Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

[RememberThePenguins]

DS has had a few episodes recently where he complains that everything looks far away. It lasts for a few minutes before stopping. No pattern to when it happens.

I googled and apparently it's called Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. I've got him an opticians appointment to start with because I have a feeling my pretty useless GP will refuse to see him without getting that checked first.

Anyone got any experience of this?

I had it as a child and it always frightened me as I knew it would lead to a nightmare.

My daughter developed it after a virus but it rarely occurs now. Being dehydrated, hungry or tired used to bring it on so avoid that.

Thanks. The first couple of times were in the evening and I put it down to tiredness but yesterday it happened in the day when we were outside walking.

He does get night terrors as well. I wonder if there's a connection.

I get this just before my vision goes due to aura migraine. Then I get the shimmering jaggy lights (if that makes sense!) across my eyes.
Does he get that at all?

I had this as a kid. I could never articulate it properly and there was no Google for my mum to check. I had terrible night terrors and vivid night hallucinations and sleep walking too. Only tended to happen in bed (I was definitely awake)
I grew out of it and it never bothered me long term. Would perhaps happen once a month

I had it as a child’s sing things both very far away & larger than they seem too. I can remember being utterly terrified at night time. I still have it (although very, very occasionally), especially if it’s dark & I’m exhausted, especially if I’m having a really crappy pain outbreak.

Oh and from your last post am a very vivid dreamer too the night after one of these. Poor boy , its really unpleasant.

I used to get this when I was a child. I can't remember the last time it happened - in my 20s maybe? Always at night, don't recall terrors or anything but maybe over-tiredness?

*child seeing things, bloody sausage fingers!

Ah, I am a migraine sufferer like a PP

Interesting that there's a possible link to migraine. He's described headaches being in one eye before but he has never seemed that bothered by them. I get migraines as well.

He was very anxious about it when it happened in the evening but when it happened in the day time he was quite relaxed about it.

I'm also a migraine sufferer!

I still get this at 70. It only happens rarely, when I'm very tired and isn't linked to migraine or anything.

It's just there then it resolves and goes away.

Interesting. I do get aura migraines occasionally as an adult.

Had this as a small child. Turned out to be a weird switchback form of migraine aura. Went on to have abdominal migraines then full blown migraine with days and days off school from 8. The headache being centred around one eye MIGHT be the start of migraines.

Could you help him keep a diary of when this happens, note down times of seeming upset stomach or headache in one eye. If he is unlucky and its the early start of migraine you will then have a headache diary/symptoms diary to take to his GP.

My DD has had this, seems to be migraine related for her.

@triballeader

Had this as a small child. Turned out to be a weird switchback form of migraine aura. Went on to have abdominal migraines then full blown migraine with days and days off school from 8. The headache being centred around one eye MIGHT be the start of migraines.

Could you help him keep a diary of when this happens, note down times of seeming upset stomach or headache in one eye. If he is unlucky and its the early start of migraine you will then have a headache diary/symptoms diary to take to his GP.

Great idea thank you!

I get this very occasionally, normally in stressful situations when I'm focusing on one thing,normally a person, so job interviews,meetings with senior people, when I am staring at their face a lot. Never had migraines but I am a vivid dreamer.

I was going to suggest it as a form of migraine aura. Migraines in childrwan can also present as tummy aches. Migraine auras dint always lead to the actual migraine, you can have the migraine alone
Keep a track of when it happens. Tiredness, dehydration and certain weather can be migraine triggers. Craving of certain foods can be a sign a migraine is oncomming.
Once you have a better record go to your GP. Visal disturbances are commmon as auras.

Oh gosh reading this post has made some thing make so much sense.
I had this a lot when I was a kid, would really scare me and I had such vivid dreams.
Went onto have aura migraines and now am a chronic migraine sufferer.

There must be a link.

I could never articulate it but perspectives would change so much and sizes of things being odd.