No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have this?
Hi! I'm just wondering if anyone is having an experience similar to mine. I am 25 years old and had my first migraine at 12 and they were a constant occurrence through puberty. Once puberty ended I had them very rarely, but could instigate them through lack of sleep or certain stimulants. My issue is that I have constant blind spots in my eyes as well as flashing lights that are very brief or longer lasting (if i am physically exerting myself). I am functional with the blind spots, as in I can still drive, but they are constantly there. I have gone to the best of the best neuro-opthomologists at Stanford, UCLA, annnnd UCSF and they all say my eyes are perfectly fine. Though I do have chiari 1 malformation they said it would not affect my vision. Sorry for the lengthy explanation, but what I am getting at is that could I just be having migraine aura symptoms constantly without getting the accompanying deathlike headaches that I used to get? It's been very rough for me thinking that I am going blind for half my life and I have felt this way since I was younger when the blind spots first became noticeable (which happened to be around the time my migraine issues started). Anyone out there have constant blind spots with no actual eye problems? I have literally seen specialists for each part of the eye to rule out my actual eyes being the problem, but I'd like to be a little more convinced that its my migraines rather than a more complex brain issue since it can't be my eyes. Appreciate any insight, thank you.
Re: No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have thi
Have you considered preventative medication for migraines. It appears you are suffering auras without headache. I have this sometimes but I can go totally blind during auras. Fortunately this does not last too long. That said with medication I can go longer between headaches but I still have auras without actual headache pain. I hope this makes some sense, I am currently having some issues today.
Re: No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have thi
I have something similar, and have had it for years. I ended up coming to the term "Perpetual migraine aura (without infarction)". For me its just blind spots, zigzagging lines, and something that can only be described as a grainy television. MRI verified that my brain is structurally intact, no tumors, no tissue compression or fluid blockage etc. I have to assume its something neurochemical, perhaps even epigenetic. Serotonin would be the first thing I would guess to look into.
Have you had any neurological tests? EEG / CT / MRI?
Re: No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have thi
Last August my daughter that was 17 years old at the time lost her central vision. It started out when she was at a party with some friends. She came home and told me she felt like something was in her eye(right). That was a Friday night and all day Sat she kept complaining, by Sunday she was telling me it was in her left eye too. That evening she ran to taco bell and called me saying she couldn't see anything. She has blind spots that have never went away. She has seen doctor after doctor and specialist after specialist and still can't seem to find the problem. She was severely iron deficient when this began. In the beginning one doctor thought it was conversion disorder but 3 months later we found she had some sort of mass in her retinas. The left eye still had some swelling but the right eye didn't and the retina specialist told us he felt damage was permanent. He sent us for a second opinion and they said they thought she dray have damage on her macula or some sort of infection or inflamation that has damaged this area. She has always been a healthy kid and I don't understand why they can't figure out what's wrong and try to fix this. I feel there is something we are overlooking. The first night in the emergency room they did treat her for migraines but it only made her sick.
The following user gives a hug of support to Tates: tingles (05-21-2012)
Re: No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have thi
Quote:
Originally Posted by Acetyl
I have something similar, and have had it for years. I ended up coming to the term "Perpetual migraine aura (without infarction)". For me its just blind spots, zigzagging lines, and something that can only be described as a grainy television. MRI verified that my brain is structurally intact, no tumors, no tissue compression or fluid blockage etc. I have to assume its something neurochemical, perhaps even epigenetic. Serotonin would be the first thing I would guess to look into.
Have you had any neurological tests? EEG / CT / MRI?
Wow, it's just really relieving for me to know I'm not alone, so thank you. Yes, I've had multiple MRI's and CT scans and every eye test imaginable, all negative results. Why do you think serotonin? The interesting thing is that I had bad OCD as a child so at 11 years old they had me taking medicine for it and always switching them around until I finally stopped at 16. I wonder if all those meds (which I know hit on serotonin) had an effect on me. Also considering my first migraine was at 12, but that could just be puberty related. Any medicines you recommend? or anything?
Thanks
oh and i also know exactly what you mean by the grainy tv description -- i have that mostly in my very center vision when i focus directly on something.
Re: No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have thi
I get the same vision loss on occasion, usually months apart. I suffer migraines and yet usually do not get the vision issue coincident with the migraine. Occasionally I get aura's and my left eye seems to go almost blind, not always together though. It can create problems for depth perception. Usually goes away after a 1/2 hour or so. Had MRI's and nothing found. If I watch my diet , alcohol consumption , avoid caffeine I seem to get much fewer events of this nature.
On the topic of migraines I always get a few days of them in the spring when the trees bud and again in the fall just after first frost. Seems allergies play a big role in my migraines whether it be something I breathe in or food, booze etc..
Re: No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have thi
Hi Welcome to the Headaches and migraines health board! I hope the needed comfort is found here! I used to get migraines often but they stopped when I stopped using the Monosodium Glutamate, food additives, desserts, artificial sweeteners and all types of chemicals in the diet or even medicines. Admittedly I also changed my lifestyle.
Re: No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have thi
I also have blind spots in both eyes but different places in each eye, although one overlaps in both so I can now see it with both eyes open. It started out a couple of months ago with changes in skin sensation, mostly on left side which gets worse in shower. Then started getting dizziness for most of the time but worse in afternoon and evening.
The numbness is now nearly gone but dizziness and blind spots remain and maybe getting worse. I have had MRI and lumbar puncture which both came back normal but a small bleed was found in each eye (although a second opthalmologist only found it in one eye).
Don't know what this could be :S
The following user gives a hug of support to 88Girl: sjb (08-05-2012)
No pain migraine with constant 24/7 blind spots and flashes? Anyone else have this? 
I used to get migraines often but they stopped when I stopped using the Monosodium Glutamate, food additives, desserts, artificial sweeteners and all types of chemicals in the diet or even medicines. Admittedly I also changed my lifestyle. 
