Photophobia with on and off migraine pain for a week

[mum2four]

I recently went threw a whole week with very bad photophobia. I also had migraine pain on and off getting worse more often at night and better once I was sitting up right more often.

It was easier to be out of bed then in bed the photophobia was easier to deal with than the pain from laying down. the photophobia was so intence that I could barly walk straight and the pain was in my forehead and around my eye's only unless I was laying down them it got worse. I ended up being hospitalized for tachycardia which was good because I got an answer about the tachycardia and put on med for it. But the hospital ignored the fact that i was suffering from a week long migraine still even in the hospital.

I'm wondering if photophobia with pain that is limited to fore head/face mostly is still a migraine. I have never had photophobia that bad or for that long ever before. I dont know if it was due to my tachycardia issues or if it may even be related to year long string of strange symptoms.
Including things like brain fog,
trouble getting words out,
trouble finding the right words,
trouble understanding what people are saying to me,
lots of headache's,
more dizziness,
more balance issues,
I was even diagnoised with laberintitis at one point,
my vision get blured a lot some time it seem like I'm looking threw water,
there is always blood when I blow my nose day and night,
I even went threw week of ringing in my ear a fue weeks before the photophobia episoide.
I struggle to focus my attention and my eyes a lot.


I'm over thinking this or do these type of symptom warrent a look at my brain.??????

[Lisaanng]

I have had a migraine for over a month and this is the second time since October that this has happened. I have had headaches since I was 16 and I am now 32, please do not waste any more of your money on expensive test. Get a referral to a neurologist and get some preventive meds for the migraines and let a professional tell you what is wrong they right doctor will tell you the truth. Keep a headache dirary for the doctor and a list of symptoms. There is a new study that has come out to show that light sensitivity migraines intensify the migraine almost instantly and last for 20 to 30 minutes after you enter a dark room. That is my problem I work in a store where I am exposed to the sun through two windows directly daily while at work. I can not stay inside because I have to work, go to school and I have four kids also. One artice suggest dark ultraviolent sunglasses, special contact lenes, and to wear the sun glasses even when inside if needed. I have very odd symtoms when I wake up and turn on the lights, I get flashes of archs at the bottom of my visual sight, when I close my eyes I see flashes, there is a pressure feeling behind my eyes. My forehead hurts, and as the day goes on and I am out side the head ache gets worse. I wee my neuro next month. I am on a new preventive med but it takes a while to work and it is not full proof. I also take prescription pain meds and they only work for a limited amount of time and then the headache returns, so until the the study is complete we may suffer in the light and live in the dark. Good luck.  

[mum2four]

My CT scan was good..

I really have not felt stressed out waiting for any test unless they were due to pregnancy. I dont really get scared of bad things happening to me, like I did when I was pregnant with each of my children. I some times wonder why I dont worry about test unless another person life will be impacted by them. I really only wanted the CT because it seemed like a logical thing to rule out I felt more scared of explaining that logic to my Dr that of the waiting for the results of the CT. I'm the same way in emergency situation you'd have know idea that I had anxiety because my body goes to automatic and protecting other becomes more important to me then my own safety. I'm trying to change the part of me that seems to think I don't matter when it really count's. I've avoided Dr's and test's and being refured to other Specialist all my life because I felt other people were sicker than me and needed it more than me even when I had intence concern's in the past that some thing more serious could easily be going on. I feel like I've been lucky so far, I did not even want to see a Dr a fue years back when I really sick with tonsilitis and hit me so hard fast that I was in bed for 3 day before my partner sister's took me to the Dr's and it turns out the tonsilitis had turned toxic. I ended up getting it 2 more times just as bad and as fast, 3 times in 3 month. The second and 3rd time I made sure I went to the Dr's I had never really had toncilitis much in my life I knew it can turn toxic but I did know it could happen that fast. A fue years before that I was in intence pain for a week I could not eat at all and drinking was so painful my wisdom's teeth were hurting big time. After a week I finally had to see a dentist and was seriously shocked when he said I was lucky I came in cause my throat my was starting to swell really bad and could have easily put me hospital if I'd waited any longer. Turns out my wisdom tooth was infected, I did not even know teeth could become infected. I'm so use to being able to fight off most infection with out med's and some time's I feel like once I get really sick I seem to forget some thing more serious might really be happening.

I feel like I'm damned if I do and damn if I don't with Dr's. I've talked about my symptoms thinking they will send me for test if they feel it's the right thing to do. They never sent me and since having to basicly diagnoise my own tachycardia and seriously insist for over 6mth that it was causing me big problem's, I've lost my confidance in Dr's I think. I'm confused are you supose to have to ask for test's before they sent you for them cause that just seems like I'm doing there job for them or that I'm being pushy. I scared that I'm hyperchondract or that I'll become one some how and that my fear not that I'll really be sick some dangerous illness. I scared that every test I'll have to figure out why I have the symptoms I have will be negative and in the end all I will have proven is that in must me in my head and then the Dr will think I was pretending for attention and never want to give me another test ever even if the symptoms get worse again or new issue's. I dont like seeing Dr's alot my whole life has been what if this is all in my head. That's one of my bigger OCD fear's, in fact it's so big that I have almost wished for something serious to be going on cause it would feel less scarier than being told it's in my head or we cant find a reason. I wrote to my Dr about this fear cause I felt I had to explain my self. It helped my anxiety about telling her things has gotten heaps better but I still worry alot about seeing my Dr's to often cause I feel like I'm becoming like my mum, I dont want to be like my mum I cant get hooked on pain med's even if I am I really pain, that would be worse than getting cancer to me and I wish that was not how I viewed it but it is.

I have my echocardiogram tomorrow to make sure nothing serious is causing the tachycardia. I'm more scared of the test then the good or bad result. I'm sure nothing serious is causing it cause it feels like I'm just doomed to never have an answer cause it proberly is all my head even thoe I truly don't feel like I could be causing the symptoms.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
It is good that you already had your CT scan last week. It can sometimes be stressful to wait for the result of any laboratory test. At least now, we will get to know in a few hour's time. Do keep us posted with the results. Take care.

[mum2four]

I had my CT scan last week I go back for the results today my Dr only works 3 days a week and I have school as well so between the 2 this is the first chance I have had to see my Dr for result's.

Thank you.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? I agree with you that listening to the 1 % is important to rule out any underlying cause. In addition to this, evidenced-based medicine has long been used to determine the definite diagnosis of medical conditions. This is why I think you will benefit with the CT scan for proper diagnosis.Take care and best regards.

[mum2four]

thank you.

I really would not call it worry so much as caution. I'm not worried I have something more serious going on just have this "what if" thought in my head. I'm 99% sure nothing serious is happening but the 1% seems important enough to listen to as "what if" could be serious and need to found asap to treat. Rare but dangerous seems important to listen to even if it is rare and highly unlikly.

For some one that has anxiety I've always been suprised how little I worry about my symtoms. The same symptoms in friend or my own child and I would be asking them to ask for a CT scan or something. I'm the same when it comes to my own safety in real life dangerous symptoms. I dont notice I'm in danger till I know other people around me are safe. I always seem to be the one that protects people at risk of my own safety.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
It is good to hear that extensive blood work was done to rule out serotonin syndrome and the results were fine. To ease any worry I recommend that you have the CT scan done to rule out organic causes. Best regards.  

[mum2four]

I have wondered about some thing called serotonin syndrome. Its can be a rare side effect of anti D's...not really sure if this fits my current problems. I'm sure hoping it's not what is causing my recent problems as I really would not cope with out the luvox. I was put on several medication that I should not have been put on as it can causes serotonin to back up in the kidney's or something which can be dangerous. I'm really not sure about serotonin syndrome but from what I've read it sound dangerous and more intence, but I may be wrong. I have asked my Dr about if the med's or my Luvox could be causing this problem and she has done extensive Blood test she even ruled out menapause and she said blood work was perfect.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Thank you for the update. If you have been taking luvox for your anxiety and depression, there may be a possible relationship. Side effects of Luvox or all those who belong to the group SSRIs include anxiety, nervousness, sweating, nausea, decreased appetite, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, sleepiness, dizziness, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction. Other symptoms include visual disturbances and headaches.( reference: http://www.medicinenet.com/fluvoxamine/article.htm). Withdrawal reactions have also been reported after prolonged intake. Talk to your doctor about this for proper management. Take care and hope to hear from you soon.

[mum2four]

I'm already on 200mg of luvox for my anxiety and depression, have been for at least 5y now. I also have sedatives for panic attack's I only take a 1/4 of a 5mg tablet, been on and off sedative for about 2.5 years since a home invasion, and very recently sleeping med's for insomnia incase that is what has been causing most of symptoms to increase. Been taking sleeping meds since about oct last year the only thing that has improved pain wise has been leg pain slightly which got better still since being on Ivabradine for my tachycardia. I suspect because the pain in my legs(restless leg pain) was bad due to better circulation maybe other than that I could not begin to understand why.

I use to bang my head as well due to my OCD which also make me want to rule out something going on inside my head. I had a bad panic attack one day and got very angry at my self about it cause I ended up banging my head so hard and normally I could control my head banging compulsion. I had a headache for week after that and then it got better but then I still had pains shooting up around my ear and to left temple A Dr finally said it was proberly a pinched nerve and put me on Carbamazepine 100mg but it made the pain worse till I stopped taking it then I realized both Zyprexa and Carbamazepine should NOT be taken with my Luvox. I stopped taking both of them. My new Dr cant beleaive I was put on either of the med's while on luvox. I have asked about if one or both of these meds could have been the cause of my symptoms still but she seems to think that it's unlikly.

Thankyou again.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Thank you for your update and I sincerely hope you are feeling better today. While anxiety can be one possible cause, you can talk to your attending physician and have the ct scan done to rule out any anatomical problems. This would really help identify the direct cause and the proper treatment. Also,anxiety medications may help control anxiety. Check with your doctor if there is a need to have prescription medications for this also. Take care and hope to hear from you soon.

[mum2four]

Thank you I had another headache/migrain today and its made me think about a CT scan to be sure nothing els is happening to me. I have not been doing things that typically set of my past headache's. My diet is very limited and could not posiablly be causing the pain threw additives as I'm not eating any artificial additive and they use to be my biggest trigger. With unexplained tachycardia I do wonder what could be causing so many unexplained symptoms even my Dr is confused by my symptoms that I've been having over the last year or so.

my phycologist wants me to accept that it's proberly caused by my anxiety etc but I just dont think I could fully begin to accept it might be caused by anxiety etc unless I have a scan plus I deserve to know one way or another, and I have never had a CT scan ever.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
With your additional symptoms, I agree that you should have imaging studies done such as  CT scan. This would help rule out any anatomical problems and identify the possible cause. Talk to your kids and explain to them what is happening to you. Try not to worry, they are now old enough to understand what you are going through. Take care always.

[mum2four]

I have a headache right now my 10y decided to use a high pitch scream every time her 12y sister did some thing she did not like. It was just presure across my eye brow's but thank to my lovely children its now across my forehead and my temple's, and cheek bone's. It feels like something is pushing on my face and forehead from the inside of my head. I never really felt this much presure before with pain it really makes me wonder if I should be asking for a cat scan or sometime.

I just want to turn all the lights off and noise off and go to sleep. Thank goodness the kids go to bed to soon. I dont even want to talk cause it may it worse. When ever one of my kids come to talk to me I just want them to shhhhhhhhhhhh but its not fair on them that I'm suffering and I dont want them to have no mum like I felt I had when my mum would get a headache and go to bed. If I was not feeling so horrable right now I think I'd want to scream and shout about how unfair it feels to be dealing with unexplanable symptom's.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
I understand how difficult it is. You can try to have both preventive and abortive medications for migraine if there is not much choice. This will help prevent the migraine attack if you remove your glasses. Sometimes, other primary headaches such as tension and cluster headaches may be present also. Cluster headaches usually present with eye pain. Take care and do keep us posted.

[mum2four]

the worst thing is that I get migraine from not wearing glasses but then I also get migraines from wearing them.

With out i suffer from eye strain and it hurts around my eye sockets untill it turns in to full on migraine.

With glasses the pain is more on my nose I have a wide bridge on my nose like my mum(she had an op to make it smaller). the pain is mostly in the middle of my forehead and nose and spreads across my check bones eventully turning in to a migraine.


glasses or no glasses I get sleepy very easy from reading. I can read a little with out glass and more with glasses but it still makes me very sleepy I can just read a fue extra pages before getting tired.

some day's I just feel like a vampire lol the lights just hurt so bad. Like this morning in class my eyes were hurting so much at one point I wished I could just turn the sun off and find a pillow to put over my eye's. With having that option my next thought was can I just get rid of my eyes compleatly some how lol I took nurofen migraine tablets and thank goodness they helped, they dont always latly. The thing is my perception of the pain is not that it's a migraine at that stage it's just presure like some one is trying to push my eyes out from the inside. The more light the more presure it feels like is being put on my eye from the inside. Putting light presure on my eye's or socket releaves the presure feeling till I stop then i'm right back to the start again and if I dont find a way to reduce the presure I will get a migraine.

I just want the presure to go away and stay away.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Thank you for your update. It is important that you identify when this occurs. Is this persistent and continuous or intermittent. It is better to have this evaluated by an opthalmologist so that further tests is done. Glaucoma is one differential but if you have a history of migraine headache, this could inf\deed be related. Take care and do keep us posted.

[mum2four]

I have a stigmatisim to my right eye from spraying a furniture polish in my eye as kid but even with my glasses the same thing was happening to my eye's.

I get tunnel vision from anxiety but the eye issues I've been having latly I have no control over with the tunnel vision from anxiety I could snap out of it for at least a fue min till the anxiety got worse again the recent issues I cant shack no matter what I try to do to make it go away. it's like my eyes are filling up with invisable water, its not water because they dont water it's almost like fog. the last time I asked about the symptoms with the optomitrist he told me that if getting glucoma or some of the other eye problem that I would not have symptoms like I have. The symptoms seem to be happening more often.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? It would be best that you check with an eye doctor to rule out any problem with the eyes. Visual symptoms of the aura in migraine include the following: blurred or absent areas in the vision field, tunnel vision, or even complete blindness; positive visual problems, the most common of which consists of an absent arc or band of vision with a shimmering or glittering zigzag border; photopsias  or uniform flashes of light wherein a sensation of lights, sparks, or colors or visual hallucinations that may take various shapes; and photophobia.If the eye check-up is normal, you may benefit from a consultation to a neurologist to rule out any brain pathology. Take care and do keep us posted.