Atypical migraines have symptoms that don’t fit the classic profile, making diagnosis difficult. Patients may experience severe pain, neurological symptoms, and nausea. Treatment involves medication and may require multiple attempts to find an effective solution. A neurologist is usually involved in treatment.
An atypical migraine is a migraine with a range of symptoms that don’t quite fit the classic migraine profile. Patients also experience some symptoms that are not associated with traditional migraines. Diagnosing atypical migraines can be difficult because there are a number of medical problems that can cause symptoms and it is important to rule them out before determining for sure that a patient has atypical migraines. A doctor will spend time with the evaluation and diagnosis to ensure an underlying problem is not missed.
A patient with an atypical migraine may experience facial and abdominal pain which is sometimes very severe. Neurological symptoms such as weakness along one side of the body may be observed, along with visual disturbances, and the patient may develop nausea and vomiting. However, the distinctive aura that precedes traditional migraine is not present, and the patient may not have a headache or may have a headache that is inconsistent with migraine.
Especially when headache is absent altogether, it can be difficult to determine that a patient has an atypical migraine. When a patient goes to the doctor for treatment, a variety of tests may be performed to narrow down a possible diagnosis and rule out potential causes from glaucoma to bacterial infections. An extensive patient interview is also conducted and family history is collected. Clues that may help a doctor make a diagnosis more quickly include a family history of migraines, as well as personal history. Some migraine sufferers also develop atypical migraines.
It is not possible to cure a patient with atypical migraine. However, steps can be taken to deal with migraine attacks when they occur. Some medications can act as preventatives to reduce the incidence and severity of attacks. Specific medications may also be prescribed to treat particular symptoms and keep the patient more comfortable. It may take several medications to find an effective treatment for the patient, as each responds differently and patients must report their responses to the medication in detail.
A neurologist is usually involved in treatment due to the neurological symptoms. Patients may initially see general practitioners, gastrointestinal specialists, and other types of doctors as they try to narrow down the cause of the symptoms. With a diagnosis, a patient can access support through patient organizations and may also be eligible for certain types of benefits that provide financial and personal assistance to people suffering from disabling migraines.
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