Is this migraine? Your experiences please

[cardy1969]

From what I've read (Googled) I have had classic migraine symptoms but I am finding it a bit worrying. On Wednesday afternoon I was working at the computer and got zigzagged lines in my peripheral vision on my right eye, this lasted for about 15 mins and then I had some numbness in my right hand and on the right slide of my lips and tongue. All in all it lasted about 30 mins then I got a headache on the left hand side of my head and dozed off for about an hour. The headache though not severe lasted the rest of the evening and into the next day. I felt totally wiped out for the whole of the following day but much better when I got up this morning.

However a couple of hours ago I got the same thing with my vision in my left eye and a little numbness in my left hand. This has left me with a slight headache but not bad.

I've had something similar to this one or twice before about 3 or 4 years ago.

My questions are, does this sound like a migraine? Is it usual to have a repeat with 48 hours, is it all part of the same migraine? Is there benefit to seeing the GP?

Any advice welcome. I do tend to worry about these things.

That's migraine with aura.

Totally normal to experience it again the following day on the other side ( and sometimes day 3 on the original side)

Yes beneficial to see GP and if you are on the combined pill you need to come off it.

Very much sounds like migraine. Definitely see GP.

Yes that sounds like a typical Migraine with Aura .Ive had them all my life with varying severity .Episodes have increased again in the last few years due to menopause .

I agree, sounds very much like a migraine with aura. My sister gets the numbing too but I don't.
I used to get the full on migraine where I'd have to have complete darkness and quiet. I now usually get the visual disturbance and no pain but recently I have been getting the headaches again as well, though not as bad.
They do wipe me out for a day or so and the aura I'll get in on one side and then the next time it will be on the other side. I have had it where it's on the same side again but I think this is because I get them in my sleep (I have woken up with one a few times). Sometimes the aura starts in the middle and spreads outs in a jagged circle, or goes into a side on V shape, or sometimes starts on the outer edge and goes across my eye.

Yes it sounds like it. I don’t get the numbing but I know others who do.
See your GP and as another poster said if you are on the combined pill stop taking it right away.

It sounds like migraine but your GP would probably want to rule other things out so maybe book an appointment (if you can get one!) and let them decide 😊

Thank you, your replies are appreciated and reassuring.

I started HRT a year ago so maybe related to that, but I'd also had similar experiences once or twice over the past 10 years.

I worry because my Mum died suddenly last August after two stokes, and some other of the symptoms seem similar.

I'm now worried about going out. I need to drive to pick dd from the train station (she's coming back from uni) and worry about my vision being effected.

Any recommend treatments? Like I say the headache isn't debilitating it's more the accompanying symptoms. l'll make an appointment to see my GP.

My DD has the same - migraine with aura and numbing on one side. The doc recommended an MRI to be safe (we are in the US) so worth it to check with GP.
I too get migraines (but no numbing) and found that 400 mg of magnesium glycinate helps. It apparently works in 50% of cases. B6 also might help in some cases.
Migraine normally have some triggering factors. My DBs is lactose, DD is a combination of lack of sleep / too much screen combined with exercise and mine is lack of sleep.
Good luck

What type of HRT are you on?

For migraine it has to be patches or gel to reduce the risk of stroke.

It's unlikely you need further investigations or scans as your history is so clear. The NHS guidelines all specifically exclude doing scans unless you have other red flag symptoms.

I'm on Oestrogel (2 pumps) and Utrogestan capsules.

I spoke to the doctor and she has said she wants me to come off HRT. It's seems extreme to me. I've been on it 14 months and had 1 migraine. I've probably had 5 other migraines in my life (before HRT). She linked it to my mum dying from a stroke at 76.

I am very reluctant to stop HRT and go back to how I was (hot flushes day and night, very poor sleep, anxiety) before I was HRT.

Surely people who have migraines, especially only occasionally, can take HRT via gel?

I have HRT - patches and Utrogestan. My specialist has said there is no increased risk with migraine as long as you have patches or gel.

If you can't persuade your GP I'd ask for a referral to menopause clinic.

Just to compare, I have migraine every week (even with Botox) so 1 in 14 months is very different!

I get migraines- and it was a migraine that lasted for 12 hours that finally persuaded me to see my doctor about a range of peri symptoms. She said migraines can be linked to peri too. And prescribed HRT (exactly the same regime as yours OP). So your GP now wanting to take you off HRT doesn't seem to fit with that at all.

I am waiting for an appointment with another GP, that I trust a little more, to get a second opinion. I have also asked to be referred to a menopause clinic but there is a 6 month waiting list. In the meantime I am continuing with my current HRT dosage (I've gone down from 3 pumps to 2 pumps). The question will arise when I need a new prescription. The GP I spoke to seemed to link it to my mum having a stroke. She had never taken HRT and her stroke was linked to a brain condition called cerebral amyloid angioplasty. My BP and BMI are normal.