#1 ·
So, here’s the situation: I’ve been dealing with migraines for about 15 years now, and honestly, I thought I had them completely under control.
But then, a few days ago, something bizarre happened—my tongue went totally numb, almost like I’d been injected with something, and this wave of general weakness just slammed into me. I was standing only about six feet away from my car, and I genuinely thought I wasn't going to make it to the driver's seat before I collapsed right there on the pavement.
To be clear, I didn't black out, and I didn't have a headache or anything else at the moment—nothing. Here is how it played out: ER visit, followed by a primary care physician, and then a neurologist. The diagnosis? Vertebrobasilar migraine with a tendency toward tongue numbness. My neurological exam came back perfectly fine, but they ran a color Doppler ultrasound on my blood vessels, which showed reduced blood flow to my brainstem. My neurologist claims this is due to degenerative changes in my cervical spine. For treatment, they put me on Voltaren and Normabel though I haven't even opened the Normabel yet, nor do I plan to anytime soon because I refuse to be drugged, groggy, or struggling with my motor skills—I spend a massive amount of time behind the wheel, and I simply need to stay sharp and "awake" in every sense of the word. The plan is Voltaren for the pain and Normabel to relax the muscles so blood can circulate more easily to my head.
Next steps involved an X-ray of my neck and spine, which did confirm those degenerative issues, but the radiologist basically told me that those changes aren't what's causing the restricted blood flow, and they certainly aren't the reason my tongue is going numb.
So, here I am... I have a head CT scheduled for tomorrow.
On top of all this, in the span of just ten days, I’ve gone from having chronically low blood pressure to being a high blood pressure person. I feel constantly lightheaded, and that tingling sensation in my tongue is still hanging around.
Has anyone else here dealt with anything remotely similar? Has anyone lived through this?
For context, I’m 32, relatively slim, I eat healthy, I don't smoke, I don't drink, my blood sugar is fine, and I exercise regularly. Looking at my lifestyle, I really don't feel like someone who should be at risk for a stroke, neither based on my age nor my overall health.
And finally... excuse my language, but I am absolutely terrified of what that CT scan is going to show tomorrow. Honestly, I am scared to death. I've been living in a state of constant anxiety for days, breaking down in tears at the drop of a hat. I have a child who needs me, which just makes this whole terrifying ordeal hit even harder...
But then, a few days ago, something bizarre happened—my tongue went totally numb, almost like I’d been injected with something, and this wave of general weakness just slammed into me. I was standing only about six feet away from my car, and I genuinely thought I wasn't going to make it to the driver's seat before I collapsed right there on the pavement.
To be clear, I didn't black out, and I didn't have a headache or anything else at the moment—nothing. Here is how it played out: ER visit, followed by a primary care physician, and then a neurologist. The diagnosis? Vertebrobasilar migraine with a tendency toward tongue numbness. My neurological exam came back perfectly fine, but they ran a color Doppler ultrasound on my blood vessels, which showed reduced blood flow to my brainstem. My neurologist claims this is due to degenerative changes in my cervical spine. For treatment, they put me on Voltaren and Normabel though I haven't even opened the Normabel yet, nor do I plan to anytime soon because I refuse to be drugged, groggy, or struggling with my motor skills—I spend a massive amount of time behind the wheel, and I simply need to stay sharp and "awake" in every sense of the word. The plan is Voltaren for the pain and Normabel to relax the muscles so blood can circulate more easily to my head.
Next steps involved an X-ray of my neck and spine, which did confirm those degenerative issues, but the radiologist basically told me that those changes aren't what's causing the restricted blood flow, and they certainly aren't the reason my tongue is going numb.
So, here I am... I have a head CT scheduled for tomorrow.
On top of all this, in the span of just ten days, I’ve gone from having chronically low blood pressure to being a high blood pressure person. I feel constantly lightheaded, and that tingling sensation in my tongue is still hanging around.
Has anyone else here dealt with anything remotely similar? Has anyone lived through this?
For context, I’m 32, relatively slim, I eat healthy, I don't smoke, I don't drink, my blood sugar is fine, and I exercise regularly. Looking at my lifestyle, I really don't feel like someone who should be at risk for a stroke, neither based on my age nor my overall health.
And finally... excuse my language, but I am absolutely terrified of what that CT scan is going to show tomorrow. Honestly, I am scared to death. I've been living in a state of constant anxiety for days, breaking down in tears at the drop of a hat. I have a child who needs me, which just makes this whole terrifying ordeal hit even harder...