There's a rave going on in my head
Dudes, I hate migraines. And I have apparently been having them for a long time now, only I never knew it because I didn't always get God-awful headaches.
Ever heard of ophthalmic migraines? I hadn't either, until today when it started happening again, and I said, "Okay, that is it, this is not normal, and I'ma Google this shit." I got as far as figuring out what it was called, and then I had to call Terri to read me the rest of the info because I couldn't read the screen. Literally could not see enough of the letters to read. Tell me that wouldn't weird you out!
So what is an ophthalmic migraine? It's pretty much the joy of experiencing all the migraine symptoms, only without the headache, so rather than feeling like you have a migraine, you feel like taking your terrified ass to the doctor because you're pretty sure your retinas are in the process of detaching and you're currently having a stroke.
I've had this happen on and off over the years to a relatively mild degree, but lately, it's becoming more common and worse. This past week, it's happened twice. A couple years back, I got one so bad when I was driving home I lost the ability to talk. I sounded like a brain-damaged stroke victim. Not only was I slurring words, I wasn't even slurring the right words. I remember saying, "I can't... talk... good. I can't... think of... words."
Apparently, though, this is common. According to this website, ... aura can go beyond this [this meaning visual disturbances like flashing lights, jagged lines, distortions, blank spots, etc.] to things like dizziness, ringing in the ears, trouble focusing, slurred speech or trouble finding the right word when you talk (aphasia).
It usually happens to me when my eyes are strained and tired (mainly staring at a computer screen, but the one truly awful one happened when I was driving home at night in the rain).
Anyway, in case any of you out there ever get the super sweet visual sensation of looking through a kaleidoscope WITHOUT HAVING A KALEIDOSCOPE PRESENT, congratulations--you currently have an ophthalmic migraine. The screwed-up vision usually only lasts for about half an hour or so, so take heart. You have a great excuse to lie quietly and listen to music.
Ever heard of ophthalmic migraines? I hadn't either, until today when it started happening again, and I said, "Okay, that is it, this is not normal, and I'ma Google this shit." I got as far as figuring out what it was called, and then I had to call Terri to read me the rest of the info because I couldn't read the screen. Literally could not see enough of the letters to read. Tell me that wouldn't weird you out!
So what is an ophthalmic migraine? It's pretty much the joy of experiencing all the migraine symptoms, only without the headache, so rather than feeling like you have a migraine, you feel like taking your terrified ass to the doctor because you're pretty sure your retinas are in the process of detaching and you're currently having a stroke.
I've had this happen on and off over the years to a relatively mild degree, but lately, it's becoming more common and worse. This past week, it's happened twice. A couple years back, I got one so bad when I was driving home I lost the ability to talk. I sounded like a brain-damaged stroke victim. Not only was I slurring words, I wasn't even slurring the right words. I remember saying, "I can't... talk... good. I can't... think of... words."
Apparently, though, this is common. According to this website, ... aura can go beyond this [this meaning visual disturbances like flashing lights, jagged lines, distortions, blank spots, etc.] to things like dizziness, ringing in the ears, trouble focusing, slurred speech or trouble finding the right word when you talk (aphasia).
It usually happens to me when my eyes are strained and tired (mainly staring at a computer screen, but the one truly awful one happened when I was driving home at night in the rain).
Anyway, in case any of you out there ever get the super sweet visual sensation of looking through a kaleidoscope WITHOUT HAVING A KALEIDOSCOPE PRESENT, congratulations--you currently have an ophthalmic migraine. The screwed-up vision usually only lasts for about half an hour or so, so take heart. You have a great excuse to lie quietly and listen to music.