Happy Easter! Kelsea and I spent the waking hours of the morning watching the bunnies outside her bedroom window. Our own personal easter hoppers. There were three adults and one baby bouncing around the yard with their little cottontails. They sat there zoning. Or noming grass. So cute.
Then Kelsea went off to a day of church and family festivities with Uber-Cool Will. His Grandma made her an Easter basket, which makes her very happy. “It makes me feel like I have a grandma again,” she said yesterday. I did a dip with maternal inadequacy, feeling like maybe his family is taking her with them because they think I’m a heathen, hippie, unsuitable mom, but I let it go.
And as she was leaving, an ophthalmic migraine started. Do you know what those are? They’re not real migraines. They are these weird visual things that happen when, for some reason, the arteries behind your eyes spasm, blocking blood flow to the optic nerve. I’ve been getting them for about three years. Not too often, but occasionally. Fortunately, they don’t usually predict an actual migraine like the auras that migraine-sufferers experience. Now that it has passed, which took about half an hour, I have a little headache, but nothing too bad. I HAVE had full-blown migraines after these little episodes, so the not-knowing when I’m having the ophthalmic migraines is pretty nerve-wracking.
When you’re having an ophthalmic migraine, the world looks like this:
Or like this:
Yes, weird, geometric edged lines or holes in your vision that move and grow. Talk about a bizarre Easter present. To go on top of everything else that I haven’t talked about yet.
Off to work on the Bungalow. Happy Day, all.
9 comments
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April 24, 2011 at 11:58 am
The Idiot Speaketh
Hope you get to feeling better! Happy Easter to you and Kelsea!
April 24, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Seasweetie
It’s all passed, id, just like a rainshower. Happpy Easter to you and D’Aun and the kid.
April 25, 2011 at 8:56 am
Anotherother1
Oh my gosh!!! I have had those, too. It is the strangest, most surreal experience. Mine usually last under an hour, and I don’t know what prompts them. So disconcerting. I have NEVER known anyone else who has had one!
By the way, you did a wonderful job of describing the physical experience.
April 25, 2011 at 9:20 am
Seasweetie
Well, of course you do! We were separated at birth!
July 21, 2011 at 12:41 am
Greg
I’ve had two of the episodes so far (I’m 61). The aura looks like sharks teeth that are glowing and scintillating (right word?). I don’t know how to fully describe it. If it was sound, they’d sound like the tinkle of wind chimes.
With all the political brouhaha raised about migraines today, I’ve been doing a little research and found this image which is very close to what I see, except for the blurry part.
I’ve got to find out if my mom has them too (chance of CADISIL, if so).
Thanks for posting the image.
July 21, 2011 at 7:33 am
Seasweetie
Exactly, Greg! That wind chime description is perfect – I wouldn’t have thought of it. Thanks for stopping by.
August 23, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Karen Hoban
Im having an Occular Migraine at the moment ! ! Sitting watching tv and relaxing so dont know what has brought it on. The pictures are quite accurate. I got my first one about 5 years ago and got such a fright as I couldnt see. I didnt have a headache or any pain with it. I get them all the time now, at least a few times a month and other times maybe few times a week. But i never panic as they dont hurt me and I know they will pass. Im use to them now. They usually last 20 mins and travel from the right towards the left and I get them in both eyes at the same time. When I have them , i feel if like a shiny, glittering , irridecent spiky vision in my eyes. I can see lots of colours in it, kind of like a prism, but silver and shiny and like that silver irridecent wrapping paper ! Sometimes its only half a circle, crescent shape, like an arc and sometimes its like a complete spiky circle shape. It starts very small but I notice it straight away and then it grows and gets bigger and shiner and blocks my vision. At the moment its slowly moving towards the left so I know in about 10 mins it will be gone. When I went to the Optician, they said the same triggers that start a normal migraine, can start an occular one. Things like tomatoes, orange juice, tea, coffee, chocolate. Im sure there are lots more triggers but I cant remember ! I think some people get a headache with them but I never do ! Also can come at times of stress !
Karen
August 23, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Seasweetie
Thanks, Karen – your description of yours is just what mine feel like. I haven’t had one in a while, but it is kind of a creepy, “uh oh” feeling when you suspect one is starting. Since I’ve gotten a house and a job (and a new relationship) I haven’t had one, so maybe stress was a factor. The only other big change for me in my diet is a lot less green tea – I was drinking lots of it when I was having them more often. Hope it clears up soon! They always made me a little nervous – I was afraid when I was having one that it might be permanent! Glad you stopped by, and enjoy your day.
January 26, 2012 at 12:24 am
When Your Head Kicks Your Ass « Seasweetie's Pages
[...] – wait, I always have trouble talking these days. The aura stage is not to be confused with ophthalmic migraines, which are generally annoying, painless, and are NOT a precursor to a [...]