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Migraines that act like seizures?

Tue, 01/16/2007 - 16:34
I had my first appointment with my new neurologist today. He has decided that I do NOT have a seizure disorder, but that I am far more likely to be suffering from migraines. I don't know what to say or do. He is an epileptologist and I was evaluated at the epilepsy centre. He said that if I am suffering from seizures, my symptoms would be the same for every episode. I don't know if I am convinced, but hey, he is the specialist. I think I want to give it all up and let the chips fall where they may. I don't think I care anymore. I'm too fed up to care.

Comments

Re: Migraines that act like seizures?

Submitted by Raemarie on Thu, 2007-03-22 - 17:08
I know how frustrated you feel. I am going through the same thing right now. I have been to a neurologist and she can't make up her mind whether or not I am have seizures or silent migraines(migraines without the pain) I am in the process of finding a new neurologist. I am feed up but I am continuing with my search. I think that if I did not have a 4 year old at home I probably wouldn't bother but with my daughter at home with me I need to take care of this.

Re: Migraines that act like seizures?

Submitted by MikeyM on Sun, 2007-04-01 - 14:43
Sorry to say but the neuro is full of sh--. I have several different types of seizures and they are rarely the same. The only common denominator is some of them, I do this motion where I'm kind of pedaling a bicycle. Weird, huh? Anyway, check out frontal lobe seizures, that's what mine are and they don't show up on any tests but they respond to AED's. Good luck and try to find a better neuro.

Re: Migraines that act like seizures?

Submitted by erinbaba on Sun, 2007-04-01 - 17:01
I don't blame you for being frustrated. Doctors can be very wishy washy... which is exactly what you don't expect them to be. I have both migraines and seizures.... but it took them a few years to figure out that I was having the seizures. What I've learned is this: migraines can trigger seizures; seizures can also act alone. So the dr's statement that they would always be the same isn't exactly true, especially if you had both a migraine and a seizure. I often get migraines that don't progress to the headache phase (or at least a severe headache). I have the prolonged aura (flashing lights, etc), sensation change on one side (because their hemiplegic migraines) and then the headache. If i'm smart (or lucky) I try to take an alleve and the pain never comes. But in the middle of these events, sometimes I have other funny things happen ("the seizures") and memory loss is the primary result - significant long term memory loss, ie. important events that I should remember. My advice: get a second opinion. And possibly a third. It's an unfortunate reality that this is necessary with modern medicine but particularly where the CNS is concerned, it's very complex and it can be a guessing game.

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