Do you see lights/flashes/floaters, did not go away after annie surgery

43 year old female. history of headaches and migraine (non-ocular until this past year when I also got ocular ones). I have started to see flashes of lights, like tiny comets or firefly flashes or stars for the past year. Mostly before I go to bed after watching tv but also more and more in the day time. Sometimes they might not be flashes but just like those little floaters in the eye, but they look real and I think there is something in front of my face for half a second before I realize it’s one of these symptoms. Having annie surgery 3 months ago did not affect/change what I’m seeing. Any idea what this is or if it’s bad? Surgeon had zero response when I mentioned seeing lights.

Hi trekhard, sorry to hear your troubles,but i guess you need to see an EENT. If the surgery on your Annie did not unfold those query. God Bless

LOVE LOTS
Maes

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Thank you for your suggestion! I know they are not real and produced by my brain (like hallucinations) so I was wondering if that might be a symptom of some brain condition. ??

Trekhard,

Consider seeing a Neurologist. I would start with Neurologist who specializes in Migraines. For NeuroSurgeon’s, their speciality is the surgery itself. Follow ups on the surgery like angiograms or complications from the surgery is the NeuroSurgeon’s responsibility. However, it sounds like it falls under a migraine variant like sufferers who see “auras” prior or during a migraine episode. A migraine is a complex headache that touches many brain pathways. Since you have a history of migraines, a Migraine specialist may be the best person for you. You may want to ask the NeuroSurgeon’s office or your GP for a referral. Make sure that you have the NeuroSurgeon’s notes as well as the MRI and CT scans. When I was evaluated by Headache specialist, they requested all my medical records. Hope the best for you.

Hello Again Trekhand, pen name you are using makes me think that your a clever one. Going back to your issues, I guess maybe your Dr. does’nt give feedback on you simply because you don’t have a problem. And i think sometimes Everyone needs a person,
just to have talk with anything under the sun, just like that,I’m here to listen.

I had these also after my surgery on my Annie, but had no one to turn to but my cat one of my kids saw this that she told my husband about it that made them think that I’m going crazy and all; but truth is I felt alone and useless because of the surgery ,had a long period to recover… but all of those are all gone now thanks to my family and to my Daughter that is always there to listen.

You can always count on me when you need me,

LOVE LOTS

Maes

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Thank you2Fight. I had never heard of migraine variants until a few weeks ago. My husband was under intense stress after my surgery and he ended up in the hospital! After being sent to the neurologist, he was diagnosed with migraine variant! I am thinking that must be what mine is as well. He and I both have stiff necks too. Unfortunately the doctor just gave him pills. I wish they would address the underlying cause. Thanks for the guidance.

HI Maes, I wish my pen name was more clever! It refers to hiking! Some people think it refers to Star Trek (no!!). :slight_smile:

Hi Trekhard! I get those too and used to get them before I had my first child. They stopped for a couple of decades but started again after my rupture 7 years ago. I concur with the rest of the group. Some kind of migraine. The auras are tolerable. The headaches I can do without but my brain won’t listen to me. So, I know what you mean. At least we know we’re not alone. Take care! Lee

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Thank you!

Dear trekhard,
Yes! I see floaters, (before and after the rupture and coil surgery) also only after the rupture, I see a what I can only describe as small black blobs that seem to scatter bye. Sometimes I think a palmetto bug is running across the floor but my husband says there is nothing there. When driving i think i see a black cat start to run across the street but it is not there either. I mentioned this to the neuro-phyc that gave me the evaluation and it doesn’t seem to be something he was concerned about but it’s scary to me.
Thank you for sharing!!!

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Thanks!

Trek — I’m writing from the migraine perspective – I get those little floaty lights and flashing comets as migraine aura. The thing is, I didn’t always get them, my migraines have changed over time (30 years in and counting). I’ve been getting the comet-like little lights more in the last five years and been getting vertigo for the past two years. Migraines change over time and they’re just now starting to understand it.

Since you a history of migraine and ocular migraine I tend to lean in that direction for what’s going on. I would check in with your migraine doc just be sure.

azurelle

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Gr8ful4life – a friend of my has a closed head injury and she hallucinates a black cat all the time. It’s so real she thought her partner had brought home a cat and not told her. For the very life of me I can’t recall the name of the condition…I want to say de Gaulle’s Disease but google didn’t give me the info I was looking for under that name.

In essence what was explained to her is that her mind is no longer always filling in the visual field as quickly as a “normal” person would so her mind slaps in a “filler” for the blank space. Since she has cats, her mind slips a black cat to fill in any empty spot in her visual field. Which is really interesting when it’s not happening to you!

azurelle

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Thanks, I have an appt now!

I have had floaters since my aneurysm ruptured almost 7yrs (wow) ago. The blood from the rupture filled my head and settled on my optic nerves. Had additional surgery to remove the blood. A few months later developed cataracts in both eyes. Had surgery to remove those. Eyesight is pretty good except when I have to look at an eye chart. Then my floater sits in the middle of what I’m looking at. Frustrating but I’m still so thankful to be here that I’ll take that little bit of frustration.