Possible to have blurred vision with COPD

[lynnkay]

Seems I am on here from time to time with a possible new symptom. But, when you have a disease, you often wonder about any new changes in your body. Years ago, I had migraine headaches. Probably suffered with these headaches from the age of 12 to 35. Then after age of 35, the migraines seemed to greatly improve. Until just recently. Now, I am experiencing the migraines more frequently. Maybe few times a month. Always usually a warning before these headaches....blurring vision or seeing small flecks of light. This will usually last about half an hour. Then, the migraine starts. But, tonight was different. I saw the blurring vision or small flecks of light for about a half hour. Only this time, the migraine did not happen. Been having problems with symptoms of COPD of course. Part of the disease I know. But, there has been indications for several months, that my oxygen level has been dropping. Could these increase in migraines after years of not having them, be another symptom of something to do with COPD? I know the first time I saw my pulmonary doctor, he asked me was I having headaches. Just wondering if headaches and blurred vision returning, is part of oxygen level possibly dropping. Thank you.

[National Jewish Health]

When a person's oxygen level begins to fall, it often occurs first during the night, while asleep, resulting in morning headaches.  These morning headaches are not migraines and have nothing to do with the migraine syndrome.

You state that you've had “indications for several months, that my oxygen level has been dropping".  You and your pulmonary doctor should check this out.  Confirm or refute what you suspect, objectively.  Hypoxia, in someone with no history of migraine, does not induce migraine headaches or any of the typical symptoms of an aura, including visual.  One has to have a history of migraine to experience typical migraine headache, when oxygen deprived.

Migraine prevalence is increased in high-altitude populations, presumably due to lower blood oxygen levels, and migraine has been induced in research subjects in individuals with a history of migraine, subjected to hypoxia.  This could mimic your situation.

But do keep in mind that the incidence and frequency of migraine headaches can fluctuate significantly over time, without the invocation of hypoxia as the cause.

Good luck.

[frewsh]

i have just read that spiriva side effects, one could be eye problems,
are you prescribed spiriva, see yor doctor.