PLEASE DOESN'T SOMEONE JUST HAVE AURAS WITH NO HEADACHE

I'm new to this.   This is the first forum I have joined.

I too have the auras without the headache.  I usually take 3 advil when this happens and everything turns out fine. I do have migraines at times and they almost alway occur at night. I wake up with an awful headache that is so intense that I usually go the the ER to get shots for the pain.  I only have this happen once a year or so.  Good thing to,  if they were more frequent i dont thing I could deal with it.  I have had these since I was around 18.  I am now 44.  I have pretty bad headaches alot but don't know if they are migraines or not.  Sometimes I have headaches that are more of an annoyance and other times they are pretty bad.... I take a lot of advil. Probably take 3-6 advil every day or 2 sometimes more.  I have finally reached the point that I can't deal with all the headaches and am going to the DR. Also I have found that my bloodpressure is skyhight when I go to the ER for the shots.    Is that from the migraine or does the high blood pressure cause the migraine ?  Guess I might find out.

The info I looked up on Ocular migraines noted that it was caused by constricted blood vessels behind the eye which is being effected...some people who have sinus problems also suffer from these because their sinuses are so blocked.

Stress is another contributing factor. It seems to me if you could take something like aspirin, which unconstricts blood vessels, it should be helpful.

I get them too, only about three in the past three years but very disturbing. My friend told me what they were...I was thankful to know I didn't have a brain tumor.

Your not alone. I have auras without the migraine pain. Mine really started after my surgery. Being that I have Epilepsy, it fell like the start of a seizures, but it doesn't go all the way. Mine started after my surgery. I am taking Lamictal for my seizure control. If I only have auras and no seizures I am very happy. Hope everything works out for you and we have helped you in this matter. Have good day!

Ken

I'm 29. yesterday and today, right around 4 in the afternoon, I had these weird, kaliedescope

visions in my peripherial vision. Two different places. I'm guessing only because I have yet to see the doctor about it, it is ocular migraines. There was a bit of a headache following, but nothing too terrible. At first, I thought I had a tumor on my optical nerve. Peace.

It does not surprise me that your neuro doesn't know why. First of all, migraines are very complicated creatures and sometimes there is no one, quick or easy answer. Secondly, my neuro came right out and said he doesn't know why, he doesn't care why, it's impossible to figure out why and I shouldn't worry about why! Keep reading and you will find out how much I disagree with that statement but it is often the case with most doctors. They fact is they aren't really trained to find out "why". They are trained to ascertain the problem, make a diagnosis, and perscribe a drug to cover up the symptom of the problem.

Personally, I have optical migraines and a more severe kind of migraine a neurologist labeled "acephalgic" or "without pain" (but personally I think they are more hemiplegic (i think that's the right term) and have a history of classic migraines also. With the classic there are c shaped aura's that come just before very intense pain, severe nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. With the optical migraines I get a flash of light that pierces my vision- kind of like a shooting star. My response is usually- oh, that was interesting and life goes on with out any pain or consequence. Sometimes I can get them several times a day, week, month or sometimes I can go without them for a few months. The acephalgic migraines (assuming the diagnosis is accurate) may or may not have a precursor of some kind including little zips of numbness in my nose, on my scalp, or a certain little spot below my chest and near my rib cage but most commonly begins with a severe rush of dizziness followed by partial or total paralysis. I am "awake" in my mind and aware of what's going on but completely unable to respond to any stimulus. Then gradually I will regain everything lost. In the meantime, there is slurred speech, ataxia, and some other strange symptoms I don't understand. Sometimes I get EVERYTHING and sometimes my symptoms exclude most of the above- I just never know. It has been incredibly debilitating since when it started I was having several a week and sometimes several a day. Orgasm, unfortunately, is also a trigger. Ever pass out lying down? Very weird... I did some research and found a link between electrolytes and osmotic pressure and the hormone ADH which is connected to vasopressin which is connected to the pituitary which releases hormones during and after orgasm. So, I started taking a supplement called "Trace-lyte" made by Natures Path Supplements. It seemed to help some episodes I had in my early 20's the neuro thinks were probably the same acephalgic migraine thing. Anyway, episodes have decreased to 2 or 3 a month possibly around my cycle so possibly just hormone related now. I have more work to do to figure out how to eliminate them entirely but... I should also mention that my neuro said diet wouldn't help me. I decided to cut out MSG and nitrates anyway. This means no bologna, hot dogs, ham, sausage, deli or lunch meat and reading labels carefully for MSG which is used as a flavor enhancer. (It really just makes you fat and addicted to food anyway so- once I realized how bad it was for everything else, I didn't want to eat it anymore anyway.) I had already been staying away from aspartame for a long time- that stuff could make anyone have trouble with just about any symptom you can think of so... I stick with good old fashioned sugar, honey, or blue agave nectar (tastes great in warm milk as a bedtime treat) and table salt or sea salt. Speaking of dairy, I did cut out dairy for a while but that didn't seem to be the trigger for me. Truthfully, maybe none of it is. I don't know if my improvement is because of my lifestyle change or purely coincidence but time will surely tell. While I'm waiting to figure that out, it can't hurt to get rid of the additives and stuff that's not good for you, right?

On chiropractic as a help... I absolutely believe in chiropractic. Find a good practitioner- I usually search for a Palmer or Parker graduate. Get adjusted regularly and you may find that it eliminates your migraines. Unfortunately for me, although I find it helpful, it hasn't gotten rid of them. So... if it doesn't work for you, keep getting adjusted as long as it feels good but look at other things because not all migraines are caused by muscle tension or spinal subluxations. In fact, if anyone comes to you and makes blanket statements like "all migraines come from ______" you can be sure they don't know what they're talking about or are misinformed.

BTW my neuro wanted me to take Topamax. I've heard that it can work really well but I've heard a lot of people complain about the exhaustion and depression they get from it. Apparently it's bad enough that a lot of people quit taking Topamax because of it but I wouldn't know because I parted ways with my neuro after telling him I didn't want to take it. (He didn't know what else to do for me if I didn't want to take drugs.)

My personal belief is that the migraines weren't there before and now they are; so, something changed and I need to figure out the root cause and approach it from that stand point. Drugs may work at the outset but eventually the side effects will catch up with you through disease in a different part of the body- like your liver or kidney or some other sickness or symptom. I have experienced this personally and seen it happen over and over. Even doctors will admit that often one person will have to take 2 drugs to combat the side effects of the first drug and on and on the cycle goes. I believe in my body's ability to heal itself given the right circumstances. Now, I'm trying to find out what those circumstances are that may be out of balance. It's amazing what you can heal with nutrition. That philosophy isn't readily accepted in the medical community, I realize but- since when is truth defined by what is merely acceptable? The truth is that the FDA says that only a drug is qualified to cure any disease. Does that mean that I have to take drugs to cure my sniffles? heal a paper cut? recover from the flu? You and I both know that if you wash your hands and leave a paper cut alone your body will heal that cut without you even having to think about it. And the same amazing power in your body that can heal the paper cut also can help you recover from the flu, fight the sniffles, and even restore the lost balance from strange migraines.

So, all I'm saying is, don't sell your gut feeling short if your not comfortable with what your doctor has to tell you about treatment. Get yourself educated about how medications work and what the side effects are. Make an informed decision and then, if your choice isn't working out well, don't be afraid to stop and try something else.

May your journey for Truth and Healing be blessed.

I have a feeling in my head i dont know if this is the "aura" everyone talks about but it almost feels as if my thoughts dont process through, mymind almost seizes up on me my neck and back gets tense. There is no pain when this happens just an uncomfortable feeling

I also get the visual auras and have taken Topamax for several years.  If I get up and turn on the lights, I will see quite a light show of squiggles and spots early in the mornings despite the Topamax, and also the squiggles and spots can be triggered by the dashboard lights in my car at night.

Several years ago, after an MRI, a neuro put me on the Topamax and told me that I was very fortunate to have a mechanism that shuts off before I start getting the pain of the migraine.

I have them as well, and they can be disturbing I know! I have had them now going on four years or so and I'm on Topamax which pretty much keeps them at bay, although every morning I seem to wake up and I see quite a light show which is odd and its caused by the Topamax since when I went off of it for a time I didn't have that effect.  Anyone have this with Topamax?

If you have had testing done and nothing has been found, it is probably just occulars, but if they become too frequent be careful because I have had a couple while driving and trying to park my car at a gas station which was an experience! That is what made me get back on the Topamax.

Twenty minutes sounds about right, with the zigzags etc and I get the pressure behind the right side of my eye, with it sometimes becoming red and a bit of nausea, but nothing like the horrible pain of a regular migraine.

If you are bothered often you may want to talk to your doctor.

Thank goodness others have auras without migraine! I still feel so alone with this issue. I am 58 and have auras since age 20 when I took birth control pills. Until the last year I had auras maybe once or twice a year. Mow I am having them 2-6 times a week. Reasons unknown to 2 different neurologist - one specializing in migraines. I have had MRI for my head and neck and a CT scan. I have had acupuncture - made them worse, chiropractor - didn't make a difference, eliminated artificial sweeteners, eliminated upper body weight training. I am now going to go to meditation , food sensitivity testing, EFT, and whatever other ideas someone else there has. I am so dam depressed because I want answers. i worry about increase risk of stroke - but they tell me EVERYONE with any kind of migraines has that risk. I'm in great shape, exercise, eat very well, take supplements - but am soooo stressed. Anyone out there have a similiar story - I beg you to contact me!!!

It's good to know I'm not alone. Today I had the migraine "aura" with no pain. It is exactly what everyone describes, a C shape on the right side with jagged blue, green, black and silver edges, the center field of vision blurry. Very psychedelic.

I know this is a migraine because I suffered severe ones when a teen going through puberty, (those were with a full blown headache, nausea, etc). I had none for many years, (they stopped after I started drinking coffee, I am a BIG coffee drinker, which helps). 14 years later, I just had the aura, no pain after the birth of my first child in the hospital, (after exerting myself). I am now post-menopausal and have had 3 migraine aura episodes with no pain in the last few months.

This has to be hormone related. There is no other explanation for me anyway. These auras only occur when major hormonal changes are happening to me. My solution- avoid exerting yourself, avoid drastic changes in light. Drink a really strong cup of coffee if one starts to come on, then it goes away.

Hi new to this forum aura no headache girl with spasticity girl here.

Hi, I am so glad I found this site! I have the aura's too. Im 28 and have had them for about 10 years now maybe longer. They are disturbing and scary. I havent been diagnosed yet i just have been living with them. I get them with no headache or a small one 30 minutes later. I just had one about an hour ago..and one 2 days before that. I have noticed they do seem to come right before my cycle any weather change coming which we have a strong cold front coming through tomorrow and to fluorescent lights which I got to work at 7pm and the office is full of fluorescent lights and the aura began about an hour after being here now with a slight headache. I have also noticed my legs have been cramping and they were cramping 2 days ago when i had that one..could be some kind of link together..Low potassium or dehydrated which im really bad about never drinking water. Glad i am not alone though!