aura migraines....or symptoms there of - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

Antha · 12-10-2004, 09:25 AM

Hello everyone. I'm wondering if anyone can expound on what and aura migraine is. I have had severe and debilitating migraines all my life so I'm quite familiar with them. I have had an incident that I'm actually really asking about here. I've had it happen a couple of times but not very often.
A little background on my migraines.....I usually have a headache EVERY day. period. most times I can control them and they won't blossom into a full blown migraine. I take a high blood pressure medication, Atenelol, that is suppose to help prevent the migraines as well and most times it does the job good. Doesn't get rid of the everyday headache but at least it really decreases my actual migraines considerablly. (side note: I have very bad eyesight and wear glasses/contacts. my vision is bad enough that were it not correctable, I would be by numbers legally blind)
So yesterday, I had a slight headache sitting at my right temple. Took some Aleve and got to where I normally am where I don't really notice them but they are still there and let me know with a twinge every once in a while.
Then suddenly I see a light spot in my vision. (really don't know if it and the headache are related at all but....) The only way I know how to help describe this 'spot' is....if you look to the sun or at a light very long and then you look away you see what is commonly called 'sunspots' . It was very similar to that. It was a little spot right in the center of my vision (no colors other than white light style) about the size of a pea. When I moved my eyes to a different location it would move with them. I covered one eye and then the other to see if it was eye specific....and I could see the same spot with either.
It started to grow and the outer edge of it was kinda sparkly like a strobe light (which normally make me sick). It finally got large enough that I could see through it which was nice cause the center of it was clear vision. However, the edges of it were still flashin' like a strobe. It continued to grow till it faded at the edges of my vision and then I felt a lil foggy but I could see again and a few minutes later I was fine again.

Any ideas? suggestions?

Thanks so much!

llw03c · 12-10-2004, 06:19 PM

thats exactly it: a migraine with aura. the "spot" is the aura. i've had tons of them...for me they're usually triggered by exercise. it sucks when it happens because once you start to see the aura, you know you're in for some intense pain. the worst thing is when it happens when you're away from home and you know your bed is so far away. i don't have much to add here. you can do a search on the threads in here and find what i've said before on the topic and what others have said.

Antha · 12-10-2004, 08:53 PM

Oh thank you so much llw03c! I took your advice and did a search here for migraines with aura. Wow! Found alot of info and that I was not alone. This is the first I've heard of Migraines with no pain. I have a bit of research to do now to learn more on them. Thanks again!