Question: Hemiplegic Migraine... weakness, confusion, severe pain at top of head?
Answer:
Full Question:
My husband was just diagnosed with hemiplegic
migraines. He has been in the hospital for five days with left sided weakness
that has slowly come back (but not fully as of yet) and has spells that leave
him confused as to the people around him as to who they are including his
family. Also he has severe pain in the top of his head during this time. These
spells do not seem to come at any particular time or from any one thing that
seems to triggers them. When they end he is very emotional and cries. My
question for you is how long this will go on is this typical of these types of
migraines or was he misdiagnosed? Should I get a second opinion? Looking for
help, Penny.
Answer:
Dear Penny;
Unfortunately, there are no answers to some of your questions. Without reviewing your husband's family and personal medical history and conducting an examination, nobody can tell you if your husband was misdiagnosed or how long his symptoms will continue. Hemiplegic Migraines, as other Migraines, are precipitated by triggers; it can take some time and careful observation to discover what those triggers are for each individual. Your husband's symptoms could be those of Hemiplegic Migraine, but if you and he aren't confident of the diagnosis, by all means get a second opinion. Hemiplegic Migraine can be tricky. Your best bet would be a good Migraine specialist. There's a link to our directory of recommended specialists below. In the meantime, here's some information for you:
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What Is Hemiplegic Migraine?
To understand Hemiplegic Migraine, we have to understand that Migraine attacks are episodic manifestations of a genetic neurological disease. Migraine can present in a variety of ways. Hemiplegic Migraine is a rare form of Migraine disease, made more confusing by there being two variations: Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) and Sporadic Hemiplegic Migraine (SHM). - Keeping
a Headache and Migraine Diary
One of the most helpful tools for you and your doctors is a Headache and Migraine Diary. It’s useful to track triggers, the effectiveness of meds, and patterns to your headache pain. There are many ways to do this, but for the purpose of your doctor reviewing it, printed pages are usually preferable to a bound journal. We have a diary ready for you to print our download to use on your computer. - What Triggers Head
Pain?
Though not fully understood yet, many factors can cause or contribute to headache. Triggers include foods, chemicals, bright lights, lack of sleep, stress, sinus problems, crying, excess noise, and hormone fluctuations. Pinpointing headache triggers can greatly help in treatment and prophylaxis
Good luck,
Teri Robert and John Claude Krusz
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Published November 27, 2005
