Looking for solutions / reasons for this.
Have been riding for about 5 years, couple of times a week.
I set off on a ride and within minutes I get visual disturbances which are like I get before a migraine - sort of disco lights behind broken glass effect, starting small and gradually almost covering my vision. These can last for 5-35 minutes. If I can get through the first half hour of the ride, then I can carry on riding - for example on Wednesday the lights only lasted 5-10mins and I completed a 5 hour ride. However this morning I get up early, drive to the start, set off, flashing lights were blinding, ride over.
It started 3 months ago, but the times it happened were spaced weeks apart. The last 5 rides it has happened to a greater or lesser extent.
I have been to the gp's and he said 'nothing sinister' after checking BP, pulse, eyes etc - suggested sumatriptan and a visit to the optician.
Been to optician - no change from 2 years ago.
Checked what sumatriptan was and from what I read it was more for the headache than the lights and as I don't really get headaches after and it caused drowsiness and dizziness haven't tried it, but have tried taking aspirin before I set out in the morning and again if the lights occur, but only on the days I ride - it seemed to work sun - weds when I was on Annual leave and taking them every day, they got less each day. Today it didn't work at all.
Going back to gp tomorrow - any suggestions as to questions i need to be asking / ideas on what the problem might be.
Sounds like a visual migraine to me... Couple of quick questions if I may:
Do you see the same lights/flashes in both eyes at the same time?
When you close your eyes are they stil there?
D
Lights in both eyes. I think they are there when I shut them too, but not 100%.
Have got a history of migraine, but always totally random and usually with a headache after. This is a very specific trigger and no headache, although often a bit clumsy and spaced out after.
Sounds like Migraine to me. Why did you not try the treatment the doc orders which is for exactly this?
Because it is treatment for the headache part of the migraine rather than the visual 'aura', as far as I can tell, and as I don't have a headache after it seemed stupid to take a drug for something I'm not getting.
yep visual migraine, i get these when really worn out, standard behind the right eye migraine with visuals
was my usual until around 5yrs ago,
i have a few of these every year, no pain, no behind the eye, just the visual aura followed( if i dont take a seat) by a tunnel vision effect, only seem to last around 20-30mins but feel a little unsettled after.
dr said live with it, tough etc...
my advise would be to rest for a few weeks, no riding etc, get yourself de-stressed and relaxed, then try riding again, don't wind yourself up before the ride and try to relax on the way and at the start,
never had one while riding but have had all kinds of other problems that i've just got to grips with, dehydration migraines, hot flushes, over heating, heart pulpertations , dizzyness, alls well for me now and i enjoy my riding more than ever especially the climbs,
chin up, hope you find your trigger
I have exactly the same thing, visual disturbances with no pain at all.
Ocular migraine I believe it's called.
I find it happens to me a lot more in the summer, and seems to be linked to de-hydration.
It's just that it's every time on my bike at the moment. And I hate it. I am so happy if I can get past that first half hour part and can complete the ride.
Last night I didn't drink, went to bed early, was riding with a group I felt comfortable with, knew it was only going to be a couple of hours. It's too early in the ride to be connected to dehydration or food issues. Thought it might be connected to the very cold weather - wrong!
I had almost 2 weeks off over christmas and it didn't stop, although I did manage one ride without problems at all.
My biggest concern is the fact it is happening every single time I ride now - 5 times this week (and 2 of them were only under 7km).
You're probably right, I will probably get told it is something I will just have to deal with.
I used to get those too, up to 2 a month over about 5 years. Had loads of tests, diagnosed migraine without headache and nothing 'sinister'.
Mine were almost certainly stress related, but rather than occuring at times of high stress they seemed to happen some time after. They were best treated at the time by going for a walk or having a quiet cup of tea but they were very disruptive and unsettling. Hope you can sort out yours.
Splat,
have a few weeks off the bike, you might be exhausted without realising you are, or more likely as a man not prepared to acknowledge it, i ride 14 miles to work and back and work around 10-12 hrs a day, 2 young kids, lots to do around the house, weekend ride with the boys, etc etc, soon gets u tired but i just keep going until something usually snaps.
look after yourself
Yep, I get them, they are called Scintillating scotomas. They can leave me a bit washed out at times. Used to get them at the end of ride, discussed with GP, she said caffiene, bananas, kiwi fruit can set them off. So not sure if it was due to exhaustion or the strong coffee afterwards. Try and work out what triggers yours.
Thanks for all the supportive comments.
Skiboy, I'm a woman (didn't intend to mislead you), but I do tend to keep going (3 teenage kids, husband, dog, job) and I'm not very good at acknowledging it, so you may be right, although ofcourse I'd prefer you not to be :wink:.
Perhaps if I don't ride again until Friday......
splat,
lol, didn't mean to be so presumptuous,
still sounds like you need a rest, good luck..
At last... 4 weeks of no lights 😀
Physio and chiropractor found difficulty in turning neck to right at C3 level and have helped to resolve this; also changed workstation positioning at work; sorted out a few stressy things at work a bit; rest (enough to drive me to insanity); drugs (didn't work); cutting out caffeine and monosodium glutamate (not sure if this aided recovery or not); drinking 6-8 drinks of water per day; doing the neck exercises the physio said to do.
Not sure why things have improved, but certainly enjoying it whilst it lasts, although fitness levels not what they were 🙁
No longer scared to get on my bike and try again.... I love it!
Surely the visual symptoms are caused by the sudden drop in blood sugar levels with exercise? I get blurry vision after a really big effort and I pit it down to low blood sugar.
I once saw a bloke peg out within a mile of starting a ride - turned out he was diabetic and his blood sugar had plummetted.