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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Please help me I’m really scared

149 replies

Flowerpower6 · 26/04/2023 01:29

Just wondering if anyone can help me with this.. I was reading and I suddenly realised my vision was blotchy and coloured. Like when you stare at a light for too long and try to look away and you can still see coloured splodges in your vision. It’s like that, but I didn’t look at a light and it’s not going away. Even typing this is hard as when I’m typing one word I can’t fully see what I’m reading because of the coloured splodges. Like when I look at the world splodges I. Can see half of it but not the other half because everything looks coloured and splodgey. I went off my phone, stopped reading and let me eyes relax but it’s not going away and it’s getting annoying. Does anyone else have this and have any advice? It’s not blurry at all it’s just the coloured splodges but they’re not black like floaters, I can’t really focus on them but it’s in both eyes and it feels like I’ve been staring at a lightbulb but I haven’t

this post took me so long to type out word by wore but does anyone have any advice please because this is absolutely horrible x

even when I’m looking at what I just typed when I look at the word horrible I can’t see half of it I can only see horrib and that’s it and not the x either unless I move my eyes but then I can’t see other things

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
LolaLu1980 · 26/04/2023 08:27

I would also get this as the first sign of a migraine, usually followed by feeling very sick then hours of a really sore head. Xx

Namethischange · 26/04/2023 08:30

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/04/2023 07:04

Hi @Flowerpower6 please don't assume this is "just" a migraine based on the opinion of strangers online.

It could also be a detached retina which requires immediate medical attention and potentially surgery to prevent blindness - you must get checked out today.

Agreed

WilsonMilson · 26/04/2023 08:31

I get migraine with aura occasionally and my vision goes strange. It’s like a zig zag hologram pattern in my peripheral vision, usually lasts up to an hour and followed by either a terrible headache or sometimes nothing at all. Can’t read while I’m having the visual disturbance, so usually close my eyes and lie still. Strangely I still see the zig zags even when my eyes are closed. It’s always scary no matter how many times I’ve had it, so you have my sympathy.

TheWitchingHour · 26/04/2023 08:33

Definitely sounds like an Aura migraine, they’re so scary and throw you off for ages until they subside. I take a paracetamol as soon as they start because I know I’ll have a headache after. I remember my first one as a teenager, I was on the tube and I absolutely shit myself.

Definitely get checked out though, just for piece of mind.

minmooch · 26/04/2023 08:33

I get what I believe are ocular migraines- never get a headache. It's like a C shape of zigzag flashes, sometimes with colour. First time it happened I thought I was having a stroke or a detached retina. I panicked a ran up to the opticians who said it sounded like an ocular migraine rather than a detached retina. If I remember correctly, and that's a big if, they would have been worried had the line been horizontal and that may have been a detached retina.

I get them every couple of months. Last usually about 10-30 mins then go away.

However, that's only my story and if you are worried you should seek proper medical advice.

Nolongera · 26/04/2023 08:33

Ihavehadenoughalready · 26/04/2023 01:50

It could be a detached retina, too. Prompt attention from emergency eye doctor may be warranted. Especially if this is a completely new symptom. If it's a detached retina you should be seen right away.

It sounds exactly like my partners detached retina, in which case the OP needs to attend hospital asap.

Flowerly · 26/04/2023 08:40

Was about to come on and say detached retina and time is of the essence. Get seen asap OP - optician urgent appt if you can't get a GP.

Flowerly · 26/04/2023 08:40

A&E another route in but get this checked asap.

IAteAllTheTomatoes · 26/04/2023 08:40

I think you really need to call a doctor or be medically examined.

I hope that the posters saying it's just a migran are right but it's impossible to be sure. With something so important as you vision, I don't think you should ignore it just in case it's a real cause for concern.

Serena73 · 26/04/2023 08:44

My son experienced a loss of vision in the middle of his eyes once leaving him with only peripheral vision. As you can imagine, I was very concerned. GP diagnosed ocular migraine. By coincidence, we also had an optician appointment the next day and they confirmed the same. He did not have a headache at any point, although he did develop occasional migraines after that. It was about 5 years ago and it didn't happen again.

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 26/04/2023 08:44

I had this once when I was at work. It went away after an hour or so. I was in a team where I was being bullied by the manager so under a lot of stress. I was also really tired at the time. It never happened again and I put it down to being mentally and physically exhausted.

PizzaGirls · 26/04/2023 08:59

Hope you're feeling better OP.

I have these sometimes, with or without a headache.

Nearly always hormone related for me. They peaked, were especially bad when I was on the pill.

Now sometimes I get them around ovulation/period about to begin. Sometimes low level, sometimes to the point I can't see faces/etc for half an hour. I think being dehydrated, having too much sugar, too much stress and not enough sleep all make them worse. I also get brain fog where I can't focus and think what I'm trying to say.

Anno88 · 26/04/2023 09:01

If you are still having trouble worth trying to speak with Morefields ED online https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/emergency-care

Emergency care | Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/emergency-care

lovescats3 · 26/04/2023 09:01

You need to see a doctor to get this checked, noone can say what this is online

unique78 · 26/04/2023 09:14

It's a focal migraine, I get exactly the same symptoms and it frightened me to death. I went to the Doc's and he told me what it was. I never have a headache with it, and I've had about 5 focal migraines now.

Get checked out to be sure, for your own peace of mind.

ilovesushi · 26/04/2023 09:18

I get that before a migraine hits. Are you coming up to the age for perimenopause? That is when my migraines started. Mine start if I glance at any very contrasting light like driving through dappled light in the car or glancing from inside a dark room to outside where the light is very bright. Or tiredness and stress can bring one on. If I go and lie down immediately in a dark room, take some paracetamol and drink some water, it can stop it in its tracks. If not I get very nauseous then have a killer headache and feel shit for two to three days.

Thepollonator · 26/04/2023 09:21

@Flowerpower6
Are you OK OP?

Original poster
Flowerpower6 · 26/04/2023 09:30

Hi- I’m so sorry for the delayed reply.

after everyone’s advice I lay down in a dark room and closed my eyes and actually ended up falling asleep. I woke up at about 5 and it was still there. I went back to sleep and woke up about 10 minutes ago and it’s completely gone and my vision was fine again.

I think it was just an aura migraine- it was terrifying and I’ve never experienced anything like that before but the fact it went away overnight and my vision is fine now sounds more like the aura everyone described. However I phoned Boots as soon as I woke up 10 minutes ago and they are going to see me today as an emergency. I have been under moorfields in the past for my eyes so I don’t want to take any chances with this although on the phone boots did agree that it sounded aura-like. But I will feel a lot better when it’s been checked and confirmed as such.

thank you all for sharing your advice and experiences. I’m very glad I posted on here for help x

OP posts:
Thepollonator · 26/04/2023 09:33

@Flowerpower6
So glad you're OK. Good luck! xxx

Grimbelina · 26/04/2023 09:34

This happened to my husband a couple of times last year. Lots of checks and it seems it is a migraine aura. It hasn't happened again. Do get it checked out though just in case it is something else that needs treating.

YouWithoutEnd · 26/04/2023 09:35

OP, you need to go to A&E - could be a detached retina or even worse - stroke.

Not safe at all to put it down to a migraine aura - if never diagnosed with migraines before and even if diagnosed migraines - if this differs from usual presentation.

chocolatehoovering · 26/04/2023 09:37

Hi OP,
I'm a bit late to the thread - good that it's gone off.
It does sound like migraine aura. I get them very rarely these days (used to get them at least once a month) so sometimes when they come on I get a bit panicky about bits of vision cutting out until I remember what it is. So yes, it's scary, especially as you've never had one before.
You are doing absolutely the right thing getting your eyes checked today because while it does sound like it's migraine, it could possibly be other conditions too and must be checked.

Starsnspikes · 26/04/2023 09:39

Glad you're getting checked. It definitely sounds like an aura but as others have said, you want to rule out other causes before putting it down to that. Don't know your age but I think over the age of 40 as well, if you start getting migraines for the first time that needs checking (although it can be totally normal and fine, it's just that they more commonly start in childhood or young adulthood).

If it is an ocular migraine (the aura without the headache), they're horrible but a lot less scary knowing what it is. Usually though the aura only lasts half an hour or so maximum. If you had symptoms for a few hours that's also worth checking out.

TillyTollyTully · 26/04/2023 09:44

Sounds exactly like a retinal/ocular migraine.

They're absolutely fucking terryifying the first time you have one. Far more so than a 'normal' migraine ime, which everyone's heard of and where visual disturbances are normal and expected alongside pain.

When I first had one DH drove me to A&E breaking every speed limit on the way there - I seriously thought I was having a stroke or brain hemorrhage, I was nearly completely blind and it came on very suddenly. I'm used to them now albeit very infrequently, but they still make me very nervous, it's not a nice experience.