OT: Migraine headache = wasted day ...., can't work if I can't see, got a brain I can borrow? :) Options

[MrKona]

Tha visual aura you describe is very similar to my ophthalmic migraines. Lucky for me, my visual sympoms usually last about 25-30 minutes and are followed by a minor headache, nothing like your symptoms.

Regardless, my doctor wanted to rule out anything more serious, so I ended up having an MRI to rule out a mass, and an EEG to rule out siezure. Final diagnosis was migraines.

Your symptoms sound debilitating. Find a doctor that will take your symptoms and treatment seriously.

[neo914-6]

So I get these migraine headaches about once a month...

Hopefully not when I show up with a machining request. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Sorry to hear it Mike, I get a headache occasionally severe enough to prevent me from going into work. It's just another sympton doctors cannot identify a source...

[TINCAN914]

So I get these migraine headaches about once a month...hard to describe but it goes like this:

vision starts to get blurry in just certain spots of my vision field (I can see if I move my eyes around to see past the "spots"), once that starts I have about 10 minutes before the blurriness takes over and everything is a big blur..I can see well enough that I'm not going to walk into a wall, but I wouldn't dare drive and once while cooking I went for my grilled cheese on the griddle I missed and placed my hand on the cooking surface...ouch (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

As for headache pain, once my vision comes back a few hours later, I feel fine until I make any sudden movement (cough, sneeze, bend down to tie my shoes)...then a sharp pain on my right side of my noggin...I stop the movement, the pain stops and so I forget about it until I cough again or do something to startle the brain...this lasts for about 36 hours....I can see fine now, just don't want to make a quick move.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

Someone needs to invent a machine that allows one to let the doctor "experiance" what the patient is going thru....a broken bone is pretty obvious, but you complain of something that cannot be seen or comes and goes and the doctors think you faking it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

anyways, I'm better today, yesterday was a wasted day once the migraine started, luckly Sherryl was at home, but it would have been nice to go into the garage and work on my many late projects......

Mike,

My wife ws experiencing a very similar problem, and does from time to time. She had the same type of issues, until she went to a chiropractor. I am the lst person that would recomend going to one, (no offense) to any members that are Chiropractors, but my wife swears by them. Our old neighbors were Chiro's, and we had a great deal of faith in them. I have heard all the horo stories, including a friend that is in a wheel chair, because of a inept Dr. Find one by referrel. She would go twice a week for about a month, then weekly. She still is going, but twice a month. A different doctor, If she dosen't go on a regular basis, she feels it.

I have reached a point in my life where most medical doctors just pass out pills and move on to the next guy.. Just my .02. Hope you get it taken care of.

[LvSteveH]

For anyone having headaches and vision problems, I hope you've had your blood sugar checked. Those are classic symptoms of low blood sugar. Amazingly many doctors don't check and treat the symptom instead of looking for the problem. Try some hard candy next time you feel a headache coming on, can't hurt.

Home blood sugar meters are available at most pharmacies and online very reasonably, less than $100. Typical range is 80-120 or so.

[Eric_Shea]

Hopefully not when I show up with a machining request.

No... pdf's from me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

[scrz914]

Ocular Migraines. Yep, I've had them all my life. Overcast days or dim offices can trigger them for me. Also caffeine. Mine start with a blind spot and then the "aura", somewhat like a lightening bolt. A real pita when you're trying to drive, golf, read music. Then comes the headache.
When you first feel it coming, take Advil and lay down in a dark room.

[Dr Evil]

I would have never known so manny of you have similar migraines to what I have.

Talk about shitty, they are why I got out of the coast guard and grounded myself from flight status. Cant save folks when you cant see them and there aint no back up out in the helo.

I just had one in the middle of my last final on Fri.....I wonder if I passed.

A couple of thoughts for you all:

Migraines are not well understood. Ocular migranes are one thing, but not all migraines are the same.

I was perscribed midrin in the guard and did not like it. It makes me stoned of my ass in a bad way. I tried imitrex and it was fucking horrible! It made a regularly horrible migraine into the worst in my life. Ask ScottB, he was there.
Modes of delivery also seem to effect how drugs will work. Imitrex inhaled works for some people and for others only IV works.
Cafeine is a large part of most OTC meds. It is used based on the premise that a component of most migraines is vasodilation, but this will not work for some and can exacerbate some migraines.

I wish I had some more definitive data for you all as I have been dealing with ones similar to Mikes, but with more symptoms, for about 7 years. As time permits I will be looking into more reacent data on migraine research and would be glad to forward any info that I find onto any interested parties. Kind of like a medical referance librarian.

Mike, if your doc thinks you are faking then they are a complete ass and you should find another one. I was treated the same way by the docs in the guard (and expect to be getting the same this week from the school). Be a medical care consumer, not a passive recipient.

I wouldnt wish these on anyone (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Mueller]

For anyone having headaches and vision problems, I hope you've had your blood sugar checked. Those are classic symptoms of low blood sugar. Amazingly many doctors don't check and treat the symptom instead of looking for the problem. Try some hard candy next time you feel a headache coming on, can't hurt.

Home blood sugar meters are available at most pharmacies and online very reasonably, less than $100. Typical range is 80-120 or so.

My wife is a diabetic (type 2) and I've used her testing kit before (I felt it was only fair to see how it worked and if it hurt or not....hell yes is does, esp. if you have the little needle set too deep...opps....we got a bleeder, hahaha)

As for the headachs...damn, didn't realize they affected so many people and in so many ways..thanks for the advice and now I have some info to arm myself with when I go back to the doctors.....as for the meds, I'm one of those that don't take anything unless it is totally unbearable like a root canal, even then I only took a few vicadin last time...