Visual Migraines

[ck1]

Does anybody else get these? never heard of it before my optician mentioned them

[Sqad]

I don't..........but many do.

[Fitzer]

Yeah, intermittently, used to get full blown migraines complete with optic distortions but seem to have grown out of the pain side of things just leaving the visual effects. Mostly prompted in my case by tiredness/stress/eyestrain, annoying if you need to drive for instance but for me not long lasting so a great improvement on the full migraine.

[Sqad]

Fitzer.......i am not sure..but i think that ck1 is referring to migraines WITHOUT the headaches.....I might be wrong.

[Fitzer]

Indeed Sqad, I was trying to say that I used to get the full version and now just get visual migraines, the optical effects are the same as the old ones but there is no pain :-)

[boxtops]

Yesm ck - I used to get migraine a lot, and one forwarding thinking GP took the time to explain to me that migraines come in several stages, and you can experience all or some of them, it's still a migraine:

- Pre-feeling when you know something's not right (that's when I took my medication)
- Full blown lie down in the dark headache
- diarrhoea and/or vomiting (hideous experience when combined with the headache, but vomiting always made me start to recover)
- flashing lights/other visual disturbance
- post-migraine langour

My migraines (being female) nearly always related to hormone levels, I had at least one full-blown attack each month.

[ck1]

Sqad, yes you are right, I am lucky enough to get both (not that I am trying to boast!). I had no idea the visual distortions were linked to migraines though, I went for an eye exam to see if I had anything serious looming but it was just the migraine. I didn't know there was such thing and I saw a pre-reg optician so thought he might have been making it up!!

[boxtops]

The only other similar experience I've had was when I experienced retinal detachment - flashing lights in a circle, like flames. You were wise to see the optician.

[Sqad]

Fitzy......aaah!

[boxtops]

Bloody scary, though, sqad, when you get the visual ones....

[Sqad]

boxy...I guess so..............have you been away, as i have missed you?

[woofgang]

do people start getting migraines when they are older? i am 60 and yesterday I had what I would have sworn was a silent migraine, the visual aura and the feeling of being washed out but no headache. I have never in my life had one before (late DH did which is why I recognised it) am well past menopause but still getting the flushes and so on.

[pixie373]

I've had 2 or 3 visual migraines. Never the pain, although my mum, granand sister all get the traditional ones. It terrified me the first time and i went straight to the opticians. She checked for retina detachment, but said most likely a visual migraine, which the doctor later confirmed.

[Sqad]

woofy.

\\\\do people start getting migraines when they are older? \\\

Some do...some don't......it is not unusual.

[boxtops]

woof, it sounds like it - mine didn't start until 40, but were the opposite though, as the monthly cycle stopped then so did the migraines. However, they can be caused by a number of triggers (red wine, smoke, perfume, oranges....) so if it happens again, worth getting it checked.

Sqad - yes, a week in the Canaries - how observant you are?!

[ferlew]

I have had migraines on and off throughout my life. Full blown, want to beat your head against a wall, feeling sick, and intolerant of light ones.
In recent years, they have been a lot less violent, and the past couple of years, just a neck ache followed by the visual disurbance.

[woofgang]

thanks sqad. If it gets to be a problem, I will do something about it.

[pastafreak]

I've been getting visual or 'classic' migraine for about 30 years now. I may have been pregnant when they started.
I can't associate them with food,but stress seems to be a trigger. My working hours changed last winter...and migraine increased. They are not painful-I get a dull headache...but they are annoying.

[janbee]

I had migraines for over 30 years. They were hell and lasted several days every week. I tried acupuncture, every magic pill prescribed for me, you name it, I tried it. NOTHING worked. One day , they just disappeared and never came back.

[boxtops]

..and oh, the relief, janbee!

[grasscarp]

I had headaches and migraines for years. Read one day that they are often sign of dehydration so I started drinking water more. Have not had a headache for many years now. Very occasionally get the visual migraine. I see a zigzag bright line. Usually I have a glass of water and next minute it is gone. Have also now experienced PVD - post vitreous detachment in both eyes. One just has a few floaters now and the other still getting flashes of light which apparently can go on for up to 6 months.