Aura

[Mazza23]

I am having a lot of opthalmic auras almost every day and I haven't had my ablation yet has anyone had this happen if I am having them now what will it be like after ablation next week

[Rellim296]

I've had about five migraine auras in the last 18 months, all different and not associated in any way with an ablation. My GP found my description very typical and not in the least worrying. I've had three ablations (the last 10 months ago) with no aura occurrence.

[Hidden]

My optician advised that painless auras are caused by insufficient blood flow to the rear of the brain and that they will disappear in 30 minutes. I used to get auras infrequently. In 2016 one EP said my CHADVASC was 1 and another said between 1 and 2. In July this year I had a stroke that resulted in the loss of 50% of vision on the right-hand side of both eyes. In consequence I've lost my driving licence. The fact that I had auras may or may not be a coincidence.

[Mazza23 in reply to Hidden]

Yes this is what I am worried about saw ophthalmologist who said my eyes are in ex condition and the back of my eyes are fine he sent a letter to cardio I have yet to see him

[PeterWh in reply to Mazza23]

Keep on top of it so it doesn't fall through the cracks.

[Mazza23 in reply to PeterWh]

Have cryoblation on wed but have to see EP on tues so I will see what he says

[Rellim296 in reply to Hidden]

It was your post, John-Boy, that sent me to see my GP. He did not seem to be alarmed, but I'm not completely reassured.

[Hidden in reply to Rellim296]

Dr. Phil Hammond describes association of medical conditions like this: "99% of people in car accidents were wearing shoes therefore wearing shoes causes car accidents". The incidence of painless auras and my subsequent stroke when I lost the vision on my right side may be association, as my macula and the thickness of the retina are really good. The loss of vision occurred due to a bleed in the left-hand rear of the brain and is not related to the condition of my eyes. As I've posted here before, I've had an occult femoral hernia that occurs in less than 1% of men and, pulmonary toxicity / cryptogenic organising pneumonia secondary to dronedarone and amiodarone that have an incidence of 6 people in 100,000, so I'm used to being an "oddity" when it comes to medical conditions. When I went to Cornwall on holiday, my GP told me to take my medical letters as, "they won't have heard of it [pulmonary toxicity] if you have to go to hospital".

I've been fortunate in remapping my brain since the stroke - building two computers was a great help - so the loss of my driving licence due to the loss of vision is small beer. I can even find the bathroom in our house now! I was talking to a clinician recently about when I had peritonitis 27 years ago and I wasn't taken to surgery immediately as the GP said it was gastric flu (the GP still remembers it). As the clinician said, I am lucky to be here. Walking around with a hidden femoral hernia - the CCG would only pay for a truss - and pulmonary toxicity the following year, were in line for me to "shrug off this mortal coil". The consequences of the stroke could have been much worse than they've been. It's back to Pilates on Monday, a probability that I will try Tai Chi and, back to the gym in about a month. Let's celebrate living whilst we can.

Namaste

John

[Rellim296 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that, John - very interesting and a reminder of both the fragility and indeed the strength of our hold on life. I'm all too often inclined to be in the smaller section where statistics are concerned too - my blood group is AB- which is about 0.6% of UK the population. A bit unsettling.

I'm glad you are making progress and hope that further improvements will take place as you adjust and adapt.

I consider myself very lucky to be here today and if I was to be carried off tomorrow, I wouldn't feel short-changed. Although I had cancer 24 years ago, I've lived much longer than the rest of my family did. My father died suddenly out of the blue (pneumonia) when I was seven and I've never felt complacent.

Every day is a triumph! If I can wiggle my toes and fingers when I wake, I think how lucky I am to be as I am. I feel a good deal better than I did when something called AF that only affected me once in a while first propelled me into a regime of medication that seemed to take over my life.

[Polski]

I wonder if you are getting dehydrated too easily/often? Does a quiet sit with a large drink of water (or several) help? Maybe it is a sign you need to increase hydration overall?

[Mazza23 in reply to Polski]

Umm that's a thought I have CHF so I am restricted to 1.25 lt of fluid a day will think about that one thanks

[PeterWh in reply to Mazza23]

Certainly draw their attention to this fact.