Complex Migraine..?

Well, at the age of 12 [I am now 19] I was diagnosed with Complex Migraines; which to those who don't know what that is it's when the symptoms are those of a stroke. The way that they work for me for the longest time is like this:

My mouth [on the left side] starts to become numb and I cannot speak; which then the numbness travels up to my left eye and then my entire left side starts to droop down a bit. This makes it very hard to speak and everything becomes blurry. Then within 10 minutes, the numbness spreads to my left arm and hand which makes me unable to use said hand and arm. My hand and arm tends to change color [purple-ish] and swell, which followed by a sharp pain in my head. All of this lasted for 2-3hrs and I would take a massive amount of ibuprofen to help. [as recommended by my pediatrician]

Those were the only symptoms I had until the age of roughly 17. Then it started to spread to my left leg and foot, thus making me now unable to walk, move my left arm, speak and see. But recently [past 4 months] I've been also falling unconscious. I can feel it coming on, I get disoriented, dizzy, and everything goes in slow motion, though this is great in a sense because I can make sure I'm in a safe place and go lay down, or at least sit on the floor then I pass out. Also lately [2-3weeks roughly] I've been getting some severe sharp pains in my head, ALWAYS at the same place. In the front of my right side of the head. I feel extreme pressure behind my eyes and very nauseated with these.

I've seen my doctor about it; which he sent me to the neurologist. The neurologist simply gave me medication based upon test results done OVER 2 YEARS ago. I don't feel particularly willing to be taking these new medications due to that fact. I've tried many others before and they never worked. I tend to get the numbness roughly 2-6 times a week. [which my neurologist simply said that it was nearly impossible to happen that often, and did not want to listen to anything I was saying and each time I tried to explain to her my new issues with my migraines, she kept telling me "That's not what you told me last time" which aggravated me and making me go for a second opinion]


Anyway, at the end of this ... very long post, I wanted to know if anyone had any natural ways to help out with any of this? The falling unconscious, the numbness or even this blasted headache that hasn't left for 2-3 weeks.

Thanks so much for your time~

Hi Bwini, my heart aches for you. While your symptoms go beyond most migraines I cant help but wonder if you arent being affected by Artificial Colors (made of petroleum and coal tar) and artificial flavors and preservatives. If you go on Feingold.org you can see many people whose symptoms of migraines, asthma, tourettes, seizures, ADHD, Aspergers and Eczema went away when getting off all Artificial colors like yellow Dye #5, #6 and red dye #40 etc. Sometimes they are also affected by Salicylates in food.

I suffered from headaches and dizziness all my life. 5 years ago I discovered that I was Salicylate Intolerant, allergic to aspirin and all foods containing salicylates. Aspirin is a salicylate that comes form the bark of the willow tree. All plants produce salicylates as a natural insecticide. It is in things likes fruit,most vegetables, tomato sauce, olive oil and many more. Theres a good list of foods in the book,"Salicylate Intolerance and The Healthier I Ate the Sicker I Got."

Right before I hit bottom I had such a pain in my right eye that I went for a CAT scan to rule out a tumor. Once I went on a low sal diet I got rid of my headaches,sizziness, nausea, neck pain, arthritis, asthma, dry eyes, nosebleeds and a foggy headed feeling.
Check out sickfromsalicylates.com
No one should just accept a diagnosis of Migraine Headaches when they can prevent them by finding out whats causing them. Its usually a food intolerance. Unfortunately there is no test for Salicylate Intolerance because it isnt an allergy. You have to go off the foods that are high and very high in sals and see how you feel. Good luck, Joan