Concern

[FAITHCG]

I have been having headaches lasting all day every day also having flashing lights in my eyes constantly. It started in my right eye first & now it is occuring in both eyes lasting all day with the headache. I did go to a eye doctor to see if it could be problems with my eyes but they indictated that everything was fine. Could there be a issue going on in my head?

[jonnie22]

Hi

Everyone

Can any of you help me last months i was help a friend make cusions and embroadering them then my friend went away on holiday so witch left me to finish them but there was one night  my embroadering wasnt coming out  neat after five trys dicided to give  up then i got up and my head started banging for days on end i got blured vison but then headaches went away and blured vision but now on awaking my eyes feel stiff when moved there is tention in corners of eyes i can also see light in front of them and im sensitive to outside light please can somone help me oh and i forgot when my eyes started hurting  it goes to the forhead going to the back of the head but that has now stoped it happend every other day now but eyes are still not better
please help
jonnie

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH]

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
   The symptoms you describe are consistent with migraine headaches.  These headaches are often accompanied by an aura (that can occur before, after, and/or during the headache).  The Aura is most typically visual with flashing lights, squiggly lines and sometimes visual loss.  The headache itself is generally unilateral (on one side) pulsating/throbbing/pounding and very severe.  Associated symptoms often include photophobia (lights hurt the eyes), phonophobia (sounds make headache worse), nausea/vomiting, and worsening with movement/activity.  Migraine headaches are typically episodic and occur anywhere from 1-2 times per week to 1-2 ties per year, but when uncontrolled they can transform into daily headaches.  There is a variety of medications used for migraine headaches Triptans (Relpax, Zomig, Imitrex, Frova, Amerge, Maxalat, etc.), antiinflammatory drugs are also helpful (indocin, ibprofen, toradol).  Some headaches require a different approach and Zyprexa and Seroquel are often helpful in refractory cases.  There are also a number migraine preventative medications such as Elavil, topamax, nadolol, etc. that are taken daily.  Patients with daily migraine headaches often reuire some IV infusions to break their headache cycle before they can get control again.  This IV regime is Depakote 500mg IV, Magnesium 2 grams IV, Phenergan 25mg IV, +/- DHE, Solumedrol 1 gram IV, Toradol 30mg IV; given once daily for 3-5 days.
   Another possiblity is that you are having seizures (focal seizures) arising from the occipital lobes (in the back of the brain). This causes primary color light shows or hallucinations of formed objects if in the parietal lobes (although I think this is much less likely than migraines).
   I would recommend an MRI of your Brain to evaluate for a structural lesion(tumor, AVM, etc-which can also cause migraine type headaches) with GAD contrast.  I would also recommend a routine EEG to evaluate for seizure activity.  I would then start one of the migraine medications suggested above and follow-up with your neurologist.
  I hope this has been helpful.

[FAITHCG]

I had a ct/scan done and my doctor's office called saying that everything came back normal. I am very happy but I still want to know what is causing the flashing lights in both my eyes that are non-stop and the headaches. I read about migraines with Aura but it states that the flasing lights start then followed by a headache, after about 30minutes they go away. My flashing lights stay all the time but my headaches do go away sometime. I have another appointment within a week. Should there be some type of testing that I should ask my doctor to perform? I just want to make sure that this is not serious as this have been going on for more than one year. Your response is greatly appreciated M.D.

[janedough]

your systoms sound like a freind of mine had. she had a cloged artery in her neck. she got stents put in. I dont know your age but if your over 40 you may want to check into circulatory problem.

[jcverive]

Have you seen a neurologist or pain doctor?  Your symptoms sound like common migraine with aura. The doctor can test this by seeing if the pain responds to ergotamine; if it does, then migraine is the diagnosis.  There are many good medications for migraine, including the 'triptans.

Visit a neurologist, pain doctor, or headache specialist, and ask to be tested for migraine.

Good luck!

[mineandours]

HI.  This is exactly how my neorological Lyme disease started.  The flashing lights happened mostly at night when I'd close my eyes to sleep.  It was like someone took a picture and I was seeing the flash from it.  I also had a headached everyday for two months.  My eye exams were normal and I saw all kinds of specialists.  One even hollered at me!  Worth checking into and might save you a lot of grief.  I wish someone could have intervened early on when all of my problems started! Here's a symptoms list for you.

Musculoskeletal System
Joint pain or swelling or tenderness
Stiffness of joints, back, neck
Muscle pain or cramps
Bone pain

Neurological System
Tremors or unexplained shaking (especially at night)
Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
Weakness or partial paralysis/stroke-like symptoms
Pressure in the head
Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
Increased motion sickness
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Sudden jerking of fingers or entire limbs
Pain in spinal column

General Well-being
Unexplained weight gain, loss
Extreme fatigue
Swollen glands
Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
Symptoms seem to change, come and go
Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well.  (If it was mild, you may not even recall this.)

Eyes/Vision
Double, blurry or dim vision
Increased floating spots
Pain in/behind eyes, or swelling around eyes
Over sensitivity to light
Flashing lights
Optic neuritis

Ears/Hearing
Decreased hearing in one or both ears
Buzzing or clicking noises in ears
Pain in ears or sound sensitivity
Ringing in one or both ears
Pressure or feeling of fullness in ears

Digestive and Excretory Systems
Diarrhea, irritable bowel
Constipation
Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping)
Frequent urination that is not normal
Upset stomach (nausea or pain)

Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Shortness of breath, cough
Chest pain or rib soreness
Night sweats or unexplained chills
Heart palpitations or extra beats
Heart blockage

Psychological well-being
Mood swings, irritability, rage
Unusual depression
Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
Feeling as if you are losing your mind
Overemotional reactions, crying easily
Too much sleep, or insomnia
Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Mental Capability
Memory loss (short or long term)
Confusion, difficulty in thinking, brain fog
Difficulty with concentration or reading
Going to the wrong place
Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
Stammering speech
Forgetting how to perform simple tasks

Head, Face, Neck
Unexplained hair loss
Headaches, mild or severe
Twitching of facial or other muscles
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Tingling of nose, cheek or face
Stiff or painful neck or creaking
Jaw pain or stiffness
TMJ