Migraine or a seizure

[kristym]

I had horrible migraines from age 15 to 35. Saw auras, nausea, headache and light bothered me. Then they went away.

I am 65 now (OMG!) and 3 months ago began seeing zigzag lightning like flashes of light at peripheral vision- one eye only the right side of right eye. At that time eye doc said was "Moore's Lightning" no retinal detachment found.

BUT at the same time I was also having epigastric auras and nausea and and strange body and head sensations which I had NOT mentioned to him. So I went to primary care and I am setup to see a neurologist next week for EEG.

From all I read, it is common for those with migraine history to have them return. BUT I get no headache with these current symptoms. The auras occur sporadically-sometimes 10 a day sometimes one a week. Therefore I was wondering if it were a seizure of some sort.

 

[lindsayschu2]

Sounds just like the visual aura I used to get with silent migraines (visual aura just like that, nausea, light/sound sensitivity, no headache). If it's a migraine aura they usually only last around 20-30 minutes or so, and they sometimes start more toward the center and then move toward the periphery (at least that's what they did for me). How long are yours? But those are awfully frequent to be migraines for sure.

 

[kristym]

short duration

Mine last anywhere from 1 minute to 15 minutes, although sometimes they come in "waves" for longer

 

[lindsayschu2]

I'm glad you are getting checked--I really don't know. When I was a kid, my visual aura started out as a blind spot in the center that moved to the periphery, and then about 20 minutes after it stopped, I got the crippling headache. The visual aura changed in young adulthood to zigzaggy, brightly colored lines, almost like an indian blanket design, and eventually the headaches stopped but I had all the other typical migraine symptoms after the aura. The visual aura changed to 'trails' when I went on Topamax--I would get a migraine a day the week of my period (and only then), very rarely, I would get two in a day. Strangely, they stopped once I reduced Topamax (I know that is a migraine med but for me it made migraines worse). The trail visual auras were a lot shorter--like 5 minutes. Once I had bright flashing lights, which I thought really were flashing lights at first. So I know at least for me the visual aura can change over time, and so can frequency. My neuro also thinks they are migraines vs seizures, but that's my case and not necessarily yours. Please let us know what you learn and good luck.

 

[Angelita14]

Hi, I originally started with experiencing migraines. Sometimes it would be just the aura- I would get a ball of sparkle in my eyes and then it would expand to zig zags. I would also get the smells like burning paper/rubber/glue and on occasion wee wee I wish that was all I was experiencing now as I have lots of other stuff happening now. Were the body sensations a tingly feeling over a specific part of your body or a feeling of 'cobwebs' on your face? Sounds weird but it could be a symptom of nerve damage. Good Luck.

 

[kristym]

Body sensations were of a feeling like the "bottom of my stomach was rising" as if in an elevator going down. Then went to my head and made me "spacey".

 

[valeriedl]

Sometimes during a simple partial my head will feel 'spacey'. I'll have body sensations too but they are usually tingling in my lips, hands and feet.

I have migraines after most of my complex partials. They last for a few hours.