Migraine Headaches Support Group

Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.

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megsmom8816 03/17/2015

I get ocular/aura migraines about once a month. I used to get them four or five times a year, but as I get older (51) I get them more often. I don't think they are hormone related as I haven't had a period in six years.

My concern is that I have been reading online that there is a correlation between women who have these types of migraines having a bigger risk of having strokes or heart attacks as opposed to typical migraines. Anyone else heard of this correlation? I currently have no heart disease. I had a surgery to close a hole in my heart in 2007 but since then all of my tests have come back good. I take Valsartan to control my blood pressure, and that usually is at a decent place with the medication.

Should I be freaking out the way I am today...since today I spent three hours in the dark again with an ocular migraine?

Please advise!

YvetteK 03/17/2015

Just in general, those who have migraines are at a greater risk of having mini-strokes and strokes. Looking at the studies (did some internet research), it seems the group at greatest risk are young people (under 55) who have aura symptoms. However, how accurate that is, is debatable. One has to take into account other problems which could bring on a stroke, such as blood clotting disorders. Also, those 35-55 is the key age range of women on birth control, which also has precautions of blood clots.

I would talk to your neurologist or headache specialist if you are really bothered about this, and ask about things you can do to lessen your risk factors.

megsmom8816 03/17/2015

I don't see a neurologist, just under the care of my PCP. I don't generally have to even take anything beyond Aleve or Motrin, but I do take Gabapentin now for a disk issue.

7 years ago I had brain surgery for a Chiari Malformation, and he said I should not have continued issues with my migraines increasing, but I do still get them. I have not been on birth control for almost 20 years.

I just don't want to panic unnecessarily.

YvetteK 03/17/2015

This is a much better article than the first one I quoted from. This does explain the risk, and how much of a risk it is. This is something I would talk to your PCP about, to see how to lessen your risks.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/806983

megsmom8816 03/17/2015

That is so depressing. I don't even know what to do with the information. I am kind of scared now.

Nina1959 03/22/2015

Strokes run in my family along with the headaches and vertigo as well.
I figure it this way....until some doc gives us meds or the like, all we can do is take whatever vitamins will keep our vessels healthy, and do whatever we must to be peaceful. Since stress raises cortisol, and cortisol raises inflammation, and inflammation messes with our blood vessels.... it's all about keeping the stress down and eating an anti inflammatory type diet...keeping our blood sugar level and meditation, etc.
I'm 56 this July, btw. Just entered menopause finally last year.

22Lynn 03/22/2015

Megsmom, one of my health conditions has been changing now for about 7 months. So I'm now put in quite a scary spot when it comes to treatment. Like you I feel scared. I've decided to go back to my therapist for a few sessions until I feel better about my condition. She always had good, practical advice. I've been dumping too much on my husband, I try not to do that. Therapy is really good for the anxiety of having an illness. Good luck.

megsmom8816 03/22/2015

My husband also suggested that I talk to someone. I don't think it is normal to have a headache every day for months on end, and I know taking medicine for pain raises my blood pressure too. I am on BP medicine, but it doesn't always control it when I am taking large amounts of NSAIDS. Good luck to you also.

annabelle 04/08/2015

I'm curious. Did they call the hole in your heart a PFO? Have your migraines gotten better or worse since the surgery?

How did you come to have the surgery?

megsmom8816 04/09/2015

My migraines have not changed since the surgery. I was extremely tired all of the time and had palpitations so they checked my heart more thoroughly and found the hole in my heart so that is why they did the PFO.

annabelle 04/09/2015

I'm so sorry to her that you didn't get any relief from the migraines after your surgery. I'm trying to get the surgery done myself and I keep being told that the surgery isn't approved by the FDA for migraines on adults as yet.

I do hope you get some relief, just like the rest of us, from the migraines.

megsmom8816 04/09/2015

Thanks. My big worry really is that with the kind I get that I might have an increased risk of stroke...that really concerns me

annabelle 04/10/2015

It's very hard not to worry about all of the things that can go wrong from having migraines. I know that they worry me too. But just maybe with having the PFO closure done, you've reduced your risk.

How many migraines do you get every month now?

megsmom8816 04/20/2015

Some months, when stress is high, I can get two or three. Then I can go a couple months and not get any, and then I can get them once a week. There is no real pattern. Strange lights can bring them on, sunshine, and then sometimes I wake up on a weekend and have one when I have no work related stress going on. It baffles me why I can't establish a pattern.

thelmanlouise 04/21/2015

Megsmom:
If your primary doc cannot answer your question abut if your are at increased risk of stroke, I would ask for a consult with a Neurologist. He/she could answer your question and maybe decrease your migraines that are increasing in frequency at times.

Good luck, Carol

megsmom8816 04/28/2015

I do have an appt with a neurologist in two weeks. I waited so long to see another one because I have always been dismissed and told people have migraines and I need to learn to live with them. I ended up with some permanent damage in my spine because they refused the MRIs for so long and it was finally a rheumatologist who discovered my Chiari Malformation and syrinx, so I had brain surgery. However, because my spinal fluid was blocked off for so long I have some nerve damage now in my back.

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