Hi Peter. You could be me talking honest, I get the same aura, I've only been getting them for 6 months and get them every other day or 3 times a week ish, been to doctors and seen eye specialists, they say my eyes are fine, so like you convinced I have tumour, thank god for google, I am 43 with a family and business to look after, been thinking I'm fucked... Cheers ant
I've had a few of these as well. They hit me every four or five months or so. The symptoms are exactly as Peter described. I work in an office and you can imagine the anxiety when words start disappearing as you are trying to read. The zig zag shape always follows. It pulses with a white light, flickers, stretches out and grows larger. Drinking a coke or eating a doughnut seems to help. Sugar seems to fix it up. I will try drinking water or having a Gatorade next time. Thanks very much Peter.
this is me!!!!!! the exact same symptons as me n ive started since may getting auras every single day :( no migran thankfully these days but they cripple me when i have them but im getting 3 auras a day n docs r trying to find right meds for me :( ruining my life
A thousand thanks for sharing your story. I feared I was having a stroke or something like it. I thought of migraine, but I had no headache, so I discounted that idea and went back to stroke. Quite an unpleasant experience, but tolerable knowing it is not a threat to my health. Thanks.
I have suffered with migraine aura for about 12 years now sometimes don't get it for months, then i have for or five in a couple of weeks. always get a heavy head after i think it could be dehydration as other people have said. weirdest one while i was dreaming and i could see the aura in my dream woke up and there it was.first one ever had scared the crap out of me
Thank you for making this video Peter. I get the aura as well, but I get the big headache that lasts for two days. I'll be honest, I'd rather just take the headache the aura just destroys me!
I get this once in a while, and mentioned it to my optometrist, who diagnosed it as a visual migraine, without using the word aura. In my case it usually lasts about 10-15 minutes or so, and there are no other symptoms, just the "scintillating" blind spots. A bit annoying but not impairing, and hopefully not developing further...
I have the same condition as you are describing. I get like a crescent shape or reverse C of jagged flashing black and white lines. It lasts about 15-20 minutes. It starts out very small and then grows until it's outside my field of view. It's like if you were in a tunnel and it's far away and as you approach it gets bigger and then finally you are passed the aura. I've been having them for at least 10 years and every time I can remember the aura is the same shape.
@wsock32dll, I recently find that I have migraine, and now actually understand what people with migraine are suffering. You have migraine for 10 years,, wow how do you put up with this pain. teach me please.
Peter - I have heard of similar things related to the high/low pressure within the eye. Hospital eye departments are able to check this pressure very quickly (eg a simple brief test)... perhaps worth requesting from your doctor..? Of course I'm no doctor myself... ;-)
My first migraine aura was 20+ years ago. I rushed to my Optometrist as I thought I was going blind. He immediately diagnosed it as an optical migraine and assured me that I was not losing my vision. Since then I have them 4-5 times per year. And each time I can confidently associate it with low blood sugar. The aura episodes last approximately 20-30 minutes and are accompanied with very slight nausea and dizziness. My remedy is to drink a glass of Orange Juice and wait it out.
I 've had these for 2 years. The first 1 I had scared the crap out of me, I was working and I thought I was hallucinating, felt like I got drugged. I had been dealing with anxiety problems for years, so you can only imagine the fear going through my head when this first hit me. I've had about 5 of them total & finally found out what they were about a year ago. I get them whenever I fast, usually about 3 days into fasting. The key is to start slamming water, mine go away in about 5 to10 minutes.
I have the same thing. Its like an Alien disease that hits me 3 or 4 times a year. They are weird. They shut you down for about a day.I usually go to the shower to calm me down when it starts. i need to stop smoking. Prob wouldnt help though. We are prob special people and our brain is evolving and expanding. Duh winning
I get the same thing, Ive been suffering from migraine with aura for about 18 years now. My case is very classic. Out of nowhere I start to have vision problems, I get a blinking bind shield that grows, then either my right or left hand will go numb, and I wount be able to speek of understand the simplist thing. This all happeneds about an hour before the pain. Once the pain starts its at it worst for 6-8 hours, but the pain doesent completely go away for about 2 days.
I've just begun to have those symptoms from about a year ago. I've got the headache version. Every thing is fine with my brain as it seems. Although I have a small excitability to rapidly blinking light from the EEG, the MRI returned nothing.
I've noticed it's onsetting when I'm getting frustratred, more precisely when I try to rationalize and trake control of my angers. "Letting go" helps, but it's no way of living a social life. I've never had headaches in my life. I'm 28. Good luck to all.
I have the same exact thing. Since I was 10 years old, I get it at least once every 6 months, but sometimes as frequently as 3 times a week. No headache. I always wondered what it was until about '95 when I first started using the internet, I was able to figure it out. Really annoying! Reading and facial recognition are completely disrupted. You might think "scintillating geometric patterns" would be beautiful or interesting, but it's always completely unpleasant.
scintillating aura 12/19/10 at 9:14 pm lasting about 20 minutes as described bright pulsating colors zigzag fortification formation, actually kind of beautiful looking but scared me a little. Started in the middle grew and moved to left slide that faded off to the lower left.thought I was having a stroke or something
no migrane or after effects other than a little worry thanks for the info
I have had this three times scared the daylights out of me . No headache starts out with a blind spot and starts to move and flash and zigzag vibrant colors can still see the flashing even with my eyes closed..I went into a panic with the last one thought I was having a stroke..Seems I get them when I have been in a period of prolonged stress lasts about 20-30 mins seems like an eternity.
I just had my very first migraine aura experience today. I was sitting in church, when I noticed the left side of the pastor's face became blurry. I also had a very hard time reading, concentrating, or even writing any notes down. I finally figured out my entire right side was a blind spot. It lasted for about 20 minutes. I asked a doctor about it after the sermon, and he said I should expect a migraine soon. 10 mins later, the migraine hit me. I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Thx for posting!
Thank you SO much for sharing your experience. This has been happening to me since I became pregnant and it is truly frightening and disabling. MIne usually last 25 minutes to 40 for the aura to reach the corner of my eye and dissappear. I can only hope they go away after I have my baby soon. Mine have come on on their own and sometimes anger or frustration as well. Again thanks for sharing this, it makes me feel like I am not alone.
Peter I have had those for over 30 years,,,I know what you feel and it's draining mine last up to an hour...after the zigzags are over I get a terrible headache...I cope by walking around the house ,,,laundry anything to keep anxiety down,,,I go with it that's all I do. Mine is brought on by stress...I have kept a diary ..lack of sleep and to much sleep. I can have up to five a day on bad stressing days. I hope you can be aleviated with those.I also get nausea too. Our symtems are the same.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, I have been to the doctor many times for this and they never seem to have a clue what is going on. I have been experienced this ever since I can remember.
I had one the other day. During my Migrane my girlfriend heated up an herbal eye pack and gave it to me. She said, this smells funny but try it, it might help. It was after I was suffering for 20mins or so, but when I put it over my eyes... the pattern shifted away from my vision. My vision slowly came back. *** The heat pack is available at like Bed Bath & beyond. You heat it in the microwave for a few seconds. I recommend trying it. Something to do with the heat really helped me. Hope it helps
Hello there, my name is Veronica and I am 22 years old. I remember having this migraine since I was very little. My brother and mother experience it occaisionally, but I do more often. My brother found out it can be referred to as scintilating scotoma or an occipital migriane. It is so annoying when I get one, I got it just the other day. I just wanted to say that you aren't alone in this. I guess we just have to be thankful its not worse and just wait till it passes :)
HI from Slovenia. You have nicely described exactly what I am suffering from for 32 years. I have never had a will or time to describe it publicly. I CT my brains twice during-they found nothing. Until recently (last few years) nobody knew what am I talking about. I have seizures from every few month to every few days. Always after the seizure I am still afraid of permanent blindness, stroke or brain tumor. This inconvenience substantialy affected my whole life.Always remind me of being mortal
havent had one in awhile. today i was sitting in class and out of nowhere i felt super edgy and my whole body felt weak slowly the right side of my vision started to fade and i couldent see the teacher out of the corner out of my eye. then it looked like silver waves flowing on my right side people dont understand when you cant be at school when you are super neasous and cant see anything and have a pounding headache!
my aura last like 20 minutes and i have a severe headache for 5+ hours and the only way i fall asleep is from getting exhausted from throwing up and just pain and its just so much fun right?
@Yamaha519VX Same! Sometimes I feel quite nervous beforehand or very frustrated about something and then bang, the aura which I hate so much comes. Sometimes I get tingling in my legs and arms and my tongue, which then goes numb and I can't talk and it's just awful. My hearing gets very acute and I often get very confused and can't remember things. And then that headache comes. Then you've got the next day which feels like a really bad hangover. Its the bloody pitts I hate them so much.
I can't believe the docs didn't immediately say, "YOU HAVE CLASSIC MIGRAINES!!" How you explain everything is textbook. Visual zigzig...nausea. Some doc are so stupid!
Did you know that migraine with aura or hemiplegic migraines are caused from a genetic defect in 1 of 3 proteins that deal with nerve conduction in the synapse.
I have chronic migraines with aura, but also the pain unforuantely. Although I have had a few silent migraine in my day. Your description of the aura, is the one I usually get 20 minutes in myself, but I have also gone blind in one eye as well temporarily. I also get visual snow, which looks like billions of sparkles obscuring everything. Or blotches of light, or streaks of white, or rain drops of gold. Other aura symtoms not visual I get nausea, brain fog, tingles, ringing or loss of hear.
OMG u r lucky, only 20 mins? i get the aura for about 20 mins then hour long head pain then 2 days after pian :( i'm no where near the worse but thanks for the vid, it helps :D
its weird. because mine occurs 0nce a year, twice a year , sometimes every 3 yrs.only last year it occurred at least twice a week for a month. thank goodness its gone for now. But as always, everyone who experiences them dread the fact that it WILL be back! sucks. The worst part for me is the aura. Prevents so much from being accomplished if you're ALMOST ON THE EDGE OF BLINDNESS! oh well, is there a cure?
I started getting my migraine aura after two failed retina surgeries. I have only one eye and goldenhar syndrom. My auras can last for a day to two days. I wish there was neuroologists with eye experience. I wonder if retina damage can make you hold light for so long and get rid of it only by deep sleep.
Ophthalmic Migraine. I had one two days ago after over a year without. Bright lights bother me & had been on the phone looking directly into the computer for several hours when I couldn't read for the zigzag arch that sparkled. Duration: twenty minutes. Immediate treatment for me is moisturizing drops, dim the lights and rest. Coffee. Will try hydrating. Fatigued and light sensitive for several days after with some dull ache. Prodrome? maybe. Not thinking as clearly as usual. Pat
I used to get migraines as a young woman - in my early 20's, with visual aura and the bad headache, and was off work quite often. Linked at the time to the Pill, I've been ok since then until now (I'm 46). I've had 2 attacks in 2 wks. I just get the aura, take a couple of Nurofen Migraine, try to lie down for 20 minutes and thats it. I might feel sick and a bit woolly both before and after, but no headache. It just comes on out of the blue. I think the key is develop a coping strategy.
Thanks for posting this. I only figured it out yesterday myself. It has only happened to me a few times but it happened last night and by chance I finally hit on the right words in Google to find the answer. The first time it happened I was 16 years old and sitting a test in school, the teacher did not believe me when I told her I could not read the words of the test and there was something wrong with my eyes. Now almost 25 years later I know what it was.
Thank you for posting this video. You described my visual aura symptoms perfectly. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with Basilar Type Migraine with Aura without Pain. BTW, your frustration is probably another symptom of the aura: irritability. When I find myself feeling irritable for no reason, I know the aura is about to begin. Also, beware of stroke like symptoms which are also associated with this condition. Unless you realize it is aura, it can be terrifying. Best wishes.
Thanks...I'm having one right now :( Got it from walking to the shops and into a brightly lit store. I guess sugar could be a part. Big worry though! Better not hang out on the computer...thanks for your posting, Haven't got time for the headache!! argh...
Thanks for your excellent video sharing your personal experience with these visual auras. I just experienced one, in fact, which led me to your posting. Mine is a purely scintillating scotoma, as they term it. No headache, no nausea, but one scarey visual anomaly in both eyes. Twenty minutes later, it is gone, but this is my third such incident in two years. Rehydration may be the most helpful thing, so thanks.
Hi people, im 14 and have aura migraine, once i head this pain cause by the migraine, i sufferd so much a almost head an heatr attack and i went 2 the hosptal.i dint like it.I whas so scared!!!
Inside the shape, fortifications (I always called them crenellations--fortifications is more accurate) are present, usually black and white, and moving very rapidly. There is some color, usually bright red, yellow, and blue. After about 15 minutes, it all disappears.
Hi, Peter. I get these auras about 15 minutes before very mild migraine headaches, which can be offset with an over-the-counter analgesic. (Unfortunately I get no warning for the apocalyptic migraine episodes, which last up to one month.) As with most people who get this kind of aura, mine start as a dot, a blind spot, and grow into a scimitar shape. (cont'd)
I just had one of these last night and didn't know what it was because the last time something as severe happened was when I was about 12 years old. I researched as well when the episode ended and came to the same conclusion. I thought as you did about vision loss or something worse but it all makes sense now and I can relax a little.
Hey peter, I too have suffered many years. I am a make-up artist and walking into a brightly lit trailer at 5:30AM, triggered the the colorful zig zag and then the terrible migraine, so many times I've had to fake the make-up application, Production will not wait till, the visual distortion subsides, Thanks to all those who have shared there thoughts for treatment and experiences with this debilitating, painful, and scary condition. bob
Well, Peter, oddly enough, my name is Peter and I have what you describe to the letter.
Only difference is my zig zags are in black and white. They start at the point where my vision has disappeared and slowly over a period of 25 minutes expand out to my periphery and finally disappear.
Over the last 20 years I have discovered the triggers. Excessive coffee consumption coupled with RED wine.
Just having a bit doesn't produce the symptoms right away. May take weeks.
... funnily enough the headaches I get after the aura are not as severe as the headaches without the aura - have had them daily at least once now for 4 days - will see how it carries on
Good video - have suffered from Migranes for years - from mild (couple of hours) to massiv (couple of days) attacks - never had the aura til 4 days ago. Totally fraked me out - thought I was gonna have a brain stroke - First - a blind spot, that develops to a rainbow coloured zigzag growing outward to the right bottom corner of my eye - and then it feels as if something is pressing on the side of my ey and the field of vision shrinks -
I have had migraines with auras since I was 11. Excellent description of the semi-circle migraine aura, sounds like we have the same thing. They can be so frustrating and disturbing. Don't laugh this off, but a very effective medicine for immediate pain relief for migraines is cannabis. It's natural and doesn't have pages of side effects. Thanks for posting this video and getting the word out about migraines. Many people don't take them serious enough and brush them off as "just a headache."
Good to hear that you've figured it out, Peter. We have similar stories! I've had ocular migraines for about ten years, and I remember being absolutely terrified the first few times it happened, thinking this was the beginning of permanent blindness or brain damage. It wasn't what I thought of as a migraine either, so I also didn't look into them at first. Fortunately, I eventually stumbled across the correct search terms and was delighted to know I didn't have to obsess or worry after all.
Thank you!! I've been terrified for 13 years because of these "spots" I would get in my eyes. The doctors put me on horrible drugs...blood thinners, etc. I tried to explain to them what I was seeing, but I think many thought it was just in my head! Yesterday, I got a zigzag cyclical shape in both eyes...rainbow colored, but it's usually the fortified "spot" I've heard people speak of. Thank you again!
I am 13 years old and get Migraine Auras with headaches. It started about last summer and I didn't find out what it was till the middle of this school year. My mom suffers from the same thing and it is known as to be hereditary. Every time I get it I lay down with a cold wet compress and wait till it passes. Lately I can get rid of the aura within 15mins, if I'm lucky. Getting it during school is the worst but I think the best way to prevent it is to eat every meal especially breakfast.
BTW, sometimes my senses (smell, taste and especially hearing) get somehow "overdriven" during or after the migraine attack .. and it's really imposible for me to eat anything, because the food tastes and smels extremely strong. I also get these weird sensations, maybe I can best describe them as similar to an outer body experience (well, I never had one, but ... :)
Mine started in 2005. About half the time, they last 45 minutes to a bit under hour, then fade away, painlessly.. The other half of the time, they precipitate painful migraine headaches, which I'd had since before the visual migraines started,
Stress, dehydration, and/or a lack of sleep seem to make them more likely to happen, and they seem to be set off by looking into a very bright or flashing light, even accidentally glancing up at the sky can trigger it.
I had my first auro about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was in my math class with my sister LynnPheonix, and out of no where, this large, hot colored triangle design half-way covered my left side of my vision. I thought I stared at something bright along the way to class, but I couldn't remember anything bright. It stayed for at least 15 minutes. I told my sister about, but decided to see if it would pass, if it was caused by something bright. It did go, but I did not have a migraine.
Wow, this is interesting. I just had my first migraine about 2 to 3 hours ago and I had one of these auras. It freaked me out so bad. I wasn't sure what was happening. After the aura started to go away my left forearm went numb. I'm an artist and loosing my hand would rune my life right now. But after my hand stopped feeling numb the headache came on. My aura though was so detailed to me. I describe it as a triangle double helix pattern with yellows and reds. I actually want to draw in now.
I found your video interesting. I've been going through this since 2001. I do believe stress is a big factor. I've had more of these than ever and I'm going through a stressful time. I really hate having the auras, but it makes me feel better to know I'm not alone.
Some days ago I experienced my first aura. Have had migraines for years but no aura so far. Since I have already read about it I know what it was but nevertheless I got a bit frightened at first as I was sitting in front of the pc at work. After resting my eyes in the lunch break and taking migraine pill immediately it got better again.
I wish all those who suffer of migraine a good way of coping with the pain.....in any way it is relieving to exchange with others with the same diagnosis.
I know EXACTLY what your going threw man, Ive been suffering from migrane with arua for15 years,,, I get a blind sheild for about 30 mintues, fallowed by horrbile pain.
These symptoms started when I was 12 years old. It happens every 2-4 months, or even a few days after the first attack, at some of the worse times. I had a panic attack the 3rd time I had it, but now it's something I have to wait out for 20 minutes. It is very scary.
I can empathize with you. I have been getting Migraine since the age of eleven . Mine starts with a blind spot too, then I get aura , can't see for about half an hour,then get blinding headache, which can last for up to 3 days , by the third day it's eased up. I no longer get them as often now as I used to - thank goodness ! ...
I started having mirgraine attacks as a teenager in which I had to go to bed for aleast a day, these attacks would come on every few months but I have to say as I've got older I only have them once/twice a year now & I'm in my late 30's. My dad says it's common if your mother /father/relative is a sufferer, my dad still has them every two weeks or so & I've known him to be in bed up to three days in pain. Work arnt very sympathic with conditions like this.
i`d also just like to say that so many people associate migraines with headaches , with optical migraines this is not the case , you can have the visual disturbances , but no headache whatsoever !!
with optical migraines you can have visual impairment + a headache at the same time or a headache first then visual disturbance or vise versa , it normally lasts 20 to 30 mins
i too am a sufferer of this condition , i don`t get the headache just the visual disturbance and tests from my gp + optician revealed there was nothing seriously wrong with me but a condition called an optical migraine and that in my case could possibly be triggered by a food allergy , so i`d just like to say to anyone who has had the symptoms and has watched peter`s video not to worry as it is quite a common condition and not serious .
Hi Peter. You could be me talking honest, I get the same aura, I've only been getting them for 6 months and get them every other day or 3 times a week ish, been to doctors and seen eye specialists, they say my eyes are fine, so like you convinced I have tumour, thank god for google, I am 43 with a family and business to look after, been thinking I'm fucked... Cheers ant
antony250468 17 hours ago
Hello Peter. Just checking in as another sufferer of Migraine Aura or as I have discovered in more detail "Scintillating Scotoma".
I am 20 years old and this started when I was about 16. It happens to me about once a month. I usually experience them for around a half hour.
I haven't noticed being frustrated every time but I could have been some times.
It was very hard to find the words to find it. I understand your struggle it took me about a year and a half to finally find out what it was.
VerisonMember 5 months ago
I've had a few of these as well. They hit me every four or five months or so. The symptoms are exactly as Peter described. I work in an office and you can imagine the anxiety when words start disappearing as you are trying to read. The zig zag shape always follows. It pulses with a white light, flickers, stretches out and grows larger. Drinking a coke or eating a doughnut seems to help. Sugar seems to fix it up. I will try drinking water or having a Gatorade next time. Thanks very much Peter.
NinjaCats111 7 months ago
this is me!!!!!! the exact same symptons as me n ive started since may getting auras every single day :( no migran thankfully these days but they cripple me when i have them but im getting 3 auras a day n docs r trying to find right meds for me :( ruining my life
247princess 7 months ago
A thousand thanks for sharing your story. I feared I was having a stroke or something like it. I thought of migraine, but I had no headache, so I discounted that idea and went back to stroke. Quite an unpleasant experience, but tolerable knowing it is not a threat to my health. Thanks.
donstephadopt 7 months ago
I have suffered with migraine aura for about 12 years now sometimes don't get it for months, then i have for or five in a couple of weeks. always get a heavy head after i think it could be dehydration as other people have said. weirdest one while i was dreaming and i could see the aura in my dream woke up and there it was.first one ever had scared the crap out of me
71sjd 8 months ago
Thank you for making this video Peter. I get the aura as well, but I get the big headache that lasts for two days. I'll be honest, I'd rather just take the headache the aura just destroys me!
MarioFan124 8 months ago
I get this once in a while, and mentioned it to my optometrist, who diagnosed it as a visual migraine, without using the word aura. In my case it usually lasts about 10-15 minutes or so, and there are no other symptoms, just the "scintillating" blind spots. A bit annoying but not impairing, and hopefully not developing further...
carped8ta 9 months ago
same exactly condition. wow. what is the cure?
itonysi 9 months ago
I have the same condition as you are describing. I get like a crescent shape or reverse C of jagged flashing black and white lines. It lasts about 15-20 minutes. It starts out very small and then grows until it's outside my field of view. It's like if you were in a tunnel and it's far away and as you approach it gets bigger and then finally you are passed the aura. I've been having them for at least 10 years and every time I can remember the aura is the same shape.
wsock32dll 9 months ago
@wsock32dll, I recently find that I have migraine, and now actually understand what people with migraine are suffering. You have migraine for 10 years,, wow how do you put up with this pain. teach me please.
itonysi 9 months ago
Peter - I have heard of similar things related to the high/low pressure within the eye. Hospital eye departments are able to check this pressure very quickly (eg a simple brief test)... perhaps worth requesting from your doctor..? Of course I'm no doctor myself... ;-)
AlexFate101 10 months ago
My first migraine aura was 20+ years ago. I rushed to my Optometrist as I thought I was going blind. He immediately diagnosed it as an optical migraine and assured me that I was not losing my vision. Since then I have them 4-5 times per year. And each time I can confidently associate it with low blood sugar. The aura episodes last approximately 20-30 minutes and are accompanied with very slight nausea and dizziness. My remedy is to drink a glass of Orange Juice and wait it out.
cklassen25 10 months ago
I 've had these for 2 years. The first 1 I had scared the crap out of me, I was working and I thought I was hallucinating, felt like I got drugged. I had been dealing with anxiety problems for years, so you can only imagine the fear going through my head when this first hit me. I've had about 5 of them total & finally found out what they were about a year ago. I get them whenever I fast, usually about 3 days into fasting. The key is to start slamming water, mine go away in about 5 to10 minutes.
jasongitar 10 months ago
I have the same thing. Its like an Alien disease that hits me 3 or 4 times a year. They are weird. They shut you down for about a day.I usually go to the shower to calm me down when it starts. i need to stop smoking. Prob wouldnt help though. We are prob special people and our brain is evolving and expanding. Duh winning
BigSuz77 11 months ago
I get the same thing, Ive been suffering from migraine with aura for about 18 years now. My case is very classic. Out of nowhere I start to have vision problems, I get a blinking bind shield that grows, then either my right or left hand will go numb, and I wount be able to speek of understand the simplist thing. This all happeneds about an hour before the pain. Once the pain starts its at it worst for 6-8 hours, but the pain doesent completely go away for about 2 days.
whiteknight040879 1 year ago
I have to agree about hydration. I get hit when I've been having too much caffeine and not enough water.
catjoyyoung 1 year ago
I've just begun to have those symptoms from about a year ago. I've got the headache version. Every thing is fine with my brain as it seems. Although I have a small excitability to rapidly blinking light from the EEG, the MRI returned nothing.
I've noticed it's onsetting when I'm getting frustratred, more precisely when I try to rationalize and trake control of my angers. "Letting go" helps, but it's no way of living a social life. I've never had headaches in my life. I'm 28. Good luck to all.
Mlstrum 1 year ago
I have the same exact thing. Since I was 10 years old, I get it at least once every 6 months, but sometimes as frequently as 3 times a week. No headache. I always wondered what it was until about '95 when I first started using the internet, I was able to figure it out. Really annoying! Reading and facial recognition are completely disrupted. You might think "scintillating geometric patterns" would be beautiful or interesting, but it's always completely unpleasant.
sunshinedaydream77 1 year ago
scintillating aura 12/19/10 at 9:14 pm lasting about 20 minutes as described bright pulsating colors zigzag fortification formation, actually kind of beautiful looking but scared me a little. Started in the middle grew and moved to left slide that faded off to the lower left.thought I was having a stroke or something
no migrane or after effects other than a little worry thanks for the info
pacnik77 1 year ago
I have had this three times scared the daylights out of me . No headache starts out with a blind spot and starts to move and flash and zigzag vibrant colors can still see the flashing even with my eyes closed..I went into a panic with the last one thought I was having a stroke..Seems I get them when I have been in a period of prolonged stress lasts about 20-30 mins seems like an eternity.
ajb635 1 year ago
I have the same symptons
filipo108 1 year ago
I just had my very first migraine aura experience today. I was sitting in church, when I noticed the left side of the pastor's face became blurry. I also had a very hard time reading, concentrating, or even writing any notes down. I finally figured out my entire right side was a blind spot. It lasted for about 20 minutes. I asked a doctor about it after the sermon, and he said I should expect a migraine soon. 10 mins later, the migraine hit me. I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Thx for posting!
gabbygab2 1 year ago
Thank you SO much for sharing your experience. This has been happening to me since I became pregnant and it is truly frightening and disabling. MIne usually last 25 minutes to 40 for the aura to reach the corner of my eye and dissappear. I can only hope they go away after I have my baby soon. Mine have come on on their own and sometimes anger or frustration as well. Again thanks for sharing this, it makes me feel like I am not alone.
lipvixen 1 year ago
Peter I have had those for over 30 years,,,I know what you feel and it's draining mine last up to an hour...after the zigzags are over I get a terrible headache...I cope by walking around the house ,,,laundry anything to keep anxiety down,,,I go with it that's all I do. Mine is brought on by stress...I have kept a diary ..lack of sleep and to much sleep. I can have up to five a day on bad stressing days. I hope you can be aleviated with those.I also get nausea too. Our symtems are the same.
ginaven1 1 year ago
Thank you for sharing your experiences, I have been to the doctor many times for this and they never seem to have a clue what is going on. I have been experienced this ever since I can remember.
Apevia21 1 year ago
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I had one the other day. During my Migrane my girlfriend heated up an herbal eye pack and gave it to me. She said, this smells funny but try it, it might help. It was after I was suffering for 20mins or so, but when I put it over my eyes... the pattern shifted away from my vision. My vision slowly came back. *** The heat pack is available at like Bed Bath & beyond. You heat it in the microwave for a few seconds. I recommend trying it. Something to do with the heat really helped me. Hope it helps
jdmedia 1 year ago
Hello there, my name is Veronica and I am 22 years old. I remember having this migraine since I was very little. My brother and mother experience it occaisionally, but I do more often. My brother found out it can be referred to as scintilating scotoma or an occipital migriane. It is so annoying when I get one, I got it just the other day. I just wanted to say that you aren't alone in this. I guess we just have to be thankful its not worse and just wait till it passes :)
honeyblonde87 1 year ago
HI from Slovenia. You have nicely described exactly what I am suffering from for 32 years. I have never had a will or time to describe it publicly. I CT my brains twice during-they found nothing. Until recently (last few years) nobody knew what am I talking about. I have seizures from every few month to every few days. Always after the seizure I am still afraid of permanent blindness, stroke or brain tumor. This inconvenience substantialy affected my whole life.Always remind me of being mortal
silvesterarnecic1 1 year ago
i have the same
Nicklacruz 1 year ago
havent had one in awhile. today i was sitting in class and out of nowhere i felt super edgy and my whole body felt weak slowly the right side of my vision started to fade and i couldent see the teacher out of the corner out of my eye. then it looked like silver waves flowing on my right side people dont understand when you cant be at school when you are super neasous and cant see anything and have a pounding headache!
JustinAndersonDrums 1 year ago
my aura last like 20 minutes and i have a severe headache for 5+ hours and the only way i fall asleep is from getting exhausted from throwing up and just pain and its just so much fun right?
Yamaha519VX 1 year ago
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4isenuf 1 year ago
@Yamaha519VX Same! Sometimes I feel quite nervous beforehand or very frustrated about something and then bang, the aura which I hate so much comes. Sometimes I get tingling in my legs and arms and my tongue, which then goes numb and I can't talk and it's just awful. My hearing gets very acute and I often get very confused and can't remember things. And then that headache comes. Then you've got the next day which feels like a really bad hangover. Its the bloody pitts I hate them so much.
4isenuf 1 year ago
I can't believe the docs didn't immediately say, "YOU HAVE CLASSIC MIGRAINES!!" How you explain everything is textbook. Visual zigzig...nausea. Some doc are so stupid!
Did you know that migraine with aura or hemiplegic migraines are caused from a genetic defect in 1 of 3 proteins that deal with nerve conduction in the synapse.
Wivanunu 1 year ago
I have chronic migraines with aura, but also the pain unforuantely. Although I have had a few silent migraine in my day. Your description of the aura, is the one I usually get 20 minutes in myself, but I have also gone blind in one eye as well temporarily. I also get visual snow, which looks like billions of sparkles obscuring everything. Or blotches of light, or streaks of white, or rain drops of gold. Other aura symtoms not visual I get nausea, brain fog, tingles, ringing or loss of hear.
myth1977 1 year ago
OMG u r lucky, only 20 mins? i get the aura for about 20 mins then hour long head pain then 2 days after pian :( i'm no where near the worse but thanks for the vid, it helps :D
twistedlordi 1 year ago
its weird. because mine occurs 0nce a year, twice a year , sometimes every 3 yrs.only last year it occurred at least twice a week for a month. thank goodness its gone for now. But as always, everyone who experiences them dread the fact that it WILL be back! sucks. The worst part for me is the aura. Prevents so much from being accomplished if you're ALMOST ON THE EDGE OF BLINDNESS! oh well, is there a cure?
Landolakes222 1 year ago
I started getting my migraine aura after two failed retina surgeries. I have only one eye and goldenhar syndrom. My auras can last for a day to two days. I wish there was neuroologists with eye experience. I wonder if retina damage can make you hold light for so long and get rid of it only by deep sleep.
SDNihil1 1 year ago
Ophthalmic Migraine. I had one two days ago after over a year without. Bright lights bother me & had been on the phone looking directly into the computer for several hours when I couldn't read for the zigzag arch that sparkled. Duration: twenty minutes. Immediate treatment for me is moisturizing drops, dim the lights and rest. Coffee. Will try hydrating. Fatigued and light sensitive for several days after with some dull ache. Prodrome? maybe. Not thinking as clearly as usual. Pat
webwhispers1 1 year ago
I used to get migraines as a young woman - in my early 20's, with visual aura and the bad headache, and was off work quite often. Linked at the time to the Pill, I've been ok since then until now (I'm 46). I've had 2 attacks in 2 wks. I just get the aura, take a couple of Nurofen Migraine, try to lie down for 20 minutes and thats it. I might feel sick and a bit woolly both before and after, but no headache. It just comes on out of the blue. I think the key is develop a coping strategy.
mkjan13 2 years ago
Thanks for posting this. I only figured it out yesterday myself. It has only happened to me a few times but it happened last night and by chance I finally hit on the right words in Google to find the answer. The first time it happened I was 16 years old and sitting a test in school, the teacher did not believe me when I told her I could not read the words of the test and there was something wrong with my eyes. Now almost 25 years later I know what it was.
smoothvirus 2 years ago
Thank you for posting this video. You described my visual aura symptoms perfectly. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with Basilar Type Migraine with Aura without Pain. BTW, your frustration is probably another symptom of the aura: irritability. When I find myself feeling irritable for no reason, I know the aura is about to begin. Also, beware of stroke like symptoms which are also associated with this condition. Unless you realize it is aura, it can be terrifying. Best wishes.
tllew1 2 years ago
Thanks...I'm having one right now :( Got it from walking to the shops and into a brightly lit store. I guess sugar could be a part. Big worry though! Better not hang out on the computer...thanks for your posting, Haven't got time for the headache!! argh...
TheCutClub 2 years ago
Hi, Peter:
Thanks for your excellent video sharing your personal experience with these visual auras. I just experienced one, in fact, which led me to your posting. Mine is a purely scintillating scotoma, as they term it. No headache, no nausea, but one scarey visual anomaly in both eyes. Twenty minutes later, it is gone, but this is my third such incident in two years. Rehydration may be the most helpful thing, so thanks.
Marantzguy 2 years ago
thats exactly what happens to me and i thought i was the only one.
thefakeme05 2 years ago
thank you
i can go doctors now and tell him what wrong with me
izkablue 2 years ago
i have gotten a migraine everyday for the past week...auras and all
totally sucks
lawrence107 2 years ago
its sugar , trust me i did an experiment for like 2 years straight to make sure,.. cut down on sugar and see how it goes
thefakeme05 2 years ago
Hi people, im 14 and have aura migraine, once i head this pain cause by the migraine, i sufferd so much a almost head an heatr attack and i went 2 the hosptal.i dint like it.I whas so scared!!!
TheLovegame23 2 years ago
Inside the shape, fortifications (I always called them crenellations--fortifications is more accurate) are present, usually black and white, and moving very rapidly. There is some color, usually bright red, yellow, and blue. After about 15 minutes, it all disappears.
--Julie
saffronxl5 2 years ago
Hi, Peter. I get these auras about 15 minutes before very mild migraine headaches, which can be offset with an over-the-counter analgesic. (Unfortunately I get no warning for the apocalyptic migraine episodes, which last up to one month.) As with most people who get this kind of aura, mine start as a dot, a blind spot, and grow into a scimitar shape. (cont'd)
saffronxl5 2 years ago
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georgianahasca 2 years ago
I just had one of these last night and didn't know what it was because the last time something as severe happened was when I was about 12 years old. I researched as well when the episode ended and came to the same conclusion. I thought as you did about vision loss or something worse but it all makes sense now and I can relax a little.
Scorpwanna 2 years ago
Hey peter, I too have suffered many years. I am a make-up artist and walking into a brightly lit trailer at 5:30AM, triggered the the colorful zig zag and then the terrible migraine, so many times I've had to fake the make-up application, Production will not wait till, the visual distortion subsides, Thanks to all those who have shared there thoughts for treatment and experiences with this debilitating, painful, and scary condition. bob
2bcactusman 2 years ago
Well, Peter, oddly enough, my name is Peter and I have what you describe to the letter.
Only difference is my zig zags are in black and white. They start at the point where my vision has disappeared and slowly over a period of 25 minutes expand out to my periphery and finally disappear.
Over the last 20 years I have discovered the triggers. Excessive coffee consumption coupled with RED wine.
Just having a bit doesn't produce the symptoms right away. May take weeks.
No question for me.
wammerscammer1 2 years ago
@wammerscammer1 - mine are black and white also - a lot of people describe them as colourful, but mine are black & white.
cklassen25 10 months ago
... funnily enough the headaches I get after the aura are not as severe as the headaches without the aura - have had them daily at least once now for 4 days - will see how it carries on
nanomaus 2 years ago
Good video - have suffered from Migranes for years - from mild (couple of hours) to massiv (couple of days) attacks - never had the aura til 4 days ago. Totally fraked me out - thought I was gonna have a brain stroke - First - a blind spot, that develops to a rainbow coloured zigzag growing outward to the right bottom corner of my eye - and then it feels as if something is pressing on the side of my ey and the field of vision shrinks -
nanomaus 2 years ago
I have had migraines with auras since I was 11. Excellent description of the semi-circle migraine aura, sounds like we have the same thing. They can be so frustrating and disturbing. Don't laugh this off, but a very effective medicine for immediate pain relief for migraines is cannabis. It's natural and doesn't have pages of side effects. Thanks for posting this video and getting the word out about migraines. Many people don't take them serious enough and brush them off as "just a headache."
heinstein 2 years ago
Educational video, thanks...Barry in PA.
nucleuscontour 2 years ago
Good to hear that you've figured it out, Peter. We have similar stories! I've had ocular migraines for about ten years, and I remember being absolutely terrified the first few times it happened, thinking this was the beginning of permanent blindness or brain damage. It wasn't what I thought of as a migraine either, so I also didn't look into them at first. Fortunately, I eventually stumbled across the correct search terms and was delighted to know I didn't have to obsess or worry after all.
malekyth 2 years ago
Thank you!! I've been terrified for 13 years because of these "spots" I would get in my eyes. The doctors put me on horrible drugs...blood thinners, etc. I tried to explain to them what I was seeing, but I think many thought it was just in my head! Yesterday, I got a zigzag cyclical shape in both eyes...rainbow colored, but it's usually the fortified "spot" I've heard people speak of. Thank you again!
troyjwallace 2 years ago
I am 13 years old and get Migraine Auras with headaches. It started about last summer and I didn't find out what it was till the middle of this school year. My mom suffers from the same thing and it is known as to be hereditary. Every time I get it I lay down with a cold wet compress and wait till it passes. Lately I can get rid of the aura within 15mins, if I'm lucky. Getting it during school is the worst but I think the best way to prevent it is to eat every meal especially breakfast.
zamerkaje 2 years ago
Me too me too ! Been there. Many times!
BipolarGirlinCali 2 years ago
that's practıcally exactly how mıne ıs (the aura). ım glad you've made thıs vıdeo cause ıt makes me feel a bıt more confıdent.
GodsOwnDesign 2 years ago
I'm just having one right now.
BTW, sometimes my senses (smell, taste and especially hearing) get somehow "overdriven" during or after the migraine attack .. and it's really imposible for me to eat anything, because the food tastes and smels extremely strong. I also get these weird sensations, maybe I can best describe them as similar to an outer body experience (well, I never had one, but ... :)
Please, feel free to comment on my lines ...
gjuring 2 years ago
Thank you for describing this.
Mine started in 2005. About half the time, they last 45 minutes to a bit under hour, then fade away, painlessly.. The other half of the time, they precipitate painful migraine headaches, which I'd had since before the visual migraines started,
Stress, dehydration, and/or a lack of sleep seem to make them more likely to happen, and they seem to be set off by looking into a very bright or flashing light, even accidentally glancing up at the sky can trigger it.
marsneedsbunnies 2 years ago
I had my first auro about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was in my math class with my sister LynnPheonix, and out of no where, this large, hot colored triangle design half-way covered my left side of my vision. I thought I stared at something bright along the way to class, but I couldn't remember anything bright. It stayed for at least 15 minutes. I told my sister about, but decided to see if it would pass, if it was caused by something bright. It did go, but I did not have a migraine.
VaraAnn 3 years ago
Wow, this is interesting. I just had my first migraine about 2 to 3 hours ago and I had one of these auras. It freaked me out so bad. I wasn't sure what was happening. After the aura started to go away my left forearm went numb. I'm an artist and loosing my hand would rune my life right now. But after my hand stopped feeling numb the headache came on. My aura though was so detailed to me. I describe it as a triangle double helix pattern with yellows and reds. I actually want to draw in now.
LynnPheonix 3 years ago
I found your video interesting. I've been going through this since 2001. I do believe stress is a big factor. I've had more of these than ever and I'm going through a stressful time. I really hate having the auras, but it makes me feel better to know I'm not alone.
queenofitall2007 3 years ago
Some days ago I experienced my first aura. Have had migraines for years but no aura so far. Since I have already read about it I know what it was but nevertheless I got a bit frightened at first as I was sitting in front of the pc at work. After resting my eyes in the lunch break and taking migraine pill immediately it got better again.
I wish all those who suffer of migraine a good way of coping with the pain.....in any way it is relieving to exchange with others with the same diagnosis.
Tahitianpearl75 3 years ago
I know EXACTLY what your going threw man, Ive been suffering from migrane with arua for15 years,,, I get a blind sheild for about 30 mintues, fallowed by horrbile pain.
whiteknight4879 3 years ago
These symptoms started when I was 12 years old. It happens every 2-4 months, or even a few days after the first attack, at some of the worse times. I had a panic attack the 3rd time I had it, but now it's something I have to wait out for 20 minutes. It is very scary.
Wii4me 3 years ago
I Have the same thing. I ignore it and pretend its not happening.I can iduse it if my neck bends too much during exercise.
reoreason 3 years ago
Hi there,
I can empathize with you. I have been getting Migraine since the age of eleven . Mine starts with a blind spot too, then I get aura , can't see for about half an hour,then get blinding headache, which can last for up to 3 days , by the third day it's eased up. I no longer get them as often now as I used to - thank goodness ! ...
exhziaa 3 years ago
@exhziaa Wow same here. I started getting them at ten or eleven and got them much more often beck then. Now it's 2-3 times a year.
healthfreak18 1 year ago
I started having mirgraine attacks as a teenager in which I had to go to bed for aleast a day, these attacks would come on every few months but I have to say as I've got older I only have them once/twice a year now & I'm in my late 30's. My dad says it's common if your mother /father/relative is a sufferer, my dad still has them every two weeks or so & I've known him to be in bed up to three days in pain. Work arnt very sympathic with conditions like this.
netleylegz 3 years ago
i`d also just like to say that so many people associate migraines with headaches , with optical migraines this is not the case , you can have the visual disturbances , but no headache whatsoever !!
wxpm 3 years ago
with optical migraines you can have visual impairment + a headache at the same time or a headache first then visual disturbance or vise versa , it normally lasts 20 to 30 mins
wxpm 3 years ago
Something else we share o0
Henllan 3 years ago
No , wxpm , thank YOU for responding and for further details. Since discovering what it is , I am all over the net seeking further information.
peterglynnfilms 3 years ago
sorry peter , i forgot to say thanks for posting this vid , i`m sure it will help so many people like ourselves .
wxpm 3 years ago
i too am a sufferer of this condition , i don`t get the headache just the visual disturbance and tests from my gp + optician revealed there was nothing seriously wrong with me but a condition called an optical migraine and that in my case could possibly be triggered by a food allergy , so i`d just like to say to anyone who has had the symptoms and has watched peter`s video not to worry as it is quite a common condition and not serious .
wxpm 3 years ago