Hi,

With the new buzz about PFO and migraine, I decided last year to see
if I have a PFO. I've had migraines with aura since I was 14. I am
now 37. My aura consists of visual spots, numbness in face and
arms, garbled speech, and vomiting and then a whopping headache. It
usually knocks me out for a day. I normally get 2-3 a year, which
isn't as bad as some people get, but I would do almost ANYTHING to
stop them.

I first had a chest ultrasound and that wasn't conclusive. I then
had a TEE and they found a small PFO. I talked to 2 cardiologists
who could seal the PFO. The first wanted to close it, but needed
proof that there has been some ischemic activity(stroke-like), but
my MRI showed none. That was good because my aura seems stroke-like
to me, because my symptoms are usually on only one side. On the
other hand, he couldn't close the PFO due to the lack of proof of
ischemic activity (FDA regulations).

The second cardiologist told me that there were risks involved in
closing a PFO and since the research doesn't show 100% that if I got
the PFO closed, my migraines would stop. He advised against closing
the PFO.

So, now I'm back to square one. I know I have a PFO, but can't get
it closed. I still have migraines. I guess I will have to wait
until more studies come out regarding PFO and migraine. If there is
a clear connection between the two, then I will get it closed.

In the meantime, the hospital where I got my TEE done has purchased
a Trans Cranial Doppler machine. Since they knew I had a PFO, they
invited me to try it out so the doctors could see a positive test.
It worked and was much less invasive than the TEE. I would highly
recommend the TC Doppler over the TEE for comfort sake when trying
to diagnose PFO.

Good luck, juggletax. Let us know what happens.

Nick

--- In PFOSupport@yahoogroups.com, Violet Flame 11
<violetflame11@...> wrote:
>
> Hi there,
> My PFO was diagnosed by a bubble echo and then an TEE bubble
echo. I'm not sure if the doppler is the best diagnostic tool.
Anyhow, my PFO got closed because I have a history of 2 strokes. I
don't think that the FDA is in favor of closing them in people who
haven't had strokes. Are you connected with a research study that
is doing the closures?
> Vi
>
> juggletax <juggletax@...> wrote:
> In an effort to determine whether a PFO is causing my
migraines with
> aura, I had a TCDoppler. The results were invalid due to improper
> protocol. I'll be getting tested again next month.
>
> It's good to know others have my same concerns. It would be great
if
> this whole connection pans out in a fix.
>