Complex Migraine

By gennipher24

1 min read

I am a 33 year old female and very healthy! I have two little girls, work full time and married. About a month ago I am driving down the road and I had to pull over (how I did it, I will never know)because My lips and tongue went numb and I started slouching in my seat. I felt like I was going to black out! I got my car stopped and I had no clue where I was, I could not talk, my brain was jumbled and my hands felt numb.

I figured I was having a stroke. Once I recovered 5 minutes later I pulled back on to the highway headed home. 15 minutes passed by and it happened again, all of the same symptoms. I had to have my Mom pick me up on the side of the road and take me to the hospital. This lasted for an hour then I was fine. I was very tired for a few days but could function. I have dealt with a daily headache that will not go away for 3 months now. The Hospital said I was having an anxiety attack.. My Dr. said I was having Mini Strokes and the Neuro said it is Complex Migraines. I had a MRI and cat scan with normal results.

So, my question is do any of you have these same symptoms?

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kmripple Member
Hi Gennifer! So sorry you are going through this. It is terrifying to feel like you are losing control of your body and not knowing what surrounds you, where you are, sometimes even who you are. I have had many of those symptoms throughout the years, for me they come in spells. Doctors always thought it was anxiety but a neuro finally diagnosed me as having migraines. Cars can be a trigger for me, both as a passenger and as a driver. I don't drive much anymore. If I do, it is usually short distances and I avoid highways. I almost crashed twice because I lost notion of my surroundings. : ( Hope the neuro can help you find a treatment that works for you. It can be a long and frustrating process, but well worth it. Take care. And be good to yourself. I know it can be hard doing everything with daily headaches.
Katie M. Golden Moderator
Gennipher, I personally do not experience the symptoms you described, but many Migraineurs deal with the same issues. Loss of speech or motor control, tingling in the hands and feet, confused thoughts. All of this is referred to as Aphasia and can be part of a Migraine experience. I can't imagine how frightening it is to feel like you've lost control of your body. A few years ago a reporter was on camera when she had an attack. Nothing she said made sense and many thought she was having a stroke, but it was complex migraines. Google Serene Branson. One of our writers has the same symptoms. She wrote about her first experience. In her story, she also has links to other info on this condition. <a href='https://migraine.com/blog/what-does-aphasia-feel-like' target='_blank'>http://migraine.com/blog/what-does-aphasia-feel-like/</a> You are definitely not alone. If your MRI came back normal, that rules out a stroke. Working with your neurologist is going to be very important. Unfortunately it can be a long process to find the right meds that will work for you. I wish you the best and please feel free to ask more questions, visit our Facebook page and use our Forum area to connect with others. -Katie
malin Member
Yes, yes, yes! So sorry about your frightening experience, first time is so awful because it's terrifying! I get that real sudden and half my face usually turns hot as well, words dont make sense, feel faint and my tounge is like three steps behind in forming words. I relate to it all except 3 months of continous headache. I hope you feel better soon.
carriet Member
Hi, I've been having complex migraines for 5 years now and I've been able to spot a few triggers. One of my main ones is stress or worry, the other times I have no idea what brings them on. I went through the same my first was the scariest, my husband was working over seas and I was alone with our two children. I was taken to the ER went through MRI and CT and no stroke and was also told anxiety attack. It was one of the worst feelings in the world. I hated having them being alone with my children. When I get them I get the tingly feeling and I loose all control of my muscles on the left side. My speech is horrible and barely understandable. The ER kept telling me I was having a stroke and couldn't understand my results all being ok. I have found topamax has helped me and I am thankful for that. I hope you find a med that works for you! I know they are scary and concerning.