Does anyone else here experience ocular migraines or auras?

Question

I have been experiencing them for six months now and am still an emotional mess after they happen. I just would like to know what you experience and how you get through it please. Any words are appreciated. I just want to know I am not alone.

My ocular migraines consist of spinning kaleidoscope of lights and numbness in my face. I also have flashing lights every few seconds that sometimes last almost a week and extreme photo sensitivity. I feel like no one in my family understands what I'm going through. My husband especially tries to be sympathetic but is confused by the whole thing (as am I) and never knows what to say. Thanks.

Answer 1

Oh, man. They suck, huh?  I don't have long lasting one's as you describe, but I do have severe migraine headaches that are PRECEDED bu occular events. For me the occular even is short term and the actual headache lasts 2-4 days.  I get the flashes of light and the weird flickering and extreme light sensitivity for a day or so prior to the actual headache. When it first happened, I was terrified. Thought I was having a stroke or something!  I don't get numbness in my face, but I do get it in my neck and I get weird, crawly sensations on my head and face.  It truly is scary, so don't feel like you're all alone in having some anxiety from it.  It was so bad for me at first that I had to take anti-anxiety medication. That helped tremendously. Now I've dealt with them for several years and it's still annoying, but I've learned to accept that they happen and I'm not scared anymore because I've been thru so many and I know that it isn't anything other than a migraine. The only thing that helps me is to lie in a dark room with a cold washrag over my eyes. I've gotten now to where I don't even take my migraine meds because I don't like the side effects. I do the above and I try to sleep and sometimes.....if I luck out....when I wake up it's lessened substantially. The darker the room, the better for me. I don't know how old you are, but mine began following a hysterectomy at age 33. I'm 42 now and they're still with me, but don't occur as frequently and are not as intense as they used to be. My doctor mentioned that he felt they were related to hormonla fluctuations since I never had them before the hysterectomy.  I do use a progesterone cream (available at any health food store) and have for several years. I attribute that to the improvement I've seen in mine.  Good luck to you!

Answer 2

Yes indeed.  You should have your doctor explain to you what physically happens in your body which trigger these sensations.  It won't change them, but it will help you understand and cope with them.