Hey everyone. If you have ever experienced flashes or zig zag lines or black dots in your eyes followed by a strange smell or sensation in your nose and than a doosy of a headache you are not crazy!!!!

I though I was losing my mind. It seemed I was constantly experiencing this. It was driving me absolutely crazy. I use reading glasses so I thought maybe it was time too have them checked. I had the most thorough eye exam ever that literally took about 2 hours. When all was said and done it seems I have what is known as Migraine Aura.

Yup - that's what they call it. Now I don't always have the migraines after these visual sensations come along but as it turns out you can have both. Doctors call it Migraine Aura With Headache or Migraine Aura Without Headache.

Now I am not suggesting that you will get this from RSD. In fact it may have nothing to do with RSD, but it is something to consider if you experience any of these symptoms. These Auras are a pain in the buttocks. The flashes of light before my eyes are usually the first indicator that they are starting and shortly thereafter the black spots usually come one. I don't always get the strange smell but my nose does feel funny.

Just thought I would pass this info along since my Doc (eye doc) says that alot of the time a person gets misdiagnosed with something else.

Chin Up and All The Best! Mark

I had something similar - Dr called it an optical migraine, years ago, totally out of the blue one day at work.

It was flashes of lights , sparkles, a dizziness, blurry vision going in /out - lasted about 20 minutes- but I was nauseated and totally wiped out afterward.

i see fireworks. another strange pre migraine symptom i have is odd speech. i will mix up word in a sentance. almost say it backwards. my family is good at catching this. it helps for me pop an excedrine migraine before it hits.

i'm glad you got an answer mark. we do think you are a good kind of crazy still.

I've had migraine's for years and the first sign that one is coming is the vision disturbances you describe. First I have zig zaggy lines at the edges of vision and then it moves to blackness in the center of whatever I'm trying to focus on. That lasts around 20 minutes and then the pain starts. The vision changes are a good warning so that I can take tylenol right away.

Here's hoping you've had your last migraine!

I've had the aura without headache for about thirty years and RSD only ten.

I get it only about every year on average and it lasts only 15 minutes to half an hour. When I first got RSD the frequency increased dramatically but now I'm getting it less than ever since getting the migraines.

I get a sense of discomfort with them but the real problem is that I usually can't see straight. Anything in my direct field of vision appears kalaediscopic.

Caffeine tends to bring it on more than anything else but there are other triggers for me.

And thanks everyone for confirming it for me!

All of you are right that it is a annoying discomfort with all kinds of added issues like nausea, dizziness, etc. I wonder sometimes If maybe I P****d off the Big Guy... or what?????

I try so hard everyday not to feel angry or want to pity myself. I always remember that there is someone out there having a much worse day than me. But I do in fact get angry and upset in spite of how hard I try not too. I guess it is human nature. Well thank you all for the reassurance!

Chin Up! Mark

This is kind of random, but have you recently obtained a new pair of glasses or a new prescription for you contacts? I started having terrible migraines complete with auras and throwing up soon after I got a new pair of glasses. Turns out the place where they were made put in the wrong focal length! So my glasses were like little migraine machines. So just something to check . . . Also, medications like topamax and neurontin can really help with headache symptoms if they are debilitating. I never have headaches anymore- one of the few perks of topamax!

Lynn

ty lynn. this is really important to double check for kids too.

lil'monkey( 14 yr old) thought she just had to get used to her new rx. nope. they had messed up.

Hi Mark,

I've had occular aura migraines for about 3-4 years now. Scared the bejeebers out of me the first time it happened as I was driving down the interstate at 75mph and all of a sudden couldn't see but half out of one eye..

I've noticed these "migraines" don't always have the accompanying headache with them... the come on very sudden for me with the smells, vision probs, dizziness, nausea, vertigo, etc...

No rhyme or reason but never had them prior to RSD. I do get them frequently with RSD flare-ups but not always.


Abbie

my doc calls it 'occular migraines'.......never had it till i had rsd......and it happens far more often when i'm stressed......some of the weird sensations that come with this could make anyone doubt their own sanity.

mark, if you're crazy, sounds like u have lots of company.