Migraines with blind spots, and zig-zg patterns

_{martin mc nair}         

hi i ply american football  and i experiansed this to  wth the zig zag pattens and the dots before a migraine but it is either my eye or one side of my head   that goes painfull

 i irst experiencedit when i was playin rugby when it was very sunny so i thought it was the sun i went blind for about half an hour  then i felt sick with a very soa head itonly goes way if i was to go for a sleep  but when i woke up  it was awaybut if i was to move my head quickly  i any direction it would hurt.  ut it was not the su because when i play american football in the rain  it still happens so i bought a visor for my helmet wich helped a little  but we have ambulances at evry game we have and the blindness and the soar hea started so the paramedics cae over and gave me oxygen and i never have it anymore

The first time I had one of these supposed ocular migraines would be when I was very little, like 4 or 5. I was sitting next to a heater while watching tv, when I got up and started going upstairs I lost all my vision, all I saw was like what you see when you put the wrong channel on an old tv. My mom called an ambulance and while in the ambulance my vision returned and it ended.

Then I only got them when I got concusions, and those came with HUGE HEADACHES! First I get the loss of vision (wrong channel on tv), then the headache. I learned to take advil asap and try to fall asleep, that would end it faster, but I would also vomit a lot, even if I was hungry. Its just a nightmare when I get a bad concusion. Got these maybe 10-15 times in my life (bumped my head a lot).

Then, one in college during class for no reason, It was more like tunnel vision till it was all gone, just was the "wrong channel on tv". I had to sit in class till I got some vision back, then I left in the middle of the class and had my mom take me to the ER. I took advil to avoid the headache, which wasn't so severe. They took a scan of my brain, said I was fine and told me to come while it was happening, which would kinda be impossible since you gotta wait a couple of hours at the ER before they do anything...

Now, I'm 26, I was in the hospital a month ago, for what I believe was SEVERE constipation. I ate 3 plates of pasta in a row on a Thursday (it was sooo good). Anyways, I was in the hospital for 2 days Saturday and Sunday and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, I was having severe pain on the right side of my stomach/back, it was extremely bad when I would lay down (felt like stabbing muscle spasms), and they wanted me to lay down for the cat scan and sonogram or something, I had enough and left. I went home and did a quick search on google and figured I had constipation. Finally had a bowel movement after taking some pills, trying castor oil, prune juice and finally an enema did the trick, 15 liquidy poops in 2 days and I was 80% back to normal. I still have pain behind the lower rib on the right side of my chest, I wake up with it in the morning and sometimes it goes away during the day, sometimes not, I think I'm just still healing from the extreme situation my intestines went through.

Anyways, I took some suppliments about 2-3 weeks ago, namely: Goldenseal root, Slippery Elm, Oil of Oregano, and colloidal silver which are to help with my digestive system.
An hour or so after taking them, I got the aura where I see zig zag "crystals" in random spots, and wherever they are its a blind spot. They went away and I got a severe headache on one side of my brain which felt like brain freeze from eating ice cream too fast but it lasted for over 2 hours, went away when I fell asleep and woke up.
I have been getting the same thing almost every day or every other day since then, I see the crystals (now I take 3 advils to avoid the bad headache) cant look at anything because its soo annoying and disturbing, I kinda get a panic attack I guess. If i do get the headache its less and less each time, and sometimes I feel like I want to vomit but cant even if I tried... Sucks

One more thing, my right eye is screwed up from a car accident I had almost 3 years ago. The airbag knocked the crap outta me on the right side of my face and also did damage to my retina. I had a vitrectomy to remove blood in my eye, and then it was discovered that I have a scar on my retina. So the vision in my right eye is blurry, darker, has a blind spot off center to the left, and is also not really aligned with my left eye, I feel like I dont use my right eye when both eyes are open, only for the vision to the extreme right, where my left eye wouldn't see cuz my nose is blocking it...

Anyways, I read that I could be getting these ocular migraines because of acidy and greasy food, and I already have changed my diet a lot since the hospital visit, no more pepsi and a LOT of water. But I still get these migraines, gotta try eating foods with a lot of alkalines I guess. Life sucks. LoL.

Hi, Thank you all for your comments on migraines, many sound familiar to me. I started with the visual ones 25 or 30 years ago, they went away for several years, recently they are back. I also have other symptoms that can occur with the visual migraines including headache migraines, phantom smells, sensitivity to noise and anxiety.

Recently I spoke with someone who had spontaneous vomiting which was out of control, had been to all kinds of doctors with no relief. Then he visited a doctor who suggested the possibility migraines, she suggested amitriptilyn and his problem went away, he gained 30 pounds. I realized that I had been taking this med for another reason during the period my visual migraines went away, started taking it again when the symptoms come and have had no problem.

As to the visual migraines, I just enjoyed them when there were no other symptoms, I kind of liked the flashy colors dancing around.

One last thought, my doctor said that the combo of lights and smells can be a sign of petite mal so be alert to this possibility. Do you ever go somewhere for a second or two, ask people who know you.
Poppop1

Hi all.

I've only just recently started getting these Migraines - I've just experienced the fourth one in four months. So far I have not found any similarities between what I was doing in each one beforehand.

However, what concerns me is that I had laser eye surgery in December, and I never had these migraines before the surgery. They have only every come after that. Has anyone ever experienced or heard of this? Otherwise, the surgery was a success.

Thanks

Roger

Hey You guys,

The migranes could be because of a loss of calcium and selenium in the brain. These are very basic nutrients and when we don't have enough of them in our diet and in our systems, it causes things like migranes and other health issues. So, look into a good supplement that contains both Calcium and Selenium to be sure you are getting the proper and essential nutrients to the brain. A good one is called Neuro-Boost. It has worked wonders for people who have been suffering from headaches and migranes for years. www.saygoodbyetoheadaches.com

Once you get that calcium and selenium in your system, those headaches and migranes are going to go away.    

Peace and I wish you all the best!

 I have been getting zig zag patterned flashes in my eyes since I was 25. Now at 48 they are the same. Once a month or so. It starts as a small spirograph that moves and then gets larger and larger. With zig zag lines that move like the screen saver mystify. I believe it to be electrical energy in my brain attacking my optic nerves. The brain is a computer with electrical pulses that go to nerve synapses instead of traces or wires and regulates our heart rate, oxygen level, pain sensors, sending white blood cells to repair damaged areas etc. When I close my eyes the moving lines and zig zag patterns are still there but I cant focus in on them and look directly at them when I move my eyes to try to look at them they move. If I shift my eyes to the right the patterns move to the left so I cant look directly at them. When I close my eyes they are easier to see. I can still see when my eyes are open but vision is impaired where it is flashing. each time the shape of the kaleidoscope dancing zig zag patterns is different. Usually coming from the right side starting as a small swirling object then growing into a shape. Usually a circle or elliptical shape with one end twisted or bitten off like a pac man for lack of description. It changes colors like a prism but is a yellowish with green, red, purple, and blue edges like a rainbow. It grows larger than my vision area usually within 30 to 45 minutes. I have to drive my car and go to work so when it happens while I am driving I pull over but at work I just act like its not happening. Not seeing some of my coworkers temporarily is delightful sometimes.   Me unlike some of you guys it is minor and not as bad as your migraines so I dont get scared or panic because I beleive that just makes it worse. I take a multivitamin daily to make sure I am getting my Bs and Cs. I dont trust too much selenium, copper,zinc so I take childrens chewable. Milk is the most healthy thing I know for your body.so I drink 2 glasses a day.The FDA does not really know how much of the minerals like selenium we really need and I dont want to take too much minerals. Be very careful with aspirin. It thins your blood but tears out the linings of your stomach and liver. Ibuprofen or Advil is safer and works better. Same with Tylenol or acetominophen it can make your liver go into shut down mode and damage it. Your liver cleans your blood.  I have noticed acidic foods make it happen more. I just had 2 huge plates of spagetti with too many tomatoes. They are good in moderation but I think I did too much. Thing like tomatoes, oranges, carbonated soda, alcohol, vinegar, italian dressing, hot sauce, etc have high acid. As my body gets older I cant digest things a quickly so they just sit in my stomach and poison my blood stream. I eat less so I dont overload my body with poison it cant get rid of as quickly. I need salad and fruit more and more to have healty poo poos. I can tell when there is too much sugar, acid and poison in my system because I get a kind of mild burning sensation like heartburn. So I always keep antacid tablets ready to neutralize the acid. For me I dont like taking drugs so I just watch my intake, and dont overdo any one thing. In moderaton your system can handle variety. The key is dont overeat, eat fruit and veggies except oranges, lemons, and vinegar dressings.  P.S. The doctors are always trying to push drugs and pump them into our systems and should only be used if absolutely necessary. Especially different combinations of pills. They are most of the time just a temporary fix and not a cure. Most cause side effects and damage to other parts of our bodies. Try moderation and caution and healthy foods. Dont start swallowing castor oil, blood roots, gold seals and vodoo herbs. The best way to detoxify your system is apple juice and cranberry juice NOT GALLONS, 2 glasses a day max. Raisins too but not a whole box in one sitting. They heal the most valuable liver which we all need to clean our blood. It is also a proven medical fact that a tablespoon of honey every night before you go to bed heals your liver very quickly to normal. Apparently is has microorganisms and living amoebas that heal the liver. I know I talk alot but one more thing you guys quit hitting your heads and getting lasers in your eyes. Most of my problem is just OLD AGE..GOD BLESS AND GET WELL..

Hi there. I also have been getting migraines for years. I dont get the blindspot effect just the zig zagging lines or it seem more like a black and white checker board look to me. Along with the tinging in my left hand that works it way up to my face. Those are my earlier warning sign. I normal have five mins to take my medications (which is Excedrin Migraine). It helps stop the tinging feeling from spread throw the rest of my body and shorten the headache pain to about an hour or so. If i dont take it in time my headaches can last for 24 to 48 hours. Which afterward i feel slow and unable to think clearly. I also cant move my head to fast for it feel like i can feel my brain moving around and i get dizzy.

My trigger are

alot of chocolate, cheeses. Stress not enough sleep and also to much sleep. And extreme change in temperature going for warm to cold.

Ive been to the doctors and they said sense ive only get my headaches once or twice a year that its not much they can do for now.

I found this website that might help to explain to friends and families that do not get migraine to understand what it is we go throw during an attack.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-aura/MM00659 i hope it help ya'll

I had the exact same thing happen to me last night! my eye has been twitching for about three days, but no stress or headache really. Then I was watching tv and realized I couldnt see everything. If i looked at someones face I couldnt see their body. I took my glasses off thinking there may be a smudge or something on my lenses but nothing so I closed my eyes to rest them Then WHAM!!! a headache that felt like I hadnt slept and was up all night crying. My Husband came in and I started to freak out a little and told him that i couldn't see out of my left eye as though I looked into the light. He told me to go to sleep and not worry too much and it should be better in the morning. When I closed my eyes I saw something like a lightning bolt with zig zag lines then everything started turning. I have had experiences before where I see little floating silver dots and tension headaches but nothing like this. Today I woke up and my eyes feel like they haven't closed all night.

I want to add how mine come about and I treat them, especially since I'm in the aftermath of an episode right now.

I believe they are related to stress and caffeine for me. Too much of both at the same time seems to trigger my attacks. They begin with a blind spot that I notice by not being able to see a filename on my computer screen and progress to the zig zig auras. Once they take hold, they last 15 or 20 minutes. After the eye effects subside, I may get a dull pain, but for the most part, I am spared the blaring headaches that others suffer.

I treat them by hydrating, usually with Gatorade or similar. In fact, I keep Gatorade at my desk in powder form just for these instances. If I dont have any handy, I just start hammering water. It's worth a few extra bathroom trips to aggressively go after these.

Some people said they get nervous which is understandable when your vision is altered, but once you've had a few, you know that what you're experiencing is just part of the drill. That should help to keep the stress down that nothing serious is happening---you're not going blind, you've just got a migraine. For me, the hydration is also part of the drill psychologically in that I switch myself into treatment mode and out of migraine mode so that when one starts, as it did before, I know it's time to downshift into calm and hit the fluids to make the attack go away. The more it's a familiar sequence, the less anxiety you'll have.

I am a 45 yr old female & have had different types of migraines since age 10-11. Before having a child (at age 32) they were mostly migraines with aura, usually visual. Most of them now have no aura. Migraines affect every body system so what you may think is IBS may be caused simply by your migraine. I cannot take anything, so far, preventively for them & they have a tremendous impact on my life. I am a fair skinned blonde with NO family history. I currently take Excedrin or Fioricet with Phenergan (both prescription.) I can honestly say I have had headaches/migraines more days than not in my lifetime.
I have only found lighting, low blood glucose & weather (barometric pressure) as triggers. I just learned about orange juice so I'm testing that theory now.
When I have had a visual aura, I have to stop whatever I'm doing & go to a dark, cool, quiet room. I have been driving & had them start - I find a safe place to pull over, wait it out, assess my pain & go from there. I function with most of my migraines but not all. Auras are nothing to fear as long as you are safe.
Based on my own experiences, I do want to caution women using any form of birth control involving hormones who have migraines to be very careful. I was on the pill for years & developed a "different type" of migraine that was similar to a stroke. I lost short term memory & was very, very confused, then had the onset of the headache. For this reason, my OB/GYN took me off the pill.
Know you're not alone & push your doctors - ask questions - a good doctor will read up on migraines & stay up to date on migraine news.
Best wishes!

nate1980 said...
I have had these kind of migraines for the past 20 years. my eyes go all fuss vision and then blind.
They can't figure it out. but i have figured out how to treat them and it took me 15 years to figure it out.
Take 250- 500 mg of caffeine and 2 aspirin. It will help only if; right as the symptoms of the the fussy vision starts.
I have these migraines once a week. good luck Nate

Mate my husband takes 400 mg of B2. It helps tremendously. He doesn't get them as often and the symptoms aren't as severe.

I get visual migrane aura from time to time as well. For me...they seemed to be directly related to hormone swings as I am undergoing Testosterone Replacement Therapy. I seem to note more ocular migraines when my T levels are lowest.

For everyone, please check your hormone levels with your doc. I have found a majority of my issues are directly related.