Any help?

I have positive visual disturbances which interferes with my dayly life. I am constantly monitoring my body and trying to stop this occuring. I have tried to get used' to the flashing surfaces and fog that occurs, along with difficulty seeing in different lightings and an increase in flashing when I am tired or stressed. But this is easier said than done. I also have a nipping at the side of my face by my right temple and often have neck ache which sometimes moves to headache. Apparently there is no cause for these but I struggle to accept this. Does anyone have any ideas for a cause or more importantly a solution? Please help me.

[horselip]

I don't know the answer as I am a mere headache sufferer myself.
But you might get a check up with an opthamologist. One idea is that maybe there is some sort of pressure on your optic nerve? Also, have you had an MRI to check for Chiari malformation?
Horselip

[frustratedandaging28]

Thank you for your feedabck. I have seen 3 different opthamologists including a neuro-opthamologist and I have had a MRI which was clear. They have diagnosed positive visual disturbance but there are still many problems that I dont undertand icluding neck ache and nipping at the side of my head. I have been told to get used to it but I find this hard as there is constantly flashing in my eyes. A problem with no solution is hard to live with.

[horselip]

Get used to it? That is a brush off. If you had a diagnosis and there was not really any way to correct the problem then "get used to it" might make more sense. You do not have a diagnosis, correct?

I think that you may need to dig deep and be more assertive. You've got to push for a diagnosis. How can a doctor say get used to it when they don't know why you are having the visual disturbances.  

I am also having some visual disturbances but we know why. I've got elevated intracranial pressure which affects the optic nerve. So there is a medication that I can take to lower my pressure and then there are some lifestyle changes that I am working on that might help. Weight loss and less caffeine are the two biggies. If the pressure continues to stay high, I may need to have a shunt put in. This will drain off excess cerebral spinal fluid and lower my intracranial pressure.

So I wonder if you also have elevated CSF pressure? What do they say about your optic nerve? Has Chiari been ruled out for sure?

These are just some ideas. There may be other things too. I just happen to know a little about these things because of my own situation.

A diagnosis is 90% of the battle. Especially if you are not clearly fitting into a box. Doctors seem to like boxes I've found. You might get copies of all of your medical records (if you haven't yet). Then do some research to find the best neuroopthamologist that you can and travel if you must.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Any changes in vision, blurriness, blind spots, halos around lights, or dimness of vision should always be evaluated by a medical professional. This could be due to eye diseases, aging, eye injury, fatigue, certain medications, or underlying medical condition like diabetes. Whatever the cause, this should never be ignored.  Migraine headaches can also present with such symptoms such as spots of light, halos, or zigzag patterns prior to the start of the headache. An ophthalmic migraine is when you have only visual symptoms without a headache. Treatment depends on the cause. If this is not identified, further evaluation may need to be done. Go for another doctor's opinion to determine the cause. Bring the previous lab results with you. Always be vigilant with your health. Keep your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol under control. Eat foods rich in antioxidants like green leafy vegetables. Take care and do keep us posted.

[frustratedandaging28]

Hi,
I am ok but still my symptoms persist. I have sort of been diagnosed with 'positive visual disturbance' but no cause. The neuro-opthamologist says that I ahve this flashing due to a lasting effect from my previous migraines. However, he cannot explain the nipping at the side of my head or neck  ache etc. He has told me to try to get used to it and the only cure is reassurance. But it gets worse when I am tired and stressed which in turn can cause a headache. I would like a firmer cause for this problem as if it was just flashing I could cope with it but I often feel unwell and exhausted.
The constant flashing is apparently not a persisting migraine but just a feature of having suffered one and it has no known cause in the first place. I feel lost and left alone without anything to do.
thank you for support

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
I would also like to ask if there  were other tests done to determine the  cause of your neck ache? Basing from your other posts, aside from the MRI and consultation from your neuro-opthalmologist, there were no mentioned additional examination of the structures of the neck. Inflammation of the blood vessels of the head or bony changes in the structures of the neck may also lead to headaches and other neurological symptoms. Anti-inflammatory drugs and  muscle relaxants often provide relief. Take care always.