The Vision of a Migraine

[Guest]

You might call this one of those "ripped from the headlines" threads, except this one should be "ripped from one of my posts"....as I am making a separate thread for something I eluded to in another thread....

I mentioned (in that other thread) my "frustrations" as of late, including stress at work (in more ways than one), trying to decide about buying a house, considering options to move out of IL, wondering what more they'll find wrong with my irregular/too fast heart beats at my appointment this coming Monday (Dec 13), and having some sort of eye/vision problem in my right eye.

It's that vision problem of which I write specifically now.

On Wednesday at work, I turned to my right to an area that had brighter lightening. In that instance, I got the start of what I thought was a migraine headache...ya know, the "visions" you get right before the headache starts.

Except, this time, I never got the headache, per se...and those "visions" have been on and off since then.

[I HAVE called my PCP...Thursday and Friday...but, we have not connected as of yet...he called one time when I was unavailable.]

With the eyes open, it feels as if its the "dots/jagged lines" that indicate a migraine coming on. Yet, when I close my eyes, it appears as a white dot with a "whisp" of a white tail behind it...kind of like the drawings of a shooting star and/or comet. And, the longer I have my eyes closed, that "vision" disappears.

Guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this type of experience....

TIA,
Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 31swm/pig valve/pacemaker
'72/'6/'9/'81/'7, train/models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
MC Guide = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html

 

[geebee]

Cort,
Did you turn or bend suddenly? I used to work with someone who bent over and had a bright "vision spot" appear. It turned out to be the beginning of a detached retina.
Not trying to scare you but you might want to consider seeing an opthamologist just to rule out an eye problem.
I have had migraine lights that lasted a few hours but never ones that lasted a few days.
Smiles,
Gina

 

[Creed3]

Hi Cort!

Hi Cort!

I agree with Gina. You should definitely get it checked out. I get migraines every month and I have the visual disturbances. I have never had the visual disturbances last for days. They usually subside within a half hour or so.

 

[Guest]

Grrr.

I HATE seeing doctors.

OK, maybe not HATE...but, grrrrrr...don't get me started .

*pauses*

OK...yes, I have considered seeing an opthamologist, but I opted to contact my PCP first...in case this may be stress and/or heart related.... Reaching, I know...but, we shall see. Since I'll be off Monday anyway, I will plan to contact my PCP again before we go into Chicago to see the specialist (regarding the heartbeat issues)....then, if I don't get to talk to him, I will call my opthamologists office.....grr....

I should also mention (which I sort of did in the original post) that the "visions" are not constant. In fact, earlier tonight, I was busy with some projects...and not once noticed any visions, etc. And, when I close my eyes for an extended period of time...they go away, too.

*shrugs*

I don't think I can take something else going wrong....

Hmmm...I wonder what causes a detached retina....

*shakes in shoes*

 

[labguides]

Go to an opthalmalogist ASAP. If may be nothing, but it would be retina problem.

 

[strawberry]

I have the exact same thing. It's a flashing yellow lightning bolt off to the side of my field of vision. At an eye appoinment once the eye doctor saw floaters and asked if I saw them and I said yes and I also have these lightning bolt things. He said those are "ocular migraines" which sometimes preced a migraine headache but sometimes occur solo. They last a few minutes to a few hours for me. I finally recently had the experience of a bad headache following the flashes. So, yes, if that's what you have they are a migraine thing.

 

[bobbie416]

While driving one night I turned my left eye to back out of my driveway and saw these shooting lights. Kept going everytime I turned that eye. Next morning. cob web like floaters and stringy things in the eye. Eldest daughter insisted I go immediately to my eye doc against my persisting. Making it short. I had to go ASAP to the retinal specialist. That day I had retinal surgery to correct some holes . THank God I went . If left for too long you can lose your sight in the eye. I survived the exam and the surgery and then went out to lunch with all this goop dripping out of my eye! But was I grateful.

PLEASE go ASAP.. PROMISE??

Blessings,
Bobbie

P.S> I hate going to Dr.'s too. I go WITH everyone- when it comes to me, YUK!!

 

[Sherry]

Oh, Cort, I sympathize. I've had occular "stuff" go on for years since my surgery, but mine usually are just momentary happenings. I guess I've just chalked them up to some sort of migraine phenomena. However, I would agree with everyone else in that, if they're not going away, there's always the chance of a detached retina. Worst case scenario, but it would be worth checking out. Let us know what you find out.

 

[Guest]

*grumbles*

I swear....if one more thing goes wrong, a couple companies will curse MY name.

*rolls eyes*

That's just the thing....they aren't 24/7. They DO go away from time to time. Just got done watching a couple hours of TV...and nothing.

Tomorrow is a "doctor day" for me. First, I go to one of the hospitals here in Elgin to deliver my 24-hr urine sample (to see about the protein levels for the kidney issues), then I will call my PCP, then (depending on time) will call the opthamologist, then head to Chicago to see the specialist about the irregular/too fast heart beats. If I don't have time to call the eye dr before my Chicago trip, I'll call en route home.

Guess after reading your responses, I'm a wee bit more scared now. Helk, if I lose my eyesight, that means I lose the MCs, then...well, I suppose Chevy would breath a sigh of relief.

Heh...Sorry, that will NOT happen while I'm still alive .

Me, bitter? Oh, hecka no.

I do appreciate the replies....I'll let ya know what I find out....

 

[gijanet]

Momma hen.............

Momma hen.............

can only give a resounding, "YES! Go get it checked out..........and NOW!!" I'm so sorry, Cort, that you are having to deal with yet one more thing, but if something is going on, better to catch it early. You know I will be worried, so do it soon. SEnding hugs and you're back in my prayers. Love ya. J.

 

[tommy]

Cort,

Get it checked out. that it happened following a "sudden" motion, sounds like it could be something other than migraine. Best wishes.

When I started having those flashes (20 years ago), my PC said it was precurser to migraines and suggested Aspirin (Tylenol only, now please) before the headache (and thus the headache seldom arrived). He also suggested that the sytmpoms were from excessive coffee drinking. I cut back for a while and 4 years ago quit caffeine entirely (except for chocolate). The flashes haven't happened in a long long time.

Let us know.

 

[Marguerite53]

Here's the thing....

Here's the thing....

Cort. It could just be a migraine that has decided to change its character just to annoy you and to let you know (like a slap upside the head) that you are taking on way too much stress for your own body to handle. Bodies will do that.....they'll try to stop you in a sneaky way.

OR -- it could be something very serious having to do with the retina as others have described. The fact that it is only happening in one eye is the clincher for me. Mine always travels to the other, even if it is less, or very slowly. Makes me suspicious that it is not a migraine.

Blood pressures can exacerbate retinal problems. My mother's blew out (retina) because of her (years of) high blood pressure (she was told). She got it repaired (emergency) but (and she's 80) it's messed with her depth perception pretty badly,making it tedious to maneuver some everyday things (like stairs and threshholds to doorways).

PLEASE don't hesitate. Make it a priority. Would you ignore a paint scratch on one of your cars? No. You wouldn't want it to start rusting or get worse . Give yourself the same pampering and attention!!

Marguerite

 

[catwoman]

Cort:

I never had optical migraines until 2 days post-op MVR. Asked the surgeon about them while I was still in the hospital and he didn't quite understand what I was talking about. Asked my dad while I was recuperating at my parents and he said he's had them for some time, even saw a neuro-ophthalmologist. Not much can be done.

Mine come and go. Haven't had one in several weeks now (that's bad luck! will probably have one today between now and my annual ophthalmology exam at 4!!!). I am extremely nearsighted, so I am at risk for retinal detachment and am concerned that the "art deco" designs I see in the right field of vision aren't perhaps something more than benign optical migraines.

My eye doc says he's gotten panicky calls from patients who have pulled over on the side of the road during an attack, not being able to see.
An optometrist friend told me the OMs can result from disrupted blood flow.

Hope what you're having is an optical migraine, not something more serious.

 

[MelissaM]

If it does turn out to be migraines, you might ask for some sort of prophylactic medication. As posted earlier, I suffered from various visual disturbances for six months and headaches (that I attributed to sleeping wrong - hah!). The visual disturbances were pretty regular - maybe five days per week - and would come and go at will.

The neurologist (one of my top five fave docs - he was great!) put me on a prophylactic dose of amitriptyline and I've felt like a new woman ever since. It was one of those situations where I didn't know how bad things were until I started feeling better.

Good luck - hopefully, this will be one of your lesser medical problems!

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Cort,

So sorry I missed your post. Have been running on high...not a moment to spare.

Have been struggling with opticals and full blown migraines for years.
In the past.......I have had 2 complete neurological work ups. Including CT scans of the brain.

Then we checked the eyes. Inferred pictures are a wonderful diagnostic tool. Have a great guy right here is town. If you would like his info....just drop me an email.

Turned up zip in all three cases.
Couple months ago I gave up my two cups of coffee in the AM. Went from having 2-4 events a week. To maybe 1-2 a month. Big difference.
If you are consuming caffeine. See if you can break the habit. It may work!

 

[Guest]

*cues up TG Shepherd's _Party Time_ and begins playing CD*

"dadadadadada Oh, oh, it's party time, dadadaaaaa"

*stops song abruptly*

Well, good news and bad news (especially for you mother hens)

Good news:
The tachycardia (sp?) episodes are few enough that we are going to try a Beta Blocker to assist in resolving those issues. I am not in these episodes 24/7 like I was a year ago. Excellent! The pacemaker in me is simply to avoid from the heartrate going too slow. So, the Beta Blockers should assist in keeping it from going too fast. I have another pacemaker check in about 3 months. But, no episodes were recorded from my November to December appointments, so that's nice . The specialist told me that the Beta Blocker should also have the effect of calming me and reducing my BP. She also mentioned (as does the info leaflet I received with the medication) that the Beta Blocker should help with any migraines I have. Hmmm...and, no, I didn't tell her about what was going on with the eye. Why? Well, I didn't have any of those "visions" today, until on the way home.

Bad news:
I have not contacted my opthamologist yet. I exchanged Voice Mails with my PCP, so I'm hoping to talk to him before I contact the opthamologist. However, if they come back during work tomorrow, I'll call right away....

Indifferent news:
The specialist I saw today indicated that the episodes I had appear to have been stress-related. In other words, they were not directly caused by stress, but triggered by stress. I'm not sure what the difference is, but whatever . I told her how, during my 2-week road trip, I felt great, but before and after that trip I haven't felt so great. She said that the Beta Blockers should help some with stress. Guess we'll see, eh?

*sighs*

Now, if only some of my other issues would work themselves out, too....

And, wouldn't ya know it, a friend told me today that I might be less stressed if I had a gf. Right. Maybe, but I'd also be less stressed if I had a job I liked with people I liked, and if 2 companies (who will go unnamed....lol) weren't ripping off fans and buyers .

*pauses*

And...I ddddoooo sssoooo appreciate your responses and support .

 

[Abbanabba]

Hey Cort, I'm glad to see things have been going well with the ticker and your pacemaker has had some time out Hopefully the BB's will help with the rest, then you should be unstoppable! (heh heh).

Meanwhile - you're a little bugger for not getting your eye checked out!!! What is it with guys and doctors? My partner has had an intermittent pain in his side for months now and has been refusing to get it checked out (..so I've booked him an appointment for tomorrow and am making him go!..). Seriously Cort, if it's nothing, then at least you know, and if it's more serious then hopefully you can get it sorted out before it's too late.

JUST DO IT!!!!


As far as your job.... see if you can get some pictures of your colleagues and a dart board....... I guarantee you'll get some stress relief..!


Cheers
Anna : )

 

[Guest]

As far as your job.... see if you can get some pictures of your colleagues and a dart board....... I guarantee you'll get some stress relief..!

*keels over laughing*

I think you just either busted my gut or shot my BP way up .

I like that idea ... thank you!!!!

*pauses*

As for seeing the opthamologist, yes, I probably will book an appointment anyway. Since I didn't have anything until after hours today (funny how that works, isn't it? things will act up...until you can't talk to anyone...lol), I didn't see the point of trying to tell them about something that wasn't there....yeah yeah, I know.

Grrr...I'm so tired of having to take vacation time to see doctors.... Hmph...that pisses me off.

*rolls eyes*

 

[epstns]

Hey, Cort -- Could it just be a loose ground wire to the instrument panel? Uh-oh, wrong system. . .

Anyway, as the others have scolded you -- get it checked out ASAP. A friend's husband had some intermittant problems and he, too, was diagnosed with the beginnings of a detached retina. Office visit, doc was able to do laser surgery in the office, and a couple of days later, all was well. Another wonder of modern medicine.

Be good to yourself. Maybe the opthalmologist can see you at the end of his scheduled day or a Saturday. Mine is near work, so I schedule a 5 PM appointment and just leave a few minutes early from work to get there.

 

[Guest]

Hey, Cort -- Could it just be a loose ground wire to the instrument panel? Uh-oh, wrong system. . .

LOL!

Yes, it's something like that .

Alrighty...I did call the opthamologists office today. I will be calling again tomorrow to figure a time to go see him. He thinks that it is only a migraine, based on my exam from last December. But, he understood my concern and told me to schedule something this week, except he is already booked. So, we shall see....