In the past year or so I noticed a very brief episode of migraine aura (no headache) within around 24hrs of having an AF episode. Never had them before altho when I was very young I would have a migraine headache but never with an aura and haven't had one for 50yrs. Unfortunately I just looked It up and found it increases risk of stroke so now am very frightened



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2024 09:08PM by anneh.

I don't know what you read, but be careful how you interpret it. There's a strong association between afib and migraine aura, and there's a strong association between afib and stroke. So it only makes sense that there would be a strong association between aura and stroke. But people like you who are being properly treated for afib are taking stroke preventing meds, so that probably breaks the association. I've never seen any data indicating that aura alone presents a stroke risk and I doubt it does.

thnx so much for response Carey. I really needed to hear something positive so I appreciate it. I went into panic mode thinking I had doubled my chance of a brain stroke which is so frightening. Thnx for your input

If aura doubled your stroke risk, that would be a big deal and you'd see doctors paying a lot more attention to it. But as it is, it's pretty much waived off as harmless.

I get auras without headache too and never noticed a correlation between getting them and having had an afib episode. I had an ablation last May and haven't noticed more or less auras. I think they have something to do with diet, and sometimes the odd food will give me an aura but then again usually not. IOW for me they approach randomness. Sometimes I get an aura and I get a suspicion that it was from food X I had just had IOW.

thnx for input. Will keep an eye out re diet altho am on a rather strict plant based diet that I dont usually veer off but worth watching out for

I started getting Migraine/with auras around my late teens, I got it off and on throughout my life, they would last a short time and I was OK after one. I started getting AF around my late 60s, I didn't get them the same time, I finally figured out what was bringing on my Migraines, every time I had food with Soy I got an Aura Migraine. I havn't had a Migraine in a long time since I quit eating anything with Soy, Soy isn't good for you anyway. I had a small stroke about a year and a half ago, I am 90 years old, which was about 25 years since getting AF, so the migraines didn't cause my stroke, my BP was a little high and I just don't drink enough water. It was a rather warm day and I was cutting grass and I didn't drink any water during the time I was cutting my lawn.

Liz

Quote
Elizabeth
I am 90 years old, which was about 25 years since getting AF, so the migraines didn't cause my stroke, my BP was a little high and I just don't drink enough water. It was a rather warm day and I was cutting grass and I didn't drink any water during the time I was cutting my lawn.
Liz

Wow, thanks for sharing your experience. Very encouraging.

Search my past posts. My migraine Auras started one week after my 1st ablation. Never even was a headache person until then. Went to ER with 1st Aura as I thought I was having a stroke. Seeing lava lamps and losing vision.

Long story, battled multiple Aura migraines a month for years, countless nueros, headache drugs none of it helped. And each migraine/aura usually made me feel off for a good week so I was realistically losing lots of quality of life. At least heart was in rhythm at least after Natale.

Until one Neuro said why don't we try Propranolol a good old fashioned beta blocker. Given I had a slightly elevated HR ever since my 4 ablations this seemed like a decent idea.

Well, almost overnight never had a single Aura again, remember multiple a month for years before. Crazy, keeps my heart in a better range and smoother too. I only take 20mg 3 x a day a relatively low amount. Actually think 20mg x 2 seems to do it but 3 a day works smoother and the extended release I do not tolerate as well. I had good results at 20mg x 2 but ended up 3 x 20mg after a round of COVID elevated my HR and put me in ER. I just never went back to the 2 x 20mg but probably could. Strange such a low dose all but eliminated migraines for me.

Long story short there is absolutely a connection, asking anyone to explain or acknowledge it, well I know one Neuro at least that will agree, it's related. At least for me.

Good luck, I know the life disruption migraine with or without aura can cause.

that is interesting, thnx for sharing
anneh