Weirdness at 28 weeks

[velcro]

Hi, I was wondering if any of you had ever experienced anything like this....

Last Saturday evening I started seeing lights flashing in front of my eyes and they got so thick that I couldn't see clearly to the other side of the room. They died down after about 30 minutes. An hour later my husband was talking to me and I realised that I didn't understand a word he said, and got the attack of the hysterical giggles. My lips and fingers were tingling like mad. I had the best night sleep I've had in ages (which was lovely) but felt the next morning as if the connections in my brain weren't firing properly.

The hospital, when I called them (took 4 attempts because I couldn't see the phone number or the dial pad properly and my dh was on the phone to my mum prepping her to come up and look after our ds's) told me to take a couple of paracetamol and lie down. I had preeclampsia with ds2 and thought they would have had me come in.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[GingerbreadFolk]

Classical migraine.

I'd get checked out anyway but I have classical migraines where I get weird flashing lights and blind spots, tingly extremeties and numb fingers.

When pg and shortly after having dd it also affected my speech and reasoning. I couldn't form words or understand logic, couldn't count. It all passed after sleep but felt 'cotton woolly' afterwards.

For me it was dehydration and low blood sugar that triggered it.

I'd see somebody to be on the safe side because it can be other things too but it's a typical classical migraine.

[velcro]

that's what my mother thought too Gingerbread but I haven't had a migraine in fifteen years. The lights were different - they used to be blind spots or (and this is the only way I can describe the effect) they looked like Klingon Warbirds cloaked in Startrek (sorry). I also used to get numb fingers and tongue, as well as supersensitive hearing but would always throw up at a certain point, sleep and wake up feeling fine.

I'm still seeing stars, but only the flashing pin prick ones at odd times like when shaving my armpits.

I've got a midwife's appointment tomorrow so I'll let her know what happened.

[MonicaMoniker]

I had this too and it was hormone-related migraine, worse at the beginning & end of pregnancy. Goes without saying that you should get BP etc checked of course to rule out pre-eclampsia.

[GingerbreadFolk]

I rarely get migraines but had more, and different from normal, whilst pregnant.

[bearcrumble]

It does sound like a migraine to me as well but it is always worth getting your blood pressure checked and a urine test to see if there's any protein because you have a higher chance of having pre eclampsia this time if you've had it before.

How often are they checking your BP? It should be at least every fortnight if you have a history of pre eclampsia. I have to say, I'm a bit surprised they didn't ask you to go in and get checked over.

[velcro]

If it was a migraine, I'm more than happy for them to start up again if they are going to be like that one! No pain at all.

They've been checking my blood pressure every time I have had a midwife's appointment which hasn't been that regularly so far, but I guess that will change as the weeks roll by. My blood pressure is incredibly low anyway (as it was the last time until the preeclampsia hit)

Thanks for the answers, you've put my and my dh's minds to rest.

[katnkittens]

I had exactly the same in my last pregnancy, really strange and scary but came out of nowhere.

I never had anymore episodes and mw didn't seem too concerned.

A while after I had dd the flashing lights thing came back and I was diagnosed with migraines but I dont get them very often.

[difficultdecision]

focal migraine. (focal not classical because of the tingling) you need to see your GP anyway because it is a change in your usual pattern (ie you haven't had them for a while) but they are really common in pregnancy - I've only had 10 in my life and 7 were when I was pregnant or breast feeding and let your midwife know as they may want to spot check your BP and urine ( I would) to be on the safe side re preclampsia.

[GingerbreadFolk]

Interesting, my gp was insistent that it was a classical migraine, says it in my notes and everything.

Don't suppose it matters as I'm never going to be pg again so hopefully won't have migraines like that again.

The no pain bit is very weird. I didn't enjoy it, I found it terrifying!

[fairimum]

have to say when I had this without pain it was severe rapid on set pre-eclampsia - go get bp checked asap even if just to put your mind at rest! I went from the lights to organ failure in 3 days and they had to get baby out and I was in ICU for a week!

[velcro]

well BP is raised but only a bit, still they are going to monitor me every 2 weeks & sent off lots of bloods and urine for tests.

[fernie3]

I had some of these symptoms with preeclampsia BEFORE I saw a sustained increase in blood pressure, flashing lights only though about a week before. BUT I also get anxiety attacks which follow the EXACT same pattern you described (apart from flashing lights). especially the confusion and tingly feeling and feeling a little out of control laughing giggling etc. I have no idea what happened to you but I would keep an eye on it.

when you phone up you can ask them if its ok for you to come in for a quick check. If you explain to them you are worried and that you WANT to go to be checked then in my experience they are always happy to see you even if it ends up being for nothing. So if you want to be checker just tell them rather than waiting for them to invite you in