"flashing light" episodes, just read something

[Nancy]

On another board, I just read a thread that indicated that flashing light episodes could come from the brain not having enough oxygen, and/or low blood pressure.

Just thought I would mention it because so many people have those.

It was from patients, so nothing official. But, maybe something to explore.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

BINGO!

BINGO!

"or low blood pressure"

That may be my case. Next time is pops up.... I will take my blood pressure! Thanks Nancy.

PS. I do know hormones play a role. Though, the correlation between pressure and hormones? Interesting. Doctors don't know what to tell us other that it's migraine with or without "Aura".

 

[tommy]

I had "flashing lights" in the first few days after AVR surgery. The nurses didn't seem too interested in my reports of them. The surgeon dug in a little deeper with his questions, but never got to root cause.

The lights reminded me of "piture in a picture" on a TV screen. The lights were in one quadrant - usually lower right.

They went away about the time I stopped taking morphine. Never had them again.

 

[Ross]

I'm just air headed. That's my excuse and I'll stand by it.

 

[fyrfytr]

I saw a lot of flashing lights before my surgery, but that was when I was on duty at the fire house. lol

Dave
_______________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[Les]

'Saw 40 of 'em, flyin' in formation"

Jack Nicholson - "Easy Rider"
___________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[MelissaM]

I'm just air headed. That's my excuse and I'll stand by it

Air headed (V.) - past tense of the verb to air head

Time to turn up your oxygen, Ross (and be a true "air" head)?

 

[Ross]

If I go too much higher, I'll have to get another system in here.

 

[KimC]

I'm trying to think of a comeback but can't. My brain is oxygen-starved.

I see stray stars on occasion that are incredibly bright. I saw a lot of them during the pregnancy, and my OB joked that I was star struck. I didn't laugh but maybe I ought to have.

Thanks, Nancy.

 

[ccrawford]

I happen to be an amateur astronomer. With the responses you guys have provided so far, and the additional variables provided by our galaxy and universe, My interpretation of the things I may see in my telescope starts to become totally uninterpretible, and thats before I start nippin on the Tennessee sour mash !!!! Hell, the only symptom I don't have is LOW blood pressure. Oh well, maybe I'll just enjoy what I see, and leave the interpretation to somebody who has to be accountable for something. Chris

 

[Jane]

I am still getting quite a few meteor-like lights floating across my field of vision. My blood pressure does tend to be on the low side too. Also loads of migraines still. I had been hoping they would go after the avr.
Thanks for the info.

 

[hensylee]

Jane - I can't recall if you said in your original post whether you had had your eyes checked. I have had recent eye surgery and they gave me a pamphlet about flashing lights and floaters. They said if one sees flashing lights suddenly that have not been there, one should call the doctor right away. It could be something with the eyes, too. Let us know what they find. Ann

 

[Heather Fisher]

Strange, I have always had flashing lights and/or a feeling of pressure at times on my left eye. I used to really worry about it until a Dr. told me it was a visual aura w/out a migrane. They increased just after my surgery but are now down to old presurgery levels. I used to think I was an anomaly but it's nice to share in the company of others........

Heather

 

[Jane]

Hi Ann, I have had the "meteorite showers" since my avr. They seem to be worse when I am tired. The rehab nurse said to check with the optician as well, so I will make an appointment as soon as possible. Thanks for your concern. How are you feeling now after your latest op??

Jane x

 

[JetService]

I've gotten both the meteor showers and the 'picture in a picture'. Its like TV snow in about 1/3 of my vision. But these are nothing new to me as I'm hypoglycemic and get them with episodes of low blood-sugar. The low-glucose-induced version almost always leads to migraines. But so far, not the ones since my AVR. Two other symptoms I've experienced just today: After arriving home from lab work, as I was getting out of the car, my left bicep went totally numb. Under my leather coat it felt like someone wrapped something around my arm. After taking my coat off and shaking my arm a bit, it came back. I wonder if my coat pinched circulation while getting out of car. Also, this morning, I had some sort of non-heart related back pain attack. It was intense, knocked me on the couch for a few minutes in agony and took my breathe away. It almost felt like a cramp in my back muscle. It was on the right side about wear my kidney is. Youch!

 

[Nancy]

Back pain's pretty common. While operating, they pin your arms back till their almost touching so they can get into your chest. It can cause back spasms for a while. I think people have found that gentle massage helps a little. But some folks have had this no matter what, for some time.

If it's bothersome anymore, run it by the surgeon or your card.

 

[hensylee]

Jane - surgery went well - no cancer. Caught pneumonia while there, but got over it. but they did something to my hip and I have trouble walking - always there is pain. I woke up last night making some loud noises and my cat came running to see what was wrong with me. She meowed and rubbed her nose all over me to give me comfort. Have been seeing an orthopedist who gave me cortisone shots, but he's not touching the original injury. Neither he nor my primary think anything happened during surgery, but it did!

Also had 2 cataract surgeries. Didn't know what I couldn't see! So if y'all see an old person driving, get out of the way. He/she might not know they don't see you well! The surgery is a true miracle, tho. I am sitting here w/o glasses! Only need them for TV. And, well, driving!

 

[Jane]

Good to hear you are on the mend, Ann. You have had a really rough time, on top of your heart problems. My Dad had both his cataracts done in the last 12 months and he too is amazed with the difference it has made to him. He still drives everywhere at the grand age of 84, and is still one of the best and probably the most courteous drivers I have ever been driven by.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Quetlin-

Just tell your doctor, surgeon and anesthetist about your experience with morphine-like things. Either they can figure out a substitute or give you something for the nausea.

Others have mentioned this problem, maybe they'll see your post and respond as to what kind of solution they had.