Does anyone else suffer from Aura Migraines?

[Twoweekcruise]

Sorry, this isn’t an AIBU, I’ve put this here for traffic as I am so scared of these auras. I’ll get it moved if needed.
Does anyone else get aura migraines?
I first experienced them 16 years ago age 32, when pregnant for the first time then again 2 years later during my second pregnancy. I had very few after that, during my late 30’s.
I am now 48 and for the last 8 years or so I have been getting more and they seem to becoming more frequent.
My trigger must be hormonal because I get them during my period, usually the 2nd or 3rd day. My mum also got them and my younger sister also occasionally sufferers.
I absolutely HATE them. Even after 16 years they still scare the hell out of me and trigger panic attacks.
They start off like I suddenly can’t see properly, if I look at someone I can only see some of their features or on a clock face numbers will be missing, it then turns to a definite blind spot which then becomes a small curled up zig zag which slowly unfurls until I then have a huge psychedelic zig zag right across my vision. I have no choice then but to sit or lay and cover my eyes for about 20-30 mins until it passes. Sometimes a headache will follow but often there is nothing other than a weird spaced out/washed out feeling which can last a day or two.
I have mentioned it to my GP several times but they don’t seem particularly interested. I have had two this week and have booked to have my eyes tested.
Can anyone relate to this? Do you take any meds for them? Is there anything which can be taken to prevent auras starting? I drive for a job and am in constant fear I will get one whilst driving down the motorway.

I get these when I'm getting a migraine. The wiggly lines that get bigger and bigger are my first symptom that lasts about 30 minutrs, which is then followed by the worst headache ever and violenty throwing up for a few hours.

Im lucky that I can sleep them off but it takes so long to get to sleep because of the throwing up.

I've worked out that mine are light related so live permanently in sunglasses.

I agree that even thinking about getting the zig zaggy lines makes me feel anxious and sick. It's honestly horrific.

I used to get these. It was as if I'd looked at a bright light. The worst ones left me unable to speak properly. They are quite scary.

I was trying to lose a bit of weight at the time and they were, apparently, due to a drop in sugar levels.

I've since stopped caring about my weight and I haven't had one since.

I've had these two or three times. They started about five years ago and as far as I could tell the trigger was too much staring at the computer screen at work.

I had to look away from the screen for half an hour or so and focus my eyes on the distance.

I never had a headache, just the aura, and haven't had one since I retired.

Having also suffered from these I researched ‘menstrual migraines’ and the role of prostaglandins. Mefanamic acid helped massively - it is anti inflammatory and similar to ibuprofen I think. I used to take it for one or two days before my period was due. Then if I didn’t catch it in time, coke, salty crisps and sleep. Paracetamol etc wouldn’t have any effect. No one else seems to have mentioned this as a treatment but my gp supported my theory and it worked!

I did once!

V scary.

My optician said is common with over exercise, so I massively reduced the long distance running and it didn’t happen again.

@Toomuchwineobs

Having also suffered from these I researched ‘menstrual migraines’ and the role of prostaglandins. Mefanamic acid helped massively - it is anti inflammatory and similar to ibuprofen I think. I used to take it for one or two days before my period was due. Then if I didn’t catch it in time, coke, salty crisps and sleep. Paracetamol etc wouldn’t have any effect. No one else seems to have mentioned this as a treatment but my gp supported my theory and it worked!

I will ask my GP about that, thanks

Hi There I'm new to Mumsnet and joined because I'm so fed up with feeling so isolated with my migraine auras so it was a huge relief to find this thread. It's not so much the pain or the feeling unwell - it's the panic attacks and the almost PTSD affect that I experience when the visual disturbance starts so I really related to your original post. I know it is some time since your started this thread but I wondered how you are doing?
I had my first aura over 30 years ago and hoped that going through the menopause would make them go away but instead - the cruelty of them - they are more frequent.
I paid a huge amount to try Ajovy but the injections made no difference at all and I'm now trying Topiromate.

I used to get them from my late teens onwards, then in my late 40s they stopped and started again when I was on HRT, so I presume they are affected by hormones. They were only 6 or 8 times a year, and no headache, if I started with one while driving, I had to pull off the road quickly before it developed fully, as sometimes I couldn't see enough to drive. They seemed to be triggered by tiredness and stress, as I got more when I was going through a marriage breakup. I am in my 70s now and get them very occasionally. I sit or lie down if possible and try to have a short nap. My eyesight is poor, but I don't think they are connected with eyesight, but the brain, as when I cover either eye, it doesn't change.
I obviously mentioned it to my gp when younger, but they never seemed concerned, so I don't worry about it.