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Original poster

To worry about migraine with aura?

54 replies

Safiyah2020 · 11/03/2020 17:33

Hi everyone.

For the past 6 years I have suffered with migraines with aura around 3 or 4 times a year.

I get tunnel vision which starts with a blurry zig zag spot in the middle of my eyesight and it slowly works it's way to the outside on both eyes. It will usually last an hour and then goes away and then the migraine will start. So it's like a warning it's on it's way, but it's quite scary. This week I've had two in succession. I've never had them so close together before.

Does anyone else suffer with them? I work at a laptop all day and am wondering if I should get my eyes tested, even though my vision seems fine day to day?

Should I go and see a doctor?

Any advice would be appreciated.

OP posts:
monkeypigsysandy · 11/03/2020 17:38

I get them now and again, no pain during the aura but a horrible pressure headache after. Takes a few days to totally recover

Comps83 · 11/03/2020 17:38

Yeah I've had them since I was a kid
Are you taking any hormone based contraception?
That's what started my last phase of them
Haven't had one since I came off it

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 11/03/2020 17:39

My teenage DD gets this. I've been told it's an optical migraine and nothing to worry about

Original poster
Safiyah2020 · 11/03/2020 17:39

No I'm not on any contraception. Yes I feel ill for a few days afterwards, I had two this week one on Monday and one yesterday.

OP posts:
StarShapedWindow · 11/03/2020 17:40

Hi I get these migraines with an aurora sometimes but not nearly as regularly as you are experiencing. They are so painful and debilitating - you have my sympathy.

I would definitely see your GP and go to the Optitions.

Stickybeaksid · 11/03/2020 17:43

I get them every month around my period. Painless aura with the same zig zag patterns but an incredible headache a while later. I take prescribed medication when I feel the aura coming on but it only takes the edge off

elf1985 · 11/03/2020 17:44

I have them normally when I have a period. I've had a few that are worrying where I have had a number tongue and arm. Normally sitting still and closing my eyes for 10 minutes gets them to stop. Doc said it's nothing to worry about just a joyous part of being a woman.

WTF99 · 11/03/2020 17:48

Yes, I get them, exactly as you describe, a couple of times a year. Very scary the first time.
You need to figure out what your triggers are. For me it's stress, lack of sleep, red wine, chocolate, cheese. I still consume these as mostly it's fine, but when I get a migraine I've usually had a combination of these in the 12 to 24 hours beforehand.

wouldyouadamandeveit · 11/03/2020 17:49

I would definitely go to your GP.

My DS suffered with them through teenage years. He would throw up and then be out of it for two days afterwards.

He was given various tablets to be taken at the start of the migraine, but they didn't work.

Eventually he was given anti-migraine tablets (can't remember the name) taken every day and after a few years he was able to come off them and hasn't suffered since.

Original poster
Safiyah2020 · 11/03/2020 18:16

Thanks, everyone. Yeah, I think I'll book an appointment with the Gp and opticians. Do any of you also wear glasses? Just to see if there is a connection?

OP posts:
StarShapedWindow · 11/03/2020 18:21

No, I don’t wear glasses. Hope your GP/Optitions can offer some help.

DrManhattan · 11/03/2020 18:28

I had my eyes tested as I was getting these more and more frequently. Eyes are fine.
The GP gave me some tablets to take once they start and they do take the edge off a bit. There is also the option of daily beta blockers but they didn't work for me

monkeypigsysandy · 11/03/2020 18:31

I'm very short sighted but I don't think it makes a difference

Newuser123123 · 11/03/2020 18:34

I've had them, pushed for a blood test and I was low in folate. They've stopped since taking high dose folic acid. There was a study where folic acid was used successfully as a treatment. Like many areas of women's health migraines are under researched.

aLilNonnyMouse · 11/03/2020 18:36

Get your eyes tested. Sometimes there can be an issue with having your eyes be too similar so they fight over being the dominant eye. The constant switching can cause migraines.

I used to get one every 2-3 days and was practically living in my bed with the lights off trying to cope. After an eye test I was given a pair of glasses with normal glass on one side and a mild script on the other. This forced one to be dominant all the time and stopped the migraines pretty much overnight.

My day to day vision without my glasses is perfect, they don't actually help me see.

AnyFucker · 11/03/2020 18:36

I get these. I had my first one when I was pregnant 20 years ago.

They appear when I am stressed, hormonal, dehydrated or overtired

Imarriedaviking · 11/03/2020 18:55

I've suffered this for many years.Very frightening but, since menopause (god, I feel so old) they have eased, maybe 2 or 3 a year. Worth getting checked out.Pink Migraleve, if taken asap, help a lot.

MrsMonkeyBear · 11/03/2020 19:12

I only get migraines under certain lights. Start with the aura and about 1hr later the headache starts.

They got worse during pregnancy and when I was on hormonal contraceptives. Weirdly, the lighting in my gp surgery and maternity triage were the type to set me off.

I do wear glasses and found that anti-glare lenses help loads.

Littlemissdaredevil · 11/03/2020 19:14

Yes you should see your GP. I started getting migraine with aura in my 30’s which is unusual. The GP did some blood tests on me which came back fine. He also advised me to see an optician which again was fine. I also had to come off the combines contraceptive pill. You need to see your GP so they can see if you have any other risk factors or symptoms

Iloveplacentas · 11/03/2020 19:16

I get them. I usually get them at night and they wake me up but occasionally in the day too. I find stress and extreme tiredness is a trigger. Also certain foods, Diet Coke is a big no no Sad and too much coffee/caffeine in general and alcohol.

Walkerbean16 · 11/03/2020 19:19

I had them when i was pregnant, never anybother time until last week and it was the wirst one i have had - i had started slimming world and gone from drinking 6 cans of coke a day to none at all, i think that is what caused it. I had a migraine for about 5 days. Horrible.

Aussiegirl123456 · 11/03/2020 19:22

I've only ever had this happen to me once and I honestly thought I was having a stroke. I has the aura at work, no headache during the aura but I had pins and needles in my hands and legs. I couldn't see my computer screen and was on an important phone call. Thankfully, I was still coherent but at the time I wasn't sure if I was or wasn't. So scary. So I really feel for you and I hope you get to the bottom of what's causing yours.

Yarboosucks · 11/03/2020 19:28

I get them a lot - say 3 per month. I know mine are wose when I am am tired or stressed. I get full blown, skull exploding migraines if I eat or drink anything associated with oranges (tangerines, satsumas....). I did an elimination diet under the care of a neurosurgeon. Ruling out oranges and discovering that I could eat cheese and chocolate was a revelation! So I tolerate the aura episodes because they are more inconvenient than anthing. I take a paracetamol when the aura starts and that is usually sufficient. Before the diet process I was on beta-blockers and had an oxygen tank to control the worst attacks.

Yarboosucks · 11/03/2020 19:30

I meant to say that I did a CBT course for the mega-migraines where I learnt to visualise the pain and "fold it in half" again and again until it was tiny. Sounds nuts but doing something to take back some control really worked. (and I am a deeply cynical person!)

INeedToGetHealthy · 11/03/2020 19:33

I have had migraines for the majority of my life but I only started getting auras recently. The first time was really scary as I didn't know what was happening. As I have had a sudden change in my migraines I contacted my GP who has now changed me onto Topiramate as a preventative as propranolol wasn't working for me. I have also been referred to a neurologist as I have started getting hemiplegic migraines, where I look like I have had a stroke.
I also get prescribed Sumatriptan, which is taken at the first sign of a migraine starting. It works better than migralieve for me.