Migraine or seizure?
 

Hi guys,

Im new to this site and im just wondering if anyone can give me a bit of advice.

A few months ago, i had a splitting headache, literally the worst headache ive ever had in my life that was coupled with nausea and numbness down one side of my body. I was genuinely worried that i had had a stroke, but this would be unusual because i was only 19 at the time and was in good health. So i went to the Accident and Emergency clinic at the hospital where i was admitted overnight and had 3 scans (2 CTs and an MRI) all of which showed up clear. I was released from hospital saying they couldn't find anything wrong and my headache continued for a day or two after before going away.

Heres the bit I need advice about. After seeing a neurologist recently, he suggested that it may have been some kind of unusual seizure (I have no history of seizures) but he wasn't sure. After doing a bit of research, I think my symptoms sound more like a bad migraine.

Should I get a second opinion? Any advice or ideas would be really welcomed!

Hi James, welcome.

It could have been either, so it's kinda your call.

I know you've been asked this a hundred times, but can you recall anything that brought it on, or happened just prior to it coming on—i.e. what were you doing?

I don't know of anything that can bring someone out of a seizure (there may be—I just don't know); AFAIK, it has to be ridden out. However migraines usually will respond to some medications—like triptans—and some may involve the kinds of symptoms you had.

migraine numbness

An EEG could likely tell if a seizure were occurring, but it would have to be done while the seizure is going on—a normal EEG does not mean that a seizure did not occur.

If it was in fact a seizure, it could affect your ability to drive legally.

Epilepsy and driving

Doc

Fast acting benzodiazepines are used to treat status seizures, not all status seizures are tonic clonics but the other forms are harder to recognize and unusual. A long time ago they were used to treat epilepsy but there is a tolerance issue. So now they are used for emergency intervention.

The OP experience doesn't sound like a seizure, but seizures can really vary. Still, migraine is more likely. Maybe talking to a doc with a migraine focus would be worthwhile.