1st Neuro Appointment - confused.....

[MinnieMouse]

Hi Everyone

I went to my first neruologist appointment today and am really disappointed as was hoping to be reassured and bounce out of the hospital with a spring in my step. I had written a list of my symptoms and he said he didn't want to look at them but to just explain my symptoms.

I have been getting different migraines recently, dizziness, feelings of detachment etc. Anyway, I was trying to explain that I feel like I am going to pass out at any given moment (weirdly mostly in supermarkets) and that I get numbness with my right hand and foot and I really felt like he'd looked at my notes from the doctor - probably labelling me as 'anxious' and I felt like I wasn't being taken seriously. Anyway he ran some neuro tests - tapping various parts of my body and suggested a series of further tests and he wrote on my form 'anxiety, epilepsy'. He explained that when I have an MRI they will find white spots on it because of migraines but I am petrified of having something more sinister (brain tumour, MS or MND).

He sent me off for blood tests and an ECG and when I asked if it was ok the man who ran the test said he couldn't tell me as I wasn't a doctor. He asked me to take them back to the doctor's reception and I looked at them and it said 'borderline abnormal, exercise caution' which scared the life out of me. They got the doctor to look at them and I was sent home with no explanation as to why they were abnormal. My husband came with me but he wasn't very supportive or sympathetic so just feel like I am in limbo land again until I have my MRI. The only saving grace is that a friend of mine is high up in the MRI dept at the hospital so she said she will come in with me but I have hidden the extent of my 'issues' from most people so I feel like she will be shocked when she sees the weeping terried side of me I try to hide....

Sorry it's a long post and not really sure where I'm going with it but suppose I just need to know if 'epilepsy' was mentioned to anyone with migraines and what was the outcome of their MRIs?

Have a lovely day everyone. Just popped a Propranolol so hope to calm down

MMx:weep:

[blueangel]

Hi Minnie

I am a migraine sufferer too (I had one yesterday evening, oh joy!). One the things I have learnt about migraine is that it's caused by the same sort of genetic fault that causes epilepsy, so a lot of specialists now group them together. This might well be why the consultant flagged it up on the MRI request.

I've never had an MRI for mine, but I've been told that you do get small changes on the surface of the brain as a result of migraine. However, I think that this is an effect of them, rather than a symptom of it.

If you're really worried about the comment on the ECG form, I would get in touch with your GP and ask if you could have a chat about it. Your GP knows you much better than the neurologist and will be able to spend a bit more time with you.

Let us know how you get on.

[MinnieMouse]

Thanks for your reply, Blue Angel

I'm sorry you had a migraine yesterday - no one understands like another sufferer! Thank you - that's interesting about the link between migraines and epilepsy. I have been having a lot of what I'm not sure is derealization or silent migraines (where you don't get the headache but you get the weirdness/ aura) It's really scary and makes me feel like I'm losing my mind! Anyway, I hope the MRI will give me some answers....

With regard to speaking to my GP, she is very nice but I really don't think she takes me seriously. Not sure if it is anxiety paranoia but I am fed up of coming away feeling like I've wasted her time. I have come to the conclusion that I can't confide in my husband anymore either. Unless I have something physical like a broken leg or my arm drops off I won't get any support from him. It's horrible because sometimes I almost wish I have something tangible so I can say "told you so"!

Thanks again and take it easy post-migraine!

MMx

[mike_coventry_uk]

i visited the neuro 3 weeks ago after referal from my gp for symptoms that i believed were linked to a brain tumour. no i have no idea about epilepsy and migraines but i can say that the neurologist would not be overly worried as they would have had u immeditaly scanned if there was anything to worry about.

the symptoms u experience are simila to those i had and i had a ct scan on monday to rule out any nasties. after what i experienced over the last 6 months and now knowing i am ok. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER ANXIETY HAS ON THE BODY.

every single thing u feel can be linked to anxiety from banging headaches,pins n needles even itchin skin!

blood test results can be raised for many reasons and a simple virus could raise levels of white blood cells. you are catastophising and thinking the worse! please try not to panic.

are you recieving any cbt or on any anxiety meds?
perhaps speak to your gp about this or search for 'mind' on google and talk to them!!

good luck
mike

[Hexe]

in case you would like to know anything about epilepsy, you could pm me, as i suffered for about 8 years (diagnosed) and auras relate to epilepsy...