tunnel vision, blind spots, tingling hands and migraine.

[ThatBigGermanPrison]

Last night, I think I had another migraine. I am now getting about one a month - they started in may. I've never had them before.

But what scares me is that for about 2 hours before the onset of the headache, my vision became so disturbed that I just couldn't see. I couldn't read, watch tv, and if I hadn't been at home I'd have struggled to get around. I had a great big blind spot on one eye and tunnel vision with flashy wiggles at the sides.

Can anything prevent or ease these visual disturbances? I am a single mum and my children are 5 and 2, it's not really safe for me to not be able to see! I was lucky last night as they were in bed, but the trigger seems to be exhaustion, which as you know isn't always avoidable!

[claricebeansmum]

Poor you

Migraine can take all sorts of forms and can be massively debilitating. There is nothing you can do to treat one specific sympton but you can get drugs from your doctor for migraine. The wonder drug which works for me and lots of other people is MaxMelt. It is wafer that melts on your tongue and works very well. I have weird migraines and these always work but they do make me very tired. I always sort out any childcare before taking one - they knock me out completely for a few hours.

Get an appointment with your doctor, explain your symptons and ask for the drugs.

And of course, avoid your triggers!

[saltire]

I get the visual disturbances for about 2/3 hours before the migraine kicks in. Although recently I've been getting the visual problems but no migraine.I get the full works though, blind spots, zigzag lines, flashing lights. It's very scary
Anyway, have you tried Migraleve? I've never used them as I have something on prescription, but I believe there are different coloured tablets, which yout ake at the first sign of a migraine forming and it's supposed to stop them in their tracks.
I think Migraleve is availiable on prescrpition as well, as it's about £4/5 in pharmacies.

[saltire]

OH, and my friend got Immigran, but she has to go to bed and lie down for at least 6 hours otherwise she can't function, she is like a zombie after taking them, so they might not be ideal for you.
I'd have a chat with your GP though, especially if you are getting them more frequently

[mrsgboring]

I have sumatriptan - I only need it in tablet form but my MIL has the nasal spray that works faster.

I find it doesn't remove the headache - it moves it downwards into my neck (it's really odd and feels like there is a brick on the back of my neck) but it clears my head and removes the visual symptoms and sickness. It's prescription only.

MIL also for a while took SSRI antidepressants which did stop the migraines occurring but she didn't tolerate the medication.

Consultant told her to take nurofen, a black coffee and go to sleep to clear a migraine and she finds this works quite well. (I can't take nurofen but do find coffee sometimes works, or sometimes comes straight back up)

[RubySlippers]

poor you - migraines are grim

have a look at this thread

i have got some wafers called Maxalt and they have reduced the severity and length of time of an attack

i take them as soon as i start to get the disturbances

[misi]

you probably have done but have you had you eyes checked thoroughly?
I had a client who suffered with migraines, I had forgotten to confirm she had had her eyes checked properly and I only asked if she had had an eye test, which she had but at spec savers and not one of the super duper ones you have with the drops etc.

turned out in the end that she had a problem not picked up usually, that when she was tired, something in the eye would stop working and cause visual probs which lead to migraine type head aches a few hours later. can't be more specific in what the problem was, she never told me exactly at the time and I moved soon after

[ThatBigGermanPrison]

I have had normal eye tests, and wear glasses, but my eyes were fine then.

[misi]

might be worth another check up to be safe and to rule it out maybe?

[BCNS]

another vote for maxmelt here.. also keep a log of what your eating/drinking and stress levels.. for a bit.. it might show up your triggers.

[Tippytoes]

I get this exactly as you described - had them for years on and off and more recently every month. I take immigran on prescription. If I take one straight away, it usually clears it within the hour and then a few hours later I get a 'slight' headache.

I have been expecting one all day today, as was up most of the night with dd - tiredness is one of the major things (apart from hormones!) that sets mine off.

[Tippytoes]

My dh recently had what he described as a migrain and has never had one before and he felt quite bad for a few hours - so even though I get them, I was quite scared that he had one.