By unilateral weakness I mean weakness not paralysis. I can move that side of my body, but it is tiring and very much desensitized--ie you could hit my arm with a cat-o-nine tails and I wouldn't know the difference from a being caressed by a feather. Well, I would feel it if hit with the weapon, but I certainly wouldn't feel a feather and have actually given myself bruises accidentally in trying to massage some sensation back into my arm and leg. This sensation usually begins a good 20-60 minutes prior to a full-on raging headache, and continues throughout the headache which, if I do not take triptans, usually last between 6 and 12 hours. If I take a triptan early enough I can knock out the worst of it, although I do remain fatigued, weak, easily confused and generally out of it.
But yes, as I stated, I do have a seizure disorder, and yes, both epilepsy and migraine have been separately diagnosed by the same physician. I have had numerous EEG's, most normal but a few with 3spike/sec blips, but never a 24 hour EEG--I am doubtful my doctor would recommend this and if so, I doubt my health insurance would cover it (I am studying abroad in Germany and thus have the bare minimum of coverage)...
What I really want to know is, do I need to be concerned about taking triptans, and if so, what is the risk (ie numbers) of stroke, and are there alternatives besides midrin (so does not work!) and anticonvulsants (which of course I am already on with no effect decreasing the number of migraines I experience.)
Thanks for the help.
Hi,
You have mentioned of severe unilateral weakness. How would you describe this ? Does this mean you can not move an extremity or a part of the body? When this happens , for how long do these symptoms last? Do they last for less than an hour? Do they last for days? Also, do these symtoms always accompany the headache or do they always occur on their own?
Based on your post ,this sounds like a hemiplegic migraine if severe unilateral weakness is involved. However, it is important to delineate this weakness from a seizure disorder. Some seizure disorders may present with weakness ,numbness or even confusion during an attack. Have you had a 24 hour video EEG done? Migraines and seizures may occur together.It s important to ascertain that these neurologic symptoms are actually migraine auras and not part of a seizure attack.
Has your physician discussed this with you?
Have you been diagnosed with a separate migraine condition aside from the seizure?