Occular Migrane

[indysteel]

I agree with Malkin that you need to rule out a stroke. I've had ocular migraines myself but never experienced anything but visual disturbances. No tingling in my extremeties. No loss of speech. No ill feeling.

[OakLeaf]

I had a migraine episode once. They called it "acephalgic" which I guess is more generic than "ocular," even though all I had was the visual disturbance. It was like there was a line through one of my eyes and the halves of what I saw were offset, if that makes any sense - like it was a photograph that someone had cut more or less vertically and put the pieces next to each other but not matching. Yeah, they had to rule out stroke. That's when I found out I was allergic to IV contrast.

Actually, once in college I had a really awful headache. Took a couple of T3s to tone it down. After I had the acephalgic migraine, I got to wondering whether that might've been a migraine headache. IAE those are the two events I've had in my 52 years. Let's hope it's all.

But I agree - with disturbances in the sense of touch and in strength I'd definitely rule out stroke/TIA. Sooner than later, as in go to the ER if you haven't already talked to your doctor...

[Catrin]

I have ocular migranes, just visual problems but none of the other symptoms you mentioned. I just get flashy lights/aura that starts in the center of my vision and eventually expands. I agree with the others that you should be checked out just in case something else is going on.

[ny biker]

Feeling very tired before and/or after a migraine was pretty common for me for years.

I've had the shimmery blind spot, sometimes as a precursor to an actual headache but often as the only symptom.

But never any numbness or tingling anywhere. That would send me to the neurologist right away.

[malkin]

Hey Roadtrip, call your doctor, ok?
Like now.

[Melalvai]

I get an aura where I lose part of my field of vision. Across the blank space is a jagged thing. One time I googled "migraine art" and saw several renditions that were exactly like mine. I told my dad that, because he gets the aura too, and he picked his aura out too-- his is different than mine. Isn't that fascinating!

Usually I also get a splitting headache but not always, and anyway it is the vision loss that is scary.

One time when I had one of these migraines I couldn't remember some of my words. I was trying to say I needed to heat up my lunch and all I could come up with was "feed". It sounds a little like heat and it was to do with food. But the word "heat" just wasn't quite there. I did go to a doctor. They said it was a mild ischemia-- a mini stroke. They didn't seem too worried about it.

My biggest concern was that my grandmother died of a brain aneurysm but it turns out there is no link. In fact it's beneficial to have a history of migraines because if I ever do get an aneurysm I'll know that it's not a migraine, which is what it is commonly mis-diagnosed as.

I don't think you need to feel too worried, but it is important to get it documented in your health history. So I also advise seeing a doctor, for that purpose. Just don't let them bully you into taking medications that you don't need.

[colorisnt]

This sounds like a complex migraine. I get them. I got the first one I ever had 3 years ago. I woke up in a daze with a terrible pain and the inability to move one of my arms and legs (right side of my body). My best friend and sister told me I had to go to the ER. They found me like that. I was terrified. I can understand why you are scared! Definitely see a doc and get checked out. They did a CT and then cleared me. I'm lucky it was just a migraine.

I'm currently sitting here with aura waiting for the worst or the best if my meds kick in, ironically.

I am hoping you see someone that can help. Not much has worked for me, but definitely get it checked!