take when it starts. I tookone today and I don’t have a headache, but it obviously didn’t stop the weird feelings.

Has anybody else experienced these kinds of migraines? That come in clusters out of the blue, or the numbness and pins & needles? That bit really freaked me out :(. And I feel like I’m constantly checking my vision and looking for signs of the next attack - it’s really getting me down...

Forgot to say, am having a follow up docs appointment next week, and also getting my eyes tested (on GP’s advice).

If your symptoms have changed you should contact your GP. They be able to triage you?

My migraines are like this, visual aura, numb face, tingly arms, struggle to speak/brain fog. First time it happened thought i was having a stroke.
Got referred to a neurologist who confirmed it’s how my migraines present (triggered in my case by active erm trigger points in my trapezoid area)
Worth getting checked out if things have changed for you.

I started having these about 2 years ago. It's so scary. Feel spaced as if something bad is going to happen then I get the zigzags moving over my vision with a kind of blind spot. After the zigzags which last about 15 minutes I get a dull headache that last days. I have health anxiety and each and every time I think I'm having a stroke and panic. I have 2/3 a year but I live in fear of it happening all the time.
I had electric shock type pains down my left arm a few days after it last happened.
Doctors also prescribed sumatripan to take at onset. When I went to see GP after the electric shock incident I was told it wasn't related to the migraine and said it was likely anxiety.( All my ailments are put down to anxiety)

Thanks for replies - it’s helpful to hear others have experienced the same, although I’m sorry you do

When I saw the GP he said I shouldn’t worry unless it’s a completely new, different symptom, which it isn’t really. It’s made my limbs feel funny before, just not as intensely as this time. It’s just hard not to panic when it feels so horrible .

Queef what do you take for yours?

Blue do you find the Sumatriptan helps? I was nervous about taking them at all because the pharmacist gave me a lecture about all the potential horrible side effects to look out for!

Sounds very much like my migraine symptoms too but, without wishing to alarm you, the numbness spreading from hand to face was also the symptom of a small stroke. I suggest you call 111 for advice and hopefully reassurance.

I was prescribed amitryptiline but don’t take it as I didn’t get on with it, I know others whom it has it has really helped, also for me understanding that it was trigger point related meant I can pay attention to the parts of my body that get tensed up and painful making it more likely for me to have a migraine, I get them much less frequently now

My migraines are like this, visual aura, numb face, tingly arms, struggle to speak/brain fog. First time it happened thought i was having a stroke.

Exactly the same for me too. I use to take naratriptan, which stopped the numbness and weird vision but just left me with a headache. I've since been diagnosed with Coeliac disease and since stopping eating gluten haven't had a migraine since (touch wood).

My migraines suddenly started to come with these symptoms this year. It can be really scary and I agree, you begin to fear the onset of them almost constantly. My GP sent me to A&E because they were new neurological symptoms that I'd never had before and although they happened to find a neurological condition by chance while there, I was reassured that the numbness and pins and needles down one side was completely migraine related.

I was originally prescribed sumitriptan but now have to change because apparently triptans aren't effective for this type of migraine? Even though I know it's a migraine, I always panic that it's a stroke because of the numbness. It's not very nice and I feel for you OP

Sometimes keeping a journal of the symptoms etc can be helpful in getting appropriate treatment from the GP. I hope the symptoms ease up for you.

Queef sorry for being dim but what’s your trapezoid area? Google is just showing me maths shapes!

Thanks Loki - sorry cross-posted with you

Interesting what you say about sumatriptan not being effective - I’ve taken them twice now and I don’t think they’ve made much difference. I never seem to get the classic bad headaches anyway, just the weird auras with vision & tinglyness...

I've had this - numbness and inability to speak properly and DH thought it was a stroke but it was diagnosed as hemiplegic migraine - it happens fairly rarely so I don't bother with medication because the side effects were worse.

I got these in the second half of pregnancy with dd. I'm guessing they must have been hormonal as she is 1 now and I haven't had any since touches wood.
They terrified me. The first time I thought I was having a stroke. I know exactly what you mean about waiting for one to come on. I used to spend every day waiting to see if I'd get one that day and every twinge I would panic that it was starting. I have no advice. Just solidarity that I feel your pain.

I get this sometimes too. Think it's an ocular migraine. I don't always get the numbness but if my sight starts to go funny I take painkillers and try to lie with my eyes shut until it passes

Oops I meant trapezius lol. Bottom of neck Top of shoulder area. When a certain point is triggered I get a cold burning sort of feeling running up the back of my head

@wecametodance I got my first one when pregnant with my daughter and sometimes get them now on first day of my period so think hormones must be a trigger

I get these sorts of visual zigzag aura migraine too, also usually with no or little headache. Seem to come on when I'm generally quite stressed but I'm not sure of the exact trigger. Usually late in the day and if rest is an option I know they'll go away fairly quickly. I've also had numbness and tingling on and off in past 2-3 years, in various parts of the body including face, arms, legs, trunk (everywhere! But not all at once), and hadn't really connected this with migraine but I think it might go together.
Had a minor back/sciatica problem which improved with exercises/Pilates/better posture, and I thought that was the cause of the tingling, or perhaps being mid-40s/pre-menopause or perhaps having loads of stress because family member is ill. The more I mention it to 40-something friends, the more I hear that random tingling seems quite common around the menopause and very hard to find a cause for.

GP stopped worrying after spine MRI showed just normal wear and tear and she also decided it almost certainly wasn't MS, and this reassured me. I really work on not panicking about it and telling myself to relax and just wait for it to get better - which fortunately it always has so far. Not freaking out about it any more is definitely helping, although I know that's easier said than done.

I hope you're fine OP, and that you can ride it out and/or work out if there's an avoidable trigger such as food or stress (yes, good luck eliminating stress from your life!)

The trapezius thing is interesting (just googled). There were some tests you can do to see if you have trigger points - I tried them and turning my head to the right as far as I should be able to really hurt! I’m so desperate to put a stop to this horribleness I might be clutching at straws I suppose...

I get migraines like this but without the numb feeling. I had them when I was younger around the time my periods started I think or the MMR jab. Then nothing for years and then they started again when periods came back after dd. I found meds Dr gave me made me feel nauseous. I've been focusing on trying to work out triggers. Stress, hormones, too much screen time and being dehydrated seem to be my triggers. I worry about one coming on when driving or when I'm on my own with dd.

Ooh I think I have the trapezius thing too, comes on like a sharp hot/cold electric shock when I turn my head sometimes. And one of my kids (age 9) reports the same. Again, never connected that to migraine. It's v reassuring when something weird you think is your problem alone turns out to be a thing that other people experience..

I get the migraine with aura (blindspots and zig zags) and a dull headache afterwards. I don't have any numbness or pins and needles. I had 3 last week but I was quite stressed. They leave me feeling strange and my eyesight feels weird for about 24hrs. I have never consulted the gp although I was on the combined pill and took myself off that about 4 years ago. They are unpleasant and really inconvenient if you happen to be out and about or needing to drive.

Yes I agree the visual aura thing is horrible. It’s making me feel on edge whenever I go out in the car as I hate the thought of it happening and I’m stranded somewhere on my own like a bit freaky wuss .

Badtasteflump I was so worried about side effects when I took one I ended up in a real panic with high BP and rapid heart beat, although rationally I know this was anxiety I still won't use them and struggle along with paracetamol.
It is so scary feeling like you just never know when it will strike.

@DownInThePark I know this is old so sorry. How did you know it was a stroke if you don't mind me asking If that was normal migraine symptoms for you? Thankyou

@DownInThePark I dont think my last message read properly (tired from work).
What i meant is how did you know you'd had a stroke? What made you get checked over if they were normal migraine symptoms for you? Thankyou