jimmy9800
jimmy9800 t1_j5mkmjh wrote
Reply to comment by thatsalotofcats in TIL about a rare kind of migraine that mimics a stroke, called a hemiplegic migraine. by simulatislacrimis
For sure. Sumatriptan is definitely a case-by-case drug. I know I'm not ok to drive after I take it. You might look into Goody's extra strength headache powder. It works well for me once I just have the headache. It makes it go and stay away for me. I don't know if I'm jealous of your auras or thankful! Mine are pure noise or lack of sense. The visuals are the weirdest. It's like that pre-sleep dream pattern thing but I can't get out of it. I am aware if motion happens but I can't see it. The audio auras are just like someone put a really good earmuffs over my left ear, or I have a real bad ear infection. Muffled and ringy. The body aura is exactly like a stroke. No feeling and a lack of control of the whole left side of my body, along with vertigo and nausea. It usually goes visual, left hand, left face, hearing, then full on left body. If it gets that far, I'm stuck like that for a couple days, but my vision does come back in a few hours.
jimmy9800 t1_j5mf39r wrote
Reply to comment by thatsalotofcats in TIL about a rare kind of migraine that mimics a stroke, called a hemiplegic migraine. by simulatislacrimis
Thanks for the camaraderie! Good news is i kind of have stopped the worst of it. I don't care who tries to get in my way, if I feel auras coming on, I go home and lay down. I've got about a half hour to get somewhere dark and lay down and there isn't a force on this planet that could stop me.
Caffeine helps me get out faster, and emergency sumatriptan has worked well as well, but increases my risk of stroke, so it's truly emergency use only for me.
jimmy9800 t1_j5lyyt0 wrote
Reply to comment by thatsalotofcats in TIL about a rare kind of migraine that mimics a stroke, called a hemiplegic migraine. by simulatislacrimis
Im glad yours aren't too bad. I wouldn't mind the auras so much if the headache was nicer. I get cluster headaches after the auras finish for me if I just power through the auras, and will go to the hospital for monitoring if I know one is coming. They are terrifying. I'd rather have kidney stones every week than go through that.
My triggers are kind of odd, and the whole thing is related to a tbi I had ice skating when i was 7. Jumping (including running, which sucks), dark chocolate, violent vomiting, and pulling all nighters are all pretty reliable at giving me a migrane. I still get the odd one for no reason once a year or so, but I can make myself have one if I jump rope for 5 minutes. Comes in handy for fmri imaging, as long as they have sumatriptan to stop it before it gets bad.
jimmy9800 t1_j5lnj90 wrote
Reply to comment by Rrawbs in TIL about a rare kind of migraine that mimics a stroke, called a hemiplegic migraine. by simulatislacrimis
I was terrified the first time I had one (8 yrs old), but yeah it makes people around me nervous if I let them get that far. Can't walk and I sound completely plastered since half my face quit working. Mine are incredibly rare now but last for days if I manage them badly.
jimmy9800 t1_j5lmzsq wrote
Reply to comment by thatsalotofcats in TIL about a rare kind of migraine that mimics a stroke, called a hemiplegic migraine. by simulatislacrimis
I do too. If I catch it right when I notice the visual auras and go lay in the dark and quiet for a few hours, I just end up with a headache. Otherwise, my whole left side becomes useless, speaking and swallowing get next to impossible, and I'm worthless for a few days. These are great. I recognize that I'm a lucky one because I know my migrane triggers well at this point, so it's rare for me to go through a full migrane anymore.
jimmy9800 t1_j5mor2z wrote
Reply to comment by thatsalotofcats in TIL about a rare kind of migraine that mimics a stroke, called a hemiplegic migraine. by simulatislacrimis
I'm thoroughly enjoying this! I've never met anyone with this before either! It's bizarre. It's like describing to someone how it feels to have your brain, fully conscious, slowly disconnect itself from all its inputs and then slowly figure itself out again. I get that black hole too! Although I'd describe it as more of a missing section of vision. I wouldn't know what color it is. I can't tell. It's like my brain is just making up whatever goes there and none of it could even be remotely real. The only thing about that hole that seems to be consistent is the edges shimmer, pulse, and almost seem brighter than they should be. It's always the first thing to show up for me, and it always initially looks like that spot that shows up when you look at a bright light and then look away, but instead of fading, it just grows and grows.