Migraine Aura

[johnMiosh]

I Have posted recently about migraine auras. I used to have regular migraines as a youngster, but these reduced in frequency and intensity over the years. After my catheter ablation, I experienced a migraine aura, but without the headache; I knew to expect this from information here, and so wasn't worried.

I had a migraine Aura again in early July, which did not lead to headache. I also experienced one on holiday a couple of weeks ago and again yesterday.

Looking back over the last few years, it was rare for a migraine to progress to headache; i had decided the cause was low blood sugar/dehydration and at the start of an aura, I would drink fluids, eats something sugary and take a paracetemol. Since my ablation, I have done none of this and have still not had a headache. I am now wondering whether the current migraines are not related to my youthful ones, and perhaps are related to AF.

Does anyone else get headache free auras, and has this happened since their ablation?

[Becksagogo]

Yes, I do. I have suffered with them on very rare occasions for about twenty years. I start with what I call watery eye syndrome and if I take Paracetamol as soon as that happens, they never progress any further.

They stopped when AF was diagnosed three years ago; probably just coincidence, but started up again at the beginning of July after a Mitral valve replacement.

Now I can "lose" the sight in my left eye and I get purple flashes in my right eye. Again, if I take Paracetamol quickly then they never progress.

I have never talked to my Doctor about them as they have never really worried me and given the amount of tablets I am already on for heart failure, I didn't want to start taking any more!

I also see my optician regularly as I have degenerative eye disease. (I love this getting old malarchy! ) should I mention it at my next appointment?

[reinaway]

I haven't had an ablation but have suffered classical migraine all my life with full blown auras. The last ten or fifteen years or so have been virtually with mild or no headache. The GP said this was quite normal so I don't worry about it and just thank my lucky stars that the pain isn't there.

[Barb1]

Yes. I used to have an aura like broken glass with a headache following unless I took migraleve. The last few times the aura did not lead to a headache. No idea why.

[F-M-C-MM]

Yes John, If you check out previous posts on the issue, you will find that it is associated with the ablation procedure.

It is believed to be associated with the transseptal puncture when passing the catheter from one atrium to the other. Unusually the auras disappear when the hole closes in.

[johnMiosh]

Thanks, did you mean that "usually" the auras disappear, because that is what I expected, but it is now two years since my ablation, so the hole should be well healed by now. I am assuming the recent ones may be due to my underlying migraines since childhood.