Just to say hello

Hello I am Carol and have had hemiplegic migraines since Oct 2008. The first one lasted for 16 days and was thought to be a stroke as I was unable to move my left leg at all and had hardly any movement in the left arm and face for about 13 days. I also had seizures,confusion, vertigo, nausea,blindness in the left eye, paracusia,sleeping for hours at a time. As the symtoms eased numbness in the limbs and electric shock like pins and needles and unsteadness and weakness on the left hand side. Anyway, it took 4 more admissions to hospital for me to be diagnosed and even then my consultant didn't really want to commit to the diagnosis but nothing else seemed to 'fit'.Since I have seen someone else who has confirmed it. Now I am on Topiramate 300 mg a day and cyclizine 50mg up to 3 times a day.As for pain, well its pretty much co codamol and down to the docs when I need anything stronger.As my Topiramate dose has been raised over time I find my severe seizures have not happened. My paralysis now doesn't last as long. I do have aura symptoms all the time- something I didn't know you could have until I researched here and elsewhere. Thought I was just insane. Also I have a permenently weak left sideand use an elbow crutch. These are horrible things aren't they? Sorry Iv'e gone on so long best wishes to all of you out there who are suffering
Carol

Hi!

This forum is a great place to vent and get support

Thanks for reply . I am glad I have found this forum. It is helpful to find others who share my problems.( Not that I am glad that anyone has to suffer but that they understand).At the moment I am finding it hard to copewith the constant daily symptoms and disabilty they casue. also noone I know has ever heard of HM and I don't think my consultant has had experience of it even though he's a good neurologist. It's just good to be able to talk to others in the same situation.
Carol