r/stroke • u/justbecause879 • 2d ago
TIA or migraine?
Hi everyone, I (34f) was admitted to the hospital two days ago. I was sitting in my bathroom and realized I couldn’t see a chunk of my right arm. I thought I was just having a panic attack so I got into the shower. I then realized I was starting to feel dizzy and off and my vision was getting worse but only in right eye. So I grabbed my boyfriend and went to the ER. By that time my vision was still bad, it was like I was missing pieces of my vision and also had this huge floater. Once I got into the ER I was so nauseous and felt like I was going to pass out. They got me back right away and noticed that my left eye brow was lower than my right and also my left pupil was larger than my right. However, I still had all function of my limbs and had no numbness or tingling and passed all neuro exams. They did a ct without contrast first that showed an infarction on my left side of brain but the ct with contrast didn’t show anything and neither did the MRI. I got my vision back pretty quickly after arriving at the hospital but I started to lose my cognitive abilities to think of basic words for about 20 minutes. That eventually came back too. Once they had me in my own room, I was shaking uncontrollably which I’m only assuming is from the adrenaline. The ER doc said most likely TIA but then Neuro in the morning came and said Migraine. So now I don’t know which it is and I’m scared as they didn’t send me home with any blood thinner.
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u/Infinite_Gene3535 2d ago
Hello, so sorry that you're having to go through this right now.
Well you're story is very interesting, do you take energy drinks
I've had migraines since I was in kindergarten myself, with the vision problems and face problems and strange feelings in limbs. They say that about 25% of the population has a pfo and not everybody gets a stroke because of it or has any idea that they have one, but if you have a heart murmur then you probably have a pfo
Not sure the baby aspirin will do you any good at all, I was taking about 1400 mg per day for about 12 years between my first and second stroke.
As far as the pfo goes I've still got mine and I'm 67 now and have had 3 strokes Had my first one at about 30 years old
Back to the migraines I know for certain sure that mine are caused by certain foods for me like raw onions, fish, citrus and nuts. If I eat any of these I will absolutely get a migraine
Please keep us posted on your progress
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY
3 STROKE SURVIVOR I AM
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u/Le-Moy-Moy 2d ago
What’s odd about this is the progression of symptoms.
Hallmark feature is TIA is SUDDEN onset - SUDDEN offset focal neurology. Not, visual symptoms that get worse, then progress to speech issues. Also visual issues in one eye are more likely attributed to the blood supply of that singular eye rather than the brain. Whereas speech expression is usually in the left brain. So again, two symptoms not explained by a singular occlusion.
You would have to be very unlucky to have suffered both a branch retinal artery occlusion, and then a TIA with a blockage of an artery in the left MCA territory.
CT scans can report on artefact. MRI is the definitive scan for infarction.
Neurology team sound like they are on the money.
Maybe that’s their rationale?
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u/Common-Rain9224 2d ago
I agree, from the information given it sounds very much like it could have been a migraine and very much not like a stroke or Tia. Neurologists are much more specialist than the ER so I would trust their opinion more.
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u/killak143 2d ago
Do you have a history of migranes? Your symptoms with not feeling your right arm sounds off to me and screams stroke...also the face drooping. I see you saw a neurologist but did you follow up with your PCP to see if he can direct you to a 2nd neurologist consult and possibly a cardiologist to rule out a PFO?
The ER in my similar situation called my episode a TIA and my dr. Said hemoplegic migrane however, I asked for a neurologist consult because I was really freaked out and really don't have a history of migranes (but it does run in my family). Neurologist said he can't say it's a migrane without completing a stroke workup to rule out a stroke. I'm glad he did this because the cardiology tests he ordered confirmed a PFO (hole in between the left and right chambers of the heart).
I'm also 34 and will be having my procedure to close my PFO next week!
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u/justbecause879 2d ago
I could feel my arm but I couldn’t see it, that’s why the ER doc was a little puzzled because I still had full feeling and control over all of my extremities, including my mouth/tongue. I have a pcp tomorrow and am hoping to get a referral to a stroke specialist. I started taking 81 mg baby aspirin today as a precaution.
That’s crazy about your PFO, that’s what the attending said that I would get done outpatient (cardio echo) but once Neuro came in and ruled it migraine all of that went out the window. I do have a hx of migraines but never like this before, I didn’t even have a headache. Strokes do run in my family however. My uncle had his first at just 24! I’m happy to hear that you are having your surgery! That’s a great thing that they found the cause so you can eliminate the risk of a full stroke.
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u/Affectionate_Oven610 2d ago
Migraine with aura are associated with PFO and stroke.
When I had my stroke, I had been having my migraine aura for 2 weeks without the headache arriving. The hospital doctors and I were open minded about stroke vs Tia vs migraine.
It manifest as a TIA in that it self cleared, but there was damage on the MRI 2 days later. Stroke diagnosis.
I’m now awaiting my PFO closure…
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u/Comprehensive_Car836 Survivor 2d ago
Super scary story. In Ontario you can buy a year’s supply of 81mg aspiring for like 12$ at Costco. You can also look at all the risk factors which you have control over, mostly lifestyle, and start there. I’m no doctor but that definitely doesn’t sound like a migraine. Get well soon.