diagnosing silent migraines

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Hi guys,

I won't get into all the details, but for the last few months, I have been having a variety of health issues and have been getting various tests and screenings done to rule things out, since my primary care physician doesn't seem to know is going on. It's getting to be frustrating and also very expensive, since I don't have good insurance.

Recently someone told me about silent migraines, because my many of my symptoms are similar the ones people get with those, and I am wondering what type of a specialist would be knowledgeable about discussing and possibly diagnosing something like that. A neurologist, maybe? I don't need a referral with my insurance and can go directly to whomever I choose, but it is rather expensive, so I'm really hoping to find the right type of specialist on the first try. Plus, I just really hate going to the doctor's and that's added incentive for me to not see more doc's than I need to.

Thanks for any suggestions you might have!

I have had classic migraines with aura, and one of my parents gets aura without headache. Going to a headache specialist might be a good idea. I'm not really knowledgeable on this topic, just a thought.

I'm not sure on which specialist would be best to see for migraines. I think my sister has had good luck seeing a physician with personal experience with the condition. At least I believe that is what she mentioned to me.

Something you might try on your own to see if it helps is eating a wheat free/gluten free diet. I've read a few times of sufferers finding relief from their condition eating this way. Recall this article with mention on that:

"Weight loss is just the start!"

http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/09/w ... the-start/

Also retired neurosurgeon Larry McCleary has written about wheat free diets helping his patients with migraines.

"Ask The Low-Carb Experts (Episode 14): ‘Diet And The Three A’s: ADHD, Autism and Alzheimer’s’ | Dr. Larry McCleary"

http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/ask- ... eary/14064

Thanks for the suggestions! I appreciate it. I have actually been on a wheat-free/gluten-free diet since about 2006 and it has helped with a variety of things. The symptoms I have been having over the last few months sort of came out of nowhere, though, and I have not made any dietary or lifestyle changes that I can connect them with. I actually have a special interest in nutrition and excercise a lot, so I was in pretty good health until some of these issues came up recently.

Other than ASD, the only notable things in my medical history are having a back and neck injury from being hit by a drunk driver about a year ago, and suffering mild carbon monoxide poisoning this past June. I did have an MRI of my brain a few weeks ago that came back ok, so my doc does not think my symptoms are related to the CO poisoning, but part of me is still wondering about that myself. I've also had a variety of blood tests that ruled out other conditions (low thyroid, anemia, lyme disease and one or two other things). I've also had some inner ear pain and bad tinnitus, so I saw an Ear/Nose/Throat specialist, but he just told me I had some eustachian tube dysfunction and seemed to think I was basically ok, other than that.

My main concern at this time is trying to find someone who is able to just accurately diagnose me and explain what is going on, since my symptoms could be a result of a variety of things. It seems like my current doc just wants to basically continue throwing darts at a board until she hits something that makes sense and I really can't afford all of these expensive tests.

My main symptoms are episodic and seem to happen in a cycle. I'll get tired and irritable, then later in the day or the next day, I'll experience these symptoms that hit me so hard that it's difficult to get through work or function:

-visual changes (blurry vision that is usually just in one eye, flashes of lights, spots in my vision), followed by a return to normal vision afterwards
-dizziness and lightheadedness
-brain fog, trouble concentrating, trouble thinking clearly/finding the right word
-sensitivity to light
-nausea (sometimes, but not always)

Then, for up to a few days after an 'episode' (or whatever you'd want to call it), I'm incredibly tired. (Usually I am a ball of nervous energy, so this is actually the first time in my life I've ever had ongoing problems with fatigue).

In between episodes, I do get ice-pick headaches or headaches that feel like regular sinus headaches, but it has been a few years since I've gotten an actual migraine headache. (I used to get them fairly often in college).

I also have some problems with my neck and shoulders being really stiff (before the onset of symptoms), but I am pretty sure that can just be attributed to my old neck injury and is unrelated to these other issues.

I'm not trying to seek medical advice from strangers over the Internet, but since I've been having trouble getting answers from doctors, I would be interested in seeing if anything comes to mind for anyone reading this and if you might have suggestions about things I should discuss with a doctor and possibly be screened for, whether it is related to silent migraines or something else.

I would start with either an ophthalmologist or neurologist and take it from there.

I'm not a doctor, but it sounds like pressure is being put on your brain. I get migraines with auras(little glitchy looking things that flash, but you can't focus on it even when it occurs right in the middle of your vision), but none of your other symptoms. I would seek out a neurologist.

i've had migraines with no pain before (ophthalmic), and was diagnosed by an optometrist - they are qualified to pinpoint the issue. i used to get a migraine every day, some were with pain and some were not.

there are also primarily stomach-based migraines that an internist could diagnose.

Just noticed someone bumped this thread. This problem (or collection of several little problems, I guess) actually went a few weeks after I posted about it last summer. I was feeling in good health and pretty much back to normal for several months afterwards.

But, over the last few weeks, I started having weird, unexplained joint pain and parasthesia, with the parasthesia mainly in my feet/ankles/just above my ankles and the joint pain being most prominent in my ankles. I'm ordinarily pretty physically active and have a ton of stairs leading to my apartment, so, to say the least, I'm really eager to get this figured out and treated. It feels kind of like a tarsal tunnel-related problem, but I do have occasional joint pain and pins-and-needles feelings in my hands, too, so I really have no idea what's up with me. I tested negative for several things, including diabetes and Lyme Disease, although I still wonder about the Lyme Disease, since I live in a region where it's considered endemic, I have a history of tick bites and have heard the Lyme blood tests are not all that reliable.

Luckily, none of the problems in the OP have really come back, other than the fatigue and occasional headaches. But, I was referred to a neurologist for my recent issues and my appointment is in about a month. I do plan to mention these issues I was having last summer when I see him. Not sure if it is related or not.

Well, due to these issues and more, last week I wound up spending my 30th birthday getting and then recovering from a spinal tap. Today, I was told all of the tests on my spinal fluid came back normal. I'm incredibly relieved, since they were testing me for multiple sclerosis and some other serious conditions.

In researching some of my symptoms prior to the spinal tap, I learned B6 toxicity has symptoms that sounded awfully familiar and, wanting to explore all options, requested a blood test for my B6 levels. I thought it was doubtful that I'd have toxic levels, since I don't take high doses of any vitamin, just a multivitamin everyday, but it turns out the levels in my blood were more than twice the upper end of the normal range. (!)

Apparently, some people have a genetic condition where their bodies don't process the artificial form of B6 in the same way others do and it seems I am one of those folks. In other words, for most people B6 is a water-soluble vitamin, but for others it just gradually builds up in your system until it causes all kinds of crazy problems. I'm being told, though, that by avoiding the artificial B6 found in supplements and some fortified foods, I should eventually detox and make a full recovery or something fairly close to it.

So, although I wish I'd learned about the B6 prior to the spinal tap (or that one of the doctors I'd seen had thought to test for it), I'm glad to be feeling hopeful again! (It's been a while!)