I was typing a survey early yesterday morning at work, feeling just fine, and suddenly I lost the vision in my right eye. Mostly, from mid view through my peripheral vision, had the effect of the rotating blades of a ceiling fan. And I was weak and shaking all over, my hands got cold and clammy, actually I got cold all over, felt nauseous. FREAKED me out. I got dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out - you know how it feels when you are getting ready to faint? When everything is like a blur and buzzing? My eye physically felt weird, sort of like pressure, just mainly uncomfortable. For the next 30 minutes I tried to think of what other *conditions* it could be, and I've never had that with a migraine. I got scared because I was alone at work, and I thought if I passed out or died, no one would know. LOL So I called DH and he took me to the ER.

My blood pressure was up, and they did a head CT to rule out an opthalmic stroke - THAT scared the heck out of me. Then, the intern we had, who was WONDERFUL, BTW, walked us over to an opthamologist who saw me right away, and she dilated my eyes and checked the nerves and looked at the back of my eyes and checked for glaucoma. All those those were negative, thank God. But now I have to go tomorrow for an ultrasound on my carotid, basically due to my blood pressure and diabetes issues. And more blood work.

They are saying they think it was a migraine. I didn't realize that migraines changed *patterns* over your life. The typical aura I've always gotten is the flashing/flickering light thing, and a burst of energy, feeling of euphoria just before one hits me. And I HAVE been getting them more frequently the last year. So it didn't occur to me that this could have been the aura. The vision loss lasted about 2.5 hours, THEN the headache came, though it wasn't nearly as bad as my normal migraines. However, last night, it was definitely a migraine in full form.

I'm obviously glad that they *think* that's all it is, but it's really freaky that those symptoms could change so dramatically and suddenly.

So..........my question to all you migraine sufferers is: What is the typical aura you get before a migraine??? And how long do those symptoms last? And if you've had migraines for a long time, have any of the things about them changed as you got older?

I'm feeling foolish and pretty irritated with myself, quite frankly, for going through these expensive tests/ER, etc. for a migraine. But, I truly was afraid of a stroke.

Any input guys????? TIA!

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 08:43 am:

I have no experience with migraines, but holy cow, Karen! Scary! I'm glad you called your DH and went to the ER. {{{HUGS}}}

By Sandysmom on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 08:47 am:

((((((((((((Karen))))))))))) You did the right thing. Expensive or not, you are worth it. Oddly enough, I've only had one migraine. I was at the grocery store and happened to run into a friend and was talking to her and suddenly the outer part of my right eye got real blurry. It was like wavy lines in the corner of my eye. I mentioned something to my friend and she said I was probably getting ready to have a migraine brought on by a hormonal imbalance. I don't know about the hormonal imbalance but it did turn out to be a migraine. I've never had one since. I'm glad your's wasn't more serious, but sorry to hear that you were in pain. (((hugs))))

By Marcia on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:23 am:

My mom has that type of migraine, and it very rarely gets to the headache stage. It started later in her life, and the doctor called it an incomplete migraine. She was never a migraine sufferer before that, but it's been going on for many years now.
I think you were wise to go have yourself checked out, and you have no reason to feel foolish!! Hopefully it was a one time deal for you!

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:35 am:

OMG!!! That would freak me out also.I have no advice as I've never had a migraine.I hope you get it figured out (((HUGS)))

By Kaye on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 10:00 am:

I have had auras, but not like that.

Let me encourage you to get an MRI if the carotid comes back clear. What they are looking for is plaque build up that "passed" behind the eye and interupted vision. However you do have several other vessels in your head that could cause the same issue.

Not to scare you, but the reason I know anything about this is my step mom had the same thing happen. She also went to the er, then to the eye doc, had her carotids checked out. The difference is she was a cancer survivor (cancer free 8 years). Anyway, when she went for her reg oncologist appt, he wondered why they didn't do an MRI to check the other vessels (she too was told bad migraine). So he order and MRI and she had mets all through out her brain.

Anyway, don't take a loss of vision lightly. It could be a migraine, but you never know.

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 01:04 pm:

(((Karen))) How scary!!

By Nicki on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 01:22 pm:

Karen, I'm so glad you had the tests done. You aren't foolish at all. I hope you're feeling much better today.

By Beth on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 01:28 pm:

That is scary. Hope you are feeling better today and you don't have to go through that again! ((hugs))

By Kernkate on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 01:31 pm:

{{{Karen}}} Hope you are feeling better. I can imagine how scary it was for you.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 01:39 pm:

{{{Karen}}} Very scary, I'm sure! I hope you're feeling better.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 02:00 pm:

Wow, that had to have been scary. I think you did the right thing, by going to the ER. (((HUGS))))

By Cocoabutter on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 06:50 pm:

With all the other health issues you got going on, I wouldn't take this lightly. You have the right to demand certain tests, I believe, so if you are not satisfied with "We THINK it was a migraine" then I would get a second opinion or demand more tests.

Good luck.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:19 pm:

Karen, don't feel silly about going to the ER it was the right thing to do. Anyone would have been freaked and scared with those awful symptoms! Thank goodness they ruled out anything very serious.

I hope you feel better and that never happens to you again!!

By Kim on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 09:24 pm:

Karen, could it have been brought on by a drop in blood sugar? I experience some of those symptoms when my blood sugar drops really low. I do not know why this happens to me yet. Not the eye part though. That would have scared me too! I hope you are feeling better and I hope they find an answer for you soon!

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 01:31 am:

What in the heck is going on with us??? Hope all is well and you are not a fool... I would have been freaked too..

Big hugs Karen..

By Karen~admin on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 07:44 am:

Thanks. I don't think it was blood sugar. I've been really careful to eat 3 regular meals a day, plus small snacks, to keep it level. I had breakfast about an hour before this happened. I'm thinking more and more it *was* a migraine, because it is still here - just finally easing up. In the past I've had migraines that lasted for days. I thought those days were history. LOL

I went to work yesterday, but came home @ 2 and went to bed. Feeling better this morning, but my head *still* hurts, and I have that ultrasound this afternoon.

On a good note, Jen's biopsy of the mole was clean!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Vicki on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 07:52 am:

Good luck with your ultrasound and yippee on Jen's mole. Great news!!

By Cat on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 07:59 am:

Great new on Jen's mole!!! Keep us updated on the ultrasound and everything else. I havn't had a migraine for a while now, but I do have the visual disturbances before. If I pop tylonal, advil and sudafed right away it usually helps a lot. Good luck and hugs!

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 09:41 am:

Great news on Jen... Keep us posted..

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 09:45 am:

That's great news for Jen! Good luck on the ultrasound.

By Debbie on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 09:47 am:

{{{Karen}}} glad you are feeling better today! What a scary experience. I hope everything goes well with your ultrasound. And, great news about Jen!

By Marcia on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 09:54 am:

So relieved to hear about Jen!!! That in itself should help your headache!! I'm sure the stress was doing nasty things to you!!