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Migraine - i have visual disturbances first then start to go blind!

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 9/1/2005 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
This is horrible. I'm not one to usually suffer from so called Migraines. The first episode i had was when i was pregnant and i started to see colour bar codes like a backwards C in both my eyes. After lying down and closing my eyes, putting a little pressure on them, they would in the end disapear. I saw a specialist about this and he couldn't find anything wrong, that is when he suggested i was having a migraine without the headache. I also saw my doctor who had put me through to see this eye specialist and he said it could be blood pressure related too. The second episode of this was back last year, when i was on holiday...we were eating in a restarant and then i started to see these barcodes again, it worried me, so we had to just leave our meal and go back to our room, again i did the same thing, and they left. Again, saw eye specialist and was told exactly the same thing. I have to mention that i also suffer from anxiety and mild depression and my doctor thinks that, that is not helping. Also since being 16, i've had times when my head gets heavy and my eyes feel very pressured and then i start to go blind. When this happens i lie down on the floor to let it pass. These really scare me as i think, oh heck i'm going blind. I had this happen again only yesterday. We are in the process of moving and i am really stressed about it, so my husband thinks that's why this is happening. I'm off to see the optician's again tonight LOL, for some more reasurance, then i'm probably going to have to go back down the doctors. We did try to make an appointment today, but they are FULL! Typical.

 Ah, well i'm off to read some more posts,to see if anyone else experiences what i do. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Posted 9/1/2005 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there...

I haven't experienced those kind of migraines, but they do sound like a type of migraine with "auras". Do you have any pain with the pressure?

Good luck with your search for answers!

~Mel~
Posted 9/2/2005 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dawnt33,

I'm so jealous about that you don't have headache pain with your eye pressure. I experience very similar symptoms unfortunately with extreme head pain.

My blood vessels along my optic nerve expand during my migraines and put pressure on my optic nerve. I feel this pressure and experience a narrowing of my vision, often like I'm going blind. Once my vision narrowed very very small. For a long time I swore I had a brain tumor or something but no I'm just suffering a migraine. I've been checked by several doctors who all confirm its migraines.

I find that if I take a triptan (i.e. Zomig, Imitrex, Amerge, etc) or anti-inflamatory (i.e. Advil, Aleve) it often goes away fairly quickly. One night I was driving along the highway and I could feel the blood vessel swelling and putting pressure on my optic nerve. As it did the middle line started to curve. I took a Zomig that melted in my mouth and that stopped the swelling.

Stress can trigger my headaches. My blood pressure also spikes very high with my migraines. I am on a beta blocker that keeps it from doing that so that I don't get as much pressure any more.

I hope this helps a bit.

Good luck!

Posted 9/2/2005 7:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi coquitlam55

Thanks for your reply. I don't usually suffer the headaches, but lately they seem to come after the eye episodes. I don't know whether it's actually a migraine headache or a stress headache as i get pressure around the head, especially at the sides. As i suffer with both stress and anxiety, its hard to pinpoint which, although i understand that the migraine headache is excruciatingly painful. My hubby's dad get's migraine badly and is sick with it. He ends up going to bed, bless him. Me, i get the eye troubles and don't like light, so i end up lying down myself. Sometimes, i too feel sick. I went to the opticians last night, as i said i would and she said it sounds like i'm suffering from migraines from all the stress and that's what is causing my eyes to play up. She gave both eyes a good check, yet again - i did go to the opticians in March this year and Dec last year hehe. My optician is great, she always says if you have any troubles always pop down, it doesn't take long for a check and it's always worth it. I totally agree with that plus it calms my nerves after the check to know that they are ok. I suffer with floaters in the eyes aswell LOL, so always pop down the opticians if i see a new one, to make sure that it's nothing else. I know i'm mad LOL!

It's hard to live with, because you don't know when it's going to come, and like you said if your driving, i'd be so scared, especially if my 2.5 yr son was in the car with me.

At the moment i'm not taking any medication for it, but my optician said that if the headaches get any worse, it's probably best to pop down to the doc's so they can prescribe something. She also said, there's not a lot you can do about the eye problems, they are just part and parcel of the type of migraine that i have. But it may be worth looking into something, to perhaps help with the pressure in my eyes when i do have an episode. I don't like the feeling of no control, that's what scares me the most, plus i don't want to be blind.

Ah well, i've garbled enough again LOL! Thanks again for all your replies it's much appreciated.

Speak again soon

dawnt33

Posted 9/3/2005 3:36 AM (GMT 0)

You're welcome Dawnt33,

I would ask your doctor about a triptan medication, something that works quickly like Zomig Rapidmelts, Zomig Nasal Spray or Imitrex Nasal Spray. There might also be other ones out there that melt in your mouth or come in nasal sprays. I say that because then if the visual problem does come on and your out and can't drive home you can stop it quickly. You will probably find that it stops the pain quickly as well. Be careful about getting caught up in using too many over the counter medications.

Everyone's headaches are different. Though you may not suffer as badly as your father inlaw you still have a lot of the symptoms, sensitivity to light, visual changes, pain sometimes, sick sometimes. I have challenges with my blood pressure which make my headaches really bad when I don't have it controlled. It's possible your father inlaw could suffer more for a similar reason or for a totally different reason.

Good luck.

Posted 9/4/2005 12:34 AM (GMT 0)

Dawnt33,

What you are experiencing are Auras.  I experience the SAME EXACT THING!  You are not alone, so please don't be afraid.  What's happening is the blood vessels in your head are constricting (getting squeezed-tightening) this is causing the optical nerves for your eyes to get mixed signals.  This is why we see strange things that don't exist and then lose our vision.

In my case, I'll get what I call a "Celophane Aura" (like when you look at a hot blacktop with the sun baking down on it where the heat is rising up on it and it's clear and wavy from the heat rising) followed by zig-zagging colorful lines and then I'll lose my vision in one eye. 

This used to preceed the actual head pain by 30-45 minutes until I started taking Topamax for prophylactic treatment of my Migraine Headaches (9-26 per month).

Now, I usually only get the AURA and not the actual head pain.

Keep your chin up Dawn.

Hugs!

Posted 9/4/2005 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi TashaMarie,

Many thanks for your reply. I have to say that it's great to hear from people who also experience the same pains and vision trouble as I do. It can be scary to think one is alone in these matters etc.

I'll be popping down the doctors on Monday to see if he/she can suggest anything to stop or just help out with the blind thing, maybe some pressure relief tablets or something. It's worth a try i'm sure as it really brings me down. I know i don't get the blind thing that often, but when i do it really freaks me out. I have a 2.5 yr old little boy and i always worry that i'll get a problem when he is with me - one time when he was in his highchair i had the blindness and i just had to lie on the floor for about 20 mins. I just had to keep talking to him, telling him not to worry and to stay put, bless him. I think he became just as worried as i was, bless his little cotton socks.

Ah, well, better go and make his breakfast lol. Thanks again for all your replies, it does make me feel a lot better.

Dawn

 

Posted 9/4/2005 10:51 AM (GMT 0)

Dawnt33,

You definately need to get a CT Scan and a MRI of your Brain done immediately also...since the visual disturbances are not normal!

I'd suggest having a family member/your husband drive you to the closest Emergency Room the next time this happens because you could be having miniature STROKES. **I don't want to freak you out or anything**I just want you to realize the seriousness of this.

I can guarantee you that there is nothing wrong with your eyes.  What you need to do is see a Neurologist.  Yep, you are having Migraines dawnt33.  Are you on any medications at all? (for your anxiety, depression and Migraines?)  Even though you may not experience the actual full-on Head Pain...you're experiencing the blood-vessels in your head spasming like every other Migraneur so you should be taking a prophylactic medication, along with an abortive medication for when you get your "Auras" to STOP the Aura in its' tracks and make it go-away!

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