They are very difficult I have been dealing with them for 5 years but the colours and patterns after are getting worse ,I have been to my GP the hospital ,paid to see a Neaurologist as o just want to know what the colours and patterns are don't seen to be able to get an answer ,just given an auto epileptic drug to take for migraine which I must say o am very worried about taking ,but I do want this to stop.
Hi I have ocular migraines ,and lots of patterns and colours after them for about a week ,does anyone else experience this crazy visual disturbance ,also just been given Topiramate Milpharm by my GP to take anyone taking this and is it OK?
Hello @honeysuckle4, and welcome to the Headache/Migraine support group on Mayo Connect.
It sounds like your visual disturbances, following your migraines, are difficult. How long have you been dealing with ocular migraines? Are these visual disturbances new to you?
Hi I have ocular migraines ,and lots of patterns and colours after them for about a week ,does anyone else experience this crazy visual disturbance ,also just been given Topiramate Milpharm by my GP to take anyone taking this and is it OK?
Hi I have ocular migraines ,and lots of patterns and colours after them for about a week ,does anyone else experience this crazy visual disturbance ,also just been given Topiramate Milpharm by my GP to take anyone taking this and is it OK?
I've gotten them without apparent triggers since my right temple side cluster headaches ceased. The auras have mostly been without headaches since August of 2013. I have recorded them in my Headache Journal. Occasionally the head pain has been fierce. One time enough to go to the ER because I was totally debilitated when the pain would not go away. Another time when I took 11 ibuprofen over a period of 4 hours in an effort to make the pain stop. My PCP was quite concerned about that but I told her it was not likely to happen again. They generally seem to begin when I am sitting calmly and notice the aura and blind spot primarily right-sided but occasionally left. I can go for months between them and then it will be several in a week. Headaches are such a mystery, it is no wonder there has not been more interest in the Why of what causes them.
I've had them since I was 20! I am 68 now. I never knew other people had them or what they were called. Mine are like described above. A kind of chevron vibrating pattern that comes on and blocks out a portion of my vision. It takes about 25 minutes to come on and then another 25 minutes to dissolve. It used to scare the crap out of me. Most times I was alone and not driving. I used to fear getting them with people, and while driving. I would get them every so often over my life. Haven't had one recently. My optometrist told me one day what it was. He said it happens from a big swing (drop) in blood pressure. I noticed that the days/mornings when it happened, the night before, I might have been excited about something or stressed out. Years later, I noticed that after the aura I would be light sensitive for the day. And even further down the line, a light headache. The part where I would be "blinded" (is that the scotoma?) for maybe 15 minutes really scared me. I was lucky I was always somewhere I could wait it out safely!
Scotoma refers to the "cut outs' in vision that often occur to me when a migraine is beginning, as well as the surreal feeling experienced as symptoms compound. For all the years l have had the whole recorded symptoms of migraine, l can tell when one is on the way. If l am driving, l start to see changing blurry spots in my vision that jump around. It gives me enough time to pull over and either wait things out or call someone to drive me home. This doesn't o happen too often, the main take away is we "Migraineurs" get pretty good at assessing when we are about to have an episode. Bright sunlight can be a trigger but not always. That's been the struggle over the years. I can identify common triggers but they don't always cause an episode. I've learned to take a preventative approach. Eg get enough sleep, avoid constipation, bright lights, esp. Fluorescent, certain foods, alcohol ( a vaso-dilator) stress and on and on. Many episodes l have had are exactly like a TIA, Transient Ischemic Attack or 'mini-stroke' which includes parasthiesia of half my face, arm, fingets and tongue. That's a challenge as one gets older, if symtoms last and also include paralysis, weakness and drooping of one side, often the left, then it very well could be something more than migraine and warrants a trip to the ER. Take good care and know that you are not alone. Between my opthamologist, neurologist and family doc l've been getting good monitoring and care. Err on the side of caution with the symptamatology and have understanding medical help. Stay the course.
Hi jeff,
Just to let you know you're not alone as I have very similar symptoms; starts of as a disturbance of vision just off centre, might just be like a few flickering pixels! and I know I'm in for an Aura!! Mine starts to get bigger into, quite often a C, of spectral flashing zigzag which gets bigger and bigger, leaving a blind spot in the middle of the C, which gradually moves to the peripheral of the visual field and disappears, this takes 20~30 minutes. No headaches, sometimes a muggy feeling for a few hours afterwards. I've had mine since I was 30, I'm now 64. Often related to fatigue and/or stress, but other times no obvious cause. I get about 10 or 12 a year, but not regular, can go several months without one then, out of blue I get one, like today!!, Last one was back in April, I've had 6 so far this year. Last year was x10, a few years ago it was x3. I keep a diary on the calendar. 46 in the past 8 years or 46 in 2920 days!! I've never found anything to suppress them, nor have I found any obvious triggers, I've kept a food diary, fluid diary, no triggers, I've tried various pressure point exercises I've read about and nothing shortens that 30 minutes!! When explaining to others what I experience I have found a few useful videos on you tube, I won't post direct links, but one is titled "Migraine Visual Aura" by the MAYO clinic, its not identical but its similar, there was a better one but I can no longer find it! perhaps I should have booked marked it"!! Anyway, i thought I'd just share with you my experiences.
Very similar history. Mine are wavy lines and gold rings around the eyeballs. Neuros say they’re no big deal but of course they don’t have them. I know bright and flashing lights trigger mine, as well as nightshade vegetables, soy and aspartame. Summertime is worse.
I take gabapentin and Vimpat for seizures and tremors and they control my headaches a lot. I have 10 different kinds which have developed over 60 years—frontal, migraine with aura, temporal, sinus, orbital, cluster, “sledgehammer” on top of my head, “ice pick” through both of my temples, “burning match” in the middle of my brain and “boot” to the back of my head at the neck. Nothing was controlling these and the pain was unbearable until I went on those 2 meds together after I tried other meds. Sometimes I have to add the Excedrin equivalent (caffeine, aspirin and acetaminophen) if lying in a dark room doesn’t help. It is what it is
Could have been from shingles virus but also out of country in December and had optical pain while snorkeling. Was told it can take six week for an infection or "flare" to present symptoms which does correlate to being out of the country during that time.
Could have been from shingles virus but also out of country in December and had optical pain while snorkeling. Was told it can take six week for an infection or "flare" to present symptoms which does correlate to being out of the country during that time.
Similar story. Severe migraine age 12, cont'd throughout life. Feb 2025 had been bent over, stood up & became VERY dizzy which progressed to nausea, light sensitivity to ill to move, very bp & taken by ambulance to ER; stayed overnight. Initially thought is was ear crystals out of place, vertigo. After several appts for heart, stroke, bp, mri's wwo dye, brain scans & meds that made me too sleepy to function; no longer taking. 1 ENT & 2 Nuerologist: ENT performed VNG = diagnosed 81% damage to left side of vestibular nerve. 2 nuerologists: The "auroa" is the migraine. Was given "rescue" migraine meds episodes of the aura. Don't take the daily meds. 6 months later still dizzy but not as bad, difficulty with visual/image convergence & images jumping. Turning head to a full left/right triggers major dizzy. PT rehab gave multiple exercises to retrain the brain to compensate for the damage. For me - the full left/right head turns are the ones that force brain to relearn/compensate. Was told to start slow allowing vision to catch up then gradually increase speed. The nuerologist also said you can have headaches "migrain storms aka electric shocks" that begin at the brain stem upward to the optical, the storms can also go under the brainstem. Many variations of the "storm" - silent migraines. Barometric pressure drop also triggers dizzy days. Hope this helps. See ENT for VNG testing.
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They are very difficult I have been dealing with them for 5 years but the colours and patterns after are getting worse ,I have been to my GP the hospital ,paid to see a Neaurologist as o just want to know what the colours and patterns are don't seen to be able to get an answer ,just given an auto epileptic drug to take for migraine which I must say o am very worried about taking ,but I do want this to stop.
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1 ReactionHello @honeysuckle4, and welcome to the Headache/Migraine support group on Mayo Connect.
It sounds like your visual disturbances, following your migraines, are difficult. How long have you been dealing with ocular migraines? Are these visual disturbances new to you?
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1 ReactionHi, @honeysuckle4. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Having a visual disturbance like that would be tough.
Here is some Mayo Clinic information on the drug topiramate that may be useful:
- Topiramate (oral route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/topiramate-oral-route/description/drg-20067047#drug-side-effects
Hoping that here in this discussion you can connect with other members talking about ocular migraines and that they will give you any thoughts on Topiramate Milpharm. Please meet @milliemae @esikora @californiazebra @lakesofdelray @lakelifelady @pacer3702 @lacy2.
With the patterns and colors after the ocular migraines for about a week, are you able to still get around and do things at all?
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2 ReactionsHi I have ocular migraines ,and lots of patterns and colours after them for about a week ,does anyone else experience this crazy visual disturbance ,also just been given Topiramate Milpharm by my GP to take anyone taking this and is it OK?
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1 ReactionI've gotten them without apparent triggers since my right temple side cluster headaches ceased. The auras have mostly been without headaches since August of 2013. I have recorded them in my Headache Journal. Occasionally the head pain has been fierce. One time enough to go to the ER because I was totally debilitated when the pain would not go away. Another time when I took 11 ibuprofen over a period of 4 hours in an effort to make the pain stop. My PCP was quite concerned about that but I told her it was not likely to happen again. They generally seem to begin when I am sitting calmly and notice the aura and blind spot primarily right-sided but occasionally left. I can go for months between them and then it will be several in a week. Headaches are such a mystery, it is no wonder there has not been more interest in the Why of what causes them.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionScotoma refers to the "cut outs' in vision that often occur to me when a migraine is beginning, as well as the surreal feeling experienced as symptoms compound. For all the years l have had the whole recorded symptoms of migraine, l can tell when one is on the way. If l am driving, l start to see changing blurry spots in my vision that jump around. It gives me enough time to pull over and either wait things out or call someone to drive me home. This doesn't o happen too often, the main take away is we "Migraineurs" get pretty good at assessing when we are about to have an episode. Bright sunlight can be a trigger but not always. That's been the struggle over the years. I can identify common triggers but they don't always cause an episode. I've learned to take a preventative approach. Eg get enough sleep, avoid constipation, bright lights, esp. Fluorescent, certain foods, alcohol ( a vaso-dilator) stress and on and on. Many episodes l have had are exactly like a TIA, Transient Ischemic Attack or 'mini-stroke' which includes parasthiesia of half my face, arm, fingets and tongue. That's a challenge as one gets older, if symtoms last and also include paralysis, weakness and drooping of one side, often the left, then it very well could be something more than migraine and warrants a trip to the ER. Take good care and know that you are not alone. Between my opthamologist, neurologist and family doc l've been getting good monitoring and care. Err on the side of caution with the symptamatology and have understanding medical help. Stay the course.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionVery similar history. Mine are wavy lines and gold rings around the eyeballs. Neuros say they’re no big deal but of course they don’t have them. I know bright and flashing lights trigger mine, as well as nightshade vegetables, soy and aspartame. Summertime is worse.
I take gabapentin and Vimpat for seizures and tremors and they control my headaches a lot. I have 10 different kinds which have developed over 60 years—frontal, migraine with aura, temporal, sinus, orbital, cluster, “sledgehammer” on top of my head, “ice pick” through both of my temples, “burning match” in the middle of my brain and “boot” to the back of my head at the neck. Nothing was controlling these and the pain was unbearable until I went on those 2 meds together after I tried other meds. Sometimes I have to add the Excedrin equivalent (caffeine, aspirin and acetaminophen) if lying in a dark room doesn’t help. It is what it is
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1 ReactionHello @swalsh57
Welcome to Connect. I see that your migraine flare might be from the Shingles virus. How long ago did you have Shingles?
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1 ReactionCould have been from shingles virus but also out of country in December and had optical pain while snorkeling. Was told it can take six week for an infection or "flare" to present symptoms which does correlate to being out of the country during that time.
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1 ReactionMust have been so frightening. What did they say caused the damage to tbe vestibular nerve?