Bill Harvey: Migraine treatment

A patient phoned me from her workplace last week in a good deal of distress. She had suddenly noticed a large part of her visual field was lost, felt nauseous and giddy, and of most concern to her of all, had lost the feeling in one cheek and within her mouth on the same side.

She had recently undergone heart surgery but had no prior medical history of note, nor had she had any of these symptoms before. What are your first thoughts?

If I was to tell you that this was my 20-year-old stepdaughter who had recently undergone correction of a persistent ductus arteriosus under local anaesthetic, was physically fighting fit but under some work stress, would knowing this now sway your initial thoughts?