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Subcortical white matter hyperintensities

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rachael99235
rachael99235

I am a 37 year old female. Slightly overweight at the moment though no significant medical history other than a DVT 6 years ago. I am an ex smoker but was never a heavy user. BP has always been excellent, even during pregnancy. if anything its sometimes on the low side.

I've never suffered with headaches until around 6 weeks ago. Started as a extreme stabbing pain above my ear. Has been intermittent in nature so some days I am relatively pain free and other days are unbearable. I'd describe it as an electric shock type pain and is now felt either at the back of the head, the side or in behind the left eye. Always on the same side though. Dr has prescribed migraine medication but its done nothing. Indometacin sometimes provides some relief. One day last week I yawned and it felt like someone cracked the left side of mu head open then another headache started (painful but nothing like when I yawned).

Booked to see Neurologist in December buy wondering if my MRI findings correlate to my symptoms.

Punctate Foci of subcortical white matter with T2/FLAIR hyperintensities are non specific. May represent chronic small vessel change though degree and extent is greater than expected for patient age. Differentials include demyelination and vascultis though distribution and extent is atypical for both aetiologies. Clinical correlation is recommended.

My questions are;

Could this be causing any symptoms?

I understand most of these finding are incidental, however, is it considered incidental if I'm typically too young to pass this off as 'ageing'?

Is is the area they are located in relevant (subcortical) and will this change how the specialist may treat - if at all?

If I have never had hypertension or headaches in the past, what could cause lesions in this area to a greater extent than expected?

I'm not a worrier usually but will they just pass this off as incidental? There is a history of dementia in my family so seeing that I have areas of white matter disease greater than expected for my age makes me a little uneasy.

thanks! 😃

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  • rachael99235
    rachael99235

    Posted

    Forgot to add, since the headaches I've also had ptosis in my left eye - mostly mild. There has also been the most intense numbing sensation that is also intermittent and lasts seconds. But touching that area (usually the front of the head) it isn't actually numb. Feels deeper than that.

    left eye has also been twitching but again, its intermittent.

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