Complex Migraine

I had a rather scary experience on Friday and ended up in hospital, I had been feeling like rubbish for a few days with sciatica, a bad cold and a viral throat infection. On Friday I was about to have a lie down as I wasn't feeling right and my entire left arm started tingling and then went numb with me being unable to move it for a few minutes. I thought it was weird and maybe just a strange case of pins and needles, until my face and also my tongue went tingly and numb as well.
I called the maternity ward and described the symptoms to my midwife (which was not easy as my tongue was still numb!) and she told me to call an ambulance straight away.

I didn't call the ambo as my 3 year old was home with me and I also didn't want to create a big drama if it turned out to be nothing serious. So, with Husband away for business I called my Mum at work who rushed home to take me to the hospital.
Lucky us got halfway there and then had a flat tyre! Fortunately, my best friend and her hubby came to collect us and fix the tyre and they dropped me at the hospital.

I had blood tests, urine test, blood sugar test and a few other things done (as well as a fetal monitor on) All the feeling returned after another hour or so but I was just left with a heavy arm and a heavy head, although I didn't get a full blown headache.

My blood tests showed inflammation - due to my throat infection - and my blood sugar showed a very low level - 2.7. The Doc said she couldn't be 100% sure what it was without doing further scans and tests but she had spoken with an endocrinologist and a nuerologist who suggested it could be a 'complex migraine' due to low blood sugar. They said I was having 'transnuerological symptoms' of a migraine without actually getting the really sore head to go with it. The Doc said these type of migraines can have symptoms similar to a stroke.
I have been told to be careful with my eating and drinking and not to skip any meals or snacks, so that my blood sugar doesn't drop again but I have also been told if it happens again I am to go back and have a brain scan.

I was just curious to know if anyone else has experienced a similar thing during their pregnancy - I have had migraines before but not very often and I always have a throbbing head with them. I've never experienced a numb face or arm before and found it a bit scary.

Also, I had my blood glucose test only 3 weeks ago and it was a normal result (5.8) so why would my blood sugar drop to 2.7? I had 2 slices of toast and a glass of apple juice only an hour or so before the symptoms started so it's not as if I had gone for ages without anything to eat?

I have been feeling run down ever since all this happened, trouble sleeping and can't shake off this cold but I don't know if that would have anything to do with it...

that sounds very scary xoxox i have heard of it happening but i have never had it happen to myself (i suffer from migraines and cluster headaches which has landed me in hospital a few times) xox No advice but lots of hugs

Scary experience! Glad it was transient, I work in neurosurg so have seen things like this before and can be a real worry...
Did you end up having scans? If so what did they reveal?
Glad you are feeling better xx


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Nope didn't have any scans, they were happy with my blood work etc and the doc didn't think a brain scan was a good idea during pregnancy. She said if it happens again I will need one but at this stage they are going to assume it was a one off due to my blood sugar.
It really was scary, I thought I was having a stroke! I am just a bit concerned as to why my blood sugar had dropped so low, I was told I don't have gestational diabetes so could it be something else? Or should I just put it down to 'one of those things'?

I have had a similar experience, however not while pregnant or due to a low blood sugar. I was about 22 and had a bit of a headache during the day, by the evening I had a full right sided weakness as well as a delay in my though process and speech. When someone was speaking to me, it would take me about 5 minutes to work out what they said and then to respond. Luckily, someone realised there was something wrong and I was taken to hospital. From what I can remember, I had some blood tests and was given pethidine for what they diagnosed as a migraine (because of the stroke like symptoms). Very scary at the time not being able to communicate.

In relation to your low blood sugars, your body can have trouble regulating blood sugars when you have a virus, your body uses more energy plus its combined with being pregnant. Temperatures can also effect blood sugars. You ar doing the right things by eating regularly and eating the right things like toast (carbohydrates). Maybe carry some jelly beans around with you.

Hopefully it doesn't happen again and it is just one of those things, scary though!

Like MN i also have a history of migraines, but have never expreienced what you did.

Can i suggest you visit your GP? The reason i say is because sometimes hospitals are busy and don't quite get all the info and they might get it wrong. I have been misdiagnosed at an Emergency visit, only to have the correct diagnosis the minute i started talking to my GP.

Also, the hospital diagnosed my DS1 with slap cheek, but for some reason didn't pass this info on to us - just that he had a virus. Once we got to the GP the following day, the GP told us exactly what it was and he had more time to sit and quietly talk us through it.

Hope you start to feel a lot better very soon.

It probably is related to your BSL - 2.6 is very low

Hospitals and emergency Dr's can misdiagnose things (I'm not suggesting that they have done) and when there is another explanation for the symptoms, it would be reasonable for them to draw the simplest conclusion (that it is BSL related)... BUT when it is something with symptoms similar to that of a stroke, Personally, if this was me I would want to rule out for myself that there is nothing going on in my head iykwim. If you need to have a scan while pg you can be draped in lead aprons to protect your bubba from the radiation.

I agree with Lenny, have a chat to your GP or OB regarding this incident and keep that blood sugar up :)

I get these migraines (acephalytic migraine: migraine with no headache). But not when pregnant - only every other time in my life! I've been checked for stroke, MS, Hughes' Syndrome and a few other rare things. Scariest was when I couldn't move for about 2 hours and Liebling had to look after both of us when he was just 2 years old. Actually, scariest was have it happen during a GP appointment and seeing her face when I couldn't talk or walk properly. It really can freak you out, especially with no known cause.

If you fully recover then it is unlikely to be a stroke. Eating little and often is good advice, especially when pregnant. Low blood sugar can cause this, but if you can get some more tests then do so.

I had a very similar episode in March. I'd been feeling dizzy, and almost blacked out, so I went to lie down, and when my mum came in to talk to me, I couldn't speak. My right side was also numb. I was rushed to hospital as a suspected stroke. Freaked the hell out of us all, but in the end, they decided it was a migraine, as I improved gradually, and with a stroke, they don't really expect an improvement. I was told to take aspirin when I start feeling dizzy to knock it on its head, and then the GP also prescribed maxalon. I've since had 2 further episodes, but the maxalon and aspirin does work and stops it developing any further. I tend to feel dizzy for anothe rhalf hour and then just groggy for a few hours. Definately go and speak to your gp about tho as pp have suggested. I did get a pretty good explanation from the hospital doctors but it helped to talk to someone else too after it had all died down.

I can't help you with the sugars, but maybe it did cause the migraine? I'm not entirely sure what caused mine, but I think it might be the combination of coffee and chocolate (I don't think its the caffeine, but a chemical thing).

Just an update - Was feeling okay over the weekend and then yesterday morning had a bad dizzy spell whilst I was at the shops. Broke out in a cold sweat, the room started spinning and I had to sit down before I fell down. Took me a good 30 mins to feel okay before I got up again. Called the midwives, they told me to go in again so I went in with my Husband last night to be checked over, inititially everything looked fine and my finger blood test showed normal blood sugars at 4.4. Anyway, the Doc said the dizziness could be due to a few things associated with pregnancy but as my blood sugar and pressure seemed okay she said to just go home and take it easy. She also took proper bloods from my arm and told me she would only call if there was something wrong.
Anyway, she just called me and has said the finger blood test must've been inaccurate as my formal bloods came back this morning with another low reading of 2.9. She has said she is not sure what the cause is but is going to refer me to the hospital dietitian and also do some further blood tests to check my insulin etc.

Although I am not overly worried, the Doc has said it is quite unusual for this to happen, especially when my results from my blood glucose challenge were normal only 3 weeks ago.
I just hope I can avoid having another dizzy spell or another complex migraine!

Wow - what an unusual thing! I have nothing to add to the above except for if it happens again:
CALL AN AMBULANCE!! That's what they're for. They can handle the three year old, and you can call your Mum to come get your child from the hospital - or for her to meet you at your place while you're being looked after by the ambos to stay with him/her. If you had been having a stroke or something else awful, immediate treatment is necessary and getting that help to you as soon as possible is essential. Oooh, I'm sounding preachy :) Ambos don't care if it's a false alarm, they'd rather turn up, have you say "ooh, I feel better now" than have you not call and something awful happen.

That's a message to everyone btw - I used to work in ED and the things that would come in by car... my Dad's housemate drove him to hospital after a stroke - I was like WTF!

lol - re-read it and it does sound preachy - sorry if it's offensive, just one of those bandwagons I have :) Ambos are awesome.

I have had headache-less migraines in both of my previous pregnancies. I had several episodes with my first - the first time my left side was numb and I lost my peripheral vision, the second I couldn't see in the center of my vision, numb on left side again and couldn't finish sentences. Dr didn't seem overly worried.
Happened again with second pregnancy, lost all my vision except a tiny spot in the middle and again numb on the left side.

I did have GD with my first pregnancy, but not sure if it was related to BSL or not.

It is very scary when it first happens though - I was sure I was having a stroke!

:hug: how scary, i suffer from migraines but never anything like that.
Although while PG i did skip breakfast once then went out shopping, i blacked out on the poor guy behind me but only for a split second.. was VERY scary... never skipped breakfast again after that.
I hope it all settles for you and the rest of your PG is trouble free.

I suffer from those migranes, but luckily haven't had any whilst pregnant

They are terrifying. Especially if you have no idea what it could be. I have had them since 12.

Usually the same side, tingling in the arm, face tongue, eye. really bizarre. I also get the visual disturbances and kind of like a black spot in my vision. It's awful to try to talk to someone when you can't see them properly and you slur your words and can't get out what you're trying to say.
then i usually get the calm before the storm for about 10 minutes then BAM biggest most awful thumping headache that you just cannot escape.
I'm sorry for you, and anyone who suffers. they are awful. I usually just have to ride it out till i stop throwing up, can get some painkillers and water down and try to sleep to escape the pain. a few days and i am ok. Although i have had a few bouts when one seemed to come just as another was finishing and had an awful lot for about 3 months straight. Of course lots of tests ect...But have noticed the pattern tends to get me after stress. Once it's over i seem to get struck.
I have been told to have asprin straight away at first symptom, but i know you can't take them pregnant. I'm not sure about your sugar levels, sorry, i have only had the migrane symptoms.

Hope you are feeling ok, take care and i hope you get some answers
x madame x