Understanding My Mysterious Episodes: Are They Migraines?
Is it Hemiplegic or Complicated Migraines, or perhaps something entirely different? I am a 52-year-old woman weighing 163 pounds, and I am not currently taking any medication. Since December 7th, 2023, I've been experiencing episodes that occur 2 to 3 times weekly, sometimes with more intensity than others, and they can last anywhere from an hour to several days. These episodes often make me feel as though I'm having a stroke, accompanied by various sensory anomalies. I experience dizziness, light-headedness, tingling sensations in my head, face, hands, and feet, weakness, and at times, paralysis. This profound weakness affects my ability to walk and stand; I often feel like I might topple over. My coordination is severely impacted, and I perceive my movements as being delayed, as if I am operating in slow motion. Nausea is frequent but varies in intensity, and I have faced episodes of aphasia on a few occasions. Medical professionals have ruled out a stroke due to the absence of visible damage, and while they hesitate to label my condition as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), they continue prescribing migraine medications without confirming the diagnosis when I inquire. Interestingly, I do not experience headache pain, nor do I have visual disturbances or heightened sensitivity to light and sound during these incidents. I have consulted numerous neurologists and visited multiple hospitals, undergoing several tests that have returned negative results. The medications tested so far have either been ineffective or led to adverse reactions. I've maintained a detailed journal documenting my symptoms and food intake, and I’ve also met with a nutritionist. However, I have yet to identify any specific triggers for my symptoms. I would greatly appreciate any insights or theories regarding my situation.
Answers (1)
9/9/2025, 10:30:55 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable that you're feeling frustrated and concerned about your episodes, especially given their complex nature and the lack of clarity from medical professionals. While your symptoms share some features with migraines, particularly complicated or hemiplegic migraines, it's crucial to consider other potential causes due to your diverse symptoms and healthcare history.
Understanding Your Symptoms:
The episodes you're experiencing, including dizziness, tingling, weakness, coordination issues, and nausea, can indeed resemble symptoms of migraine without headache or could suggest other underlying neurological conditions. Since your symptoms have led to significant functional impact, it's commendable that you’ve kept a detailed symptom and food diary, as this can be a vital tool in identifying patterns or triggers.
Prioritized Next Steps:
-
Continue Symptom Journaling: Maintain your current practice of documenting your episodes, noting the duration, intensity, associated sensations, and any potential triggers, including food, stress, or activities prior to the onset.
-
Explore Non-Migraine Neurological Conditions: Given the variety of symptoms and the absence of headache, consider discussing with your neurologist the possibility of ruling out conditions like multiple sclerosis or other neurological disorders. Tests like MRI scans or cerebrospinal fluid analysis may provide further insights.
-
Consult a Headache Specialist: If not done already, seek a consultation with a specialist who focuses specifically on headaches and migraines. They may offer a different perspective or advanced diagnostic options.
-
Assess and Monitor Other Factors: While dietary factors may not yet have surfaced as triggers, consider evaluating stress levels, sleep quality, hormonal fluctuations (especially related to menopause), and hydration, as these can significantly impact neurological symptoms.
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Investigate the potential benefits of CBT or other therapeutic approaches that can help you manage the anxiety and stress that may accompany these episodes.
-
Follow-up on Medication Side Effects: If past medications have resulted in adverse effects, continue to communicate this with your healthcare team. They might be able to adjust dosages or explore alternative treatment paths to strike a balance between relieving symptoms and minimizing side effects.
Conclusion:
While your journey has been challenging, continuing to seek clarity through detailed self-monitoring, engaging with specialists, and exploring holistic approaches can help lead you toward a better understanding of your condition. Keep advocating for your health, and don't hesitate to seek further opinions if you feel it's necessary. If there's anything else you'd like to discuss or clarify, I'm here to help.
Related Questions
Understanding the Increased Pain in My Foot While Reclining
At 30 years old, I am nearing the five-week mark since undergoing surgery on my metatarsals. I've encountered a troubling issue: I can’t seem to find comfort when lying down, whether it’s with my foot raised or lying flat. My pain level escalates to a severe 10 out of 10, unless my foot is making contact with the floor or I dangle my leg off the side of the bed so that my toes touch the ground. Is this situation typical for someone in my circumstances? Are there any suggestions that might assist me in getting a better night's sleep?
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.
Seeking Insights: My Journey with Undiagnosed Neurological Symptoms
Hello everyone, I'm a 34-year-old female grappling with neurological symptoms that first appeared in October, and I’m eager to hear from anyone who might have faced similar challenges. My journey began with unexpected migraines, blurred vision, and an ongoing sensation of being off-balance or intoxicated. Gradually, I began experiencing mainly sensory-related symptoms, such as tingling and burning sensations, feelings of extreme heat and cold, sharp pains radiating in my arms and back, as well as discomfort in my hands and toes, alongside intermittent numbness. I also endure varying degrees of weakness and heaviness in my right side, specifically my arm and leg, although I haven’t suffered complete functional loss. The nature of my symptoms is erratic; they fluctuate rather than consistently deteriorate. An MRI revealed mild, scattered lesions in the white matter, which were deemed nonspecific. Further tests from a lumbar puncture returned normal results, showing no markers of inflammation, and the oligoclonal bands were not present. A thorough range of lab tests yielded no significant findings. After evaluating my case, the neurology team suggested a possible diagnosis of MS and administered a three-day course of intravenous steroids. While I noticed a slight improvement in some sensory pain, my symptoms persist and continue to vary day by day. I still experience headaches and pressure in my head along with episodes of blurred vision, but there have been no new deficits since treatment. I am reaching out to connect with others who have had similar experiences. I would like to learn about the insights or diagnoses you encountered and what treatments proved beneficial (such as those related to migraine disorders, dysautonomia, or sensory neuropathy, for example). If you have navigated a similar path, I would greatly appreciate your sharing your story. Thank you!
Unusual Heart Sensation
I’m an 18-year-old, weighing 50 kilograms and standing at 170 centimeters (and yes, I’m aware that I’m quite slender). For the past couple of years, I’ve developed a habit of smoking about half a pack of cigarettes each day. So, the other day I was lying on my left side, relaxing, when I stumbled upon an unusual sensation. It felt as though my heart was pulsating so intensely that it was almost outside my body. Out of curiosity, I pressed a bit on the area and was instantly hit with a rush; my head started to tingle, my vision momentarily blurred, and it felt as though my heart dropped. It was as if my entire system had malfunctioned. Just for context, I’ve experienced something similar before after a ketamine overdose, and it persisted for about a month afterward, occurring occasionally while trying to sleep or during random moments in bed. This current episode has me quite anxious, especially since it hasn’t happened in a while, but this time felt particularly alarming.