Migraine and visual hallucinations

[PTNewbie]

I’ve suffered with migraines for many years since I was about 11 (I’m 35 now). Anyway as I’ve gotten older they’ve thankfully become less frequent and severe (though I take propranalol to prevent).

I had an attack begin late last night with my usual blind spots and visual disturbance. It was bed time anyway so I took my usual migraleve pinks (work for me) and got in to bed to sleep.

It was the strangest thing I was having what could only described as a freak out - a semi conscious panic in which I could see visual hallucinations in the room. Don’t know exactly what I thought I was seeing but I was crying and shouting out for my husband saying things like I can’t move I think I’ve broken my neck.

It was also coupled with ringing tinnitus in my ears (I already have pulsatile tinnitus) but not ringing. I couldn’t sleep properly though I realise I must have. Been partially asleep. It was awful. I didn’t even have pain as managed to catch it before the pain set in. Just a long night of thrashing around, shouting out and being in a complete freak out / panic.

Never experienced migraine like this before and wondered if anyone else had and have some insights to share. Or could it be I just had a weird night and it just so happened to be when I also had a migraine?!

[Mary1959]

Hi I've never been as bad as you, which sounds awful, but I have had hallucinations when going through a bad patch of migranes. I woke my husband up and was hitting him, saying there was a spider on him, when there wasn't anyything. It was frightening at the time. Hope you don't experience it again. Thanks care

[troy04]

I get these- during the sleep but wake up and in semi conscious stage for about 30 seconds - go back to sleep and sometimes annoyingly it continues from where it stopped! I am not sure if it is purely down to migraine aura or side effects of various medications. Propranolol (beta blockers) is known to induce vivid dreams in some people, just like antidepressants. It can be one-off or series of events spanning several weeks or even years.

I do not want to randomly suggest any remedy. All I would say is, depression itself can induce different dream emotions. So if possible, please try to address any underlying depression that you may have. As always- it is easier said than done and we all are different in many ways.