I may have found the answer. Lately I’ve had these odd migraine-like episodes where I get the same thick/foggy/sluggish brain feeling and the visual distortions (aura) plus various other weird neurological symptoms – but not always with the actual headache pain. It had me worried because it just didn’t feel right and it was scary facing different symptoms in my brain I wasn’t used to having.
Well, turns out there is such a thing as “silent migraines” or “migraine aura without headache.”
Migraine aura without headache should be considered as a diagnosis in anyone who has recurrent episodes of transient symptoms, especially those that are visual or neurological or involve vertigo. Visual and neurological symptoms due to migraine are not unusual and most commonly occur in older persons with a history of migraine headaches. Migraine aura without headache should be diagnosed only when transient ischemic attack and seizure disorders have been excluded.
Source: CLEVELAND CLINIC JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
and…
The terms acephalgic migraine or migraine equivalents have been replaced within the Classification and Diagnostic Criteria for Headache Disorders, Cranial Neuralgias and Facial Pain by the Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. These previous designations have been replaced by the term migraine aura without headache, which describes migrainous events exclusively manifested by one of the neurological disturbances that usually precede or accompany the headache of classical migraine.
Approximately 20% of migraineurs may experience acephalgic attacks of migraine at one time or another. Indeed, that various symptoms can occur in the absence of any headache has been noted for some time; in fact, visual phenomena were described as early as the 12th century.
Source: Journal of Family Practice
…so my vertigo today is most likely just a different presentation of my migraines. Also, previous occasions where I had aura and slurred speech/brain fog without any severe headache probably were as well. On one hand it’s a relief to know it’s most likely NOT something new; i.e. I probably haven’t suddenly developed some new neurological disorder; but it’s also scary to know that I don’t know what to expect from my migraines any more. If they start presenting in ways I can’t predict, I don’t know how I’m going to cope, manage them or function.
I’m still dizzy by the way. I’ve been dizzy all day now (since about 9:30am and it’s now 5:45pm) so despite the fact many websites seem to indicate aura events lasting only an hour, mine’s gone on much longer then that. Granted, my visual distortion (aura) specific problems have gotten better but the sluggish brain and the disorientation is still there. And still with only a very mild headache. (It’s been a challenge trying to type this up as a result!)
Any other migraineurs out there experiencing or have experienced changes in your migraines like I’ve been? Any help or advice on what to do moving forward? Did yours stay weird and random, did they go back to “classic” migraines or did they continue to fluctuate between the two? I’ve had migraines now for over 17 years. They’re hell and they’re miserable but, I’ve generally at least had a level of predictability with them. Now though… I don’t know honestly how this is going to play out. Something I thought I really fully understood is now changing on me and it’s scary.