[Lara]

When I was younger I used to get classic migraines but these days I am getting many more with just the aura - scintillating scotoma and other sensory issues.

I do have vertigo (post concussion) and wonder if I'm experiencing some type of vestibular migraine especially in light of the fact that last night out of the blue my vertigo was so bad that I couldn't do anything. Next thing this morning bam I'm hit with this aura. Not sure if it's connected or not really. Just trying to figure it out.

I've gone from having maybe one migraine every few months to maybe one a month and now to having 2 this week. When I was younger they were more often. It's exactly the same type of aura as I've had all my life, so nothing changed with that, but I'm trying to figure out what is causing them so often.

Chocolate is a known trigger for me [only certain types of chocolate] but I've had no chocolate.

I've had my eyes checked.

I am stressed to the max so maybe that's the trigger.

I have noticed though that if I am in really bright sunlight for a while and then go into the house where it is less bright, it seems to affect my eyes for a while and I seem to retain blotches or spots and trails of light in my visual field.

Anyone else have this experience with bright light and aura?

[PamelaJune]

Lara, my mum has suffered for years with vertigo and headaches, she is now 83 and currently in hospital. She has had two spontaneous bleeds in the last 8 weeks and had two subsequent blood patches with another scheduled for tomorrow. Her nose leaks continuously with muck running down the back of her throat which they now believe to be CSF. She has photophobia, sun light causes her great distress. She has been more and more anxious over these last months, anything and everything stressed her out. She describes the room as tumbling rather than spinning.

[Lara]

Oh dear. PamelaJune I'm very sorry to hear what is going on for your mother. You've really been dealing with more than is fair yourself let alone having your mum ill as well. I hope the procedure goes well for her tomorrow. Thanks for your reply.

Thinking of you.

[PamelaJune]

Yes it is worrying for us with mum, but with age, we have to expect illnesses don't we.

I cant help but wonder at the comparisons between your symptoms and mums of earlier years. Migraines regularly to the point of having brain scans and then retirement and they abated somewhat. As dad became more ill, mum became more stressed, and her vertigo and photophobia increased considerably. Dad passed 3 years ago and the attacks came more often and with regularity sometimes caused by over activity, Eg lawn bowls, gardening etc. As her anxiety levels have increased even simply scrolling up and down on the computer screen, flickering of the television or fleuro lights trigger an attack and she fell and hit her head two months ago, from that time on she has had the spontaneous bleeds and her condition has worsened. BUT, so has her anxiety levels, I'm beginning to wonder if mum has suffered OCD for much of her life, we used to jokingly call her a control freak. Now with nothing within her control she is stressing about the simplest of things and becoming increasingly irritable and frustrated with no change in her condition. Fear of the unknown is also debilitating.

[mrsD]

Lara, if you use Zantac (ranitidine), I'd stop that for a while and
see if things improve.

I have always had headaches and visual auras (spiral moving
geometric scotomas) from it.

Other H2 blockers don't do this to me. Only Zantac.
There are studies showing that H2 antagonists cross the blood
brain barrier in older patients. Many hospitalized elderly are given Zantac for some reason, and they can develop delirium from it.

http://www.uspharmacist.com/continui...ssonid/105762/

I wasn't even elderly the first time my doctor tried Zantac on me. Didn't last but 2 or 3 days for me!

When I get heartburn now, I use only 200mg of cimetidine. That works for me without any CNS side effects.

[Lara]

Thanks! How interesting. No, I don't take Zantac (or any other medications at present) but I know it also has some potentially bad side effects in the area of movement disorders. I wonder what that's about. It must affect the production of acetylcholine in the gut as well?

I've never had any stomach problems since I had the diaphragm/hiatus hernia operation although from time to time I still take digestive enzymes if I eat the wrong foods..

I'm thinking the increased frequency has been to do with my stress levels although I still haven't figured out the light sensitivity problems though. I do have blue eyes so I'm very sensitive to our harsh sunlight here. I have prescription sunglasses but forget to wear them a lot of the time. I should try to remember and put them on when I go outside.

Thanks for the info and the site.

[PamelaJune]

Mum has been on Zantac? Not sure why though I know she suffers with reflux which worsens with anxiety? I think it's been stopped while in hospital..