Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
Hi All,
A few hours ago, (while I was eating lunch), I had a visual aura of sorts. It started as sort of a squashed oval, off center, and slowly expanded outward. When it happened, I was trying to read Dr. Cannell's article on the Epidemiology of Influenza, and as the pattern passed over the center of vision, of course, I could no longer read the words. Interestingly, so far at least, it hasn't been followed by a migraine, so I'm not sure what to think of it. In fact, I had two of them. The first one lasted about 20 to 30 minutes, and about 20 or 30 minutes later, another one appeared. The second one didn't seem to last quite as long, though.
Looking it up in Wikipedia, it appears that I had an acephalgic migraine, (a variant of migraine in which the patient may experience aura symptoms such as scintillating scotoma, nausea, photophobia, hemiparesis and other migraine symptoms but does not experience headache). I had the scintillating scotoma and photophobia, but no nausea, hemiparesis, or any other migraine symptoms that I could detect. It was present in both eyes, (whether they were open or closed), so I assume that means that the effect was due to abnormal functioning of portions of the occipital cortex, at the back of the brain, rather than the eyes, themselves. I'm not sure what that was all about, but so far, over a couple of hours have passed, and no headache, or repeat of the aura.
Back when I was reacting, of course, I often had bad migraines, but without auras. Those, of course, were accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, etc., and were totally debilitating. Unless I preempted them, by taking Tylenol early on, before the symptoms became severe, they would sometimes last for two or three days, so it didn't take me long to learn to try to nip them in the bud ASAP. I haven't had one of those, though, since I've been in remission.
I had never heard of a migraine without a headache, though, until I looked this up. I'm just wondering if anyone else here has ever experienced anything like this.
Love,
Tex
Acephalgic Migraines - Anyone Else Ever Have Them?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Acephalgic Migraines - Anyone Else Ever Have Them?
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex, I do get these type of migraines. I also get the usual kind with pain on the right side of my head and sometimes on the lower back right side of my head.
The weird thing is I usually don't get the auras with those "usual" migraines. I have often been in the middle of reading or some normal activity and I'll start seeing a little flashing crescent or zigzag line (reminds me of lightning) It will expand and sometimes sparkles so much I have trouble seeing. When I'm reading, it's like some of the lines have disappeared. They seem to last about 20-30 min. and then vanish. Sometimes I'll have a mild headache afterwards or nothing. My husband has these auras, but he usually gets a bad migraine afterwards. Very interesting how different we all are. Hope you're feeling better, JoAnn
The weird thing is I usually don't get the auras with those "usual" migraines. I have often been in the middle of reading or some normal activity and I'll start seeing a little flashing crescent or zigzag line (reminds me of lightning) It will expand and sometimes sparkles so much I have trouble seeing. When I'm reading, it's like some of the lines have disappeared. They seem to last about 20-30 min. and then vanish. Sometimes I'll have a mild headache afterwards or nothing. My husband has these auras, but he usually gets a bad migraine afterwards. Very interesting how different we all are. Hope you're feeling better, JoAnn
Hiya Tex,
I've never experienced anything like this, but I have heard of it. I think it's fairly rare (like less than 5% of migraines) and is most likely to occur in people who had the "regular" headache type of migraine at an earlier time. So, it sounds as if you fit the description. It definitely sounds like acephalic migraine, but just to be sure, please run it by your doc. It doesn't really sound like a TIA (transient ischemic attack) but your doc should make that call, IMHO. As Rosann Rosanna-danna said "it's always something!" GEESH! Any more problems since lunchtime?
Love,
Polly
I've never experienced anything like this, but I have heard of it. I think it's fairly rare (like less than 5% of migraines) and is most likely to occur in people who had the "regular" headache type of migraine at an earlier time. So, it sounds as if you fit the description. It definitely sounds like acephalic migraine, but just to be sure, please run it by your doc. It doesn't really sound like a TIA (transient ischemic attack) but your doc should make that call, IMHO. As Rosann Rosanna-danna said "it's always something!" GEESH! Any more problems since lunchtime?
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
JoAnn,
That sounds pretty similar, all right. I'm kind of puzzled by the way that mine "cycled" twice.
Polly,
I have to admit that a TIA did cross my mind, especially after the second occurrence, so just to be on the safe side, I took an aspirin, a few minutes after the second "episode" started. I did note, though, that there was absolutely no confusion, weakness, lethargy, nor loss of function of one side of the body, nor was there any difficulty speaking, and no numbness or tingling, either time. If there had been, I would have made arrangements to get to the ER, of course. The momentary inability to read, was not caused by blindness, but by the scintillating scotoma pattern covering the words in the center of vision. Everything not covered by the scotoma, appeared normal.
I even got up and walked around, and checked everything out, just to make sure that everything was working normally. I had a CBC about a month ago, and the red cell count and platelets were normal.
I reckon I will mention it to my doc, though, the next time I see him. Rosann Rosanna-danna was right, of course, it is always something. LOL. 10 hours have passed, and nothing more has happened - so far, so good. Thanks for your concern.
Love,
Tex
That sounds pretty similar, all right. I'm kind of puzzled by the way that mine "cycled" twice.
Polly,
I have to admit that a TIA did cross my mind, especially after the second occurrence, so just to be on the safe side, I took an aspirin, a few minutes after the second "episode" started. I did note, though, that there was absolutely no confusion, weakness, lethargy, nor loss of function of one side of the body, nor was there any difficulty speaking, and no numbness or tingling, either time. If there had been, I would have made arrangements to get to the ER, of course. The momentary inability to read, was not caused by blindness, but by the scintillating scotoma pattern covering the words in the center of vision. Everything not covered by the scotoma, appeared normal.
I even got up and walked around, and checked everything out, just to make sure that everything was working normally. I had a CBC about a month ago, and the red cell count and platelets were normal.
I reckon I will mention it to my doc, though, the next time I see him. Rosann Rosanna-danna was right, of course, it is always something. LOL. 10 hours have passed, and nothing more has happened - so far, so good. Thanks for your concern.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Definitely!! I have had several over the years. Some were like a round bubble in the center of my vision when I was trying to read. I had 2 or 3 that looked like heat waves. Once when I was on a golf course there was a large, lighter green circle on the grass in the distance whenever (and wherever) I looked up. Sometimes my vision would just be sort of like looking at the surface of disturbed water in bright sunlight. I'm not sure if that conveys what I saw to other people.. It was just weird and shinny. I would sometimes feel a little queasy and take something for a headache if that happens. Otherwise there are no other symptoms.
I used to have many, many headaches and some migraines when I was younger but by the time I was about 30 (I think) they pretty much went away and sometime after that the visual disturbances started. I haven't had one in quite some time now though.
My Mother has symptoms more like this (which I took off a website - http://www.headache-migraine-release.co ... raine.html ) - A visual change or an aura in reference to acephalgic migraine is described as flashing or scintillating light. It has a “zigzag” or “fortress like” appearance. - She gets the "zigzag" type light in her vision. She also gets a headache afterward but can take something for it when she gets the aura and the headache won't develop.
Another thing that has happened to me is "smelling" something that isn't there such as new mown grass or watermelon. I think that is connected somehow.
Once I asked an opthomologist about the "heat wave" episodes and he simply confirmed that there are such things. "Silent Migraine" or "acephalgic migraine" - he didn't seem very concerned about any of it.... probably because it wasn't happening to him. HaHa
Love, Shirley
I used to have many, many headaches and some migraines when I was younger but by the time I was about 30 (I think) they pretty much went away and sometime after that the visual disturbances started. I haven't had one in quite some time now though.
My Mother has symptoms more like this (which I took off a website - http://www.headache-migraine-release.co ... raine.html ) - A visual change or an aura in reference to acephalgic migraine is described as flashing or scintillating light. It has a “zigzag” or “fortress like” appearance. - She gets the "zigzag" type light in her vision. She also gets a headache afterward but can take something for it when she gets the aura and the headache won't develop.
Another thing that has happened to me is "smelling" something that isn't there such as new mown grass or watermelon. I think that is connected somehow.
Once I asked an opthomologist about the "heat wave" episodes and he simply confirmed that there are such things. "Silent Migraine" or "acephalgic migraine" - he didn't seem very concerned about any of it.... probably because it wasn't happening to him. HaHa
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
I did a search on "aura" on our site. This thread started out about "floaters" then went to "auras"
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... light=aura
Please let us know what your doctor says about them, Tex.
Love, Shirley
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... light=aura
Please let us know what your doctor says about them, Tex.
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
Mornin' Tex!
You did absolutely the right thing - taking an aspirin when you wondered about a TIA. Of course, I am not at all surprised. LOL! I would bet anything that it is an acephalic headache based on your description of the symptoms.
However I am acutely aware of TIA because my dad had one. Only one. He was sitting at his desk at work and suddenly experienced a black, ever-narrowing concentric circle that closed inward until he could not see at all for several seconds. He had no other symptoms at all. He was treated successfully and followed by a neurologist for 11 years until he died from something else (colon cancer). The good thing about TIA is that it can be easily treated so that an actual stroke never occurs.
Anyway, I'm glad that you will mention it to your doc - it should be noted on your record at least. Glad to hear no further problems.
Lots of love,
Polly
You did absolutely the right thing - taking an aspirin when you wondered about a TIA. Of course, I am not at all surprised. LOL! I would bet anything that it is an acephalic headache based on your description of the symptoms.
However I am acutely aware of TIA because my dad had one. Only one. He was sitting at his desk at work and suddenly experienced a black, ever-narrowing concentric circle that closed inward until he could not see at all for several seconds. He had no other symptoms at all. He was treated successfully and followed by a neurologist for 11 years until he died from something else (colon cancer). The good thing about TIA is that it can be easily treated so that an actual stroke never occurs.
Anyway, I'm glad that you will mention it to your doc - it should be noted on your record at least. Glad to hear no further problems.
Lots of love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Hi Tex
I've had quite a few of these over the last ten years or so. I had regular migraine headaches for a short time in my 30s. They went away after a year or so, to be replaced by sinus headaches.
The opthomologist explained to me that these episodes are the result of the material of the eye drying out and starting to shrink as we age. Some of the material separates from the socket and the flashing lights occur during that period of separation. He indicated to me it was not a huge issue so long as nothing happens with the retina during the event--the jagged flashing light event. Don't know if he was right or not, but that is what he told me.
Hope you are doing better.
Susan
I've had quite a few of these over the last ten years or so. I had regular migraine headaches for a short time in my 30s. They went away after a year or so, to be replaced by sinus headaches.
The opthomologist explained to me that these episodes are the result of the material of the eye drying out and starting to shrink as we age. Some of the material separates from the socket and the flashing lights occur during that period of separation. He indicated to me it was not a huge issue so long as nothing happens with the retina during the event--the jagged flashing light event. Don't know if he was right or not, but that is what he told me.
Hope you are doing better.
Susan
Thanks everyone,
I appreciate all the insight and information.
Shirley,
I've read about smelling things that aren't there, during episodes, and even hearing voices or other sounds that aren't present. I didn't notice anything like that yesterday, but in the past few months, I have smelled things that weren't there on a few occasions, and wondered what was going on. Maybe I was having an episode then, and the aura, (if present), was so faint that I just didn't notice it.
Susan,
I haven't seen an ophthalmologist in several years. I have had drusen for many years, (decades), and obviously, various eye diseases can cause auras - maybe I should schedule an eye exam. Thanks for posting that information.
Polly,
Gee, but I hate to have to go back to see my doc again. I've seen him twice in the past 30 days, first for a followup on a CBC, and a couple of weeks later, for a followup on a prescription. He's gonna think I'm a hypochondriac.
Love,
Tex
I appreciate all the insight and information.
Shirley,
I've read about smelling things that aren't there, during episodes, and even hearing voices or other sounds that aren't present. I didn't notice anything like that yesterday, but in the past few months, I have smelled things that weren't there on a few occasions, and wondered what was going on. Maybe I was having an episode then, and the aura, (if present), was so faint that I just didn't notice it.
Susan,
I haven't seen an ophthalmologist in several years. I have had drusen for many years, (decades), and obviously, various eye diseases can cause auras - maybe I should schedule an eye exam. Thanks for posting that information.
Polly,
Gee, but I hate to have to go back to see my doc again. I've seen him twice in the past 30 days, first for a followup on a CBC, and a couple of weeks later, for a followup on a prescription. He's gonna think I'm a hypochondriac.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex
I have suffered from classical (aura) migraines for over 20 yrs and get serious aura...flashing lights, colours and other symtoms as well...Sometimes I see white lights around peoples bodies...although its disabling some of the lights are quite pwetty...
I hate it most when im trying to read something and take a full blown attack. Ive got to lie down in a dark room because external lights blind me..and make my head hurt...I also get a metallica taste in my mouth and feel extremely tired in other words wacked ..
heres a few pics to explain what i mean..
now these are real close to mine if not identical...
I have suffered from classical (aura) migraines for over 20 yrs and get serious aura...flashing lights, colours and other symtoms as well...Sometimes I see white lights around peoples bodies...although its disabling some of the lights are quite pwetty...
I hate it most when im trying to read something and take a full blown attack. Ive got to lie down in a dark room because external lights blind me..and make my head hurt...I also get a metallica taste in my mouth and feel extremely tired in other words wacked ..
heres a few pics to explain what i mean..
now these are real close to mine if not identical...
Angy ;)
Angy,
That's very similar to what I saw, except that there was only one "circle" of light, and it wasn't centered on any particular object, (it started left of center), and it wasn't brightly colored - in fact it was kind of plain, but it was loaded with shimmering lights, (kind of like dozens of tiny mirrors, tied to the rim of a slowly-expanding circle, and quivering in the wind). The circle slowly expanded outward, until it got to the edge of vision, and then it went away.
Do you always get a headache afterwards? I was a little sensitive to light, while it was happening, but it wasn't really serious, (it didn't cause a headache). Now that you mention it, I did seem a little tired afterwards, but again, nothing serious. I guess I had a mild event.
Thanks for the info,
Tex
That's very similar to what I saw, except that there was only one "circle" of light, and it wasn't centered on any particular object, (it started left of center), and it wasn't brightly colored - in fact it was kind of plain, but it was loaded with shimmering lights, (kind of like dozens of tiny mirrors, tied to the rim of a slowly-expanding circle, and quivering in the wind). The circle slowly expanded outward, until it got to the edge of vision, and then it went away.
Do you always get a headache afterwards? I was a little sensitive to light, while it was happening, but it wasn't really serious, (it didn't cause a headache). Now that you mention it, I did seem a little tired afterwards, but again, nothing serious. I guess I had a mild event.
Thanks for the info,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex
if i dont take cocodomol effervecent i will get an unbelievable headache which starts with a dull ache, then piercing pain in the temples. it then moves on to total pressure all over my head...like someone is hitting me with a mallet lol!!
I dont take any of the migraine drugs cos they give me side effects and i am worried about the long term damage they cause...i take the cocodomol effer...because it is dissolved in water and reaches my blood stream real fast. rather than tablets which would take ages and by that time i would have a full blown attack.. This enables the blood flow to thin out in my brain faster... because when a migraine attack occurs the blood flow slows down and becomes thicker..the cocodomal thins it out pretty fast
I saw a neurologist a few years back due to my migraines and also with what happened to my mum...He was amazed that i had coped with this on my own for 20 odd years...He sent me for a brain scan bcause my mother had a rare birth mark on her brain...kind of like a growth but it doesnt grow..she never knew she had this until one day she took a sabbacheroid heaomoragge and was operated on immediatly or she would have died..Anyway she survived the brain operation in 1994 and then it led to her getting epilepsy quite bad. ...it then happened to her again 5 yrs ago and it killed her in her sleep..
The funny thing is my migraines are just like my mums were and the onset started approx at the same age. The neurologist didnt find that i had the same as my mum so i was relieved there but still have to deal with these migraines...I have to say though since i stopped eating gluten i dont get as many...god i was getting 2-3 a day.. I have to wear reactolite galsses because of the sun as my eyes are photosensitive to light...
if i dont take cocodomol effervecent i will get an unbelievable headache which starts with a dull ache, then piercing pain in the temples. it then moves on to total pressure all over my head...like someone is hitting me with a mallet lol!!
I dont take any of the migraine drugs cos they give me side effects and i am worried about the long term damage they cause...i take the cocodomol effer...because it is dissolved in water and reaches my blood stream real fast. rather than tablets which would take ages and by that time i would have a full blown attack.. This enables the blood flow to thin out in my brain faster... because when a migraine attack occurs the blood flow slows down and becomes thicker..the cocodomal thins it out pretty fast
I saw a neurologist a few years back due to my migraines and also with what happened to my mum...He was amazed that i had coped with this on my own for 20 odd years...He sent me for a brain scan bcause my mother had a rare birth mark on her brain...kind of like a growth but it doesnt grow..she never knew she had this until one day she took a sabbacheroid heaomoragge and was operated on immediatly or she would have died..Anyway she survived the brain operation in 1994 and then it led to her getting epilepsy quite bad. ...it then happened to her again 5 yrs ago and it killed her in her sleep..
The funny thing is my migraines are just like my mums were and the onset started approx at the same age. The neurologist didnt find that i had the same as my mum so i was relieved there but still have to deal with these migraines...I have to say though since i stopped eating gluten i dont get as many...god i was getting 2-3 a day.. I have to wear reactolite galsses because of the sun as my eyes are photosensitive to light...
Angy ;)
Angy,
I'm sorry to hear that your mother had that problem, but I'm glad that you don't have it - the migraines are bad enough.
I haven't had any more of those migraines with the severe headaches, in years - not since I finally got all the gluten out of my system, over five years ago.
Are your eyes photosensitive all the time, or just during a migraine episode?
Tex
I'm sorry to hear that your mother had that problem, but I'm glad that you don't have it - the migraines are bad enough.
I haven't had any more of those migraines with the severe headaches, in years - not since I finally got all the gluten out of my system, over five years ago.
Are your eyes photosensitive all the time, or just during a migraine episode?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Angy,
IMO, that's additional proof that gluten crosses the blood/brain barrier, in some cases. Not everyone has neurological effects during a reaction, but I'll bet that a high percentage of those who do, also have migraines.
Tex
IMO, that's additional proof that gluten crosses the blood/brain barrier, in some cases. Not everyone has neurological effects during a reaction, but I'll bet that a high percentage of those who do, also have migraines.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.