I experienced it twice or three times and while it is not absolutely awful it’s very annoying.. I don’t know what caused them and haven’t had one for a while 🤞 my GP sent me for a brain scan and thankfully it didn’t show anything, sorry I can’t be more helpful
This is not terribly relevant but fascinating I heard a designer (can’t remember his name) saying he experienced aura migraines frequently and used the patterns in his designs!
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.
Had since I was about age 12 and am now 79. Very scary for a child and in those days just given an Aspirin! As others have said, starts off with tiny "blind spot" in my vision; then the dreaded neon bright semi circle of varioius sizes of ZzzxZZxxxZ zig-zags joined together and moving - can see them with eyes closed. Tiny semi circle and it gets bigger and wider over about 20 minutes. When a child an young adult then would get the one-side of head very bad headache which would last various times sometimes hours, then I would vomit and be OK. As a young adult got then with similar symptoms for no known reason but the vomitting stopped. STill had the vision and bad headache even while raising two children/ working - out of the blue! I dont recall what age exactly but about my mid thirties I started having the Aura but not the bad headaches - so vision affected and had to leave work, couldnt drive, read etc., bed and cold cloth over eyes and its been the same every since thankfully (as have enough other things to deal with) - last year about 15 and 21 year before, but am sometimes coming out of the vision back to normal and then get another right after; also, ovr the last five years am getting a bit of forgetfulness right after - eg I suddenly couldnt remember my close neighbours names; another time my doctors names; etc. I contacted neurologist and he said over phone dont worry about it but its upsetting.. although now happening so often I know I do get memory of those things back in about an hour. One thing - early 20s DR gave me Cafergot-ph as getting the headaches too and I only took a pill or two and didnt help much and one day took the day's quota and couldnt get awake and up to go to work! My girls were young and got themselves off to school and my boss came knocking at my door to find out if i was ok!! April 2021 I did have a strange spell wont go into and found out many months later was small stroke but doesnt fit in with anyting to do with my migraines. Also 2018 told I have narrow angle glaucoma and have had iridotomies so have no idea if a connection. Of course wish didnt have then but when I read or hear of how much worse they are for many people I try and just get through them, but always feel a bid odd after. Cold cloth and a Tylenol until they go away until the next one...no doctor has ever been keenly interested in pursuing with tests etc. I suffer from anxiety so now for me the worst thing is imagining those flashing spikes wont go away!!!! (I also have had laser to both eyes re vitreous; and left with floaters in both eyes/presume separate from Migraines - very dry eyes and Glaucoma drops.... and once in a while tiny bright spots like miniature Comets go across my vision - a bit scary I must admit). Best wishes to all fellow sufferers! J.
After reading this I could put my name on it. Migraine w/aura started at 13, and around 40 turned into Silent Migraine and continues today at 68. I average visual auras weekly, lasting about 45 minutes. Over the years have tried everything from supplements to meds. No real changes. Have never tried any of the new meds out today though. Just another visual aura sufferer.
I was diagnosed at age 12 by a neurologist with 'Classic Migraine' which included aura and scotoma. That was over 50 years ago. Yes you can absolutely have symptoms without the actual headache. Feels surreal at times. Tbe trick is to weather it out.
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!
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.
I’m 67 and except for keeping records of when they occur, our story is almost identical. The first time I had one, I was playing the piano and my vision was gone in the center. I have the zigzag that takes 20-30 minutes to move to my peripheral vision which is altered now due to glaucoma. I went to a neurologist years ago and he said these attacks are silent migraines and then said I should be very glad they are “silent” so I just sit down and wait for the visual disturbance to end. I have had a few recently, but sometimes go a year without one. Thank you for sharing.
A new twist last week - vestibular migraine with aura, no headache, AND dizzy to the point of not being able to walk. I had to go to a physical therapist for vestibular excercises.
Im better but stll not 100%z
Will share and maybe some never heard things will jump out. At age 13 had my first migraine aura w/headache. The standard kind, the visual aura lasting 45 minutes, followed by headache. Averaged about 4 a year. Started increasing in frequency at age 30 and at age 40 was hit daily in the spring, but all of a sudden I noticed no more headache following the visual aura. Went to a Chicago specialist and after all the tests, I had Silent Migraines (visual aura w/o headache). That has lasted to my current age of 68 and they happen weekly on average. My twist in the story is about every 3 years for the last 15 years, I would get flashes in my vision, like the old camera flash bulbs going off. This would leave a spot in my visual field for a few days, but slowly fade away. But on about 5 occasions, that flash was more severe, and while the bright spot faded, the vision has not come back. So I have about 5 small blind spots in my visual field. I pray there are no more. Fyi-In 2018 a friend set up neurological and ophthalmic appts with UW Hospitals in Madison, WI where over 2 days they did every test/scan known, to rule out small strokes, blockages, etc, and all came back clean. In fact they said at the time, if they didn't know I was in my 60's, they would think they are looking at a 40 year old brain. I told them, that's because it's hardly been used! 😀 There is my life of migraines which has also produced GAD, or vice versa. I wish everyone the best!!
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I forgot to add that my doctor prescribed Zomig and said to take one immediately when I felt one coming on… they seem to work well
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2 ReactionsThis is not terribly relevant but fascinating I heard a designer (can’t remember his name) saying he experienced aura migraines frequently and used the patterns in his designs!
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3 ReactionsHi 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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsAfter reading this I could put my name on it. Migraine w/aura started at 13, and around 40 turned into Silent Migraine and continues today at 68. I average visual auras weekly, lasting about 45 minutes. Over the years have tried everything from supplements to meds. No real changes. Have never tried any of the new meds out today though. Just another visual aura sufferer.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI was diagnosed at age 12 by a neurologist with 'Classic Migraine' which included aura and scotoma. That was over 50 years ago. Yes you can absolutely have symptoms without the actual headache. Feels surreal at times. Tbe trick is to weather it out.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI'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!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI’m 67 and except for keeping records of when they occur, our story is almost identical. The first time I had one, I was playing the piano and my vision was gone in the center. I have the zigzag that takes 20-30 minutes to move to my peripheral vision which is altered now due to glaucoma. I went to a neurologist years ago and he said these attacks are silent migraines and then said I should be very glad they are “silent” so I just sit down and wait for the visual disturbance to end. I have had a few recently, but sometimes go a year without one. Thank you for sharing.
A new twist last week - vestibular migraine with aura, no headache, AND dizzy to the point of not being able to walk. I had to go to a physical therapist for vestibular excercises.
Im better but stll not 100%z
Will share and maybe some never heard things will jump out. At age 13 had my first migraine aura w/headache. The standard kind, the visual aura lasting 45 minutes, followed by headache. Averaged about 4 a year. Started increasing in frequency at age 30 and at age 40 was hit daily in the spring, but all of a sudden I noticed no more headache following the visual aura. Went to a Chicago specialist and after all the tests, I had Silent Migraines (visual aura w/o headache). That has lasted to my current age of 68 and they happen weekly on average. My twist in the story is about every 3 years for the last 15 years, I would get flashes in my vision, like the old camera flash bulbs going off. This would leave a spot in my visual field for a few days, but slowly fade away. But on about 5 occasions, that flash was more severe, and while the bright spot faded, the vision has not come back. So I have about 5 small blind spots in my visual field. I pray there are no more. Fyi-In 2018 a friend set up neurological and ophthalmic appts with UW Hospitals in Madison, WI where over 2 days they did every test/scan known, to rule out small strokes, blockages, etc, and all came back clean. In fact they said at the time, if they didn't know I was in my 60's, they would think they are looking at a 40 year old brain. I told them, that's because it's hardly been used! 😀 There is my life of migraines which has also produced GAD, or vice versa. I wish everyone the best!!