Optical migraine

[Gerijrich]

Has anyone suffered from the above I have started getting them since menopause. I wonder if anyone has tips on how to deal with them. They scare me!

I have been getting them since my second pregnancy 5 years ago. They scare me too! This is what I do - as soon as I notice it I try to get somewhere I can lie down and rest. I note the time, I put on the radio or a podcast to try to take my mind off it. To date, none have lasted longer than 20minutes, so I check the time every now and then and remind myself that in the past they’ve all gone and this one probably will too.

I go very easy on myself - as far as possible - afterwards, because the only trigger I’ve identified is exhaustion and once or twice I’ve had a long (days to week long) period of exhaustion/nausea/wobbliness following the migraine itself.

I have seen various medical people; noone’s had much advice. A and E Dr (went when I didn’t know what it was) didn’t seem to know what it was; GP didn’t have any suggestions; optician suggested they were fairly common and not worrying but again nothing to add.

I will try and relax next time i normally try and keep moving just find it frustrating

I’ve been having them since I was 11. My triggers are dehydration or not eating enough. The moment I get the first symptom I take painkillers and drink a few glasses of water. Then if that doesn’t stop it I go somewhere dark and close my eyes.
The visual disturbances generally don’t last that long. You do need to listen to your body and if possible try and stop and go close your eyes.

How weird seeing this thread. I have suffered from classic migraine since my 20's but have only ever had 1 optical migraine until yesterday! I had the whole psychedelic thing going on, it was horrible. It only lasted 20 minutes and I didn't get a headache afterwards which surprised me. Apparently they can last between 5 minutes and an hour. The first time I had one I didn't know what it was and I phoned my optician who explained it. They are quite scary.

I've had them since the age of 10.
Firstly try not to be afraid, this will raise your stress level.
I now simply take myself off somewhere quiet, away from strong smells.
Mine can be down to lack or sugar or dehydration.
I gave up ice cream for a while at that helped.
Go see you doctor.

I've had a few. The first time I rang my optician and the arranged an appointment quite quickly to go in and make sure there was no urgent eye health issues causing them. They advised me if I started having them regularly to go see my gp, so if it's a new thing I'd recommend getting checked out just to make sure all is well.

I’ve had them on and off for the last 12 years, since pregnant with my dc. I now get them occasionally on the 3rd day of my period, so they must be hormonal. They scare the hell out of me too, I absolutely hate getting them, they throw me into a panic. My mum has had them for 40 odd years. She has been on propranolol for the last year or so for anxiety and I’ve noticed that she never mentions anything about her optical migraines anymore. I’m thinking of asking my gp if I too can try propranolol, worth a shot?!

I've heard other people say propranolol has helped their migraines. I guess you have to weigh up the pros and cons. I take a triptan but it wipes me out for a few hours. It does get rid of the migraine though.

I've had them for about 8 years ( I think) - probably about 2 a year.. but can easily go 9/12 months without one . Am not sure if I have cast iron triggers but I think there is something for me about tiredness, not eating, but also light in the room I'm in - I've had them at a computer, once in Boots when I was very conscious of the strip lighting overhead and once when driving through a city at night - again possibly the street lamps?

I do as others have - close my eyes and wait it out - to date no more than 20 minutes but I have read that they can last up to an hour so I try not to freak out about the timings...

I wear glasses so have fairly regular eye checks so assume that if there was an issue with my eyes (pressure etc) that it would have been picked up by now..

My son got these after a mini stroke, but was told by the Dr they can be caused by stress,but are nothing to worry about

I've had them since I was 8. They used to be followed by a full on day of agony and vomiting but to my utter delight this part stopped in my 30s. Now I just get the psychedelic lights and a sense of detachment. I rather like it! Only lasts 30 mins. I just sit quietly til it goes away.

I used to have these followed by agonising pain for 24 hours. Since the menopause I usually get the disturbances, blind spots, bright lights and a sense of unreality, with a slight headache afterwards. I find it happens after a period of stress or a long-haul flight. They’re horrible but I’m used to them. The worst one was during driving. I had to pull over and wait for it to stop. I’ve had 3 in the last three days but last week was very stressful.

I have them regularly but without any pain. It's like sunlight on rippling water in a circle in my eye. It used to spread out to encompass my whole vision.

Bright sunlight seems to trigger it, plus electronic screens.

I have them - they started for me when I had a PVD (Post Vitreous Detachment) - I take one pink migraleve and they stop after twenty minutes or so
You have my sympathy they are horrible

@ursulaPandress - your experience sounds very similar to mine - I'd hate to have the pain that other posters have experienced --- fingers crossed they don't mutate

Gosh hope not. I've been having them for about 25 years.

I have these a couple of times a year. I get a slight background headache, a mild nausea and then visual problems begin and I can't focus on central points. I remember having one when I was a staff nurse and I was trying to do a medication round. I had to fetch the manager to finish the round as I couldn't read any of the packets!

I get perhaps one a year, maybe less.

I notice a blind spot developing which spreads into the lights and then clears to the edge of my vision and vanishes. Half an hour at most really and with a vague sense of feeling unwell after.

Closing my eyes is pointless and the light effect is still there. I just wait until I can see through the middle and then carry on.

I have had these since I was at primary school. I tend to get them every day for a few days then not at all for a few months. Stress, lack of sleep and hunger can trigger them. I always get them on the first day of a holiday, especially if it’s been stressful in the lead up. Two soluble aspirin and some full fat coke is what I find most successful in stopping them. Aspro Clear is the bee’s knees but almost impossible to find. I occasionally get a headache as well and sometimes a sort of hangover feeling the next day.

after never having had a migraine in my life, I suddenly ended up having four in the space of ten days. First one was triggered by a combination of strip lighting and a warped mirror in the veg isle in a supermarket! It was awful, visual distortion, then a full blown, vomit inducing migraine about 45 minutes later, which lasted an hour.
GP sent me to do a brain scan (all good), then to the ophthalmologist, who explained it was probably vessels in the back of my neck getting a bit pinched and causing the migraines. Now, as soon as I get the slightest whiff of an optical disturbance, I massage the hell out of the back of my neck until it passes, and, to ch wood, I've not had a migraine since.