I've had this type of migraine (with aura) since I was a teenager (now 44).
They have always followed a similar pattern and the things I know for certain to trigger them are;
Hormones (effected by all 5 pregnancies, monthly cycle and now perimenopause).
Flashing/ bright lights - anything from a rotating light on a breakdown truck to a flickering light in a room, bright sunlight reflecting off metal etc.
Stress - which I get a lot of.
However, recently (the last month particularly) they have changed in the pattern, which has sort of freaked me out.
They usually follow something like this (although no migraine is the same, and some are worse than others).
- The visual phase. I get the blind patch with the shimmering border which increases to effect most of my vision (people only have half a face/ half the letters in a page of writing missing etc) all with this flickering edge.
- The numbness/ tingly phase. This always starts in my little finger (one side only but varies which side with each migraine) and gradually spreads over each finger, then up my hand and arm and then to one side of my face and tongue (which feels like I'm choking).
- The confusion phase, which I find really distressing as I can't form a sentence. I know what I want to say but the wrong words keep coming out. I also forget peoples names and if I try to read a text it doesn't make sense.
- The headache/ sickness phase. The headache is the only thing I have found medication helps with. I have yet to find anything to help with the neurological symptoms which I find the most distressing.
- The dizzy phase. I get this towards the end where I feel completely unbalanced and stagger about like a drunk.
- The "hangover" phase where I feel completely drained (both physically and emotionally) and have a really heavy sleep.
Over the last two weeks I have had 3 in two weeks and each one has had a prolonged visual stage which has really scared me.
I am used to the visual effects lasting 20 minutes/ half an hour at the most and then moving on to the next phase, but the 3 recent ones have lasted 3 hours!!
I also suffer from panic attacks, so I was terrified wondering if/ when my vision was going to clear.
I usually just work my way through them as I'm used to the pattern they follow, but these recent ones brought me to tears.
I'm not sure if it could be hormone (perimenopause) related?
Stress related? (good possibility) or something else?
Is it worth making an appointment for a review of my migraines as they have changed pattern?
Or should I wait a bit longer and see if they settle down again?
I must admit the last 3 have really scared me, and now of course I'm on edge wondering when the next one is going to strike.