Scintillating Scotoma

[l0pez83]

I happened three times within a few months to see exactly this thing, but without migraine, I do not know on what you can depend on ...

[The0Burger0King]

I get these every so often and It's really annoying. Mine starts like a small speck then slowly expands into a ring. Usually takes like 20 minutes before it moves out of my field of view.

[Oakleaf700]

the first time i had the scintillations, [at 20] i thought it was LSD flashback, as the colours were so similar in their shimmering peripheral-ness....and when my field of vision was filled, i was very alarmed....then, half an hour later, it faded, abruptly, and a headache came on....now, i know it is ''just'' a migraine, and don't worry...but it is horrid..as a kid, I got lots of bad sick headaches, but never the aura.

[Oakleaf700]

the first time i had the scintillations, [at 20] i thought it was LSD flashback, as the colours were so similar in their shimmering peripheral-ness....and when my field of vision was filled, i was very alarmed....then, half an hour later, it faded, abruptly, and a headache came on....now, i know it is ''just'' a migraine, and don't worry...but it is horrid..as a kid, I got lots of bad sick headaches, but never the aura.

[ADumB42]

Only had the one of these. It happened at work and I honestly thought to myself: "this is it, I'm going blind, or dying". Funnily enough my Dad's only had one and had it on the same day I did so for me I reckon it came as a result of a virus.

[AaronPR87]

My Scotoma happened from an illegal high powered laser hitting me in the left eye at a music festival... Wouldn't wish this upon anyone, For me its in the center of my vision and does not move or get bigger or go away..

[MrKeyboardcrazy]

@AaronPR87 Very sorry to hear that. You don't know me but I hope you believe me! Hopefully you can stay positive in life, it would be difficult with something like that.

[david203]

The actual phenomenon is much more dramatic. For me it is a thin crescent, very bright, and crystalline with slowly moving facets. Pretty, but interferes greatly with vision during its course of about half an hour. Happens once every few months. Apparently caused by a slow, spreading depolarization in the visual cortex. For me, is NOT accompanied by migraine headache, nausea, or other symptoms. Has happened all my life (I'm 65).

[tranurse]

mine are more zig-zag in shape. they are sparkly for lack of a better word. and increase in size. then my head ache starts. my face goes numb, and i can't see out of the eye on the side of the headache. and i started getting one a couple of hours ago, i promptly took 4 motrin and now the headache is starting............

[ReasonDefender]

Oh yeah, I have had that happen twice. For me, it appeared to be related to light exposure. It causes probably the worst pain ever.

[blursst]

Wow this is literally the first Youtube video which doesn't have moronic or abusive comments - what's your secret?

[Oakleaf700]

@blursst maybe because migraine sufferers are allegedly ''of higher intelligence''-well, could be true, as on here, there does appear to be no abuse at all...maybe because we all suffer-therefore are all ''intelligent?:)''

[dluebbert29]

Thanks for this video! I was freaking out after the gym when the left side of my vision had wavy, flickering lines that changed color from blue and green. This was the second time I had it, and for me when it starts I have trouble reading because I can only see the word directly in front of me. Then I see the wavy lines (sometimes multiple lines) and some vision loss. I only get it by itself, never preceding a migraine.

[cuda67fish]

Thanks. my SS starts in corner of left eye very small & works its way to the center of my field of vision towards my nose. As it "marches" across my field of vision it becomes larger & brighter like your video. If I take ibuprofen as soon as I see it I can usually keep a migraine from occurring. This first happened at 12 years old, followed by nausea & vomiting & a killer headache. I researched it & it can be related to hereditary blood vessel issues & high blood pressure. I would see a doctor.

[Huckabeezer]

If anyone is interested, my condition almost completely stopped (going from 1-2 a month for over 20 years to just one in 4 years) after I started taking meds for high blood pressure. Specifically, an "angiotensin receptor blocker." Two brands I am familiar with are Cozaar and Micardis. Why this happened I don't know, but I can't believe it's a coincidence. It is purely speculation on my part, but I am willing to bet that other BP drug categories (eg. beta blockers) might also work....

[Vamphaery]

I have found that oral L-Tyrosine (for some reason... increased norepinehprine?) dramatically reduces the length of my scotomas. From typically nearly an hour to about ten minutes.

Mine are more monochrome colored, and more static. Rather than moving or expanding, they just stay in one place and sparkle in black and white, but they totally occlude most of my right eye's vision.

I just had one (hence looking at this video) and it once again went away a few minutes after oral L-Tyrosine. ??

[MediaValet]

@Vamphaery Interesting. I will have to get some L-Tyrosine. Please tell us what you mean by, "oral?" I assumed you meant a liquid, but I can only see it available in pill, caplet or powder form.

And how much do you take?

[Vamphaery]

@MediaValet Well, I am not a doctor and please consult one before adding any supplements to your diet. This is just my own annecdotal experience.

I take 1000 - 2000 mg in tablet form.

[scrapthrall]

@Vamphaery

Monochrome,interesting. Mine are very bright,with vivid ''oil slick/CD surface'' colors.

The jagged semi-circle in the video is more or less accurate,with the blurred area in the middle. My edges are more detailed though,kinda like triangles within triangles,spiralling with colors that shift over the patterns. Tell me more about that L-Tyrosene?

[MrKeyboardcrazy]

Although traumatizing, did anyone else think for a second or two "Wow I think I am going blind, but this is sure some pretty stuff! Ahaha all the colors...

[MediaValet]

@MrKeyboardcrazy Most people freak the first time. I sure did. I made this to help allay those fears. You have the right attitude, which is don't panic, relax, and if possible enjoy the ride... as best as you can!

[scrapthrall]

@MediaValet

Sure as hell I freaked.

I was certain that something in my brain went kaput ,braintumor,burst vein etc.

Docktor told me it could be a form of migraine,or a detaching retina.

Guess what,I was diagnosed with both.

Retina was lasered back in place,and after seriously cutting down on energy drinks the scotoma never returned for about 18 months.

Until this sunday afternoon.

Not sure what triggered it,just had one mug of coffee.

Could be low bloodsugar,haven't eaten much.

[dave88rock]

@scrapthrall

Interesting, there was a period about ten years ago where I had 5 or 6 over a week and connected the frequent occurrence to a particular brand of coffee. Some expensive mail order brand my aunt had. I still get them rarely, they don't scare me unless I'm driving

[scrapthrall]

@dave88rock

The detaching retina was dicovered by chance,since they decided to scan my eyes just to be sure. Apparently a blown retina gives similar symptoms. When the scotoma's first appeared we where going trough a lot of energy drinks at work. Like,an unhealthy amount daily. The neurologist told me that caffeine can trigger latent migraine. Fortunately I just get the visuals,not the headaches. Migraine sans migraine they called it.

Haven't had any since my last com,two months ago

[Grignacke]

@MediaValet a friend of mine tried to convince me I had cataracts when I first got this in... what... 5th grade?

[SlushPile]

Very scary and although the comments are good to read , i'm nervous of having one again. I had to see a doctor as i've been ill in the past and was told I might be coming down with something serious again. Mine looked like a halo of cloudy fuzziness and almost tie dye if that makes sense! It's scary having vision changes and the fact no pain occurs probably makes it even more unsettling during the first time

[ALLYCAT591]

@MrKeyboardcrazy First time I got this, I nearly had a panic attack.

[MacBubbles]

@MrKeyboardcrazy

Those used to be my exact thoughts haha. Mine don't recur as often as they used too. They seemed to me when I've ingested too much of a vitamin/mineral/chemical or whatever.

[MrKeyboardcrazy]

I am 21, and never had one until last summer, and it was 2 mos after lasik. I thought they were related, but after it was passed with all the blinding, spreading zig zag lines and colors, I felt maybe I don't need to sue my lasik doctor after all. AHAHA I was freaking OUT though you bet. Hasn't happened since. Oh and btw my vision is now 20/15 or better in both eyes... :)

[redredcrimson]

YAMETEKURE　STOP IT

[Mellitamo]

Thanks very much for your video, which does give a fairly accurate impression of the visual phenomena. It occurred to me today for the first time, lasted for about 15 - 20 minutes while I was driving my car. I later searched the Internet to find an explanation for it and found your video and it helped to calm me, knowing that other people have experienced the same thing. Luckily, I didn't have a headache afterwards, but I might have had a bit of low blood pressure...

[itonysi]

best discription ever, thanks.

what is the cure now??

[MediaValet]

@itonysi Sorry, there is no cure. I wish there were. In my other, "re: Scintillating Scotoma," vid, I talk about pre-emtively avoiding, as well as lessening the intensity of SS events, by staying hydrated, and not allowing your blood sugar levels to fall. All in all, I made these vids so people will not be scared, (as I first was), when these SS "happen." As startling and worrisome as these SS can be, especially the first time they occur, they are 99.99% of the time completely harmless.

[micfishevyt]

I have had this three times. In my experience, the part of the vision that was scintillating was actually a blind spot--that I could see light in but not what was behind the spot. The ER doc and eye doc found nothing. I have lots of flashers, floaters and light sensitivity ever since the first attack.

[kojinmalia]

It happened to me once, but it was not like that, or maybe i don't remember well... Just suddenly, a part of my sight was (very) blur and that's it, for 20minutes more or less...

BUT from that time, i'm having almost daily flashes into my eyes, and they're not usually followed by head ache... I've seen the eye doctor multiple times and he was not able to find anything.

I also seems to have the "dry eye syndrom" but in little form. This couldn't be a caused by using a "bad" computer screen, uh?

[MediaValet]

@kojinmalia I don't know whether a S.S. episode can be caused by a bad screen. I do know that that sort of thing, (strobbing light, etc.), can cause a epileptic seizure.

That said I often get a flash of bright light that leaves a shadow/impression/scotoma like I looked at the sun, for a second. Then that point is where the scotoma/blind spot that grows larger starts.

[kojinmalia]

@MediaValet Not even 10minutes after i turned the computer on, that damn thing has arrived... And i've just ate (and drank)... Maybe it's not (just) the screen but the body position... Maybe the screen size is too big... I don't know, nobody knows! :( Of course it's less scary then a Scintillating Scotoma, but still it is, and daily...

[micfishevyt]

@MediaValet I like what you said about the bright light that leaves an impression. Most of the time when I see the sun glinting off of a car (or something like that), it leaves an impression that I feel might be an approaching episode. The three SS episodes I had started with such a feeling of an impression by a bright light.

[MediaValet]

@micfishevyt It happens to me all the time!

I may not, at first, even notice the bright flash, (like you said, the glint off a car), but do notice the resulting blindspot impression, and think for a moment an SS is coming on.

But, then when it doesn't sparkle or grow, I know I am just being oversensitive, (dare I say paranoid!) :)

[MrKeyboardcrazy]

@micfishevyt Wow me too right on the money. I was in Publix and I saw such an impression as the sun would do, right in my center vision. I was like "why is that there"? I've been indoors." Ok it will fade. It didnt, and I started freaking out. I had no idea what it was. Bright colors pulsating and zig zag lines, and left after about 20. I worry too when the sun leaves a spot in your vision. Youre right it does start off looking just like that!! Long comment, sorry :)

[martinscotchmore]

it's more like a letter C. I find I can see the middle of the C clearly and only the arc is blurred. The arc is thicker as well.

[mybad67]

crator lake?



[MediaValet]

@mybad67

Yes it is. And, what an awesome place too.

The most beautiful blue water I have ever seen...

[Barbsaja]

This is a very good. People look at me like I am crazy when I describe these.

[jarblewarble]

@Barbsaja I think it would be very difficult to re-create the patterns exactly as they appear. I think they resemble cracked LCD screens somewhat, with the strange iridescent patterns that are clearly visible. Still, this video accurately demonstrates the overall appearance of a migraine aura.

[bobhils]

i dont get migrains anymore but in a sick way i miss them well the after effect of feeling revitalised its like your brain has had a wash, you feel kind of like youve been through a journey and come out the otherside kind of happy.

[bobhils]

clap clap clap the best one ive seen yet, there needs to be a more mosaic pattern with the zig zgs and more zig zags and blind spots but its not bad.

[july5th1984]

i have theses but i tend cause if it to stay away from dairy products

and alcohol i use to get it befor like every 3 monjthe or less but now i have not gotten one in 6 months

Ps :people don't believe i stop drinking but i did cause of it

[sunsdomain]

Thanks for this really interesting simulation (I've never had one)

[Fulmarmusic]

i do LSD.. and its a bit like the effect surrounding the trip, but no hallucinations... just mental "old skool, mental triantgle" screensaver patterns, quite cool... going to go the dctors tomoz.. get on!

[silicon212]

That's pretty close to the real thing, though in my experience there's a little distortion within the scotoma which makes reading things next to impossible.

Also, this is sped up a great deal, my own experience is close but this takes 30 minutes or so.

[MediaValet]

@silicon212 There is a lot of distortion agreed. Sometimes I am able to read by using my peripheral vision. But I do need to remake this video with a more sparkly distortion.

As to the speed, yes, you have to click / roll down, the description of the video, to see:

"This is an animated depiction of a visual phenomena that occurs either before...

a migraine headache, or by itself. These typically last up to 30 minutes.

This video speeds up the timeframe of this phenomena to thirty seconds."

:)

[silicon212]

@MediaValet Yes I saw your other video AFTER I left this, please disregard... :)

[Frusciantefan77]

I get the shimmery thing, but not the two bald guys. Is this the same thing?

[YourBodyHeals]

I've had something like this with NO headache what so ever. It was much brighter and like a kaleidoscope made of shimmering diamond like refractive patterns. NO I don't do LSD.

[gvkh16]

I suffered my first one it started what seemed tp be a ark with triangles all around the edges in silver and gold shimmering like one of those klaidescopes you can look into and turn. Mine stayed in the left corner of my vision and did not move. 10 minute duration. No headache or migraine noted, but sick and nausea the day before.

[compwiz00]

I saw one of these once, after I crashed on a motorcycle and hit my head. That was the only time it ever happened though. Didn't have much pain, but I was rather dizzy.

[LisaKee73]

Thank you for actually showing what it is that I see before a migraine!!

i have descibed this to my doctor who classed it as a 'visual disturbance' and told me it was blurred vision! Trying to actually describe what I see was proving quite difficult. I'm actually smiling knowing that not only do other people experience it (I'm smiling that it's not something specific to me, not because people also suffer lol) but that it has a name that I can tell my doctor! Thank you x

[kilgh]

Yep, that's what I have had twice so far in my life. Had one last night. Annoying and seems to be triggered by too much computer/gaming time.

[maria1steyn]

This is great way of showing others and non-believers what you go through when you experience a scotoma. To see the car in front of you vanish, but the car next to you is there... frightening. I can generate a scotoma and auras following half an hour after eating cheese on whitebread or drinking milk... no headaches involved., just a pressure feeling behind the eyes. They will move from left to right in about 15 mins. Enjoy ;-(( Maria

[goodeye2007]

Thank you for a very accurate depiction!

[Skylinerev]

having one right now, thank fucking god i know how to type without looking at the keyboard

basically the entire left half of my vision is gone and im geting a slight pain in my right eye, not had one in two years until tonight ._. fucking hate it

[Sinopa2]

Wow, thanks! I've had a really difficult time describing what my auras look like (to my dad and brother - they get migraine auras too but they both get the black-and-white flashing kind). This is so close to what I see! Although mine never cover my field of vision. I was wondering, does anyone know - if the aura goes away when it's still fairly small, does that mean you're having a "mini" headache? I mean, could you judge how bad your headache is going to be based on the size of the aura?

[MediaValet]

My guess is small aura would not necessarily mean small headache. But what is your experience? Or your dad and brothers? Let us know!

[jamrocx]

I just had one of these and its going away right now..

The first it happened to me I was like "Oh s--t WTF is this?" then I looked up the symptoms and eventually I found scintillating scotoma.It was nice to know its a known medical condiction and usually nothing serious.

[tesswriley]

Thank you...I had this happen for the first time last night. Scary, but good to see that it's nothing to get alarmed about!

[Saminatorger]

Had one yesterday after about 7 months, But I keep getting one, then once that begins to go, I get the aura again, then a secondone follows, I do get them severely, which is irritating as I cannot do anything for about 2-5 hours

[artistkeith3]

When I see this, I run for the Vicodin. Then it's just trippy colors WITHOUT pain. Thankfully, I only get these about 2 times a year, so I don't get addicted to V. Without the V, I'd suffer horribly, the pain is unbelievable. They say that Van Gogh had these too, which is what led him to cut off his ear. I can believe it!

[leseetsa]

Had my first SS about 4 months ago and had one today. I've asked others if they know what I'm taking about and the two people that did have thyroid disease. I have thyroid disease. So, I'm wondering if it's related to thyroid hormone or not. I don't think hydration is an issue for my episodes. Stress wasn't an issue for me either. Sure scared me the first time till I did some Google images to see what it was.

[tranurse]

that is kind of what mine looks like

[pittsburgh199]

thanks alot i had this happen again today.

[dmajTX]

Thanks for putting this in. Its a very difficult thing to describe to someone and I didn't know it had a name

[CFkimahri]

These things make me scared to drive.

[PlasmaOscillations]

I have all different types of aura, sometimes similar to what this video is showing. Sometimes starting in the center of vision, sometimes on the edge. Each episode is unique, though they could be classed into similarities if I felt like taking the time to record each one.

[macricky]

I had it yesterday, for the second time in years. I was driving my car, and at first, i thought it was a bright high level stop light of the car ahead. At home, symptoms continues...Terrible headache. It was very scary!

[hrlaser]

I've had maybe ten of these in the past five to seven years.. usually six months apart.. I can tell when it's coming on.. center field of vision gets fuzzy, then the glimmering half sawtooth spinning wheel which grows out of my field of vision in 15 - 30 minutes.. sometimes followed by a mild headache.. this one started right after I ate a cup of chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup.. wonder if that brought it on.. under constant stress due to loss of job two years ago..

[hrlaser]

My late Mom got them constantly, almost weekly.. at least she said she did.. but she had hypochondriac tendencies, so I never knew what was real and what was made-up for sympathy.. I'm wondering if this is an inherited trait?.. I'm on bp meds and my bp is perfect.. but I'm under constant stress worrying about $ due to lo living off my savings.. I tried the Gatorade "cure".. didn't work.. not enough space here to tell a longer story.. they still freak me out, even if they are harmless..

[grogger31]

I get these, especially when I'm over-tired. The only difference (vs. the video) is that I have a much harder time discerning what is "inside" the pulsating shape.

[dunebirdie]

This has been happening to me for many years and has been scaring the #&*! out of me. I just had another one and after much googling, I found this video, as well as the one of you explaining and I immediately recognized that this was what was happening to me. I want you to know that you have brought me great relief and comfort. Who would have thought that what I thought was an indication of my impending death would turn out to be common and relatively harmless. And it even has a cute name.

[SanFranciscoJames]

you said, 'This is an animated depiction of a visual phenomena that occurs either before a migraine headache, or by itself.' you should probably say 'This is an animated depiction of .....that occurs FOR ME......'

[jayceefoto]

Im so thankful that i found what this is as its quite scarey - mine is a bit blacker and much more colourful with lots of gold and i can not see as much as in this video. But now i can relax and deal with it, knowing that its not doing me great harm.

Thank you.

[thefakeme05]

wow mine looks like a looking through a diamond and its also zigzag, but yours sounds beautiful

[jayceefoto]

@thefakeme05 Looking through a diamond sounds quite nice and now we can enjoy it a bit even though we cant see much else lol - we better watch our sugar levels I think. J

[thefakeme05]

lol definitely

[orbitaldescent]

Ugh, I can't look at this, it's making me feel sick just seeing a simulation of it

[zoot3000]

This video describs the effects of the migraine very well

[blue3tar]

I get them after a hard run. It seems to be due(in

my case) , to hypoxia of certain areas of the brain.

First time it happened I was prepared for death.

Scared me.

[JohnCenaFan4Lyf]

wt happened?

[Trollmomma]

Great video thanks for putting that up. For another 'excellent' one. Best video I've ever seen: try this one

migraine-aura. org/content/e27891/index_ en.html (without the spaces etc)

I can't see thru mine the way the one above is pictured..it almost totally blocks my vision like a bright flashlight bulb. I've got one going on right now. *groan*

[TheOriginalMinkey]

Thanks so much for the video and the advice. I had something very similar to the one you picture, shimmery strobing edges. It was sitting next to my OH's head for a while - ha ha. It gradually grew out of my field of vision. Must be connected with a scarier vision disturbance I had once years ago - encroaching tunnel vision with b&w jagged edges. I don't have the headache and count myself very, very lucky indeed now I realise it's a form of migraine. Very reassuring to see it depicted :-)

[125695]

your the first one i have ever heard that talked about tunnel vision, the first one i had was like that but never again thank goodness

[keypencam]

I had this happen today for the first time. Not knowing what it was I went to the nearest urgent care center. Diagnosed as scotoma. I had no headache initially but later did and it lasted for several hours. Headache was not severe, actually quite mild but clearly there. I will follow up with my eye doctor as I have not had a good eye exam for about three years and I am extremely near sighted. My vision has felt odd for a while. Do I need to worry?? My job is stressful. Is that a cause?

[MediaValet]

99% of the cases there is no need to worry. Thank your lucky stars that the headache wasn't severe. It can be easily the worst part of the experience. No one knows for sure what causes the blood vessel spasm that causes the scotoma, but I am leaning towards believing that dehydration and hypoglycemia, (in those who are susceptible), can make the experience more or less severe. I am sure that stress doesn't help either. Best thing is to hydrate, and relax as best as you can.

[aLexXxgiRl787]

oh my god i get these i hate them so bad....after it goes away i get this crazy migraine and i feel nauseous too. I cant look too long at pictures or video of it turns my stomache. i have to look away. how do i make these ****ing things stop!?!?! i want to cry or rip my eyes out when i get them i cant see anything right i cant just ignore it...it makes me dizzy and stuff

[palindrome1111]

i GET THESE A FEW TIMES A YEAR...THIS IS AN EXCELLENT APPROXIMATION. mY ONLY DIFFERENCE IS i GO BLIND in the center of the progressing image and mine last 20 minutes almost exactly. I have no headache after (lucky I guess because some people get this aura and then head splitting pain) I have had to pull my car over a few times when I notice one is coming on as driving is impossible with the center field of vision blank.

[diabloxscorchox]

yeah i get these every so often with no headache...at first i got freaked out, but now im used to it and wait for it to pass. i hate it though

[Arrowhead2k1]

I've had these on a number occasions while a bit hungover after a night of drinking mostly. Stopped drinking so much in recent years and don't recall having it since.

Atleast I know what it was now. I thought I was having a mini stroke!

[alphasun]

Excellent simulation, although muchg faster than the real thing in my experience. My fortification spectra are also about twice that size and predominantly red, but other wise this gives a very good idea of scotoma as i experience it.

[KatiesBipolar]

Yes I have had this aura many times!!!

*If anyones interested in listening to me talk all about auras, check out my channel and Subscribe!! I need subscibers to motivate me to make videos.*

Thanks!!

*Katie*

[OReilly2007]

mine do not look like this at all

they started when i was about 10 and it was like a circular rotating flasing light in the top right corner of my eye. Kind of like if you held a cd in the light and moved it around. I had 2 seizures because of this aura thing. On the ocassions where i did not hav a seizure...i went blind where the aura was loacted for about half an hour!

Then they changed into the centr of my vision and into a line pattern...thankfully i havnt got one for 5 years, im 17 now

[CHICAGOPD]

Yes, I developed these symptoms 18 months ago, scared the hell out of me. I only have a slight headache and my visual image is a crescent composed of colored scintillating lights. They occur every few months. Had a CT scan of my brain with no pathology found. I am a male over 50 which I understand fhat it is extremely rare for a male to have the onset of these symptoms occur after 50.

[hfourstu]

Thank-you for helping visually represent what i've been experiencing.

[geonerd]

It's interesting that different people have differing symptoms. I tend to see a much wider zig-zag area, with lower frequency / coarser 'zigs.' Within the zig band, there are a series of black and white 'zebra stripes' running parallel to the edge of each zig segment. These zebra stripes cycle between black and white like a Vegas casino sign.  As with this video, the enclosed area slowly grows until it propagates out of the field of view.

[MediaValet]

Sadly since the onset of these 'SS', a year and a half ago, and since getting a complete neurological check-up including brain MRI, (with no pathology, which is almost always the case), I have become something of a professional, at dealing with them, i.e., I don't get freaked out anymore.

That said, my SS experiences are "visually," always different. The video is therefore no more than an extremely general representation, and far from an accurate depiction, of any single SS event.

[geonerd]

Fully understood. I'm lucky in that I don't get the follow-up 'classic migraine' that many suffer from. I can't say I look forward to the fireworks, but I do find the patterns and shapes mildly entertaining. :)

[125695]

i got them like 15 years ago for a few months and was to chicken to go see a doc. then i went through a streak of them maybe a year ago and was so glad to find these posts and find out I'm not alone! I fiured this last go around that if there was something really wrong with me i would have been dead by now:)i dont get the migrain either!

[aL3ks06]

@MediaValet Whats an SS and how do you deal with them?

[MediaValet]

SS is an aural or occular migraine.

The doctor told me it is caused by a spasm in a blood vessel in the brain.

It is often the prelude to a pretty severe migraine headache.

Don't panic! 99.999% of these SS are totally harmless, and pass within 30 minutes or so.

Unfortunately, you have to ride it out. Just relax as best as you can.

Also, stay hydrated and keep your blood sugar level up!

The key is to somehow not get the actual migraine headache, which is far worse.

Good luck!

[aL3ks06]

@MediaValet thanks man, I get SS migraines :(

[vancollier]

This is what I just had happen to me. It was probably the 2nd or 3rd time in about 2 months. I don't get headaches with them, but they are bothersome nonetheless.

Thanks for your spot on representation.

[gummybits]

i used to get them more in my teens and when i ate crap and drank alot of alcohol and not much water, i used to get them with or without headache, i used to get mega migraine headaches without aura more commonly, after exercise and lack of fluid. Good visual explanation tho.

[XdarXideX]

I just had one of these. My second ever. Such a bizarre experience and quite frustrating if you're trying to read something! Couldn't see the damn text! Only the right hand side!

[Manual838]

mine is like a period, i usually get them once a month, but haven't had one for like 6 monthes.

i'm so glad:)

[MilkiifuL]

I hate having these! They give me such painful migraines.. I feel like vomiting all the time. I've had these for more than 2 years now, and now it's only becoming so frequent. I had about 5 this week. Once, 3 time back to back... it's annoying and it makes me feel sick!!!

Glad to know there are people out there who also have this as well!

[Rusty1989]

Mine are similar to this but I go blind in the centre or at least I can't make any specific detail out. Kind of like my Brain is doing it's best to cover up what I can't see.

It starts in the centre of the eye as a small flashing light and then by about 40mins it has drifted out of vision. For my trouble my body then gets a great big day long migrane. I get mine after exercise commonly.

Can any one identify with my symptoms?

[maziephazie]

that's what mine is like, but my migraine usually doesn't last a whole day because I pop a few motrin and then pass out in a dark room. After waking the migraine is completely gone.

[KrauterLiqueur]

i hate these things! i usually get one every week maybe i get lucky and skip a week... somtimes i even get 2 in a week and once i got 2 back to back!! mine starts as a small black spot and spreads like the c design in the video. the doc prescribed Puriactin to counter the aura but now my recruiter says that i can't take that if i want to join the army which i really do..i had one today and 4 days ago and the aura lasts +/- 2hrs sometimes with or without pain.. today was more of a small headache.

[daluzinal]

Ive had two happen to me the first one after i had a headache from hell for about 3 hours.The second one bout three weeks later was way shorter and didnt have a headache at all.

[lunadestella]

Pretty much hit the nail on the head for me. I've had mine for a week or so now ... slowly going away but still pisses me off.

[johnnybloom22]

dude i had this before i had a really bad migraine and i was woozy and then i threw up

[fannypack03]

Man, thanks for posting... This video is so close to what I saw Sunday that it helped calm me down. I followed up with opthalmologist and he concurred with ER docs. I am 41 and this was my first migraine. I had no post aura pain thank God! It is still an overwhelmingly anxiety provoking experience though.

[slaxr]

I woke up with a migraine from hell this morning and this occurred with this very shimmery zig-zaggy, white-black at the complete periphery of my vision. this scotoma took about a good 15 minutes or so to go away after a while, but I still this migraine.

[mbrenes32]

transient ischemic attack

[tagriffi]

My understanding is that TIAs are always associated with visual "deficits" (like a shade coming down over your eyes).  Scintillating scotomas or other "positive" visual auras (flashing lights, colours, shapes) are not linked with TIAs.

[blebull]

No visual auras are caused by spreading neuronal depolarization. The high neuronal activity produces scotomas and is followed by spreading visual deficits.

[CalandrielAurealin]

Thank you for posting this. I started getting these things last Summer and it scared the shit out of me. I thought I was going to lose my sight forever (which would be seriously detrimental for my artistic aspirations)! I feel reassured and relaxed knowing that I'm not the only one experiencing this. Mine looks quite like that, only it's on the right side and it's grey.

[photonizer]

I use to have this fucking aura. I hate it, i can barely read, and it's always the right eye. It's also zigzag or sawblade pattern. I get no headaches, though.

[supruzr]

Aside from the fact that scotomas are supposed to originate in the center of the field of vision and propagate outwards, and aside from that mine, like other people mention, is completely filled in with the technicolor, it's a pretty fair representation.

[Doggieman1111]

Mine are the same except they're completely "filled in" with jagged moving rainbow effects. It's an actual blind spot in my field of vision and prevents me from driving, reading etc. Can't tell you how much they freaked me out before I found out that they were common!

[Lukieloo]

Yes, that describes mine too. The jagged, movement is the same, but there is a definite blind spot. It starts as a small dot and grows until it is outside my vision - then the pain comes.

[joethepigg]

Thanks for the video. I just had one and looked it up on the Internet (been getting them for a year). Your vid was ref'd on another site. This is almost exactly what I see, except mine is on the right and has very big silver and blue zigzags. I don't feel so worried now, but intend to see doc anyway.

[MediaValet]

It's good to see the doc for peace of mind.

And, there's no rational reason to worry, because 99.99% of the time it's nothing serious at all.

Each time I have one, it's always a little different. And way more complex than my little animation!

[CyberElektra]

According to Oliver Sachs in his book on Migraine, the best drug treatment for Migraine is caffeine, as soon as the aura starts drink some coffee. Sachs is famous for his book Awakenings about the use of L-dopa in the treatment of encephalitis lethargica.

[CalandrielAurealin]

I find that surprising, because the first time I had one of these things, it was caffeine-induced! I'd had 5 shots of espresso that afternoon and my eye doctor told me caffeine was a common cause.

[CyberElektra]

Luckily my migraine auras is acephalgic i.e. I don't get the pain of the headaches. Unfortunately I now have had a numbness on the right side of my face, scalp, chin, cheek, roof of mouth and tongue. There seem to be some connection with migraine auras and the trigeminal nerve.

[MediaValet]

Sorry that you get the numbness thing, and lucky you don't get the pain. My sister does, and she says it is beyond horrible.

I just had another one of these dang things this morning, but I am truly lucky

[kentuckyhellfire]

....which is another form of symptom you can get. I don't get the numbness but the crecsent aura that grows. It's a really strange experience and amazing how it just grows wether I like it or not.

[CyberElektra]

Thanks for pointing that out, my doctor has sent me to a neurologist about the numbness and she has booked me an appointment for an MRI scan, but neither doctors had told me that the numbness and the aura were connected. Now I've got a root infection in my bottom right hand jaw, and I'm wondering if it was this that caused the trigeminal numbness and the aura. My dentist has given me two antibiotics and I still have the toothache and I feel sich and dizzy with diarrhoea. I feel awful.

[CyberElektra]

Similar to mine, except mine was a triangle about a quarter of the area, on the right hand side of my visual field. The triangle did not change size, it just slowly moved to the right and disappeared over about a 15 minute period. The jagged edges were bright white and the centre of the triangle was as clear as the rest of the visual field.

[Marcus898]

i have gotten the outer edge part of this animation two times the last few weeks... is that also the same??? im getting concerned that its something dangerous!!!

[MediaValet]

Don't worry Marcus. You are about 99% likely to have nothing else wrong with you.

[Doooolan]

Thats not the aura I have, at all

[Chiellemoos]

I have this every three months or so. It will stay and grow and grow for about two to three hours, and is usually followed by headche. To get rid of the spot in my field of vision, I usually drink some strong white liquor, such as Wodka or jenever. A double dosages usually makes it dissapear. Although this somewhat intoxicates me, it allows me to continue working (albeit a bit less efficiently, obviously) in stead of making me almost blind!!

[JinKazama92]

hello. i experience the exact same thing.

im only 15 years old. i cant take it anymore!

after having those visions i get headaches and vomit during the headaches. i realy cant take it anymore!! please help! its too painfull!

[szerdahelyigyerek]

i am excatly the same as you.....strange since i have started smoking i have no migraine aura´s (since july)

[JinKazama92]

sometimes i feel doing suicide during the headaches.

[unregisteruser]

This is caaled a Classic Migrain. I used to suffer the same thing. A neurologist had me try something that was very affective. Take a pain reliever like Tylenol at the very first sign of the symptoms. This, in almost all cases, killed the migrain before it progressed. In addition, it seemed to greatly reduce their frequency from several a year to once every 4 or 5 years.  See a doctor and good luck.

[danielosbornecom]

i get these, fallowed by huge migranes that last a whole day on average. i've gotten the aura just by itself before though.

i've come to find out high-fructose corn syrup triggers my migranes. such a pain to avoid because its in so much these days.

[stinkyLips]

this happend to me today.for the firstt time ever and got in a car wrech..it started while i was in target, and it kept getting bigger and bigger,,i started to get scared and i got in the car and started to drive home until i wreck i couldnt see anything from my right eye.. my little girl was with me ...as soon as i got home i started searching online and i found this and wickipidia....its really close to what happend to me today

[CHICAGOPD]

So familiar. I have had four since July.

The first one was very frightening, I thought that I was having a stroke. Each episode lasts 20 minutes. Tonight I had one, that was enough! I went to the ER and they done a CT scan. Thank God it was negative(No Tumor).

The prelim was "migraine". Extremely rare in a male over 50.

[haVocHWC3]

What I used to get was called an ocular migraine. The cycle is the same except you cannot see in a certain direction when you get one. It expands just like the video and then you get a splitting migraine afterwards. The difference with mine is that it tends to blur alot more and it looks like its buzzing. I'm not sure if others got that but I haven't had one in over 6 months. Sorry to all who still get them. They are a bitch.

[beamtimesandlifetime]

This is almost exactly what I had yesterday. I'm so glad to find out that this is pretty common.

[Atlixco1984]

this is pretty close to the real thing

[asef8472]

Yup that's exactly what I just got.

[theyellowrose1977]

uhg i have that i get it every few weeks to months

[ilzogoiby]

Just had one of these yesterday... horrible, horrible... still-hung over...

[blogdcom]

It's called an optical migraine. They last about 20 minutes or so. Nothing to worry about. I get one every three or four years on average.

[Wivanunu]

I didn't think this was an optical migraine...I think it's the aura before a classic migraine. Doesn't an optical migraine present itself in only one eye, and this video represents both eyes.

[homicidemanex]

no. its the same thing. ive been diagnosed with it. it just that an "optic migraine" is more lay the "Scintillating scotoma".

[xaeo]

idk if this is what i had, ive gotten it once before, but today at work which was kinda of bad considering i operate heavy machinary haha. It wasnt like that being able to see through the spot, and i dont think it grew out like that. It was more constant in the same spot but completely blurred and in some areas i could put my hand near and couldnt see my hand at all. afterwords i had a major headache but could see fine again. any clues?

[Atlixco1984]

yeah welcome to the migraine world...i get this sometimes its really scary the first time it happens but they arent as bad once you know what to expect you kind of learn with time what trigers them and how to prevent them for me its usually stress and i mostly get them on an empty stomach what helps me is taking an advil right away and lay down in a dark room

[warrenbwalker]

I always get these darn things after drinking red wine!

[rocknfenderguy]

Omg! lol, I'm surprised at how close this video comes to the actual thing, besides being sped up about 300x the actual one, lol. But for people that don't have these, look to the right half of the screen, because usually they aren't right in the center, they are usually way to the right or way to the left, atleast for me they are.

[RhysMcQuillan1]

I hate that.

[video444]

Dude I just had one of these this morning, They suck bad I took advil right away but still had a headache and tingling of my right foot. The migraine lasted about 4 hours.

[sdk711]

Hi hun!! I received a response in e-mail from Edith Frost's sight regarding your episodes. The video does depict the shape I saw but mine was like looking through a 'diamond' in a'c' shape. Good luck hun and study yourself and try to write down what you are doing pryor to these episodes....Sylvia