topic Re: Occular Migraines in Wellness

Occular Migraines

hick — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 11:32:41 GMT

I'm just curious if any of you have experienced these occular migraines.

About 3 years ago, I was having them very frequently. I never get a headache with them, just the jagged lights in my eye.

At the time, I was having balance problems. I had a brain MRI that was normal.

I started taking meds and my balance problems resolved and I haven't had an occular migraine until several months ago. Last night, I had another one.

Just curious if any of you have experienced this.

Re: Occular Migraines

AngelPuppy1 — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 11:40:55 GMT

Yes, I've had these for a number of years. When I first began experiencing this, I was really frightened -- I thought maybe I was having a stroke or something! Any way, I underwent a large battery of tests and then was disagnosed with this and I get those terrible spots which go into all kinds of crazy, spreading and jumping patterns and then they almost totally block my sight. When I start to get a migraine, I first get so very tired, the back of my head begins to ache and I start to feel kind of disoriented. After I have had one, it takes me a couple days to feel right. I just feel totally drained. Thankfully, since I've been on medication, I don't experience them too often now. They're really scary though, aren't they?

Re: Occular Migraines

Bhvbum — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 12:10:18 GMT

I got my first one about 25 years ago and I have mentioned it to my doctor and ophthalmologist and no one seems to be concerned. Every so often I get one and I simply ignore it and it goes away.

Re: Occular Migraines

sandy53 — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 12:27:09 GMT

I got my first migraine aura when I was in high school. I was in the library and I thought I was dying. It was so scary. It was followed by the classic headache. That pattern continued for many years, but the headaches were never debilitating like some people have. Now in my 60's I only get the aura and not the headache. My triggers seem to be stress, lack of sleep, and/or bright/flashing lights.

Re: Occular Migraines

violann — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 12:34:36 GMT

@hick wrote:
I'm just curious if any of you have experienced these occular migraines.
About 3 years ago, I was having them very frequently. I never get a headache with them, just the jagged lights in my eye.
At the time, I was having balance problems. I had a brain MRI that was normal.
I started taking meds and my balance problems resolved and I haven't had an occular migraine until several months ago. Last night, I had another one.
Just curious if any of you have experienced this.

WOW, am I glad you posted.

I'm in week 4 of a Covid infection, learning slowly that while everyone sort of finds out "the basics" of having Covid, it also comes with some curiously unexpected zingers.

And you JUST put your finger on my last 3 or 4 days- an odd change in hearing, feeling as though my balance is uncontrollably shifting from one side to the other, the "fireworks" in my left eye- BINGO!

MY headache free migraine symptoms USUALLY show up in high stress periods of my life, and yeah, not knowing whether you're going to need to be hospitalized is mighty stressful for me.

Before I was diagnosed Covid positive my BP was higher than typical for me, but now for the last few days, it's been fine. I keep an eye on it (no pun intended) when I have THE MIGRAINES.

@hick, THANK YOU, and hoping your issues disappear soon!

Re: Occular Migraines

Ainhisg — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 14:19:00 GMT

Yes! I have the same experience with it that you do. Mine started at the age of 47, and I can determine nothing that triggers them. They just appear. I have no headache ever--just the zigzag lights. It takes about 45 minutes before it all stops. I haven't had one in months...maybe over a year now...but that means nothing. One can show up at any time. I saw an ophthalmologist when they first started, as I was scared something was seriously wrong, but there isn't. This is exactly what mine look like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVFIcF9lyk8

Re: Occular Migraines

wagirl — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 14:44:59 GMT

@violann ---first and foremost,violann---I am so sorry you are sick with these horrible virus!! am sending all the best to you and hope you are going to be good on the other side of it-----

Re: Occular Migraines

wagirl — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 15:28:09 GMT

i've had 3 of those weird things happen to me too--there is no pain with them, just kind of tunnel vision for a few minutes and kind of a bright fog around the whole eye. Had 2 within a few weeks of each one--zig-zags like lightening bolts and then I had those floaters in my eyes afterwards--went to the eye dr and she could see them too--they were kind of big then, but have gotten smaller---what she said to watch for is if those zig zags are black--signs of a detached retina---

Re: Occular Migraines

fancy pantsy — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 15:38:57 GMT

i have migraines but hardly ever accompanied by the actual headache. sometimes its vertigo/balalce and nausea that lays me flat ... and sometimes its occular. these started when i was in my early 60's. sometimes they are triggered by the full moon and sometimes barametric pressure ... but seems like since i have been on blood pressure medicine that i don't get them as often. coincidence? i don't know.

Re: Occular Migraines

VaBelle35 — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 15:47:38 GMT

I've had 2.

The first one, I had no idea what it was and wasn't even going to say anything to my ophthalmologist, but while I was waiting for my eyes to dilate, I was looking at this poster she has with various eye issues and what you see with each one.

I had a blank spot in my vision and the jagged lights/flashing. It lasted about 20 minutes. No headache.

So I mentioned it to her. She said there are 2 things to check: hormones and carotid artery. I had just gone off BCPs after 27 years, so it was more likely hormones, but I did have both bloodwork for hormones and an ultrasound of my carotid arteries to make sure there was no blockage.

The second one I had was very mild, very small blank spot, but I did go in to be examined as it was slightly different than the first one and it could have also been a tear, so I wanted to be sure.

Re: Occular Migraines

LonestarBabs — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 16:24:14 GMT

I get ophthalmic migraines, too.They started about 15 years ago. Even my ophthamologist gets them! No pain, and the whole episode is over in about 20 minutes. They are not frequent (maybe once or twice a year), but I recently had two within about 2 months which was unusual. I think mine can be triggered by too much screen time (computer or TV) and stress. I just take either my allergy med or one aspirin, close my eyes, and the episode passes. I will feel a little sore behind the eyes afterward but that's the extent of the effect.

It starts with gradually missing the center of my field of vision in one eye, then the bright jagged line appears when I close my eyes.

Re: Occular Migraines

vsm — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 16:43:34 GMT

Yes, @hick , I have had many over the last several decades, and like you, I never get a headache with them. At first, my doctors thought they were associated wth a serious medical condition I have had throughout that time, but they ultimately concluded the two were unrelated. The OMs tend to occur when I'm especially tired or hungry, or when I'm a little off-schedule in taking the medication for the other condition. In other words, there are "triggers" for them. The doctors told me to regard them as warnings that I need to eat, rest, etc., but that -- in my case -- they are not dangerous in themselves.

May I ask what medication, or class of meds, you're on or were on for your balance problems? I'm prone to BPPV (vertigo), which -- like the ocular migraines -- is also unrelated to the medical condition I mentioned.

Re: Occular Migraines

godi — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 16:49:00 GMT

I get these also. I know it's coming on because I get all anxious and dizzy spells. This one I am having now is a doozy. I have nausea with it. So it's me and the couch today. ❤️🙏

Re: Occular Migraines

Kadilac — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 17:57:18 GMT

I also get them occassionally but cannot figure out what brings them on though sometimes it might be bright lights. If I take an Excedrin immediately it seems to help and definitely prevents the headache. Glad to hear I'm not the only one because they are scary. I usually notice a blind spot in my vision before it starts so I have time to prepare.

Re: Occular Migraines

ALRATIBA — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 18:28:35 GMT

@hick

My mother had that issue - and I seemed to have inherited it!

Yes, for years. If I recall, mine started in high school in the 1950s. Early on there was associated pain and nausea.. I haven't had any associated pain since the mid 1960s. Sometimes dizzy just before the onset of the fuzzy vision.

It now happens after taking NSAIDS, and some other meds. Lipitor was the absolute worst!

Over these many years and many doctors - none of my doctors (ENT, PCP, Opth, etc.) were concerned.

Rather odd - but sometimes a peppermint lifesaver helps - something that I discovered by accident.

Re: Occular Migraines

MJM22 — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 19:44:25 GMT

Yes, I have gotten them for several decades. I can't take any OTC headache remedies, so I use Hyland's Migraine Headache Relief. It is a homeopathic product that works very well for me. Hope this helps.

Re: Occular Migraines

kitty60 — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 20:25:26 GMT

I have had these off and on for years, although as I've gotten older they seem to have subsided some. They would come on in a flash, literally, it was as if someone had taken an old fashioned picture with a lightbulb and I could pretty much see nothing. The only remedy I would have was to shut off the lights and sit or lay in a dark room.

Re: Occular Migraines

BriggsiePeawiggle — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 22:00:34 GMT

I'm curious how you were diagnosed. I started getting them after having had 2 hip replacements -- anesthesia twice within 5 months and oxycodone for several weeks each time. My mother-in-law passed right after the second hip replacement so lots of stress -- cleaning out 60 years of stuff from her house. Suddenly I would notice that the lines on television -- like the stuff that would appear in print -- wouldn't line up....then my vision would start to go completely. I thought it was something like blood sugar problems and went to get checked out. All normal. CT scan of brain showed normal. I went to a neurologist -- top notch one in the big medical center here. Nothing was abnormal....I had all the tests. I called my regular doc the next day after researching myself online and read about occular migraines. He said right then, "OMG I should've thought of that (he's not a neurologist). I had them when I was in junior high!" So now that I know what they are, I don't worry. Usually now it's stress related, ziggy zaggy stuff in my vision, low grade headache, sometimes dizziness and sometimes it affects my speech a little. If I just close my eyes and rest for about an hour it all goes away but the crummy headache which lingers. The next day I feel kind of beat up.

Re: Occular Migraines

Caligurll — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 01:09:27 GMT

@Kadilac wrote:
I also get them occassionally but cannot figure out what brings them on though sometimes it might be bright lights. If I take an Excedrin immediately it seems to help and definitely prevents the headache. Glad to hear I'm not the only one because they are scary. I usually notice a blind spot in my vision before it starts so I have time to prepare.

@Kadilac I've noticed for myself I get them if I've been on the computer for too long with not enough lighting.

I've been getting them for almost 50 years, but they have declined in intensity and frequency as I've gotton older. Certain foods used to trigger mine also.

Re: Occular Migraines

Nonametoday — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 01:13:03 GMT

@violann wrote:
@hick wrote:
I'm just curious if any of you have experienced these occular migraines.
About 3 years ago, I was having them very frequently. I never get a headache with them, just the jagged lights in my eye.
At the time, I was having balance problems. I had a brain MRI that was normal.
I started taking meds and my balance problems resolved and I haven't had an occular migraine until several months ago. Last night, I had another one.
Just curious if any of you have experienced this.

WOW, am I glad you posted.

I'm in week 4 of a Covid infection, learning slowly that while everyone sort of finds out "the basics" of having Covid, it also comes with some curiously unexpected zingers.

And you JUST put your finger on my last 3 or 4 days- an odd change in hearing, feeling as though my balance is uncontrollably shifting from one side to the other, the "fireworks" in my left eye- BINGO!

MY headache free migraine symptoms USUALLY show up in high stress periods of my life, and yeah, not knowing whether you're going to need to be hospitalized is mighty stressful for me.

Before I was diagnosed Covid positive my BP was higher than typical for me, but now for the last few days, it's been fine. I keep an eye on it (no pun intended) when I have THE MIGRAINES.

@hick, THANK YOU, and hoping your issues disappear soon!

@violann

I truly think mine began from a sinus infection. Then they just kept coming when I had no sinus infection. I developed trigeminal neuralgia and then optic neuritis and was diagnosed with MS, but my son has ocular migraines and has no signs or symptoms otherwise of MS. His are definitely sinus-related.