Migraine aura without the pain

[P0rtnahapp1e]

Years ago I occasionally had a migraine, mostly when I was a student, but recently I’ve had almost daily occurrences of experiencing the aura, but no pain. It’s really inconvenient as obviously it affects my eyesight temporarily, if even for only an hour.

Just had sight checked with Specsavers, and had my regular ophthalmologist check up for glaucoma.

Anyone any experience of heart meds causing this? I’m on edoxiban, entresto, carvedilol,allopurinol,atorvastatin, digoxin, dapagliflozin, to treat my AF, DCM, Heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure and diabetes.

I know, an aura should be the least of my problems, but quite honestly I feel reasonable well recently and am trying to cut out any unnecessary symptoms!

Off to Corfu next week, then Edinburgh, thence London. Live horse and you’ll get grass. 😂

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

You mention you are on diabetes medication. I have been Type I since childhood. One of my secondary signs of hypoglycaemia is visual disturbances/aura. Do you check your own BGs (blood glucose)? Hypoglycaemia symptoms may occur at normal levels if the general background level is high!

[P0rtnahapp1e in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks Michael, I’m only Type 2 and my medication was primarily prescribed for my heart failure, it’s just a happy coincidence that it’s suitable for diabetes as well.Have you had your results yet? How do you feel?

[RufusScamp]

I used to get visual migraines, but I have just realised I haven't had one since I started on the heart meds, Entresto and Bisoprolol. It could be an effect of the mixture of drugs you are on. It will be interesting to see other people's experiences.

[Hidden]

Hi, I used to have daily migraines to the point I had to carry Migraleve tablets. This has occurred on three occasions since the early 90s, I solved the problem each time by getting rid of knackered AV and MVs. Being serious, having migraines for months prior to surgery is a marker that my valves are deteriorating. Coincidence, possibly, but in the dormant years, I've been fine. I'm now 8 years clear of the horrid things. I can't say it's down to meds, as other than warfarin, I've only been on Amlodipine since 2018, and Bisoprolol and Entresto for a few months.

Enjoy your break.

[Eastwood25]

Hi, I have exactly the same, it really scared me the ist time, which was 2 months after my diagnosis/ medication started, fortunately they’re not very frequent. I’m on Bisoprolol, Entresto, spironolactone and Dapaglifozin, never experienced it before my HF DCM diagnosis, I suspect it is a side ever to of the medication.

[Paperlover]

I am also an aura sufferer, but never have the headache. I used to get maybe 20 a month, sometimes 2 or 3 a day until I was put on an anticoagulant for my heart problem. The surgeon checked for a small hole in the heart which should close at birth as that can be a cause. Not the problem in my case. Came off the anticoagulant after my heart surgery and my auras started returning. I put up with it for about 8 months until they started getting more regular and then asked my GP if there was anything they could do. She did a full review of my recent case notes and discovered a debate between my surgeon and the stroke clinic about my future treatment. The upshot is that 3 weeks ago I was put on Clopidogrel, an antiplatelet rather than an anticoagulant. Haven’t had an aura since! I do think it’s worth having a chat with your GP. I think there is quite a bit of evidence about a link between migraine and stroke, so it might be that an adjustment to your medication could help.

[Aurora0]

I have had aura migraines for years I put it down to stress. Sometimes I would get clusters then nothing. I was diagnosed with HF last year and during time off noticed I sometimes got a headache when I stood up a feeling of pressure on my head which then turned into the aura. I am on bisoprolol, spironlactone and losartan. Sometimes I get them daily then not at all. I’m seeing my cardiologist next week and am going to ask about them. I’ll let you know what he says.

[Keeponwalking]

I had severe migraines when I was younger, but they stopped mid 20s, the replaced with aura without pain in my 50s. I've not had this with my meds, but get them occasionally when under stress. The last ones I had were whilst I was having my stents in. Do you think it could be stress?

[P0rtnahapp1e]

Thank you everyone for your responses. HappyJo, I can’t believe how you remembered the TIA when I had completely forgotten it!I’ve called the GP and he’s ringing me on Friday. Thanks so much for that.

BTW, this is the second time I’ve written a response so if they both appear I haven’t gone mad, it’s just something to do with the site or my fat fingers. 😀

[Qualipop]

I get that regularly but had it long before any heart meds. A big zig zag circle that gets bigger and lasts about 20 minutes. I Only get a very mild dull headache. A visual migraine. I can see through it but it's disconcerting

[Quoideneuf in reply to Qualipop]

Yeah. What a relief. Have kept quiet about exactly the same. The zig zags and occassionally totally distorted double vision. Had eyes tested and no issues so just figured its side effects of bisopropl as been on losartan for yrs and this was a new experience. GP brushed it off as link to sudden low blood pressure - often have episode if been bending down and stand up fast if gardening! - ! 🤔

[Qualipop in reply to Quoideneuf]

If you want to google them they are called ocular migraines. Not painful but a confounded nuisance if they suddenly start when you ar e driving. At least mine come on gradually which gives me time to pull over.

[Quoideneuf in reply to Qualipop]

Once i’d got my head around managing the episodes - dealing with it whilst driving did concern me so thanks for saying.

[Qualipop in reply to Quoideneuf]

I've only once had a problem driving on a motorway when there was no exit. I had to pull onto the hard shoulder for about 5 minutes until the worst passed. Not a safe thing to do. Mostly I can drive through them and ignore them.

[Flowerfanatic]

I get exactly the same as Qualipop. Big zig zag circle and cannot see properly for about half an hour. Not really a headache though - just disconcerting. Used to get migraines regularly when I was younger. Now on bisporol and ramipril - think they’re the culprits? Best wishes

Sarah

[Gundoglady]

I suffered with full blown migraines from my late teens until my mid 40's, some were so bad, the only thing that helped was sleep! I was prescribed meds, but they did little to help.I had ohs in my mid 40's ( 9years ago), I had an avr and a root repair, and a blood transfusion, since then I hadn't suffered with any migraines until about a year ago, and now they are just the aura and no headache, the visual disturbances can be quite bad, to the point that I have 'black spots', areas that I can't see, it doesn't usually last too long, but, long enough! I take warfarin, losarten and bisoprolol, I don't know if there are any links

[Purpled in reply to Gundoglady]

I suffer with exactly the same and can be quite frightening especially the blind spots. Had two episodes yesterday and WAs only up for half an hour this morning and they started again.

[Quoideneuf]

Just love this site for reassurance and picking up new words. Migraine aura is a new one to me - absolutely fits my symptoms Tak✔️

[Darkshades]

Yes I also had problems with aurora migraines and was having them daily and All day long - I believed it was the digoxin that was causing it. Had my eyes all checked and nothing found to be wrong. Talked to my cardiac nurse about it and they weren’t to happy to stop it until my heart was checked, which lucky for me was having a 24hr monitor fitted that weekend. The result was good enough for me to Stop the digoxin immediately and by around the 8th day the visual disturbances had all stopped 👍

[Pollypuss]

Your post really interested me . I used to have loads of migraine with aura and no pain. I used to have them most often when I watched tv or spent too long on my iPad . However after my triple bypass I find I have them rarely. I only take aspirin . I am unsure whether the operation helped or the aspirin daily. I also noticed the arthritic pain in both shoulders has all but disappeared