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Original poster

Does anyone have silent migraine / painless migraine?

30 replies

HettyAmaretti · 16/02/2011 12:02

Anyone else have this? I'm pretty sure I do (off to GP on Friday) and it's a real PITA.

Is there anything that can be done to help it? I've had them occasionally for a few years (at least) but I tend to ignore my own illnesses so have never really paid too much attention to them. Just get on with stuff as much as possible and wait for it to pass.

But they've been more frequent recently, so off to the GP I go.

OP posts:
ezzie21 · 16/02/2011 12:27

oh yes me

ive always thought im a bit odd/lazy having a migraine but not a proper one Blush

mine come in clusters...very odd experience

Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 16/02/2011 13:21

Ah, I'm not alone in weirdness Grin

WHat did you're GP say / do? Did you have to have tests and stuff? Any medication? Or, have you never been about it?

I find them quite debilitating TBH, it'd be fine if I could just lie down and rest but that's not an option with two toddlers in the house. Obviously.

OP posts:
Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 16/02/2011 13:22

you're? your!

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 16/02/2011 13:25

how do you get them without pain?

Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 16/02/2011 13:33

Dunno quite how it works TBH. Something to do with too much blood flow to the visual cortex or some such. Am avoiding all but the lightest googeling Wink

Headache is the best known symptom of migraine but certainly not the only one. I have aura (visual disturbance) extreme tiredness, coldness, neck pain, dizziness, can't think properly, a sort of low blood sugar feeling, amongst other things. well, in fact most of the classic migraine symptoms, just no pain Confused.

OP posts:
Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 16/02/2011 13:36

Oh, and while the worst of the aura only lasts 2 - 4 hours on average I feel shit for about 2 days in total, it comes on slowly and goes slowly too.

OP posts:
GelflinGirl · 16/02/2011 13:55

I am a sufferer of the dreaded aura too!! So annoying! id much rather have a headache lol (i know they can be bad i was joking)

My eye sight goes almost completely and my speech is affected, its so disorientating!! I know in my head what i want to say but when i try and talk it comes out as complete nonsense, like not even real words! At first it used to freak me out and i would burst into tears.

My GP referred me to the hospital (they thought i was suffering from a stroke, i was 27 so was terrified!)

They did a catscan?? Think thats what they are called.......?? The big machine you go in and hear noises etc

Any way after the results were checked out i was told i had Migraine Aura. They said if they became more frequent (i was getting them all the time while preggers) then they could put me on Betablockers. I was relieved that after my pregnancy i didnt get them half as much cos i didnt want to go on them as they can affect you and not to be used while driving etc.

Now i get them about once every three months and havnt had the affected speech for about two years (thank god!!)

Btw if you have to have meds dont be put off by what i say, the dose i would have had to have would have been alot but with a smaller dose people can still do everything the same.

Good Luck with the GP OP

Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 16/02/2011 14:05

Did you go to the GP with the first one? Do you think that's why they scanned you?

When the bright light part of the aura is gone do you get a sort of shadowy version that linger on vaguely? I get confused speaking too, but am bilingual (as in use two languages in day to day life, rather than just speak two) so put it down to that and the general not thinking straight.

mmmm, I now realise I do get a light one sided headache related to the aura. Last aura was yesterday and it's been on and off but certainly not a real headache IYSWIM. In fact almost all headaches I get are one sided but never as severe as I've heard migraine described. Confused

OP posts:
ezzie21 · 16/02/2011 14:45

i had my first when pregnant and they come and go now, no warnings that i recognise

i do try to ease up when they cluster, perhaps 3 in one day

mine last couple of minutes to half an hour, very annoying waiting to drive some where and only seeing thru sparkly lights Hmm

GelflinGirl · 16/02/2011 15:21

Yes OP, i went to the GP and she sent me straight to hospital because my symptoms sounded like a stroke. while there they did tests on my limbs, checked my eyes etc etc then booked me for the scan to check my brain.

After the aura has calmed down a bit i get tunnel vision (which is scary when driving!) and speckily lights at the side (hope that makes sence) I get no pain at all, id never even heard about Aura's before being diagnosed.

GelflinGirl · 16/02/2011 15:23

ezzie i know what you mean re the driving!! It really helps them to go quicker if i try and relax and close my eyes for a while but as most people i have children etc so not always possible.

lulalullabye · 16/02/2011 15:27

The speckly vision thing is like looking at the haze on the road in hot weather iykwim. I had my first one the day after dd2 was born and I couldn't speak or formulate words like broccoli Blush.

I have had about 4 now since 2007 and the only thing that helps me is to go to sleep and hope it is gone when I wake up. Fortunately it hasn't happened yet when I have had the dd's on my own.

Two of them were I am sure due to being slightly dehydrated and exercising !!

Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 16/02/2011 15:38

Ah, OK, so now I'm worried they'll send me straight to hospital. Surely not, considering I've been having them for years?

Interesting that starting it was pregnancy / birth related for all of you. I had my first when pregnant with DD, didn't occur to me to go to the doctor though. I probably should have done.

OP posts:
Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 16/02/2011 15:47

Oh, and am I right in thinking that there is nothing that can be taken to stop them once the symptoms start? Just F/T beta blokkers or nothing?

I'm almost always on my own with DC (22 months and 3.2), DP works away. It's really very annoying and extremely hard work to carry on with all the day to day stuff when the aura is in full flow.

OP posts:
GelflinGirl · 16/02/2011 17:35

i dont think they will send you to hospital straight away HettyAmaretti i think they were worried cos they didnt know what it was and neither did i and it had been happening alot and i was pregnant.

I do find that not many people know what Aura is and as soon as you mention migraine they all expect your talking about a headache!! Even the Dr's and midwifes, tbf i had never heard of it either till i was diagnosed.

I expect they will skip the hospital bit as you will say you think its Migraine Aura's and even if they have never heard about it they can read up on it and talk treatment.

I only know i was offered betablockers if it got worse after my pregnancy, dont know what else they do but im sure they will discuss this with you.

My first experience (obviously i didnt know what it was at the time) was when i was just 13! My friend had phoned and i went to speak to her but my words all went scrambled!! It was so freaky and lasted about 15 mins. Was truley horrible! Then nothing like that again till i was pregnant with DD 12 years ago. They were always more frequent while pregnant and towards the end would be all the time. I have them some times now, had the vision yesterday in fact while i was chopping peppers and stabbing potato's ready to bake!! lol really not good timing!!

LoveBeingADaddysGirl · 16/02/2011 17:39

I get a flashing light disturbedvision, it starts in one corner of my eye and slowly works all the way round the eye and then goes back again. Makes me very tired/out of it. Mum gets it too, she's the one that told me it's a migraine

ezzie21 · 16/02/2011 17:52

mine is like looking thru the Primeval anomalies sparkly things some times just in one eye some times in both at the same time

my gp just said to try and take things easy, last one i had was half way round tesco, it made shopping more interesting Grin

foxinsocks · 16/02/2011 21:25

Hettie, I get migraines but with the pain (unfortunately lol)

if you think it's a low blood sugar thing, then you should have it investigated. I have just discovered that mine are driven by this (and hormones, I get menstrual migraines to). I had a mad day on Monday and only had a soup for lunch and had no snacks and by about 7.30 I had the beginnings of a dreadful migraine. It's because I left too long between meals so my blood sugar dropped too fast and I got a migraine. I'm really struggling to find out how to control it and keep meaning to go to a dietician!

HansieMom · 17/02/2011 01:55

I have visual migraines, although not for several years. I have a stairstep light pattern in the upper outer corner of my eye.the colors are blinking and florescent. I thought I had a detached retina the first time it happened. I went in to an eye doctor and he knew what it was from my description. It lasts about 45 minutes and I lie down w eyes closed til it stops.

One time it started when I was in a building supply store looking at light fixtures. Too much sensory input with all those bright lights! I just sat down until it ended.

missmartha · 17/02/2011 08:40

My o/h gets silent migraines.

He says he can feel them coming on now, feels a bit spaced out etc.

The aura lasts about an hour, then he's washed out for the rest of the day.

messylittlemonkey · 17/02/2011 11:18

Yes, I get these a lot.

I've suffered from migraines from being a young teenager. Used to get classic ones with the aura followed by the pain/nausea etc but in recent years I just get the silent ones which basically amounts to the aura which lasts maybe ten mins or so and then that's it.

Mine happen around the time I ovulate and also if I'm unwell. Am just getting over flu and had loads in the last week or so.

I've never worried too much about them TBH.

Good luck in finding out more!

djshed · 17/02/2011 13:24

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djshed · 17/02/2011 13:26

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IslaValargeone · 17/02/2011 13:31

I have these too, but I also get the classic painful with aura types as well, so when one starts I never quite know which way it will go.
One of my triggers is stress or excitement, so I have to careful not to get too sad or too happy Confused
I have tried betablockers as a prophylactic, but I couldn't keep awake on them.

sancerrre · 17/02/2011 13:39

I've had this a couple of times. Dr. said oestrogen can be a contributing factor so changed me from the combined pill to the mini pill.