Does this sound like a migraine aura?

[DLgal]

I have had migraine for 30 years. I've never experienced aura.

Just now, I was sitting watching tv and had a sudden visual disturbance in the upper right portion of my field of vision (I could see it when I covered each eye independently). It started as a short horizontal zigzag line that appeared to be flashing. The line gradually extended leftward until it was seen in about half my visual field. The best way I can describe it is that it looked like there was a spinning ceiling fan in my upper peripheral visoon. It lasted 15 minutes and then went away as suddenly as it started. I now have a very minor, dull headache on the left side of my head, so I suspect this was an aura, but not really sure.

I happen to have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning for a physical so I will definitely bring it up. Just wanted to make sure I don't need to run to the ER or anything.

 

[m3owbox]

Yes, that sounds just like mine. Except the headache I get after is quite severe if I don't have some Excedrin right away

 

[design_mom]

I get that too -- exactly like you describe (seems like a ceiling fan in peripheral vision). I have wondered what it is too. I also get migraines occasionally, but they don't necessarily seem to be timed with the fan vision, so I don't know if it's an aura or not. At least, I don't get a bad, one-sided, light-sensitive headache after it each time. I'll be interested to hear what your doctor says. My big 'tell' that I'm going to get a migraine is that I can smell stuff that nobody else can.

 

[rwdavis2]

It sounds like an ocular migraine due to the zig zag lines you describe. Google it. I had one about a year ago and never came back. I did not get a headache. The doctor was not concerned.

 

[indimom]

That's exactly how my mother describes hers. If she takes her meds at that point, she will not get a migraine. If she doesn't, it will come on within an hour or so.

 

[DLgal]

It sounds like an ocular migraine due to the zig zag lines you describe. Google it. I had one about a year ago and never came back. I did not get a headache. The doctor was not concerned.

My friend suggested this as well as she gets them and she said it sounds just like hers. I will see what the doctor says tomorrow and will ask about seeing a neurologist, since its been a very long time since I've seen one. I saw one about 12 years ago after a series of severe migraines within a short period of time and he did a CT scan to rule out a vascular issue or tumor, but I haven't been back since then.

 

[Distisso]

I get ocular migraines and they do sound similar. I see a flashing zig-zaggy circle and it's silvery - kind of like an oil slick. It lasts about 20 minutes and disappears with no headache.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I had that several times. Looked like a zig zag line. I thought I was having a stroke. DH, who is an optometrist, told me it was an ocular migraine. Luckily I never got a headache.

 

[DisneyOma]

Description is just like my aural migraines too!

 

[rlk]

I get the same symptoms as the OP every so often. Luckily, I never get a headache.

 

[DLgal]

I had that several times. Looked like a zig zag line. I thought I was having a stroke. DH, who is an optometrist, told me it was an ocular migraine. Luckily I never got a headache.

I thought I was having a stroke too. Right before it happened I got kind of light headed and dizzy and just didn't feel right. I thought I was having low blood sugar or something, as I had worked out quite heavily a couple hours prior and only had a smoothie afterwards. So, I ate a small snack and then this happened just as I was finishing up eating. Scared the heck out of me because I was home all alone and have never had anything like this happen.

I do now have a headache but I took medicine for it early so it's not a full blown migraine, thank goodness.

In reading more about ocular migraine, it seems the consensus is that it is simply the migraine aura phenomenon without actual head pain. Also, ocular migraines are typically in one eye only, not both. I had this disturbance in both eyes, followed by a headache, so it seems to be a classic migraine with aura. The aura can be the flashy zig zag lines, light spots, blurred vision or black spots.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

That’s sounds like the ocular migraines I got while pregnant.

 

[Shanti]

I have had migraine for 30 years. I've never experienced aura.

Just now, I was sitting watching tv and had a sudden visual disturbance in the upper right portion of my field of vision (I could see it when I covered each eye independently). It started as a short horizontal zigzag line that appeared to be flashing. The line gradually extended leftward until it was seen in about half my visual field. The best way I can describe it is that it looked like there was a spinning ceiling fan in my upper peripheral visoon. It lasted 15 minutes and then went away as suddenly as it started. I now have a very minor, dull headache on the left side of my head, so I suspect this was an aura, but not really sure.

I happen to have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning for a physical so I will definitely bring it up. Just wanted to make sure I don't need to run to the ER or anything.

Yes. I've had severe migraines since adolescence, but just began having auras with them a couple of years ago (I'm in my mid-40's). I didn't know about migraine auras, so I was freaked out by the wiggly colored lights in the periphery of my vision that would occasionally show up, then later go away after some rest. (The interesting thing is that they didn't always accompany a headache, but I've since learned this can be the case with migraine auras.)

I was afraid I was losing my vision, so I went to an opthamologist who did a whole endless & expensive battery of tests, only to tell me at the end that nothing was wrong & it was a typical migraine aura and was harmless. I was a bit annoyed that they hadn't even mentioned that possibility, since I'd been scared. It was better than getting bad news, though.

That was about two years ago, and I haven't had any more auras in over a year. Go figure.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I get these too! Starts as a zig zag squiggly line that overtakes my vision. It’s never been accompanied by a headache.

 

[mom2rtk]

Very similar to what I get maybe once a year or so that has been described as an ocular migraine. Doctor was not concerned. I never get a headache.

 

[anniemae]

Like others have said, it sounds like ocular migraine. I usually get a headache after. I have heard they get more common as you get older. How old are you?

 

[E&Cmom]

I had similar situation over a year ago. I had just come from a night shift when it happened. It lasted about 20 minutes. Just a mild headache afterwards but I felt really tired afterwards. Being a bad nurse when it comes to myself I didn't get checked out afterwards but diagnosed myself with an occular migraine. Some of my colleagues freaked out when I told them. Good thing I wasn’t at work or they would have called 911 on me. I have not had one since.

 

[DLgal]

Like others have said, it sounds like ocular migraine. I usually get a headache after. I have heard they get more common as you get older. How old are you?

I just turned 40. I have been having severe headaches since I was a toddler, but didn't get diagnosed with migraine until I was about 10.

 

[nutshell]

It sounds like an ophthalmic migraine. It might be the only one you ever have or could be the first of many to come (or somewhere in between).

 

[anniemae]

I just turned 40. I have been having severe headaches since I was a toddler, but didn't get diagnosed with migraine until I was about 10.

Yup, I think my eye dr. said it's common when you hit 40. Let us know what your dr. says tomorrow.