It was about a year ago that I had my first visual migraine and it was a most bizarre and freaky experience. I'll be honest, it got to a point where I thought I might be having a stroke, or that someone had spiked my tea with LSD. Many people have asked what it was like and as mentioned in the link below, it's difficult to describe, but not anymore!
It doesn't come on quite a fast as this, but happens over 20 to 30 minutes and really does feel like coming up on a trip. Then it stops and you have a bastard headache.
Anyway, serious hat tip to
this blog for doing the flash. Have rehosted it so as not to nick his bandwidth.
12 comments:
Exactly so. Also called ocular migraine. I get them very occasionally and only in recent years. Too much coffee may do it!
I quite enjoyed the video ;)
In my experience, taking medication at the very onset of symptoms rather than trying to be a brave little soldier is a good idea.
Best hope I can give you is that my attacks have completely disappeared with the onset of old age! (There has to be some compensation for deafness and arthritis)
Try sumatriptan (you can get it over the counter from the chemist when it's called imigran but it's diabolically expensive that way, better to get a prescription if you need it often). Take it at the start of an attack, as early as possible, lie down, try to relax your shoulders/neck.
Doesn't work for everyone, but can be a real life-saver.
Been getting them a couple of times a year for approx. last 30 years.
At I first used to feel very worried and tense at the onset and always had a nasty headache at the end.
After I while I got used to them and just learned to relax and 'enjoy' the experience (it was never really that bad anyway, though somewhat debilitating at the height of the visual disturbance). I find I no longer get the headaches at the end now.
Get 'em from time to time - fortunately don't get the headache. You have my sympathy.
I been suffering from this for many, many years and Judith's advice is spot on - more often than not you avoid that bastard of a headache!
However, I get the same effects from listening to the ranting of my local elected Mayor (Sir Robin "I can beat the credit crunch" Wales)... but he usually gives my arse a headache!
Hmmm...that's what happen to me every time I hear a Labour politician speak...
Find yourself a good acupuncturist Diz.
It happens to me every now and again, but happily I don't get he headaches. I go blind in my left field and then get the symptoms your link describes as I get my vision back. The first time was the night before I was due to make a best man's speech - I was terrified. Now it's just kind of interesting. I find one thing that triggers it is watching television lying on the floor and looking up - maybe some pressure on a nerve or something.
I don't get the flashing bars, more like an old TV showing static. Starts in the middle, consumes one side of my vision, then clears up followed by a very intense headache. With particularly bad episodes I'd have speech problems as well.
Thankfully I discovered what was triggering them, Fanta Orange in my case. From getting a couple a week, since cutting out Fanta I've had 1 in the last 6 years. I'd recommend anyone suffering migraines check to see if there's a dietary trigger.
Thanks for posting! I'm going to link to this at the Headache and Migraine News Blog - it's excellent.
I know what it's like! It can be a scary experience, especially the first time.
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