Anti

I am 100% certain that had I described these symptoms to you prior to your experience with an aural migraine, you would've dismissed me as a whiner (aaah schadenfreude).

Mine start similarly to Poirot's with a tiny blur in the almost centre of my vision - in both eyes. Gradually it expands across my vision into a shimmering light - like a light show in my head but not nearly so pleasant. This is accompanied by pressure on one side of my head (in my case the RHS) this can differ between individuals. After the 'light show' has expanded beyond my visual field, a headache sets in with varying intensity. The visual effects last for about an hour. The headache may last a lot longer with additional symptoms of extreme exhaustion and sometimes nausea. Obviously it is dangerous to be driving when this occurs as you may not see clearly, but not be aware you have lost some of your vision until the aura becomes obvious.

Hence the need to assess your lifestyle.

Getting fresh air, walking and looking at your eating habits as well as alcohol intake all help, I would also recommend meditation as this is a terrific relaxing method. Good luck.

I guess I should add what is happening in a migraine sufferer's brain. It is like some of the neurons are misfiring - that you see something is because the 'brain-storm' is occurring in the visual areas of your brain. Migraines are similar to epilepsy. You might find that bright flashing lights such as strobe lighting can impact.

You are capable of researching this illness further, there is much to learn, some people have success with medication. I don't. Therefore, I don't drink, smoke and avoid vexatious people as much as possible. My health being of more importance than the egos of others.

Well described, Ammonite.

Yes a feeling of tiredness or maybe better described as being a little washed out. Sometimes a moderate headache in my case. Also a sensitivity to light in the hours after.

Thinking back to an episode in primary school which was probably my first experience. I remember being quite alarmed because my vision was distorted and I was required to read something out in class (as luck would have it) and my friend had to guide my eye across the page with finger on the lines of the book to help me. It didn't happen again until my early twenties when my daughter was young - and happened quite often at that stage of my life. Not so now.

Poirot

The first it happened to me I was seventeen - I think now, too many long nights studying for exams. I thought I had something wrong with my eyesight and was too frightened to go to a doctor. Until I landed in hospital with a grande mal seizure in my twenties, I did not know the affliction was a migraine. In hospital I had a CAT scan and ruled out any possible tumours - which is good to know.

Do you also find difficulty concentrating and doing basic abstract thinking - woolly-headedness?

I have encountered a complete lack of understanding in non-sufferers who simply do not get that a migraine is to a headache what a bone fracture is to a paper cut.

Hence my irritation at Anti.

Ammonite,

I don't get massive headaches after a visual disturbance - although I used to get a moderately intense version. Perhaps some extremely light nausea...but I know some people are totally wiped out for days after a migraine episode - seriously intense headaches and vomiting for days. I suppose then its a thing of degree.

Yes, I imagine woolly-headedness would be something I experience, mainly due probably to the whole disconcerting experience or maybe to the brain getting overactive in a certain area.

My last experience of a series of migraines was about five days after the birth of my son (he's nearly ten) when I got three in one day. Have had a couple since, but that's not bad going for ten years.

Anti
Your experience sounds very debilitating. I have only had one migraine in my life and that was after (and during) driving into the sun on a long trip. The pain was bad enough to cause vomiting. However, the visual was hard to describe because I think on reflection it was due to the intensity of light which is what I saw even when shutting my eyes after arriving home.

That was the only experience with a 'migraine' but it gave me an insight to what regular sufferers must endure.

There is an operation for severe cases which was described in an interview with Symantha Perkins some time ago. You are probably not at that stage but it might provide relevant information.

http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/webchats/263900/the-pain-barrier-with-symantha-perkins

Some good advice above about de-stressing. Have you tried meditation?
Best of luck with it and let us know how you are going.