1.5.2 Probable migraine with aura

A 53-year-old librarian reports her sixth lifetime attack of an unusual pre-headache sensation, which she still cannot fully put into words. She describes two distinct, indescribable feelings that arose one after the other, unfolding in a slow, stepwise fashion that took at least five minutes to build rather than appearing suddenly. She is adamant that she saw nothing unusual, felt no tingling or numbness anywhere, had no difficulty with speech, no weakness in her arms or legs, no sense of imbalance, vertigo or double vision, and no visual loss localised to just one eye. The whole sensation lasted around 40 to 41 minutes before fading. She has well-controlled asthma and denies smoking; her sister has had similar spells in the past without a clear diagnosis.