Migraines and Seeing Spots

Ocular migraines. Also called silent migraines if you don't have pain. I had them when I was pregnant. It freaked me out. Thankfully, my father is an optometrist and knew exactly what it was.

she needs to find out what her trigger is. Common ones are salt, soy, caffeine, and so on. Then she needs to eliminate those from her diet.

I've started having migraines just before that time of the month, and while trying to figure out why I was suddenly having this problem, I found a good article by the Mayo clinic, which I'll post the link for.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS00120

It's long but addresses all of the things you've mentioned your cousin experiencing. It really isn't unusual for migraines to start up during pregnancy, and according to this article, may be linked to fluctuating estrogen levels (I believe this is what I've been experiencing as well).

I hope this helps at least a little.

The flickering is probably related to the migraine, but she should also see an opthamalogist ASAP - the flickering or flashing "lights" can be a precursor to a retinal detachment. (I've had multiple retinal detachments and had flickering/flashing lights - even in a black room - before each one of them).

ETA: I had a eye doc tell me at 27 that it was "all in my head" - and I had my first detachment 3 months later. Fortunately, by then, I'd found a retinal specialist.

Is she taking prenatal vitamins?

Prenatals gave me (and give a minority of women) horrendous migraines.

Quit taking them for a couple weeks, and the headaches vanished.

After that my OB recommended taking chewable Flintstones a couple times throughout the day. The massive dose of prenatal vits is just WAY too much for some people's systems to handle, but a kids' vitamin, taken every few hours, does the same thing as a prenatal... without the sudden massive dose that the body rejects via triggering migraines, nausea, vision problems, swelling, etc. as the body just freaks out at the huge dose.

Alternatively, it's possible (and is the easiest absorbed/ best for you) to get all your vitamins from your diet, it's just expensive.

I agree that she should see an eye doctor. I also HATE IT when doctors think it's "stress" or a "psychological" disorder when the test they run come back "normal" :(

I would encourage your cousin to go to different doctors until she gets a diagnosis that "feels" right to her. I'd also encourage her to get both an EEG and a brain scan ... just to be on the safe side. Best wishes to you all.

Have them check her liver and platelet levels.

It could be normal migraine-related auras - that's most likely. I get migraines most when I'm pregnant.

But, it could also be HELLP syndrome. It's normally related to preeclampsia, but it doesn't always present with high blood pressure.

Oh good grief, if I could have a dime for every time a doc has told me some variations of "it's all in your head" (in other words, you're female, get over it), I'd be rich right now.

No, it's not all in her head, really. I get migraines a lot, like almost every day (really), and I often get visual disturbances like your cousin, it's very normal for this to happen.

It's very possibl it's hormones, it could be her vision (have her eyes checked just in case) or it could just be random thing where she is having migraines indpendently of her pregnancy. It's really hard to know. What does her ob/gyn say? Have your cousin ask her/him what she can take for migraine pain that is also safe for the baby.

I hope this gets resolved soon and that your cousin gets some relief. Remember, this really, truly, is NOT in her head, the pain and visual issues are fore real. Find a oc to take her seriously if you can. Maybe her ob/gyn can reccomend someone??

Good luck.

Unfortunately, it's hormonal. They may get better as her pregnancy continues, but will likely show up again after she gives birth and her hormones go crazy again. :(

There isn't much else she can do although there are some medications that are safe to use during pregnancy which can help shorten or diminish the neurological symptoms. She should talk to her doctor. I was given a medication to take at the first sign of vision changes. It didn't stop the headache completely but it got me through the spots, flashing and nausea much more quickly. Migraines are an off label use for this med, it's actually for nausea. Have her ask her doctor.

Many migraines are caused by hormonal fluctuations which of course happen in pregnancy. I did see an increase in my migraines in pregnancy and after delivery. I believe it is the estrogen that causes the vessels to either dilate or constrict which causes the headache. I usually see spots or have white out vision when mine come on.

I'm surprised these docs don't know about the hormonal connection. It is very well documented as a cause of migraines.

I always see spots when a migraine is coming on, only mine are sort of a halo that starts in the center of my vision and gradually widens until it leaves my peripheral vision...and that's when the pain starts. Weird, huh? The first time it happened, I was 15 and thought I was going blind. My mom took me to an eye doc and he said it was a migraine.

At least it gives me warning, so I can take some Excedrin before the pain hits.

Honestly, it surprises me that the docs think it is in her head. It sounds like fairly common migraine symptoms to me.

As a fellow migrain sufferer I can relate - during my pregnancy, I used accupuncture - and it was amazing!! It also helped with my vommitting as well. Sounds crazy but it really worked.

Hello, When I began having migraines about 30 years ago, I talked to my doctor and he suggested that I think about what I had eaten or drank the day of or the evening before my migraines. I was able to go back and remember going out to dinner and having a drink. I cut out alcohol, chocolate, and anything else which might have caffeine. I also began taking a multivitamin/multimineral, B100 (stress reducer), and vitamin C. This all helped. However, when the air pressure changed, there I was again. It wasn't until I stopped smoking that the migraines completely disappeared. If she can keep a diary of everything she eats and drinks, she might be able to find out what is causing her migraines. Something is triggering these migraines. This is a time of her life where she should be enjoying every little part of it.
I wish your friend the best of luck with this.
K. K.

I went to a nuerologist for this very same thing when I was pregnant. I also ended up getting tunnel vision as well. I don't remember exactly what he said to do (it was almost 6yrs ago), but, I do remember that he advised me to take it easy when I felt one come on. Sit down and rest...and drink TONS of water.

That is an ocular migraine. I was diagnosed with them after seeing a neurologist. So scary! But I cut caffeine out of my diet completely and they stopped! After about 6 months I allowed myself caffeine here and there. Decaf coffee is still all I drink. I haven't had one in 6 years. I know how your cousin feels- its so scary when you have a condition that can't get figured out! Best of luck to her!

I had something similar to it when I was pregnant with my first child. But I HAD high blood pressure the whole pregnacy and my dr. never put me on any medicine. Any way one day I gotta out of the bath tub and started seeing these lights flashing around,I told my dr. and he kinda looked at me like I was crazy and said its probably because I got up to fast or whatever.Never seem concerned. But I had headaches due to my blood pressure up so high. So needless to say when I got pregnant again I went to another dr. I don't know what to say but hope she's feels better.

Very, very, very common.

What you are describing are the classic auras that accompany migraines. Pregnancy has just increased the severity or brought them on if she's never had them prior to pregnancy.

I recommend Yoga and Accupuncture or Accupressure. She should also try EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique, which is a FREE, self-tapping of your accupressure points. Also, a cup of coffee in the morning might help.

she needs to see a retinal doctor and make sure her retina is not torn or detaching. I had a horrible migraine the day my retina detached