Visual disturbances anyone? I’m hallucinating

[rachelfrost]

So. Embarrassing to say but I’ve been seeing things. Lots. I see afterimages of objects that are actually there. It’s like when you look at a bright light and look away you can still see the light but in a funny colour. But it happens with everything so there’s a semi transparent grid of shapes constantly in my vision. If I close my eyes there is lots of static and if I’m very tired the static forms shapes.

Has anyone else had this? I’ve been to the opticians and my eyes are fine. The doctor has referred me to a neurologist but the appointment is not til after Christmas.

Two other things that might be relevant:

1. ds4 is little so I am sleep deprived although have never started seeing things before
2. during pregnancy and for about a month after I would occasionally have a big silvery spiral thing, like what people see in during a visual migraine, but without the pain or duration of a migraine.

Google is very unkind about this but the doctor reassured me. Anyone had any similar experiences?

I occasionally get visual disturbances - in most cases there is no pain and they go away within 45 mins or so. Sometimes they develop into migraines. My GP said nothing to be concerned about.

The big silvery spiral thing sounds like an optical migraine - diff to normal migraines. I definitely get visual disturbances when tired/stressed/anxious. I don't think there's a massive amount you can do apart from not be tired/stressed/whatever!

sounds annoying and worrying.

Can't help with the afterimages but I also occasionally get the silvery spiral thing (scintillating scotoma) with no headache. Starts in the middle of my vision and works it's way out over the course of around 45 min. Weirdly my DH gets them too so I suspect they may be fairly common.

I also went through a phase of noticing static in my vision when I was stressed. Particularly the sky and bright surfaces, and also when I closed my eyes. It went away on its own in the end.

Lack of sleep and the impact it has on our body can manifest itself in many different ways and that could be one of them.

It's hard to do but you need to hang on until your appointment and trying not to imagine horrible causes. Hopefully the appointment will reassure you further and maybe you can consider strategies for better sleep.

I have had this really bad in the past & occasionally still do. Its when I'm stressed or sleep deprived, things don't look right & words look jumbled up etc, it doesn't lasts long but I think it sounds like visual migraines with sleep deprivation to me. Both would be enough. I don't know what would help with this but I suspect that doing some sort of relaxation & breathing techniques that work for you

I experienced this when I was very, very sleep deprived with a baby who didn't sleep for longer than 40 mins at a time for months. It resolved as soon as I stated getting a bit more sleep.

Are you on any medication? I get this but I do get visual migraines and on Mirtazapine, this gives me the afterimages, especially if I am tired (which is often as I have fibromyalgia)

I should have made clear, the spirally thing is (according to the neurologist on call) not a migraine as it doesn’t last long enough to qualify. I also get a tiny pin prick version of it. The spirally thing seems to have stopped it’s more the months of constant after images that are freaking me out.

Roomba
Did you have the after image thing or the spiral?

This is baby number four and they’ve all been terrible sleepers (40 minutes is exactly it). This is the first time I’ve had these visual disturbances and although I’m tired I’m functioning better than when the others were babies and I was walking into walls, forgetting where I was, slurring words etc. Maybe my vision is the price I’m paying for better functionality.

Have you had your blood pressure tested? Dad had similar before a burst vessel in his eye caused by the bp

Yep. Blood pressure fine.

Do you have help? Can you ask family or friends to come over for a few hours everyday to take turns to hold the baby while you get some 4-5hrs of continuous sleep for a week or so?