Had my first ablation this week (see another thread for details), but what I wanted to highlight is what happened the following day.
I started seeing what I could only describe as something like the old Kaleidoscope we had as kids (sorry to the young ones here, try Googling!). The first episode lasted about twenty minutes. Wasn’t sure what to make of it, never had anything like if before but thought nothing more of it. Then I had another in the afternoon. It affected mainly peripheral vision, looking like shards of glass, different colours and slowly glistening. My wife who is also a nurse said that’s an Ocular Migraine, which I had never heard of (but know a lot more about now). Again not too worried until the following morning had another episode which was a lot worse, covering most of my vision for a couple of minutes. I was quite worried by this as there is another possibility, that of a TIA (mini stroke, I cannot spell Trans Ischaemic Attack!).
I tried ringing the cardiac nurse but on answer phone, GP was a no go unless I could wait a few weeks so thought better get a bit of advice from 111.
Straight to A&E nearly four hours before being seen then another three of a few tests, then I was told a doctor on the stroke ward wanted to see me. So they took me up where I was presented with a bed, “ you’re in for the night mate!”
They were obviously worried about the TIA side and with 2 hourly lbs through the night I thoroughly enjoyed myself!
Another test in the morning to finally rule out TIA and had a hat with the consultant.
Meanwhile I had been searching our great forum, only to find that this Kaleidoscope phenomenon mentioned by someone else. Further investigation showed several reports of this following cryo ablation, some theories actually saying it’s to do with going through the septum of the atria.
Anyway the stroke consultant had not heard of the two being connected before and found it quite interesting!
I was later discharged with the diagnosis of ocular migraine (by the way for many, including myself there is no headache).
So be interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this and also hope to inform people in the future, but even if you think it’s the Ocular migraine it’s best to get checked out in case of TIA.
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Jes59
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Hi Jes, good to get it checked out but sounds like a migraine aura which frequently can occur for a few days after an ablation. This is explained in a factsheet which apparently seems unavailable but if you look at the “Pinned Posts” towards the top right of this page, click on the second one and all will be revealed…….
I had a few migraine auras after my ablation- I’d had a few in my youth followed by awful headaches but the ones after my ablation did not produce a headache. Just the weird vision thing.
Yes, I had an attack of migraine each day for eleven days after my ablation, then it stopped. After about five days one of my grandsons took me to the hospital and I got seen by someone from cardiology who thought it was dehydration or something. He went away and when he came back he was much more sympathetic. However, it was only when I joined this forum that I realised it was quite common.
Yes I have exactly that. Shards of glass describes the visuals well. It starts like the kind of dazzle you get from looking at a bright light, but doesn't fade. Then zig zag lines develop, blurring the vision, then it moves to the side and lasts exactly 20 mins then fades. The neurologist called it Scotoma. Was checked for TIA but that was ruled out. Ocular migraine was the diagnosis. Like you, no headache - for which I am very grateful! I still get a few episodes a year.
Yes, had this several times, first was an indicator of a stroke, due to P/A/F over 20 years ago, so highly relevant to your seeing a stroke doctor and being admitted. I was in hospital for 2 weeks as a consequence. I have however had these in later life, again sent to a stroke doctor who diagnosed TIA's however the last one I saw decided these were in fact ocular migraines. They seemed to happen when I was under stress, the weird thing about them was that they affected my speech, I would talk knowing exactly what I was saying but it came out as complete rubbish, they generally lasted about 30 minutes. However, I was changed from Warfarin to Pradaxa an also prescribed Statins and since then, touch wood, no further episodes, the last was some 3 years ago. So, it is important that if and when you start to get these crystal glass episodes you do report them and have them properly diagnosed because they can be the first indicator of a stroke, as was in my first case.
I have read several reports of this phenomenon here. It *seems* to be quite a common response and goes with time (I am not, of course, medically qualified). Your experience points to the need for better follow-up care and discharge advice imo.
I had that! Very pretty but scary. Like you local hospital took it very seriously and gave me a brain scan before concluding it was 'just' a kaleidoscope migraine. But better safe than sorry. Get better soon x
I was fascinated to read this. I've had what sounds the same for years and never have migraine. It's as you describe but occupies a small-ish area and when that is in the central region, it is very disturbing while it lasts, which can be some minutes. It has always gone away. I put it down to staring at computer screens, but that not likely the reason.
Can be associated with PFO - I was not aware I had one until my ablation which found it. Having had migraines all of my life, with visual aura, suddenly mine disappeared after ablation - added benefit!
I used to do a fair amount of scuba diving and an ongoing issue was whether or not people with PFO should be diving, considering an estimated 20-25% of the population have a PFO which many are not aware of, it’s a very interesting phenomena - especially as nobody knows exactly what causes migraines, just observational links. There was an interesting article about them in Psychology earlier in the year - I think I posted a link?
It would be odd if these common foetal remnants caused disabling conditions but it’s also odd that we don’t know that much about things like migraine headaches (or the conductivity of the heart!).
What it boils down, I suppose, to is the incredible complexity of the body and the difficulty of investigating it in live subjects.
I occasionally get these but oddly not after any of my ablations. I find that if I close my eyes for a brief nap it has generally gone when I wake up again.
Hi.A few weeks before my flutter ablation I had the shards of glass thing in my left eye.I googled it and said Ocular migraine and the pics on there were exactly what I was experiencing. Said it would go in about 20 mins and it did thank goodness.I reiterate this was several weeks before my ablation.Trust me lol.
I had the kaleidoscope vision in the first few days after my ablation. I saw a few posts on here which confirmed it was migraine aura. No headaches though.
I had a second ablation last Tuesday and was just getting my discharge papers off the nurse when I started with the aura, well I was quite calm about it because I had it on the 1st ablation so knew what to expect, I told the nurse about it and all hell let loose. I tried telling her it was to be expected ( (mr know it all 😁) but out came the ecg and one of the top nurses with lots of equipment to test for a stroke. I had to remain on the ward for a few hours when the top nurse eventually came back and said she spoke to one of the cardio’s who informed her it was a common phenomenon after an ablation and nothing to be concerned about. Great to know that they take extra care though when all said and done!
Wow some very interesting reply’s here! As mentioned above this appears to be more common than first thought, but not just associated with an ablation. Thanks for everyone who has replied, certainly reassuring that I’m not the only one!🤓👍 but as also mentioned above, do get it checked out as it could indicate something more serious.
Yes, this happened to me after first but not the second ablation. Scared me and started looking up phone number for emergency eye care. It appeared like lightening flashes and went away about 20-30 minutes later. I went online probably here and found an explanation
I’ve had them for around 25 years. Also a few episodes after both ablations. Always last 20 minutes. The first time I experienced it I was sitting in my GP’s office by the side of her computer for something unrelated. I mentioned it as I was scared and she completely ignored me saying we could only discuss one thing per appointment!🤷♀️
I used to have migraines 40 + yrs ago and then this June I had AFib on a Thursday and on Friday an ocular migraine (dx by my opthalmologist on the phone after he asked me details). Then this past Friday I had AFib in the early hours which went away and then in the evening I had an ocular migraine! I am seeing my cardiologist next week and did speak with my primary dr yesterday and he said I must see a neurologist. I am on Eliquis but terrified now that apparently I have double the chance of having a stroke
Hey Jes59,I had the Ocular Migraine at the 11 day mark after my cardiac ablation, though my doc used RF and not cryo for the zapping. Like you, I had never heard of Ocular Migraine much less experienced one..freaked me out as well. Just as you described, I had the kaleidoscope like colors in a half moon type shape mostly in the peripheral and some general blurriness. Mine was in both eyes and lasted about 20-30 min. Researching it as quickly as I could I did find mention of the TIA having similar symptoms! That didn't help the ol' heart rate. But the more I read the more it seemed to be 'good' news that mine was in both eyes and was not accompanied by any other of the classic stroke symptoms like one side pain/loss of function etc. Eventually I found several other mentions of this happening post ablation, including finding this site and the AF sheet often referenced. I actually sent PDFs of those to my Dr office via their web portal as I have found a growing list of things that are apparently relatively common post ablation but not mentioned by the med staff either before or after. There are a couple of "top 10" lists I found far more useful than the anemic info my clinic gave me on discharge from my procedure. heartrhythmdoc.com/top-10-t...
I encountered most of not all of the symptoms on these lists and it would have been helpful and less stressful had I known a few more of these "normal" occurrences post ablation. Neither of those lists include the Ocular Migraine though so I'm happy to have found this site and others mentioning it!
It's been very valuable if not reassuring to find mention of these things I wasn't told about but appear to be relatively common.
Best of luck and I hope your recovery has gone well! I'm currently approaching the 2 week mark for myself and slowly trying to get a bit more active. I had a very active lifestyle beforehand and no underlying other issues..just bad electrical! Like all the old houses I grew up in! I hope this gets me off the AFib mystery tour.
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