I had my first ever hemiplegic migraine back in October 2015. I’d been a migraine sufferer all my life from my early teenage years so I was no stranger to the pain they cause.
I always claimed my migraines where hormonal, they started with my periods and ended with my menopause. Although, I do still get them now, they are mostly a side effect of my IVig treatment.
My migraines always began with an aura, a kind of blurriness around everything, like I had a cataract. (Not that I know what it actually looks like to have a cataract, but I have seen photos.) Then the pain would hit. Mine would usually be front lobe migraine, my forehead and front of my head would throb. When they were in full force, I found any kind of light hurtful, and my only wish was to lie down in a dark room. But even when night came, the pain would continue, making me feel nauseous every time I moved. They really were debilitating.
I went to the GP several times. Normal painkillers did not even take the edge off the pain. I was prescribed Beta Blockers to prevent the migraines. They helped a little but not much. Then the GP prescribed me a Triptan pill. I can’t remember which one I had first but there are currently seven available on prescription in the UK, I tried them all. Eventually I had some success with Zolmitriptan. As soon as the aura appeared I would take the pill. Then I would feel absolutely awful for about two hours. I would have to lie down and do nothing. Finally, the migraine would start to feel better, and I would be left with a migraine hangover. It sounds awful, but the alternative was to be in pain for three to four days. The pill didn’t work if I didn’t take it soon enough.
Hemiplegic Migraines
Then in October 2015 I was in bed with a migraine. I needed a drink, keeping hydrated is essential when you have a migraine. But when I went to reach for my water bottle, I realised I couldn’t move. The entire right side of my body was completely unresponsive, and I was lying on my left side. I couldn’t move my arms or legs, or even my hands, fingers or toes. It was a scary experience. My first thought was that I was having a stroke. I tried to call out to a family member, anyone, but all that came from my throat was a tiny squeak. No-one was going to hear. I lay there terrified. I know that with a stroke getting help quickly was what would save you, but here I was alone. I couldn’t move or even call out and my head throbbed so bad.
Eventually I was able to move my left arm from under my body and I reached out for my phone, but I knocked it on the floor. It made a bang, but no-one took any notice. I tried to slide my body to the edge of the bed but I’m not sure what my next move was going to be. I guess I thought if I actually dropped to the floor someone would hear and come to my help. Now I could see the clock on the bedside table, it was around 3am. Graham would come to bed within the next hour, so it was likely that at this point he was in the shed smoking. He wouldn’t hear me fall. I would just have to wait and hope that I didn’t die in the meantime.
Then suddenly I started to feel again, I could move my right arm and wiggle my toes. The pain was not nice, everything throbbed as bad as my head. I was so scared, I had no idea what was happening to me.
Slowly, I managed to sit up and take a drink of my bottle of water. The pain was easing, apart from my head. I lay back down and eventually sleep took over. I don’t remember Graham coming to bed.
The next morning I phoned my GP surgery, explained what happened and they made me an emergency appointment that same day. The surgery at that point was only at the end of the street so I managed to walk there despite feeling weak and still having the migraine. The GP was not sure what had happened. She told me I should have called an ambulance and I know I would have had Graham been there. I promised I would if it happened again. She booked me in for an ultrasound scan.
I never got the scan. Before the appointment arrived, I was in hospital completely paralysed with what they thought was Transverse myelitis, a swelling on my spinal cord. Of course, it turned out to be the start of my Stiff Person Syndrome, but it was year later that it was diagnosed.
Symptoms of Hemiplegic Migraine
A person with hemiplegic migraine will experience a temporary weakness on one side of their body as part of their migraine attack.
The weakness may be in addition to some more common aura symptoms such as:
· Visual disturbances – changes in eyesight in both eyes, such as coloured spots, zig-zags or sparkles
Speech difficulties – slurring words or not being able to speak clearly
Communication difficulties – it can affect your ability to write and understand language which can cause problems with reading, listening, speaking and writing
People may also experience:
· dizziness or vertigo (a sensation of movement)
hearing problems or ringing in the ears
confusion
This can be a frightening experience as the symptoms are similar to those of a stroke. The weakness may last from one hour to several days, but usually goes within 24 hours. A headache may follow the weakness, though it may occur before it or not at all.
So, Now I don’t get migraines so frequently, but when I do get them, they tend to be hemiplegic ones.
Have you ever experienced a Hemiplegic migraine?
Over the next few weeks I’m going to share a few more health issues with you.
Thanks for reading, liking and commenting on my posts. It’s always nice to feel heard.
Anne xx