odd discovery during migraine

Jenny P · Mar 31, 2002

Maybe the pain is changing your sense of color? Or your perception of color?

Mary Dover · Mar 31, 2002

I empathize with you on the migraines. I have been having them ever since I was in 8th grade, the first of which was a classic - with visual disturbance, nausea/vomiting, and excrutiating pain.

Have never had one as bad since then, thank goodness. But the kind I get now are weird. They mostly involve my eyes. The only way I can desribe it is like losing complete peripheral vision. That ususally lasts for about 45 min. or so. As it starts to correct, there appears to be little squiggly lines everywhere. By this time, the headache starts, but it is never a severe headache. Sometimes, if I am really stressed, I can experience these episodes as frequently as several times a week, even several times a day, if it's really bad.

I don't worry about it anymore. A few years ago, when they became so frequent, I went to the doc, concerned I had a major problem, had a CT scan (which was normal) and followed up with a visit to an opthamologist, which turned out ok too. At the time, my home had been broken into, for the 3rd time in a year. I lived alone with my son, and had started sleeping with my gun by my side in bed. Made a decision to get the heck out of there.

So now, when they become more frequent, I stop to take a look at my life, to see what stressors there are that I can change. Positive change can certainly help alleviate them.

mcruss · Mar 31, 2002

Mary,

Your post could have been my own. Except mine started w/in the last year or so. However, this past week-I've been getting at least one a day. It starts with the loss of peripheral vision, then the zig-zaggy rainbow lines.......then the headache minutes later. But it's only the front of my head that hurts. Then, as quickly as it came-it disappears. (usually a half-hour or so).

I'm 31, and was wondering if maybe my hormones were out of whack-or maybe I was peri-menopausal.??

Tricia

whipping girl in 07, RN · Apr 1, 2002

Although I empathize with all the migraine sufferers who've posted, I'm so glad to know I am not the only one! I have the same loss of peripheral vision and I had talked to my doctor and optometrist about it, who recommended I see an opthomologist, which I never did due to lack of vision coverage on insurance. I can certainly see where a lot of our patients are coming from when delaying health care, since I do the same thing.

When my migraines first started, I was 21 and my doctor also thought it was hormone related. Turns out I was working in a "sick" office (mold infested) and when I quit the job, the migraines went from 3 or 4 a month to 3 or 4 a year, sometimes less. I have noticed they have been increasing since I moved to Louisiana, and my allergies have gotten to the point where if I miss a day of my Allegra, I am miserable, and if I miss two days, I have a migraine! (Which is what kept me in bed this AM.) I have found that missing sleep and being under a lot of stress contribute to my headaches as well. So when I get one, I also look at what's going on in my life. Right now I've been working on our taxes (stress) and getting used to night shift (lack of sleep) and the weather has been damp (allergies!) so my headache, while not welcome, was definitely not a surprise.

This turned out to be way longer than I intended. Sorry! But I am totally hooked on this BB!

ClariceS · Apr 1, 2002

I also notice vision perception changes with my migraines. I wasn't diagnosed until I started getting visual aura (loss of right sided vision then the squiggly lines) when I was seventeen but my doctor and I both believe I have had them since about age 5 or 6. (Classic childhood symptoms include relief of the pain after vomiting - sympathetic nerve response). Actually had to have a CT scan due to the fact that I would completely lose vision in my right eye and right sided vision in my left.

During the last few months, my aura has changed to right facial numbness. :eek: That was absolutely terrifying!!! I thought I was having a stroke the first time it happened - and I am only in my early 30's. My doctor did assure me that changes in aura do happen and since I didn't develop any other symptoms I kinda got used to it. Still isn't fun.

I just went off birth control this month (trying for the baby) and I am hoping that helps a bit. 2 migraines so far but like I said, this is only the first month. (Regularly 3 - 4 /month).

All the best to other migraneurs.

galenight, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2002

Had another migraine today and I noticed the same deeper blue in my eyes. But I also paid attention to other colors around me wondering if as Jenny P suggested, it was my perception of color, and nothing else seemed distorted. You know, I wish none of us had these darn migraines. Ya gotta wonder if the enviornment and dietary changes as a whole isn't at least partly to blame since there are few historical accounts of widespread headaches, such as there is now. Of course the availability of media and communication contributes, but it still seems to me as though headaches are much more pervasive. And Clarice, I can see how the numbness would be frightening. I've experienced facial drooping .. mostly just an eyelid at times, but it actually FEELS like my entire face. I've consulted about this too, and was assured it wasn't a TIA. The worst part, is I've seemed to have passed this on to my 9 year old daughter. She's had migraines now for about 6 months. She actually had two in one week last month. I'm taking her to a new pediatrician on the 15th and will hopefully get a neuro referral. Probably migraines, but just have to make sure. My mother had them, and my sister has them. Best wishes to all, and lets hope for a migraine free week!