silent migraines or headaches - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

katie21919 · 07-11-2001, 07:50 PM

My daughter has been dizzy and has tingling in her hands sometimes. At first, the doctors thought she had viral labrynthitis(an inner ear problem) and they told her that there was nothing to do but rest and let the virus run it's course.

She tried that and she kept having these really dizzy and tingling hands episodes and she started to be really anxious because she never knew when it was going to happen next. She has a 18 month old and she had real fears of being alone with her and getting an episode and maybe fainting and what would happen to little Olivia if that happened. Than she insisted on having an MRI to rule out any tumors or other things and that came back fine. She also had blurry or fuzzy vision with it, so she went to an eye doctor and her vision was perfect and he couldn't find any abnormalities. She thought that she would than go to an EAR, NOSE & Throat specialist and after examining her, he asker her if she had any pain. She told him that there was no pain, but sometimes she had pressure in the back of here head or on the top of her head. Made her feel kind of foggy. Also, the flourescent lights at work seemed to flicker at times. He than told her that he thought that she might be having a "silent migraine". You have migraines without the pain. Because of the severe anxiety that she was having, they put her zoloft and he told her that if it is migraines, it could possibly help that too. He said that migraines are now thought to be from a drop in serotonin levels and that zoloft is a serotonin lifter. Her anziety is much better, but it has only been 11 days. Her dizziness is better too but she occasionally has blurry or fuzzy and the flourescent lights sometimes flicker.
Does any one know of or have anything like this?

Miss_piggy · 07-12-2001, 01:14 PM

I had a similar experience when I was a teenager. Dizziness and seeing blackspots, losing feeling in my extremities (starting with a tingling feeling). Most often this occoured when I was in a building with flourescent lighting.

It was a sign of an oncomming migrane, and usually around the begining of my menstrual cycle.

I had my head scanned, my eyes double checked (once while seeing blackspots) my ears checked, my blood glucose levels checked, and nothing was found.

After child birth, a womans hormone levels fluctuate(sp?) at such a high level, strange thing happen to ones body.
A mothers seperation from her child can often cause feelings of anxiety, and could be the cause for these episodes. Perhaps she should look into seeing a therapist.

I hope the pills work for her.
However they may not be necessary.

Ciao!
Mel

Airyn · 07-21-2001, 01:25 PM

I too was initially diagnosed with silent migraine (after months of testing by every specialist possible) - but for some reason I didn't buy it. It just seems like an excuse - like they can't find out what's wrong so they say it's a silent migraine. (also I know my self and this didn't seem right)
ANYWAY - after more testing I was dianosed with Panic Disorder (a chemical imbalance in the brain) and I am doing well now.
Also it could be her thyroid. (you need to get two tests done as the firwst one may say it's negative - but that can be untrue - ask for the next step in testing to make sure)
Good Luck - Airyn

Lucy · 08-10-2001, 10:02 PM

I have had two "silent migraines" and my husband has had a couple also. I believe they are real and not just an excuse. I was on a bus when the first one happened...no reason for a panic attack, until my hands went completely numb and I felt dizzy and tired. My husband's were completely visual effects, but a doctor told him the same thing. I don't think I'd want to be on mood altering drugs to help migraines...but whatever works for each individual.

mlgable · 08-12-2001, 09:28 AM

Lots of things could be going on here. One is the silent migraine, another possiblity is hypoglycemia or panic/anxiety attacks. Have your daughter checked for all of these things and then she can take it from there. It will take at least 2 weeks for the full effects of Zoloft to be noticed although with me I noticed the effects right away in the first couple of days. Once she is sure there are no other underlying problems I would continue with the Zoloft if it works for her. Good Luck.