Dealing With Headaches

Yesterday, we took an overview on the very painful affliction of ocular migraines. Although we don’t yet know what causes them or if they are seperate from migraines with aura, we do know thay they hurt a great deal. We also noted that the pain is nearly identical to a blood clot in the eye or a stroke, so if you are not sure what’s happening to you, call an ambulance.Today, we’ll try to take a look at treatments available.

It Is A Temporary Condition

The first time you get an ocular migraine, don’t be surprised if the doctor doesn’t give you any prescriptions or tests (other than checking for signs of a stroke or blood clot in the eye). If you have a history of headaches or migraines, than you may get a trial sized dose of whatever pain killer is in the office.

Ocular migraines tend (emphasis on TEND) to happen less often than “classic” migraine. The latter happens many times a month. Ocular migraines happen maybe once a month. (Note — this doesn’t happen to everyone I’ve talked to!) Some people even have a few episodes right in a row, and then not have any for months or even years. That they happen less often means a doctor is likely to not try to give you a lot of drugs for it, because the side effects (and the cost) might be worse than the ocular migraines.

Gimme Drugs!

When you get the strange visual symptoms or aura, you should immediately take any pain killer you can get (even an aspirin). I take Excedrin Migraine. Sometimes, this can help dampen the pain to come. If you can get into a dark room, lay down and do deep breathing, even a warm bath (or visulaizing you are in a warm bath) can help your body relax. If you practice mediatation, now would be a good time to practice some more.

If you get ocular migraines more than once a month, then the doctor usually tries to break out the drugs. Abortive migraine medicines like Topamax may be prescribed. You may also be prescribed Cafergot (a combination of caffeine and ergotamine artrate) or just plain old ergotamine. You may also be prescribed amitriptyline, which is usally classified as an anti-psychotic drug, but don’t panic. The doctor doesn’t think you’re psychotic.

There has been some sucess with injectable sumatriptan which usually is an abortive medicine, but can sometimes help diminish pain once the auras begin.

Will This Hurt My Vision?

In the long run, ocular migraines usually don’t seem to play a role in vision loss. There are a lot more things that will take their toll on your vision before ocular migraines will. Right before and even during an ocular migraine, you will normally see very abnormal things like zig-zag lights, double or triple vision and (what happened to me) seeing the world as though you are halfway underwater. There is even a sharp divinding line between perfectly clear and perfectly watery. It’s very disorienting, but a temporary thing.

Hope this helps.