Has anyone ever had an ocular migraine? I had my first (and up to today only) a few years ago. It started with a blind spot that developed in one of my eyes and a few hours later, I had a debilitating headache that lasted several hours. I'd never had a migraine before and I thought I was either going blind or had a tumor. My friend told me that it was called an ocular migraine.
I hadn't had one since, but just a few minutes ago, the telltale blind spot has developed in my vision. I'm seriously having a hard time even typing this. Is there anything I can do to prevent the headache from coming? Tonight is NYE, and we have plans to celebrate with friends, and I just do not have time to be laid up in bed for several hours in pain. I just drank several glasses of water and took some ibuprofen to hopefully prevent it, but wondering if anyone else had any advice?
Thanks!
Thank you, everyone. I am feeling much better. I feel this one was shorter than the last, but maybe because it was less frightening because it wasn't my first time. Also, I'm sure the water helped. I will need to stock up on aspirin and Alka Seltzer just in case it ever happens again.
Take some extra strength tylenol and go to bed. That is what a friend of mine did every time he got a migraine. If he didn't do it fast, he would lose his vision for a while.
Good luck, J..
Dawn
You can't take aspirin after Ibuprofen, but next time, take aspirin right away... along with caffeine (or just an Excedrin which is Tylenol, aspirin and caffeine together) and you might avoid the headache.
The doctor explained to me that the neurological symptoms (in my case, blind spots that grow, nausea and numbness on one side) come from blood flow being constricted to an area of the brain. The headache actually comes when the blood flow is RESTORED and it all goes rushing. The quicker you can get the blood flowing again (aspirin thins blood and helps this) the less the headache will hurt.
I used to get cluster migraines I thought I had a brain tumor. But I like to do homeopathic things and went to a local Chinese guy and haven't had any kind of headache in 15 years. If interested email me back and I can explain further
In addition to the water and ibuprofen, rest in a dimly lit room that is quiet. That is the only thing I have found to help my migraines and that is only if I catch it very early. I get the ocular migraines about once a year or so, but am lucky in that I don't have the painful headache afterwords. I hope this works for you!
I immediately take Alka-Seltzer...and I do mean right away. Also if I am somewhere where the sun is bright...even if it's in my living room....sunglasses. Another thing that is good is Goody Powders.....I have it all on my kitchen counter just waiting...and some in my purse. Couple days ago I got the blind spot...it went away in an hour...no headache came. I have been having them since 11th grade...it seems if you get the headache...nothing you can do but lay down in a dark room with ice on the back of your neck....even though they say get outside and take a walk...sometimes it will disappear...sometimes it won't. But I sure feel for you when it comes on.
My husband used to get them all of the time. His peripheral vision would start to go first and then the pain would start to come until he almost couldn't see a thing. He'd take Tylenol and go lay down, 4 hours later, he was fine.
Then, he met me....I wanted to know WHY he was getting them, not just stop it. I wanted them prevented. Once they starting coming on, I'd rush him to the chiropractor and the headache would stop dead in it's tracks, but it didn't retreat....just stay where it was...but at least it didn't escalate, as usual.
Finally, one day, he almost killed us, when he pulled out into traffic RIGHT IN FRONT OF A CAR! I was like, "Are you crazy?" He said he never saw the car coming, even though it was a straight shot for a mile. He dropped me off at the market to grab a couple things and when I came out within 5 minutes, he had parked and motioned me to come to him. He told me a headache was coming on...which is why he didn't see the car coming. I had been with him ALL day and I asked how much water he had drunk. He didn't know. I took calculation: NONE. He had a cup of coffee, 2 Cokes and mexican food. Dehydration anyone? I dumped about 40 Bioplasma (for electrolyte balance, etc) by Hylands in his mouth and got him adjusted (we were next door to the chiropractor) within the next 10 minutes. His headache was gone within 4 minutes of the adjustment.
No more ocular migraines!
I have migrains regularly. The sooner you take something for it the better. Before my dr put me on perscription meds for mine I would take excedrin. You don't have to get the excedrin migrain it's all the same they just change more. I still use is sometimes if I am out of my meds. Also you might try drinking something with caffeen in it. When I went to the ER when I had a spinal head ack they gave me an IV with caffeen in it cause it helps the blood vesles shrink back up. If I can and feel it comeing on I will get like starbucks if I am able to cause that is strong and lots of caffeen. Excedrin has caffeen in it too. If you don't have it on had but have asprin take it and drink caffeen.
Keep track of when they come on and how long they last. My dr said that if my son had more than 5 I think a month to go in and she would see if he needed something to take regularly. Keeping track of it you can show them how often they are coming.
Good luck and God Bless!!!
I've been having these frequently. At first indications (blind spot) I drink a cup of coffee or tea... this caffeine is more forgiving than the caffiene in Excedrin. Also, analgesics/aspirin, (not ibuprofen or aleve or tylenol) are recommended.
If you go online, you can find lots of the triggers for these migraines. I began having them when I was twenty after an accident I was in which tweaked my neck/back. Had them through boot camp... it was brutal. The doc there put me on a niacin/aspirin regimen, so talk to your doc about that. The niacin will make you flush if you are physically exerting yourself, but it got me through a grueling ten weeks back then.
Good luck.
