If you get Migraines with aura - do periods or dehydration or bright sun set you off?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Posting for traffic as it made me so panicky.

My period's due and I feel crappy - woke up this morning starving which is unusual for me, ate breakfast and ended up back in bed, so didn't drink as much water as normal this morning.

We decided to go out and pick up a salad for lunch and it was extremely bright out - I thought I was ok but in the dark shop fucking hell, gradually about half my vision became vibrating shimmering zig zags.

Oddly, it started to resolve back out in the bright sunlight instead of getting worse and was ok after lying down for about twenty mins. Eyes seem back to normal now.

My mum and gran are familiar with these auras but they sometimes used to get a lot of pain - I think they are hereditary? I do notice an odd temporary shimmer now and again but only ever had one this bad before, again out in bright sun with no sunglasses, a few years ago.

Anyone got any experience of these? They are fucking awful.

Yes to periods and bright lights for me. My previous office was a nightmare with their fluorescent lighting. Have also had migraines triggered by being dazzled by overly bright headlights while driving at night.

I now have triptans I take (Maxalt wafers) and they work a treat. No idea why I didn’t try them earlier as I used to get migraines that would wipe out most my weekend. Would hardly ever get them during the week.

Agree that all the other symptoms that go with the head pounding are horrendous, also throwing up.
I've tried everything and no luck. I tried triptans and sadly didn't work.

Something that does help post migraine and that groggy stage is full fat coca cola. I need sugar.
I heard from a friend that a specialist migraine doc said sugar and full fat soft drink can really help .

Looking at all the responses I think it's such an individual thing

Mine are hormonal without a doubt.
I never identified any triggers as such, but dehydration or tiredness was definitely a factor.
Darkened rooms didn't help, screens definitely worsened them.
I had severe pain, no nausea. I could tell one was coming because of either pixilated vision, or vision as you describe op. Occasionally I had problems communicating.
They decreased massively on menopause and started to get less painful and more nauseous.
Mine sometimes lasted 3 days.
At the peak, I found triptans to be a complete miracle.

I get them with no pain.

Flourecent lighting, too much staring at computer screen without a break (not blinking enough as well), stress. Thinking about it now it's no wonder I hate working in offices and wfh has been a godsend to me, as I can control the lighting and take breaks without feeling awkward. Strong sunlight can also bring them on.

I try to nip them in the bud now by taking a paracetamol and shutting my eyes for 10 minutes or so. I also find it very helpful when I'm working, to go and look out a window at something in the distance for 5 minutes or so, changing the focus in my eyes (and that sort of thing really doesn't go down well in an office, a break to go make a cup of tea is understood, but to stare blankly out the window, no).

I've just changed jobs and one of the reasons is that the office was so uncomfortable for me and I was guaranteed to be half blind by the end of the day. I felt sick even thinking about having to return to working there.

I also get the woozy/tongue-tied feeling but usually before one hits. I can remember sitting in a meeting at work trying to give a presentation and barely being able to get two coherent words out and everyone staring at me. I tried to explain - badly as I couldn't string a thought together. I'm sure they thought I was under the influence of something.

It's so hard to explain to someone who hasn't had one.

If my period is due and I get too hungry and dehydrated then I’ll sometimes get the aura without pain.
Last summer it was a couple of days before my period and I went on a long walk on a hot day without water or a snack (so stupid). When I was a few minutes from home my vision in one eye was basically like looking through a kalaedescope. I quickly got home and downed a litre of water with a paracetamol and ate a banana. 40 mins later I was fine again but I felt totally wiped out and my speech was a bit jumbled. I never leave the house without my water bottle and a cereal bar now just incase

I pretty much permanent wear sunglasses outdoor/driving (lights from the road and other cars can set me off) and sometimes even inside. Light is a huge trigger for me. We have smart bulbs now which I can change the white/yellow ness and dimness to suit around the house it’s worked wonders.

I think I have had periods that have also set mine off and I have heard that dehydration is a trigger so I think these are all pretty normal things as far as normality for migraines go!

Yeah, definitely...flickering lights or sunlight, periods, ovulation, dehydration, sleep deprivation or weirdly, holding my arms above my head for too long can all set off my migraines with aura

Yes, dehydration triggers mine too. Also hunger, lack of sleep, over sleeping, being too hot or cold, high weather pressure, getting angry or upset, anxiety, doing too much, citrus, alcohol, perfume, the smell of jarred curry paste cooking(!?), my period (that's the biggie for me), sweeteners &, MSG.

I am also coming to the horrible realisation that too much sugar is a possible trigger as well as eating too many carbs. I seem to always have a migraine at the weekend which is when I really indulge on the bread, pasta and puddings/cake front. Having suffered with migraine from being a child, this really is the last straw!