HELP. SUDDEN FLASHES AND ZIG ZAGS IN VISION

[Sellingsunsets]

Just that reallyz just put my son to bed and came down stairs, and suddenly my eyes went funny, flashing lights, blurred vision and now it's almost like a multicoloured zig zag pattern. Even in the dark or with my eyes closed. I've started to get a bit of a headache too. I am having a very stressful time, and I've cried a lot today, not eaten much etc. I'm terrified I'm having a stroke or something. Any one experienced this

It's not the worse headache I've had in my life that I've got now, the pressure in my ears is the worst and my eyes feel sore and watery. I was fine all day and then it came on again tonight. Just so odd.

Because your migraines are new, and this second pain is new, I think you need to see the GP or phone 111. I'm concerned that there might be an underlying, more serious, condition.

I agree. I would seek medical advice too, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

I had my first ocular migraine aged 60. I was very stressed at the time commuting 200mes every week to spend time with my terminally ill DSis when she ended up in the hospice. It was full on and spent 3 weeks doing a 48hr shift just being with her. Her cancer had spread to her brain so was confused and agitated. Sleep was not possible.

It started in a service station and I put it down to flickering over head lighting combined with lack of sleep. The second one I experienced was a week later and triggered again by the fluorescent light at work that was broken and gently flickering over head all day. Not had another one since then.

I did experience the vitreous gel in my eye pulling away from my retina recently. It was very different and I was seen as an emergency to rule out retinal detachment. Fortunately the retina was fine and the symptoms faded over 24hrs. The flashing was more like the light going round in a circle and no zigzags. With detached retina you lose the site in the area affected.

Blood pressure flashes are more like slow motion star burst all over the eye. I had pre eclampsia at the end of pregnancy with pregnancy induced hypertension. Blood pressure headaches feel a bit vice like rather than conventional headache. Like your head is in a vice rather than knives being pushed into your brain.

The kaleidoscope zigzag worms are most likely to be ocular migraine but do get them checked out. It’s probably quicker to contact your optician. They saw me within a couple of hours of contacting them and can refer directly to ophthalmology. We have a region eye hospital who will see you as an emergency if they suspect or can see retinal detachment. GPS will do a cursory exam whereas the option will use their special equipment to do a much more in-depth examination. When I had suspected retinal detachment they spent a good 45mins examining my eyes. They have to dilate your pupil to get a really good view.

@Crwysmam "kaleidoscope zigzag worms" is a fantastic description for the crenellations.

Awaiting a call back, could be six hours but when I did it last night, it was 9 🥱😂 the lain is in one side of my head now, in my neck and in my ear, down my face really really hurts so bad. Vision ok though.

This fresh headache I've got tonight started off feeling vice like but now it's just there if that makes sense. It does actually appear to be worse on movement.

IANAD so please don't interpret this as a formal diagnosis, more a guess based on past experience. This might be another migraine. They don't always present the same way every time and you can get them on several days in a row. I get them on both sides of my head, so sometimes the left side, sometimes the right, and sometimes one side will start and then I get the flashing zigzags again and the other side will join in so I have two migraines at once.

In your position, I'd take three aspirin, two paracetamol, a mug of sugary tea or something else that has caffeine and sugar in it, and retreat to a dark quiet room to wait for that call. If you can sleep, great, but sometimes you cannot sleep because the pain is so bad.

I hope you're ok now? I thought I was going blind when I first had one. I was in my 40s.

It must be scary having the responsibility of dcs too. Is there anyone who can help?

I went to sleep and slept it off, I didn't get a callback, so I'll wait to see if I get anything today, my head feels better this morning though. But it did when I got up yesterday, both nights ive had this it's come on around 7pm which is weird!

I think it is worth a GP appointment to chat through even if you feel better.

That's shocking you didn't get a callback?

No luck, I called 111 and they said I could go to a and e or contact my GP. GP saying they can't see me so A and E. I've got a friend sat in A and E at the moment and apparently their is a 14 hour wait 😂 it's not doable for me, so I guess loads up on paracetamol and wait to see what happens. I've had a sugary cup of tea this morning and its actually helped with the head ache. It's on one side and in my ear, and my eyes are sore and glazy.

How are your sinuses?

Have you gone to the opticians OP? That's the best place and they can refer you if needed.

A migraine that lasts 72 hours or longer is called "status migrainosus" and requires medical evaluation and possible neurology referral.

You are at around 60 hours now, and this is your first migraine.

Try the GP again and explain that you've been in pain for 60 hours.

Once this is over, I'd look at changing GP to one that's less shit.

It sounds like an ocular migraine. I get them, very worrying but they tend to pass quickly. How are you now?

The thing is, I felt a bit rough yesterday day time but the pain had gone and then it came back last night about 7pm

I'm going to pop to Specsavers this afternoon, I didn't go yesterday cos I felt better. I've had no visual symptoms this time around (since it started again with the headache last night)

My sinuses are fine , I suffer with sinus issues especially in the winter but I feel like this isn't that.

Try to get a GP appointment anyway. If nothing else, a formal diagnosis can unlock OTC sumatriptan tablets.

How are you feeling @Sellingsunsets ?

Hiya,

I went to the opticians, they did a eye health and said my eyes are fine.

My gp said sounds like migraine with aura, despite me not having the flashes since Monday night but I do still have a headache, so this is day 4 of a bad head and no one seems that bothered, so I'm just plodding along with painkillers and hoping for the best x

The headache can take a while to clear. If your GP has now given you a diagnosis, you can ask the pharmacist for sumatriptan.

I am a migraine sufferer, I remember my first ones when I was 9/10, I get a blindspot, then crinkly zig zags at the edges, then a crashing headache and a bit of nausea.

Things that help - you can take paracetomol and ibuprofen together, lying down in dark room even just 30 mins with regulated breathing, wrapping head tightly in a towel (no idea why this helps!), Forehead menthol stick on temples, peppermint tea (fresher the better), gentle steam inhalation with menthol crystals from the chemist.

To really stop a crippling migraine, only thing that has helped is a Triptan (Sumatriptan), it does work and as mine were affecting ability to work I complained to GP and they gave me this.

Worth keeping a diary in case you need to speak to GP. The Migraine Trust website has a diary you can print out.