Permanent Migraine Aura w/ Brain Fog

[MatthewY]

Male, 18

When I was 14 years old I started having episodes(which did not include headaches) where I would: Lose the center plane of my vision, feel completely disoriented, confused, and completely depersonalized; and would have pins and needles in my extremities and mouth area follow by numbness. When I have these episodes they last until I go to sleep. I used to get these episodes about once every 2 months, and they have been happening less and less frequently(haven't had a full blown attack in about a year). However, ever since my first episodes I have been in a permant state of migraine aura which consists of: Seeing falling circles, afterburn on images when I move my eyes, "fireflies" when I look at bright surfaces like white walls and the sky, visual snow which looks like tv static, and worst of all Brain Fog. I have been in the ever worsening brain fog state for 4 years now and I am looking for any solutions. The brain fog feels like severe mental exhaustion, like the kind you get from pulling all nighters, only it's like that all the time starting from the moment I wake up. The brain fog has gotten so bad that I am completely spaced out all the time and not able to study. I have trouble keeping up in conversations and learning new things, or performing anything that takes any amount of thinking. I was very bright before all of this.
I have been in and out of Neurology clinics for the past 4 years and every one seems to agree that it is Migraine Aura but they all say that it shouldn't last this long. So far no one has been able to provide me with a solution.
I have had MRI, EEG, EKG, and all sorts of other tests all of which have come back clean. I have been prescribed: Gabapentin, Maxalt, Celexa, Adderall, and Verapil, none of which helped and I am currently not on any medications.
The doctors that I have been going to see don't seem to care at all about all this. They just keep prescribing new random meds without any rationale just hoping that they are going to land on the right one. They also seem to want to blame it on anxiety but I'm anxious BECAUSE of my condition. I'm not saying that anxiety is helping me any but I am saying that it isn't the root cause.
Please I'm in desperate need of help as this keeps getting worse and worse. It has made my life very difficult and taken all the joy out of living.

[maatt]

Hi ..
Did you try the "irlen" lenses?

[Aldika1956]

I am going through the same thing. I have had the visual snow for as long as I can remember. And lately I have been having a lot of brain fog and vision problems. I didn't know that it was called visual snow until I went to Dr. Amen's web site and took a "brain test" there and the results said that I might have Irlen syndrome. I have been having a hard time reading my computer monitor as well as ink on paper. I have not had any medical tests, and I doubt if I can afford the special lenses made for people with Irlen syndrome. My only consolation at this point is knowing that I'm not alone.

I told my therapist that I feel like I can't wake up. I feel like I'm floating. I would like to just sit in a rocking chair all day. I showed my husband the online example of visual snow last night. He seemed kind of shocked that I have been seeing the world that way.

Anxiety may play a role. I'm not sure. I do have anxiety. Major social anxiety. I hate answering the phone.  I have to call a customer right now and I am really dreading it. She's a really nice person, but I feel totally enervated at the thought of having to call her. Part of the problem is that she will want to place an order over the phone and I have such a hard time seeing and typing on my computer.

Wish me luck.

[neempop]

Hi I am 25 and also suffer from brain fog and visual snow. If you haven't already, visit the forum
http://thosewithvisualsnow.yuku.com/
There arent any answers yet but I think it is best we all keep in touch. The more of us there are that speak out about visual snow and pma the less they can ignore us.

[Wildcat72]

I am 38 years old and have the same symptoms.  Anxiety because of the feeling not because of the anxiety.  Anti-Doctor at this point because they are no help.  I believe there are a lot of people with this similar feeling and no one has yet an answer for it.  Frustrated, and totally effecting my work and family.  The only thing left to do is a new life style change.  This includes healthier eating and exercise and good vitamins which i do not do.  I feel for you both because this is the worst feeling ever.  I am now going to a naturopathic doctor in hopes of a solution.

[frustratedandaging28]

Hi, I have similar symptoms as yourself and have been on a fruitless journey to find a cause or solution. I have difficulty with seeing due to 'flashing' it is different in  different lightings and can become worse if I am tired or stressed. I also have a feeling of being unwell. I see that your investigations were a while ago and I am wondering if you have found any solutions.
A similarly frustrated 28 year old.