seeing things

[42itous]

When I get a migraine, I usually know it's coming because I get an aura. The aura normally starts as a little bit of static, like on an old black-and-white TV, in the center of my vision, and becomes a doughnut which gets bigger and bigger until it disappears at the edges of my vision -- and only then does the headache actually start to hurt. I've found that if I take Excedrin right when I notice the aura, I can sometimes preempt the pain altogether.

Last night an aura started just as I was getting ready to go to sleep, and I took Excedrin and turned out the light. Then I noticed the aura looked different. It had colors in it -- I noticed the robin's-egg blue and the orange first -- and stripes, and pointy things. It was so pretty, I tried to describe it to majordomo, but had to settle for watching it grow and trying to remember so I could draw it when I woke up this morning. I think I made a pretty accurate representation:

From aura

What you can't see in this drawing is the strobe effect. Imagine, if you can, that everywhere that's black in the drawing becomes white and everything that's white becomes black, and then it reverts to it original state, and back and forth like that almost-but-not-quite fast enough to appear gray. Makes me wonder if the aura *causes* the headache.

Comments

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

that's pretty damn accurate...

freaks me out when it happens, and it's rare to boot, but usually no headache, it's been years since i've had a proper migraine, and knock on wood, years again.

#

[42itous.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that migraines are often linked to phases of your life (as are allergies), so it's likely if you haven't had one in years, you probably won't get them again. Hope so, anyway.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

the strobing thing is very pretty... but the first time i thought i was dosed on acid, or having a stroke. the jury is still out on the latter.

being overly tired, or under severe stress seems to be a likely trigger.

my mom used to have them bad, and i got a couple, i came up with a ... prescription: hydrate immediately, eat! make sure to have sugar/carbs, salt, caffeine/chocolate, protein, and quiet and dark; in some order/combination as felt needful. taking aspirin/etc goes without saying to preempt. usually worked.

since i've had my infected wisdom teeth out a year ago, i've been really perky and healthy.

ETA: the damn accurate was about the pretty picture :> bizarre how it looks like crystaline growth when it happens.

#

[dougo.livejournal.com]

You should add eyes and post to http://www.omnomnomnom.com/.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

*snicker* That would be surprisingly appropriate!

[hachiemachie.livejournal.com]

Having never been plagued by migraines, I think that if something like that appeared in my field of vision, I would be immediately convinced that I was dying. But that's just me.

[lunacow]

That's really beautiful. Too bad the penalty for seeing something like that is accompanying discomfort.

I remembered seeing a collection of migraine art -- I think it was this: http://migraine.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/migraine-art-slideshow/

[42itous.livejournal.com]

Yes! I vaguely remember seeing that article too -- maybe that's what gave me the idea to draw mine. And there's one in the slideshow there that looks a lot like mine.

In this case, I was lucky: either it didn't hurt at all or I slept through that part. :)

[42itous.livejournal.com]

majordomo has just demonstrated one of the many reasons I <3 him: http://picasaweb.google.com/42itous/Aura#5303600133693281522

[audesapere.livejournal.com]

it kinda looks like a Langolier.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

aaughh! now I'm gonna have nightmares and it'll be your fault.. :P

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

janelemon has been a long-time migraine sufferer and spent lots of energy analyzing what was going on and following the research and now (I think) has them more or less under control. You might ask her what her solution was.

IIRC, the migraine consists of:

- pain
- inflammation
- seizure-like activity near your seeing-parts

but it's not entirely clear which causes which.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

I have a list of things that cause my migraines: caffeine, too much sugar, dehydration, insufficient sleep, etc. In general, I'm pretty good at avoiding those. This weekend I think it was because I'd been sick, and so probably consuming an average of 800 calories a day for the past four days.

[theloriest.livejournal.com]

That's pretty good. I've never thought about creating art from my migraines. Usually I just want to die. :(

wow

[drwex]

That's very interesting. I'm sorry you get migraines, thought. I've only had one in my life and it was MAJOR SUCK.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

I'm lucky that my migraines are usually not bad enough to make me want to die. And in this case, particularly lucky because I got treated to a light show!

Re: wow

[42itous.livejournal.com]

My migraines aren't as bad as they used to be, before I figured out what my triggers are. Usually I can sleep them off; once or twice a year I get one that's so bad I can't sleep.

Re: wow

[drwex]

What triggers it for you? (Mine was, apparently, a combination of stress, fluctuating blood pressure, and dehydration. Not a mix I'd recommend.)

[rubrick.livejournal.com]

I've never gotten migraines, but I have gotten auras a few times (which look pretty much just like that). The first one I noticed, when I was a teen, lasted for over a day and freaked me out a bit.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

Caffeine, too much sugar, dehydration, driving at night, flashing lights, lack of sleep... my favorite trigger is "recent migraine." Which basically means that for a few days after I have one, I have to take *really* good care of myself or it'll come back. As a rule of thumb, it's okay to have one trigger (i.e. chocolate or lack of sleep) but not two.