Migraine aura

FabApocalypse

The aura can be scary; I've had migraines since my teens. the first one was a doozer which involved a trip to A&E and they've varied in severity and frequency since then. The symptoms also vary; sometimes I get the aura without the headache (which as others have said is so much more than 'just a headache'!), sometimes the headache without the aura, sometimes both. And a whole other basket of goodies besides!

I know it can be hard to believe that something so weird as a migraine aura and as painful/horrible as all the other symptoms isn't doing us any lasting harm, but we're all still here!

I've learned to spot when the aura is coming; they all seem to start at the same point in my right eye with just a hint of 'Why isn't that in focus?' followed by a small area in the centre of my visual field 'blanking out' and then usually flashes, spots and shimmery crescent shapes cross my vision from right to left. They move across to my left eye (which is a bit disorientating for me as I'm functionally blind in my left eye but of course it's your brain which is 'seeing' the aura, not your eyes) as they fade from the right and then die away.

The whole thing probably lasts 20 - 40 minutes. If I don't get a 'proper' headache afterwards I'll still have a vague feeling of discomfort in my head and neck and be tired and washed out for a day or so, just as if I'd had one.

Like others I've never found a trigger (other than hormones, grrr) for the attacks or a reason some should differ and like others I recommend the Oliver Sachs book. Dr Sachs was a very understanding man and reading his book gave me a lot of reassurance (more than you can squeeze out of a ten minute GP appointment anyway!).

1234catlady

I remember when I had my first panic attack outside, I was terrified to go back outside again in case it happened again (it has many times since) and then when I had my first attack of vertigo outside, I was terrified to go out again then after that and this migraine aura is the exact same. I just have to remember I have been in this situation before and got through it.

1234catlady

Every time I get any kind of headache now I'm always on high alert mode in case I get that aura again. I was terrified to go outside again after it happened because it started outside last time but that fear is slowly fading and I'm getting out more now.

Scrapaholic

I've had migraines since my twenties now at 60+ I still get the odd one . Now it's usually visual disturbance , slight headache and feeling tired . Symptoms can disappear after an hour and I'll be more or less ok . I can understand being worried about having an attack while out and about and it has happened to me . Just waited for the visual disturbances to clear then carry on as best I could . The worst was when half my tongue and nose went numb , not being able to read anything and slurring speech . As a nurse I knew that some of the symptoms are similar to having a stroke . It can be quite scary .

splishsplash

teddysmum wrote: »

Years ago, when going through a stressful time, I had the zigzag lights and once a blind spot, where part of my car dashboard 'disappeared' (parked up immediately, of course) but never any pain.

I had this a while ago- a very distinctive visual disturbance which lasted about 45 minutes.
It started with a bright silver disk in the lower left field of both eyes, which slowly developed a glittering rim, extremely bright - scintillating is the exact word that came to mind. It slowly grew bigger and bigger while the central area cleared. Scared the living daylights out of me, so I went googling and came up with Scintillating Scotoma - you may want to look at images of this, it may help? It was a bit like this but much shinier... quite pretty really, but I was glad when it went away.

1234catlady

Mine looked like that pic except the circle was cut in half to a crescent shape and was mostly in the left side of my vision but still took over most of my vision if that makes sense?

patchwork_cat

Yes always get them with a migraine, I find them quite useful as if I take a migraleve when they start I can keep the tablet down as the nausea and headache don't start for about half an hour after the aura. Which goes away within about 20 minutes, usually. They aren't anything to be scared of, I also get olfactory aura sometimes and a numb face and my speech can sometimes go strange too.