Visual disturbances and headache two days in a row

[UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername]

Yesterday I had shimmery patches in my field of vision, and an overall lack of focus. It lasted about 3 hours and was followed by a headache (not severe), nausea and tiredness. I had had the shimmery vision before, a few months ago, for about 25 minutes, with no other symptoms.

I was fine this morning but the same thing happened again this evening, with a worse headache.

I have immediate family members who suffer from migraine but it's more painful than this and doesn't involve vision problems.

Do I need to see someone about it? We're going on holidays on monday for 5 days.

Sounds like an ocular migraine? I had one for the first time the other month, I felt very odd and had visual disturbances in one eye, like lightning strikes is how I would describe it, but with patterns. Luckily had an optician appointment the next week, she said they can be caused by stress/exhaustion etc.

Just to add, it may be a good idea to see the doctor as they can be caused by other issue eg high blood pressure.

I've had ocular migraines for a few years - for me they often start when I'm run down, tired or stressed coupled with a particular lighting environment - for example one of mine started in New Look and I think it was the combo of my physical state plus the bright lights in there.

Having said that, mine tend to last about 30 minutes and I only have one a year or so. Given that yours have lasted longer and are more frequent, would you have access to a GP type scenario on holiday if they occur again. It may well be that the holiday will bring you the de-stress moment you need.

I don't want to scare you, but please see a doctor.

I had this last year crashed my car, luckily me not the little one were hurt. I did however getting a diagnosis of MS. This was extremely rare and there were other symptoms too that I put down to getting old.

Get checked it could be ocular headaches easily treated

That should say me NOR the little one were injured x

I have visual migraines too.

The visual disturbance doesn't last too long, but I feel very weird for about 24 hours afterwards. I have a mild headache, a tingly head (hard to explain), pins and needles in random places like my arm, and I feel really spaced out, unfocused and tired.

Bright sunlight is a trigger for me, so I always way sunglasses when its sunny now.

I would see someone. It’s probably not serious but if it is serious it’s likely to be very serious iyswim. A friend of mine has recently suffered from intercranial hypertension with similar sounding symptoms and was lucky that A&E picked it up and sent her to the ward for an eye test. She had a haemorrhage behind one eye, basically seems that the fluid around her brain has increased to a dangerous level. They drained it off with a lumbar puncture. I think, for peace of mind, you should be seen.

That's absolutely classic migraine with aura. I get them sometimes. Starts with visual disturbance which lasts about 20 mins and then I lose my speech sometimes. Then the headache and nausea hits and lasts hours, the fuzziness lasts a day or two. It's important that you're not on the pill or any oestrogen if you suffer from these. Mine are usually hormonal but I get them from stress sometimes too.
Google migraine with aura and I think you'll recognise all the symptoms.

Thanks, everyone. I'll see how I go today. I'm okay at the moment. I'm around ovulation time so that would fit in with the hormonal thing. My mother's migraines were hormonal too.

Sympathy to those of who who deal with these regularly, they're absolutely horrible. I'm dreading being hit by it in disneyland next week, I'd just have to leg it for the car as soon as my vision started going iffy. I'll be packing lots of drugs!

Yes that's exactly when I get them. It's usually a 'perfect storm' of a few things happening at the same time that causes then with me: ovulating + stress + a sleepless night or very heavy humid weather = migraine with aura! There's a prescription drug called Immigran that's fantastic but otherwise I take Solpadeine and that really lessens the headache that comes afterwards. Don't even bother with anything milder than codeine!

I actually took 2 paracetamol, 2 Nurofen plus and 2 pink migraleve last night, knowing damn well that i shouldn't. But that was what it took to dent the pain. Scary stuff.

I’d get your eyes and blood pressure checked. I had something similar and it was high BP (now sorted)

I know I have bp problems, my GP is going to set up a 24 hour monitor for me. I might nip to a chemist today and get it checked.

Sounds like migraine with aura except when I had this I didn't have the lack of focus. I got them when on a particular medication and had to come off that medication.

Just back from the chemist. My BP was 180/105 so I'll be taking myself to the out of hours doc. Fingers crossed that's what caused it and it won't be a recurring thing.

I didn't exactly have lack of focus exactly; it wasn't like during a retinopathy scan, for instance, it was a bit more like looking through bad 3D glasses except I wasn't seeing double. It's hard to describe!

I've had the visual disturbances you mention but without the headache so I've self diagnosed with aura without the migrane. I do have high bp but controlled by medication so I don't think that's the cause. I've had it for some years now. Have you had a eye test recently? Go to the opticians and explain the visual disturbances and headaches you are getting.

The OOH doc upped my BP meds and told me to go to my gp urgently, but I can't do that for another 10 days so hopefully the changed dose sorts it. And he prescribed Zomig and Stemetil so at least if it happens again, I have appropriate drugs. I'll be carrying them around Disneyland in my pocket!