Complex migraine: Serene Branson's gibberish caused by "headache?"

Complex migraine is a benign condition sometimes mistaken for stroke. It's what's believed to have caused TV reporter Serene Branson's recent on-air speaking problem.

/ istockphoto

(CBS) Migraines can cause more than pain. Just ask Serene Branson, the TV reporter whose recent on-air speaking difficulty is now believed to have been caused by a so-called "complex" migraine.

What's a complex migraine? It's an unusual "presentation" of the neurological disorder - one that can cause vision disturbances, vertigo, and numbness as well as the sort of speech difficulty that Branson experienced. The condition usually develops before the age of 40, according to "Is It Stroke, or Something Else," an article published in the Jan. 2010 issue of "The Journal of Family Practice:"

Many viewers who watched Branson's unsettling on-air episode thought she might have suffered a stroke. That's not surprising. Even doctors can having trouble telling stroke from complex migraine, which is considered one of several stroke "mimics."

Migraines are treated with a wide range of drugs, as well as with biofeedback and behavioral therapy, according to the article. In most cases they are benign. But evidence suggests that people who have had complex migraine face a greater risk for stroke.

[mysticatt]

As unfortunate as it was that this happened to Serene, I owe her thanks and gratitude. I have been suffering from similar episodes frequently for the last six years and when tests for stroke came back normal was treated like I was faking, mentally handicapped, insane, accused of being drunk or on drugs, fired, and ultimately ended up on disability. Well, two days before my appointment with a new neurologist Serene had her episode in front of the whole country and when I met with the doctor I finally got a diagnosis that didn't involve me being mentally ill. Thank you Serene and I hope all goes well with your management of the disease.

[NurseMigraineur]

Dear Serene Branson,
I've been there. I experienced exactly the same thing you did. I was 8 months pregnant and everyone, including I, thought I was having a stroke. It's terrifying!

I know it's mortifying to have this video out there. I hope you are able to take comfort in the fact that this video is very likely to save lives because when you see it, you don't forget it. Stroke runs in my family, and I shared this video on Facebook so all my relatives (about 150 of them!) can know what to do if something like this happens. This kind of neurological event is rarely captured on video. This video will be shown to medical students, nursing students, and allied health professionals so they can recognize it as a possible stroke and act immediately. It was also very helpful to me, as a person who has experienced this, to show this to them so they can understand what happened to me.

As a nurse and journalist, I want to urge you to see this as a good thing. There are always haters out there who seem to get off on ripping people for any little thing. I know you are probably embarrassed by having the world witness this in you. But you also brought light to a very misunderstood neurological disease that is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the Top 20 most disabling health conditions. Your video could help save a person's life. Isn't that worth a little abject humiliation? Don't sweat it, hon. Some of us ABSOLUTELY understand what happened to you and will benefit from broader awareness that migraine is a neurological disorder. Take care, and do not let this bother you too much.

[littlejudy2]

@Gaboonviper67 only a 1/3 of migraine sufferers have migraine with aura, you are lucky that you only get the headache and not the aura! It is real; I get them too as have some of the other commenters here. When I first saw the video, I thought that's what she had--it is very scary when you try to speak and different words come out or you slur your words. The best way to describe it is you feel "tongue-tied". You are right that on camera people screw up all the time, but usually they will stumble over their words a little or say the wrong word. What happened here was much more severe and I don't think they came up with a random excuse. Those of us who have this condition know it's for real.

[teacherandmom]

To those who don't believe this can happen. I can tell you that it can. I had my fist migraine like this about 20 years ago when I was teaching first grade. My right arm went numb as well as part of my face. I was in the middle of calling students up and giving them individual spelling tests. I looked out at my students and could not tell you a single child's name! I couldn't even say the words that were on the list. It was very frightening! I could think of the word "house" but say the word "elbow". You know it is wrong, but your brain just can't do it right. It is so frustrating and frightening. It doesn't happen every time I have a migraine but when it does happen it is awful. I thought it was a stroke. I went to the building nurse and blood pressure and everything was normal. After going to the doctor it was diagnosed as midgraines. I have medication that I can take at the first sign of the aura and numbness and that helps prevent it many times. I had never heard of anyone else having migraines with my same symptoms. Thanks CBS for having it on the news.

[tweetb41]

I told my husband as soon as I saw the first report that she probably was having a migraine when they said she had no other symptoms. I had the same thing happen to me years ago. Scared me terribly, as I thought that I was having a stroke, but had no symptoms except for my speech being all messed up, and I got a severe headache. I saw the nurse where I worked, and she told me it was a migraine and how close they can simulate a stroke. It amazed me.

[mommj]

I had two episodes (about 6 months ago) that were treated as TIA's but on closer inspection turned out to be complex migraines. My symptoms were, among others, complete paralysis on my right side. I was so frightened by the ER staff that I'm surprised I didn't have a stress induced cardiac arrest. I'm grateful that my little town had a knowledgeable neurologist who cleared the mystery up. I have had no further episodes.

[gaboonISaFool]

wow gaboon. You are a fool. No one has said anything about new legislation or antidiscrimination legislation. Only a fool such as yourself would argue that this woman did NOT have a migraine which resulted in her speech being garbled. Only a fool like yourself would think they know more than the medical community and her own doctor(s). NOW it's THE END....FOOL!

[ReginaFilangee]

Please pay attention, gaboonviper67.....

There is MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF MIGRAINE. What have experienced is ONLY ONE of those types. This woman (and others) have experience a DIFFERENT type. Unless you are a credentialed neurologist, please stop saying "the end." You're only making yourself look stupid.

[GlynDMD]

Possibly Catamenial Migraine or Seizure exclusive to women.