Retinal migraines? Anyone had these?

[Auramigraine]

Hi all

First post here. Since my teens I have suffered with headaches, some mild, some severe etc. Anyways yesterday I was doing housework and was bent over for a good 5 mins clearing something off the floor when suddenly in the corner of my eye I was seeing wiggly lines, at first I thought what’s crawling around and stood up to see nothing there and realised it was coming from my eye. It lasted about 4-5 mins and then stopped. Terrifying. Looking up on nhs I’m convinced it was a retinal migraine as it only happened after bending over and nhs says that can cause it. Sod’s law it happened late afternoon when my opticians was closed and now with Xmas I assume will be closed until maybe end of next week so I plan to make an appointment ASAP.
Just wondered if anyone has any experiences of these :( I’m a little scared, also read they put you at higher risk of stroke which runs all through my dads family (he has 6 siblings and 5 have had stroke)
Im feeling a little worried today.

Yes, I get these. Only happens about 3 times a year but usually stress or sleep deprivation is the trigger. They are harmless though, just annoying.

Me too. Regular migraine sufferer since teens. Three days in bed with extreme pain, vomiting etc. Used to be once or twice a month depending on what was going on in my life. Once every 8 weeks or so post menopause.

Occular migraines maybe three or four times a year. No colours but a fractured, kalaidoscopic image for about ten minutes then a weird feeling for an hour afterwards.

I used to have this in my twenties, I would relax and sit silently waiting for it to pass.

If you are worried about stroke risk then see your gp for advice in cholesterol etc and staying extra healthy to prevent this.

I get ocular migraines occasionally, it affects both eyes though. For me they are triggered by a specific combination of physical activity and dehydration.

I had these while I was pregnant and I went to see the optician and there was nothing they could do for them, fingers crossed I haven't had any more since having DS

I get these from time to time. No pain, but basically go semi blind for about 20-30 mins. (Extremely blurred vision in a circle in the centre of my eyes.) Usually when I'm over tired. I get them at work occasionally and can't read the computer screen. The worst time was when I was driving, but I managed to pull over safely and wait till it passed.

They are worrying at first, but you get to recognise the signs. You just need to rest quietly until it passes. If I was at home I'd probably lie down in a dark room for 1/2 an hour, but im not usually at home when it happens so just have to rest and close my eyes where I am. Never heard it was associated with strokes!

Yep, ocular migraine sufferer here

Got my 1st one when I was pregnant and bending over to empty the washing machine. I thought I was having a brain haemorrhage!

Mine have lessened a lot since I had to stop taking the pill but I still get the occasional one when I am overtired, stressed or burning the candle at both ends

I used to get ocular migraines when I was pregnant and have been getting them again for the last few years as I am going through the menopause. I mentioned them to my optician who confirmed that they are often associated with hormonal changes.

I have a bright jagged circle of flashing lights which expands outwards from a tiny dot until it disappears at the edge of my vision and lasts about 20 minutes. It was a bit alarming the first time, but I have learned to quite enjoy them if I can sit quietly with my eyes closed. (More problematic if I can't, I have had to pull over when one started when I was driving.)

I'm really prone to these and a range of other migraines, diet and lifestyle can make a big difference, plenty of fluids, rest (easier said than done) keeping an eye on diet, I find too much sugar and junk really don't help.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DqVFIcF9lyk8&ved=2ahUKEwjtx6f93LXfAhXWXhUIHeQaBW4QtwIwAXoECAoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw246Bnw5Uth6lvuQgBa7lKC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this animation is the closest to what I experience

Also, what boiledegg said is pretty much exactly how mine are. Also meopausal here and getting more recently.

I get them occasionally- only my right eye though. Optician and gp have never seemed concerned. Started about 17 years ago and now I get them about once a year. No idea why.

Please do look at the websites I linked to above. High doses of a few supplements (that don't have adverse side effects) can really help with the symptoms of migraine. They do know that the underlying cause is mitochondrial dysfunction and are learning more about it every day.

until where are you getting migraleve from? Its been off our shelfs for a good 9 months here its been hell for me.

I had one almost a year ago. I had migraines with aura a few times before and it was always the same in both eyes. Then I had a type of aura but only in one eye. Coincidentally I had an eye test a week later and they saw a bleed, a stroke in the eye. Had to visit eye A&E and they are monitoring as these bleeds are very unlikely in someone my age/weight/lifestyle. High blood pressure is a factor and mine is only a little higher than it should be.

You can book online for some opticians. Or visit an eye hospital. I don’t know if there will be a bleed as the Drs seemed sceptical when I suggested it was linked to the migraine. Medical journals have linked the two.

@CynthiaRothrock - I tried to get migraleve and the pharmacist told me it's not in stock and hasn't been for a long while. However, he sold me the components of migraleve which works exactly the same. Over the counter codeine and paracetamol, plus Buccastem, also sold by pharmacists.

I don’t want to labour the point but just want to add in this: “If you suffer from migraine with aura you should not take the combined oral contraceptive Pill. This is because the combined pill is associated with a very small increased risk of ischaemic stroke.“.

Taken from:
www.migrainetrust.org/living-with-migraine/coping-managing/contraceptive-pill/

My GP took me off the combined pill as soon as I saw him about my ocular migraines. I can go on the progesterone-only pill, but not the combined pill.

Stop posting about ocular migraine- it’s not the same as retinal migraine. Ocular is both eyes relating to the brain and ocular nerve. Retinal is related to the retina, we have one in each eye. If you get symptoms in one eye it can be a sign of a bleed, if the bleed is big enough it can cause blindness in that eye. It’s rare in the under 60s.

I have had two in six months. Tends to be when i am a bit stressed or need sleep

I had similar. I had one about four years ago and it frightened me to death. It lasted about 20 minutes, gradually shifting to the side of my eye until it went completely.

I went straight to the opticians, described it, and she said it could have been either an ocular migraine or scintillating scotoma

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scintillating_scotoma#/media/File:Scintillating_scotoma.gif - this is a mock-up of one, but it was exactly what I was experiencing.

Three years later I had another one in the March 2017, but wasn't as worried, and it was the same pattern as before.

The following June 2017 I had 1-2 every week until September and I haven't had one since. I have no idea whey they stopped.

I did start working from home in September 2017 and before that I was permanantly knackered so I don't know if it was something that tiredness and stress had brought on.

I had migraines terribly. Ill for days, banging one side pain etc. Then I hit menopause and they changed to occular migraines. The first time was terrifying.

Mine look a bit like these.

I get ocular migraines. They start off as light spots, like when you inadvertently look at the sun and get a blind spot. Progressively they get worse so they obscure my vision completely. They last for about 30 mins. Never get any pain with them. I can't take the combined pill as it's contraindicated, but apart from that they're just a bit of a nuisance.

Thanks all for your posts, really appreciate it.

Just to clarify I am not on any contraceptive pill as I am high risk of stroke I cannot be on them at all. I am not as worried now I have seen how many people have responded with having them as well feeling a lot calmer about it all.
Six butterflies those pictures are so accurate to what I saw in the left corner of my eye. Pretty frightening when it happens first time out of nowhere. Gonna get my eye checked when they re open and if all ok then I will stress less. Also apologies if I worried anyone about the higher risk of stroke, it was literally an article I found online this morning about them which then prompted me to write this thread as was feeling very alarmed xx

I have had migraines for years and about 4/5 years ago started to get Occular migraines, I normally wake up and realise that I can't see properly out of both eyes. Everything is blurry, they can last for 30mins to hours. I get no pain. Migraines for me normally start with taste or smell issues the day before and then I get aura. I now take Rizatriptan for them and it helps. I will get an occular migraine every two-3 months and regular migraine 2-3 a month

I get occupational migraines, they are generally less severe than other migraines I get.
The visual disturbances last about half an hour, and aren't too bad apart from making reading or driving impossible.
Then the headache starts, although if I take pain killers as the visual disturbances begin, I can usually ward off the headache.

Occular, not occupational!