Aura migraine - does anyone experience these?

[Dustmaiden]

I’ve suffered with aura migraines since pregnant with my son, 18 years ago. My mum gets them too and occasionally so does my sister.

I’ve always put them down to being a hormonal thing as they started in pregnancy then after I’d always get them on the 3rd day of my period.

However, 18 months ago I had a uterine ablation and an iron infusion and haven’t had one since so thought that had ‘cured’ me.

To my absolute dismay (and panic as they scare the life out of me). I’ve just had one come on. Classic weird blind spot which turns into a flashing zig zag which arches across my vision which lasts around half hour then fades leaning me with a mild headache and weird, shaky spaced out feeling.

Of course, me having health anxiety im
now panicking why they would disappear for a year?

Yes same here. Mine started after my second child, sometimes I get a tingling on one side of my face and arm/hands. I've had migraines that made the right side of my face drops slightly and my words jumbled (although this hasn't happened for a while).
I can usually tell if I'm going to get one because my head feels like cotton wool and I get really snappy with everyone.

I’ve only ever had them a few times, but I get regular migraines all the time. Interesting everyone is saying they are hormonal. My migraines definitely are. I remember one that I got when I was driving home and it was scary as it got worse I couldn’t see properly.

mine have never had any pain. Like not even the slightest headache.

@junbean, this is really interesting as I've been having another spate of migraines recently and am sure I must have had covid recently (the last time I had a similar spate was following it).
Can I ask how / why you got referred? I have just had my 5th migraine in a month (horrible aura, kaleidoscope type thing, and although headache not too bad it completely drains me). Am wondering if there's any point in going to the GP - I have private medical insurance with my work so it would be interesting to hear who you got referred to, to see if I could get the same.
The other thing I find after an attack is that I'm freezing cold for the rest of the day - anyone else?

@Dustmaiden possibly. Before kids I used to get them when I was tired or stressed. But never with aura. I was getting migraines without aura during my period. I should probably keep a diary really.

I used to have them but not often,

Had them fairly frequently when I was on microgynon, a type of contraceptive pill - i had to come off that for that reason.

Have only had them v rarely since.

I'm in the US so I'm not sure if our processes are the same. I went to my GP and they referred me to the specialist. I might have even asked "Can I see a neurologist please." It's really important to see a specialist though, because they are so knowledgeable with medications, drug interactions, dosages, side effects, etc. There's so many options for migraine treatment. Mine is helping me with the accompanying nausea as well as nerve pain, fainting and tinnitus - all Covid related as well. They've helped me more than any other doctor. I think no matter where you live you have to keep pushing, asking, and advocating for yourself. Too often GPs make decisions based on cost instead of what we need. I have found that specialists are much less likely to do that. Also, I have also noticed the cold thing, so wonder if it has something to do with blood flow or nerves. Hope this helps and good luck getting help/info!

So funny to find this thread here this evening. Just getting over one now .Came on after work after a very full and stressful day. Lots of weird pixelation and eclipses / lights in my vision. No pain really. Brought on by stress in my case

So interesting to hear all of these experiences. I'd never suffered before, but after having two DC in my early 30s, the Aura Migraine hit with a vengeance!

Mine present with a Zorro-like zig zig of blurred vision, which takes over until I can't see at all. Usually much worse in one eye.

I once wiped out in John Lewis with one of these, and took a whole display down with me. They were very lovely about it!

Mine were definitely linked to hormones. Had many tests up to and including a brain scan.

Happy to say that now I'm fully peri, I haven't had one for a couple of years! (Silver linings, etc).

OP - sorry not to add any useful advice, but I feel your worry, and would also be freaked out if they started happening again. I hope it's a short lived thing for you this time.

I get them probably once every 6 weeks often more frequently , I’m post menopause and never stressed so no idea what triggers them and they don’t bother me at all.

I have them and I have no idea what triggers them.
I also suffered from abdominal migraines as a toddler and I believe there's a connection.

I’ve gotten them only while pregnant. Aura but no headache. It’s so strange.

I have them roughly once every month I'd say. Always at the most inconvenient times too.

My first symptoms is wobbly vision. Then I get a numb mouth.

It's actually horrible.

Yup.

I've had 2 in my life.

Last one was 2020 during Covid when my grandpa passed. Lasted 3 days.

I got sumatriptan from the GP that really helped.

I also have health anxiety and lived alone at the time. Was truly awful.

I’ve had them since I was about 9. Flashing zig zag light, not being able to see properly, talking and making no sense, pins and needles everywhere even on my tongue, feeling completely spaced out. The consultant I saw as a child thought they were hormone related but that to progressed to me getting them after stressful events had concluded, which still seems to be the case now - although they do still happen randomly. The only thing that stops them in their tracks is taking 3 paracetamol as soon as I notice that thjngs don’t look right. I’ve tried different medications over the years but this and sleeping for an hour is the only thing that works for me.

I get them very regularly every month without fail. I think they are hormone related, usually get them before ovulation or before period, however, my dad, mum and brother all get them so maybe it’s hereditary!
I’ve just had a spell of 10 over 12 days and they knocked me for six. Always with aura in one eye that lasts for 30 minutes (I can literally time it) and then headache over the opposite eye. Following day, it swaps over and aura in the other eye and headache on opposite side etc. I also feel that the aura is the scariest part.
Seen several GP’s and they don’t seem concerned, tried triptans but they made me feel worse. I manage them with paracetamol and ibuprofen and try to destress as much as I can (which is difficult in itself!).

Hi, I've had those since my teens, I've still never fathomed a trigger or cause, I went years without chocolate only to work out it wasn't that. Recently I didn't have one for about 5 years then had 3 in a month ! Then none again for two years? I do think magnesium helps so I but the best multivitamin I can. I have found because I don't know the cause the fear of getting one is almost as bad as the event, for example recently on a kind of day long interview group thing I was thinking please not today please not now! I do keep an immigran tablet on my person at all times, I do find if I swallow one as soon as the vision goes I don't get the crippling headache. Good luck anyway

I get them too. Haven’t rtft so apologies if this has already been said, but fyi there are certain hormonal birth control pills you mustn’t take if you get an aura - I think the combined pill. It’s because people will aura are at increased risk of stroke if they take these pills. Double check with GP if you need advice.

I suffer from very strong normal migraines and from time to time from aura migraines.

Consudering the pain, sickness and shaking that comes with a normal migraine, I see the aura migraines as something I need to wait for it to pass while sitting at the sofa with a cup of tea.

My aura migraines started in pregnancy, I always thought they may be related to high blood pressure as I had preclampsia but they have continue abd my blood pressure is fine.

I get the freezing thing too. I usually have a hot sweat when it first happens (think that may be panic) then am icy cold after, even in the middle of the summer.

Hope you are feeling better today Spybot

Whoknowswhatanymore aww that sounds awful, hope you get some longer term relief from them soon. I once had an aura for a whole day. It completely freaked me out. They are such a weird experience and definitely hereditary my mum and sister have them and my two dc get them sometimes too.

Timspam I understand that fear of worrying when they will strike. Yesterdays came out of the blue so now I’m going to stress when will the next one come? When I’m at work again? When I’m driving? Urgh!

MiniMaxi there is a risk, albeit small, I was told many years ago that I couldn’t take the combined pill. I’m 50 now and need to try hrt but worried about the possible risks but GP is unsure.

I've had regular aura migraines since I was in my teens (I'm early 50s now). Mine seem to be triggered by a combination of things (like other posters have said) but the main triggers involve stress and a change in sleeping patterns (so usually lack of sleep for a few days but I can't just have an early night as the change in pattern can also be a trigger, grr).

How often I get them varies but on average 1-2 month but I have gone 6 months occasionally without them. I used amitriptyline for a year and that really helped prevent them but I was advised to stop taking it by my local menopause clinic so I'm back to migraines again. Last week I had 3 in 3 days, which is a lifetime record and utterly miserable.

I take over the counter meds called Midrid as soon as the aura starts and that really helps sometimes (not always unfortunately). It means I can still function although I feel rough but at least I don't have to lock myself in a dark room feeling sick until it goes away. I can't take triptans because I'm on ADHD meds.

I had my first one in my 40's (I'm in my 50's now) at work one day and was terrified something was seriously wrong! I'd never heard of them before that. I have no idea what triggers them. They did get more frequent when I needed new glasses but other than that I don't know. Mine aren't that bad in that the zig zag thing is annoying but I don't get any pain or other negative effects. Mine are relatively infrequent. Maybe 3 or 4 a year.

I had my first one in March this year, while driving, a circular zig zig thing in my right eye that gradually got bigger and bigger, was still there when I closed my eye, I've had two since. No pain just the visual disturbance. I'm 51

Mine were definitely hormone related, but often in conjunction with stress, dehydration etc. I've only had one since the menopause. The next day, or sometimes two, I would decidedly out of sorts- a bit like a hangover. A colleague had heard about tragus piercing as a preventative. At the time she was having them once a week, if not more. After the piercing she hardly ever gets them.

As well as stress mine seemed to be triggered by bright sunshine. But have only had about 1 since menopause, so about 1 in 4 years