Migraine Pain But Not Migraines
Here’s a quick round up of the most common serious medical conditions that have migraine pain as one of their symptoms. This will hopefully let you know when a migraine isn’t just a migraine. Keep in mind that you need to get to a hopsital if you ever get migraines with unsual symptoms like these:
- Numbness or paralysis on one side of your body
- Dizziness or trouble keeping your balance
- Sudden hearing loss in just one ear
- Projectile vomiting
Vertigo (when you feel you are stanging still but the world is whirling about you)
Brain Tumor
Usually, your memory and your ability to talk is affected, too, as well as having all of the lovely syptoms above. This is very rare.
You also have a fever and a stiff neck as well as a migraine pain with this one. Sometimes you get strange red spots on your skin as well. Don’t wait — you must get to a hopsital ASAP.
Stroke
The symptoms of a first migraine and a stroke are so similar that often a migraine can be misdiagnosed as a stroke until certain tests are done. The hopsital staff might insist on treating you for stroke even if you tell them that you think it’s a migraine.
Aneurysm
When a blood vessel in your head bursts. This comes on amazingly suddenly without warning. There are incredible advances in saving people from this once always lethal condition.
Acute Sinusitis
To know if you have sinusitis, try to say the phrase “dead tea bag”. If it comes out sounding like “nen kneeth nith”, BINGO, you have sinuitis. Although not life-threatning, it is amazingly painful and can leave you paniced and confused.
Glaucoma
Occassionally, the onset of glaucoma can bring on painful migraines. You don’t need to go to the hospital for this one, but you do need to see your doctor (or grope in the darkness, anyway).
Post Traumatic Injury and Concussion
Chances are, you’ll already be on the way to the hospital after a major accident that generally involves you head coming in contact with something it shouldn’t have. Even if you are alone and take a tumble and then start a migraine, you better call an ambulance. Don’t drive yourself.
Hope this helps and that you’re not too paranoid now.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Fairly paranoid, yes, thank you. But I love your sinusitis test. Is this the standard diagnostic test these days? I emailed it to my PCP because a) he has a sense of humor and 2) it’s at least as good as whatever diagnostic test he’s using!
- Megan
July 29th, 2008 at 10:38 am
You’re welcome, Megan. I came up with that sinusitis diagnostic test one day when I was homeless in England, not feeling well and trying to write a list called “101 Uses for a Dead Tea Bag” to distract me from life.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
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