Only seeing half of things!

[creamegg]

From time to time, I suddenly develop this inability to see either the left or right hand side of things, and I have found that usually a headache is oncoming.

I try and close my eyes, in the dark and lay down, until it passes, otherwise it makes me go dizzy and I panic about not being able to see clearly.

I have put it down to migraines so far, I do seem to suffer a lot with headaches, especially once a month.

Thing is, my father in law had a stroke at the weekend, so I have been reading up about it, and I was surprised to see that one of the many indications of a stroke is loss of vision in one eye. Is this the same sort of loss of vision as I am having, or is it different?

Now im panicking I have been having mini strokes! I have had about 6 or 7 of these episodes and from what I can remember have usually had a headache come on after.

What is the concensus?

[Sqad]

Visual disturbance followed by a headache would suggest strongly and emphatically that a diagnosis of migraine is correct.

The sort of stroke that your father in law had , without headache.....is the commoner scenario.

Don't panic, your symptoms are certainly consistent with migraine.

[islasmum]

To me, that sounds like migraine - I know that migraine affect variious people in different ways - I wouldn't think that you've been having mini-strokes, and don't look up too many things on the internet! Hope that you feel better soon.

[237SJ]

Do you take any migraine medication? I manage to stop a migraine in it`s tracks with Migraleve. There`s no point in suffering if you don`t have to. Try not to panic. That causes dizziness and blurred vision too.

[creamegg]

No the doctor has never suggested giving me anything for migraines, and I tend to take what I always have, which is paracetamol and ibuprofen. To be fair, I haven't made a big fuss of it at the doctors, its just with reading all that stuff about strokes and loss of vision, it suddenly occurred to me, that maybe it is something more serious than a migraine!
Thanks for your input :)

[daffy654]

When I get migraines I lose peripheral vision in one eye (it's called an aura) and then I get the headache and nausea. If i'm actually sick the headache will go almost immediately, if not then an hour in a cool and dark room usually works.

[rowanwitch]

Interesting you say that Daffy I will actually make myself sick to stoop it in its tracks if I catch it at the aura phase... if I'm too late or can't get to a loo... then pink migraleve wonderful things

[grasscarp]

This is a type of migraine. I have had ones where I get curly little lines inmy eyes which affect my vision (as it comes on you stop being able to see complete images) for a while and are without the headache. I had a friend who used to see half of peoples faces. I used to suffer terrible migraines and used to take migraleve. A few years back I read that a lot of headaches are down to being dehydrated. I drank more water and havent had a headache in years. I had better touch wood quick.

[rowanwitch]

I think some people seem to lose their migraines as they get older.... I haven't had a bad one since finishing the menopause my mum was the same.... My sister is hopeful as hers are really vile and last for days

[creamegg]

mmm I don't tend to drink very much, as I am always busy, so perhaps that has something to do with it. Thank you all for your advice.