Migraines with visual disturbance anyone?

[florida sun]

I suffered with theses a lot in my youth, however as the years went on I stopped getting them.

Now the past few years they have started up again. I get the visual zig zag flickering in one or sometimes both eyes without any warning, which can be really frightening esp if your driving like I was today, followed about 20 mins later with the headache which lasts for hours

Does anyone else suffer with this and what do you take if you do? Im trying to keep a diary to see if I can find what triggers one.

 

[Toy Story Fan]

I get these too. When I first started getting them, I could not see...it would be dark and distorted. I couldn't read a thing. As I am getting older, it's more of floating squiggly lines all over. I still cannot see too well, so I close my eyes and lie in a dark room. As soon as the squiggly lines appear, I take extra strength Advil. These lines last about 25 minutes to a half hour. It took me several years to figure out my biggest trigger...BANANAS!!! Since I don't eat bananas anymore, I only get the occasional migraine. Sunlight, if it is really bright and catches my eyes a certain way will also trigger a migraine. I have had episodes where I could not talk right and actually forgot my kids names, along with words of everyday simple things. It's kind of scary because it sounds like a stroke. Migraines are nasty, and its unfortunate that a lot of people suffer from them.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I suffered with theses a lot in my youth, however as the years went on I stopped getting them.

Now the past few years they have started up again. I get the visual zig zag flickering in one or sometimes both eyes without any warning, which can be really frightening esp if your driving like I was today, followed about 20 mins later with the headache which lasts for hours

Does anyone else suffer with this and what do you take if you do? Im trying to keep a diary to see if I can find what triggers one.

My DD13 had been getting migraines just like this for the last 2 years. Doctors think is is related to the massive hormone surges associated with puberty. They were clustered during the first and third weeks of the month. Like clockwork they started with one blurry eye that then went to jagged zig zag lines in neon colors. Her speech also got a little funny (scary to watch - she used incorrect words for things) then 20 minutes later the pain and vomiting came. We tracked them on a calendar for several months. When she started getting more than 5 a month the Dr put her on 4 mg ciproheptadine two times a day. She has been taking it for two years, If she takes it regularly - no migraines. If she skips doses she gets one. She also has 5 mg sumatriptan nasal spray for when she does get a migraine.

Hope this info helps you. Migraines are no fun at all!

 

[netrista]

I have had these as well. I had my first one ever shortly after I had my first son. I was watching TV and faces started to morph into extended, zigzag shapes. It was much like a horror movie, and I assumed right away that I had a brain tumor. Around the same time, I had a crippling head ache that lasted for 2-3 days. Fortunately, I was diagnosed right away and a simple butabitol pill made them go away. I had a similar experience about 17 years later right before I had my second son, so that was definitely hormonal. Fortunately, those days are gone. However, since being in a tremendous car accident, walking over rugs with square patterns, red/blue flashing lights or dim florescent lighting causes me to feel extremely dizzy with a nuisance headache. If it is not one thing, it's something else!

 

[florida sun]

I get these too. When I first started getting them, I could not see...it would be dark and distorted. I couldn't read a thing. As I am getting older, it's more of floating squiggly lines all over. I still cannot see too well, so I close my eyes and lie in a dark room. As soon as the squiggly lines appear, I take extra strength Advil. These lines last about 25 minutes to a half hour. It took me several years to figure out my biggest trigger...BANANAS!!! Since I don't eat bananas anymore, I only get the occasional migraine. Sunlight, if it is really bright and catches my eyes a certain way will also trigger a migraine. I have had episodes where I could not talk right and actually forgot my kids names, along with words of everyday simple things. It's kind of scary because it sounds like a stroke. Migraines are nasty, and its unfortunate that a lot of people suffer from them.

Thanks for your reply, I wish I could figure out whats triggering mine, but hopefully by keeping a diary I will eventually find out. My other symptoms are my hands go numb and feeling sick. I agree they are dreadful.

My DD13 had been getting migraines just like this for the last 2 years. Doctors think is is related to the massive hormone surges associated with puberty. They were clustered during the first and third weeks of the month. Like clockwork they started with one blurry eye that then went to jagged zig zag lines in neon colors. Her speech also got a little funny (scary to watch - she used incorrect words for things) then 20 minutes later the pain and vomiting came. We tracked them on a calendar for several months. When she started getting more than 5 a month the Dr put her on 4 mg ciproheptadine two times a day. She has been taking it for two years, If she takes it regularly - no migraines. If she skips doses she gets one. She also has 5 mg sumatriptan nasal spray for when she does get a migraine.

Hope this info helps you. Migraines are no fun at all!

Thank you for your reply, I have an appt next week for bloodwork with the nurse, I may mention these to her. Your poor daughter, that must have been really bad for herr and for you to see her suffering like that, I hope she eventually out grows them

For anyone that has never suffered a visual distubance with a miagraine have a look at the link below on you tube its a very good animation of exactley what I see when I have one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo139jYAFzA

 

[florida sun]

I have had these as well. I had my first one ever shortly after I had my first son. I was watching TV and faces started to morph into extended, zigzag shapes. It was much like a horror movie, and I assumed right away that I had a brain tumor. Around the same time, I had a crippling head ache that lasted for 2-3 days. Fortunately, I was diagnosed right away and a simple butabitol pill made them go away. I had a similar experience about 17 years later right before I had my second son, so that was definitely hormonal. Fortunately, those days are gone. However, since being in a tremendous car accident, walking over rugs with square patterns, red/blue flashing lights or dim florescent lighting causes me to feel extremely dizzy with a nuisance headache. If it is not one thing, it's something else!

Thanks for replying, like you, every time I have one I think its a brain tumor, its so disturbing and 2o mins seems like hours. Im so glad yours have gone but sorry to read about your car accident

 

[mandymouse]

It sounds awful hun, I personally don't suffer with them, but I hope once you've had your blood tests done, they find out the cause

Hope you're feeling better this morning

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

I suffer from them a lot, horrible! Not sure what triggers mine, doctor did say certain times of the month can be worse than others due to hormone changes. Ive found recently that kool & soothe pads do help relieve the pain a bit

awwwhh hope you're better soon, its awful

x

 

[florida sun]

It sounds awful hun, I personally don't suffer with them, but I hope once you've had your blood tests done, they find out the cause

Hope you're feeling better this morning

Thanks hon, I still have a headache today but feel a lot better than yesterday

I suffer from them a lot, horrible! Not sure what triggers mine, doctor did say certain times of the month can be worse than others due to hormone changes. Ive found recently that kool & soothe pads do help relieve the pain a bit

awwwhh hope you're better soon, its awful

x

Than you so much, Im 51 now and sure its to do with hormones decreasing in my case they are awful and make me feel terrible. Thanks for the tip on kool and sooth pads, sorry to hear your a sufferer as well

 

[tony64]

Hi Sue

Hope you are feeling better today.

 

[florida sun]

Hi Sue

Hope you are feeling better today.

Thank you Tony, I still have a dull headache but feel a lot better, just hope it stays away as Im going out for my birthday(sunday) tonight with my friends

 

[mcraige]

Unfortunately, I have these too. My neurologist told me to take 2 Tylenol (acetaminophen) plus 2 Advil (ibuprofen) and drink a Coke. If I feel them coming on, this works on 90% of them. If I don't feel it coming on, but they are mild to medium, this works on 75% of the time.

 

[Ware Bears]

Hope by tonight that your head is completely clear and that you have a great evening.

 

[pampat]

I used to suffer with migranes like this too, blurred vision, lack of balance and lack of co-ordination until the headache began. I think mine were hormone related as when I was pregnant with my daughter they got worse for a couple of months, but after I reached 6months of pregnancy they stopped and I haven't had one since. Joy is now 23. It's a bit of an extreme cure, but it worked for me!!!

Pam

 

[crabbie1]

Sue hope u are feeling better. Migraines can give the feeling that u have a brain tumour or going to have a stroke. I used to get them terrible when in my early twenties. My gp gave me migralieve then immogran which worked temporarily but he then gave me a low dose of propananol. They are are a beta blocker. I had them for 6 months and with eliminating cheese and fresh orange juice I rarely get them.
They are horrid. Mine start with the aura. Pins and needles numbness then pain from back of head settling behind my right eye.
I empathise with you and I do agree that it is triggers hormones and stress that cause them.

 

[florida sun]

Unfortunately, I have these too. My neurologist told me to take 2 Tylenol (acetaminophen) plus 2 Advil (ibuprofen) and drink a Coke. If I feel them coming on, this works on 90% of them. If I don't feel it coming on, but they are mild to medium, this works on 75% of the time.

Thank you for the advice, I have heard drinking coke helps before

Hope by tonight that your head is completely clear and that you have a great evening.

Thanks Elaine, I had a great night

I used to suffer with migranes like this too, blurred vision, lack of balance and lack of co-ordination until the headache began. I think mine were hormone related as when I was pregnant with my daughter they got worse for a couple of months, but after I reached 6months of pregnancy they stopped and I haven't had one since. Joy is now 23. It's a bit of an extreme cure, but it worked for me!!!

Pam

Hi Pam it would not only be extreme but nothing short of a miracle should I have another baby now My daughter is 22, and like you they stopped when I was pregnant and have only started up again these past couple of years

Sue hope u are feeling better. Migraines can give the feeling that u have a brain tumour or going to have a stroke. I used to get them terrible when in my early twenties. My gp gave me migralieve then immogran which worked temporarily but he then gave me a low dose of propananol. They are are a beta blocker. I had them for 6 months and with eliminating cheese and fresh orange juice I rarely get them.
They are horrid. Mine start with the aura. Pins and needles numbness then pain from back of head settling behind my right eye.
I empathise with you and I do agree that it is triggers hormones and stress that cause them.

Hi hon, thank you for all that information, this last one was the worse one Ive had, I think more so because I was driving and had to pull over and sit through the aura part in the car for 30 mins feeling really poorly, mine are very similar to yours, unfortunatley I not sure if I can take Beta Blockers as I suffer from a slow heart rate but I will mention it to the doctor, thanks hon

 

[frankieeyre]

I get these too! I have had them since I was 16 and am 19 now! I get squiggly zig zag lines in the centre of my eye then they grow larger and larger till they reach the end of my eye. Then the headache starts, the only way I can get rid of it is too sleep or throw up!

I have not yet found out my trigger, but I noticed they started when I went on the pill. Which I then had to come off of because of the migraines. So who knows!

 

[Miss Mo]

I get these too! Hate them!! :-( I often find them stress related but usually at the point where I have relaxed after the stressful bit! I'm a teacher and it's often common for me to get them first day of the hols! Great!! I am lucky though and tend to find that if I take pretty much any painkiller at the first sign of visual disturbance then I kick that quickly and just end up with the horrible headache. I also find I am not quite right for a couple of days after though. Horrible things migraines! I do find Migralieve are brilliant though. Now never go anywhere important without them incase (always in my bag at Disney!)

mo x

 

[florida sun]

I get these too! I have had them since I was 16 and am 19 now! I get squiggly zig zag lines in the centre of my eye then they grow larger and larger till they reach the end of my eye. Then the headache starts, the only way I can get rid of it is too sleep or throw up!

I have not yet found out my trigger, but I noticed they started when I went on the pill. Which I then had to come off of because of the migraines. So who knows!

They sound exactly the same as the type I get, I never got them when I was on the pill.

I get these too! Hate them!! :-( I often find them stress related but usually at the point where I have relaxed after the stressful bit! I'm a teacher and it's often common for me to get them first day of the hols! Great!! I am lucky though and tend to find that if I take pretty much any painkiller at the first sign of visual disturbance then I kick that quickly and just end up with the horrible headache. I also find I am not quite right for a couple of days after though. Horrible things migraines! I do find Migralieve are brilliant though. Now never go anywhere important without them incase (always in my bag at Disney!)

mo x

Hi Mo thays so funny you should say that, as the one I had last week started the day I was due 10 days off work! And like you, after I have one im out of sorts for a few days. I can cope with them normally, its just last week was the first time I have had one driving and to be honest as I couldnt pull over immediatley it scared me as I was struggling to see. Im def going to get some Migralieve and I have a doctors appt next week.

 

[jjpenguin]

Mine are definitely hormonal, luckily they don't have the visual disturbances any more, I used to get tunnel vision.... eek
Now I sometimes get the aura but it usually doesn't go into a migraine, the migraines I get straight.
I had one once at WDW and got excedrin migraine from the resort shop, they helped pretty well. But it's very personal what you find gives you relief I find a really hot shower helps me, my friend who has them can't stand any heat...

My best tip is take your meds early, don't wait to see if it is going to develop into a full blown migraine, by then you're too late. Nip it in the bud!

Good luck hun!