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Visual migraine

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Northerner

Northerner

Admin (Retired)
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I've been for my eye test (sight, not retinopathy) this morning - first time in 6 years 😱 On the whole things are pretty good and haven't changed that much since my last one: eyesight a bit worse but that's about it.

Whilst I was there I asked her about the strange problem I have experienced on a few occasions over the past few years, which my GP couldn't really explain. Basically, my vision goes all weird, a bit like looking through a kaleidoscope, and I feel very light-headed and woozy. This takes about 5010 minutes and then I feel back to normal. The optician immediately identified it as a 'visual migraine'. I've never heard of these before, and always assumed that a migraine manifested itself as a blinding headache, but apparently you can have a visual migraine that doesn't come with any pain. I'm glad I know what it is now, as it won't be as scary should it happen again! Aparently ift can be caused by a number of things, but often stress, tiredness or eating certain things can be triggers.

Just thought I would mention it as others might have them and not realise what it is 🙂
 
Hi Alan,
I had a series of these last year! Didn't understand what they were for a while until optician explained, used to make me feel sick too. Had them occasionally since and they make me feel a bit weird but at least I know what they are!!

Take care

Shirl x x
 
Hi Alan, I suffered from these for a period of about a year, the more I had them, the more I stressed and worried, thus causing even more. In the end I was admitted to hospital so they could do 'tests' including a lumbar puncture (very painful) since then, I've not had any, suppose that was because I got rid of my stresses 'ex marriage'
 
Yep I've had several like this
 
shirl said:
Hi Alan,
I had a series of these last year! Didn't understand what they were for a while until optician explained, used to make me feel sick too. Had them occasionally since and they make me feel a bit weird but at least I know what they are!!

Take care

Shirl x x
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It was scary - thought I was having a mini stroke or something! BG and BP both fine when it happened. Good to know what it is should it happen again! 🙂
 
When I had two of mine the visual changes weren't as strong but the "weird" feeling was so 111 recommended that I went to A&E to make sure that they weren't mini strokes. Very scary.
 
I occasionally get them.The first time was when I was working for a property company. I'd been in a newly painted flat checking out a tenant, and the kaleidoscope/flashy/buzzy effect started all round my peripheral vision. I had to sit in the car for twenty minutes after I got out of there before it settled down enough to be safe to drive. I assume that was an allergy to the paint fumes, but I've had them since and not been able to pinpoint a trigger.
 
I get the visual disturbance bit of the migraine without the headache quite often, sometimes I get visual disturbance and then the headache if I'm really unlucky. Mine were diagnosed years ago as migraine...did you know that you can also get abdominal migraine as well, all caused by the same thing, never had one of those but apparently they are common in children who develop traditional migraines in later life.

They are scary I thought I was having a stroke the first time, now I know it's not quite so alarming. Incidentally I find drinking a strong coffee helps it clear or taking paracetamol with caffeine added, but for some people if caffeine is a trigger it makes it worse. Hope you don't get too many!
 
KookyCat said:
I get the visual disturbance bit of the migraine without the headache quite often, sometimes I get visual disturbance and then the headache if I'm really unlucky. Mine were diagnosed years ago as migraine...did you know that you can also get abdominal migraine as well, all caused by the same thing, never had one of those but apparently they are common in children who develop traditional migraines in later life.

They are scary I thought I was having a stroke the first time, now I know it's not quite so alarming. Incidentally I find drinking a strong coffee helps it clear or taking paracetamol with caffeine added, but for some people if caffeine is a trigger it makes it worse. Hope you don't get too many!
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Yes, the optician suggested coffee might be a trigger, but I rarely drink it. I've had maybe 4 or 5 over the past 3-4 years, so they don't happen a lot. Mine tend to be in the mornings, so I'm guessing the most likely reason is tiredness from lack of sleep. Can't imagine what an abdominal migraine might feel like! 😱
 
Northerner said:
Yes, the optician suggested coffee might be a trigger, but I rarely drink it. I've had maybe 4 or 5 over the past 3-4 years, so they don't happen a lot. Mine tend to be in the mornings, so I'm guessing the most likely reason is tiredness from lack of sleep. Can't imagine what an abdominal migraine might feel like! 😱
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my daughter used to have abdominal migraines. She just felt sick, usually all night, and sufficiently badly to spend the night kneeling in front of the loo, poor girl. until I realised, I kept racking my brains trying to think what she might have eaten, or whether she was swinging the lead hoping for a day off school. Luckily she seemed to grow out of them in her teens, rather than progressing to full migraines.
 
Robin said:
my daughter used to have abdominal migraines. She just felt sick, usually all night, and sufficiently badly to spend the night kneeling in front of the loo, poor girl. until I realised, I kept racking my brains trying to think what she might have eaten, or whether she was swinging the lead hoping for a day off school. Luckily she seemed to grow out of them in her teens, rather than progressing to full migraines.
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Sounds horrible :( Glad to hear she has grown out of them 🙂
 
Well, there you go, I'm having one right now! Can hardly see to type this, but at least I know what it is now 🙂 Off to rest my eyes for a bit 🙂
 
I hope that you recover quickly from it
 
Hi All - long time no post, I've reverted to my lurking mode..........

I've had odd spasms of 'visual migrane' for the past few years. My Doctor and Diabetic Nurse were less than helpful, and merely referred me to my optician, both inferring that they knew 'nothing about eyes' - typical, I'm sorry to say....

The optician however reassured me that the vision migrane was nothing (in my case anyway) to worry about, was likely caused by tiredness or some other unidentified trigger, but to go back to him if the problem persisted, which it hasn't. I mentioned it to the people doing my annual diabetic eye checks, who explained that it was not diabetes related, and reitterated the optician's comments......

My vision is slowly deteriorating, but I am assured, purely on an age related basis.....

Heigh ho......
 
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