Migraine and Visual Arts
| Author: Klaus Podoll | 28. July 2008 |
| Edited by: Klaus Podoll |
Claire L
Claire L, Migraine aura, 2008. © 2008 Claire L (larger image see here)
"Hi there
I wondered if you still needed artwork about migraines?
This is a collage of my different migraine auras.
I have scintillating negative scotoma (usually in the day time) and coloured lattices/swirls which oscillate, flash and move (usually at night). Both of these only last up to 20 minutes, and my speech is affected when I see the auras but apart from feeling tired and drained and a slight headache with a scooped out feeling, I'm ok. I get these whenever I skip an evening meal AND had a very poor sleep the night previously. Sometime flickering lights bring it on but only if I've had a poor sleep and missed a meal.
My grandmother also used to see the colours too.
Good luck with project."
(Claire L, Email to Klaus Podoll, July 24, 2008)
Claire L, Migraine aura: spinning triangles, 2008. © 2008 Claire L (larger image see here)
Claire L, Migraine aura: flashing squares, 2008. © 2008 Claire L (larger image see here)
Claire L, Migraine aura: hexagon honeycomb, 2008. © 2008 Claire L (larger image see here)
Claire L, Migraine aura: flowing colours, 2008. © 2008 Claire L (larger image see here)
"Please find attached some sketches. I have tried to represent what I 'see' when I have the coloured auras - although I don't feel I can put it across very well or will ever be able to! The colours and patterns in the aura I have are all incredibly detailed, which I don't think I could ever fully convey. I think, if there was some way of measuring the patterns they would be 'mathematically perfect' if that makes any sense? They flash on and off and constantly change - the squares have geometric shapes inside them - stars, triangles, hexagons, pentagons and shapes I don't even know - but seem familiar to me. Sometimes there are pink/green honeycombs instead of squares and they also have shapes inside each honeycomb. These are usually neon pink/neon green.
When I have the auras at night - I am usually awoken from a dream - a dream where I am dreaming I am 'looking' at something in my dream. When I wake up (very suddenly) I am able to see my bedroom, have a drink of water etc. I know I am awake... but I see colours or patterns - usually high on the left side, like the scotoma, and like the scotoma they are there whichever eye I close or when I close both (they get brighter when both my eyes are closed). The geometric patterns usually come first, then the swirling colours, then they disappear, leaving me feeling very similar to when I have the daytime scotoma. (Tired and scooped out.) I have awoken with auras of neon pink spinning, flashing triangles every now and again but that was not followed by colours swirling.
The sketches I have attached show my bedroom (or living room) in black and white, and that is just to convey that my bedroom is quite dark with only partial light (the auras are usually between 3 - 5 a.m.)
When I was a child I was told I was 'just dreaming' and not to worry about it. It wasn't until I was in my 20s I found out my grandmother also saw this kind of visual aura. She called it 'the colours' and I think she saw them more frequently than me. In the 1950s my grandma was given electro-convulsive therapy because of the auras but they still persisted. As I understand it, she eventually lost her fear of them. I still don't fully understand what they are but when I have the auras I feel I am somehow 'seeing' some kind of brain function. It seems so geometric it feels like I'm seeing inside a computer! I sometimes feel that I'm 'seeing' something that was never meant to be viewed consciously. Admittedly, that's just a feeling I have at the time! I was very worried about them until I read Oliver Sacks's book 'Migraine' which described and showed pictures of very similar auras to mine. I felt enormous relief!
The scotoma I have is usually in the daytime (morning) and lasts longer than the colours, 15 - 20 mins or so. It disturbs my vision to the point I can't really see much and I often see checkerboard/herringbone patterns in it as well. My other aura (I think it's an aura anyway!) is a tiny electric blue light (a phosphene?) it only lasts ten seconds or so and is usually in the evening whilst watching TV or reading but I have not seen it for a while!
Sorry I couldn't do it justice! I am looking at a way of doing an animation of it on the computer!
Your website is an invaluable resource to migraineurs and it helps not only the sufferers of migraines feel that they are not alone, but is great to show it to family and friends too!
Best wishes
Claire L"
(Claire L, Email to Klaus Podoll, July 28, 2008)
"I have attached some more aura pictures, but as I said I lack the skills to show the symetry and perfection of the honeycombs and squares. To help show them properly I have included some animations of them. These animations are quite similar to what each one within the formation are like, but with the auras the colours and lights are far brighter, they are constantly changing and each square or hexagon has another shape in miniature inside it, which also constantly change. Some of the shapes seem hyeroglyphic almost, but they change before I can properly see them."
(Claire L, Email to Klaus Podoll, July 28, 2008)
Claire L, Migraine aura: scotoma sunset, 2008. © 2008 Claire L (larger image see here)
"The scotoma I have is usually in the daytime (morning) and lasts longer than the colours, 15 - 20 mins or so. It disturbs my vision to the point I can't really see much and I often see checkerboard/herringbone patterns in it as well. The scotoma picture doesn't actually 'white out' that much of my vision (although that's how I perceive it) but that much vision is lost. I feel my vision is 'folded in on itself'. The edge of the scotoma contantly oscillates, rotates and flashes and there are herringbone, chess board patterns contained within."
(Claire L, Email to Klaus Podoll, July 28, 2008)
Claire L, Migraine aura: blue light, 2008. © 2008 Claire L (larger image see here)
"My other aura (I think it's an aura anyway!) is a tiny electric blue light (a phosphene?) it only lasts ten seconds or so and is usually in the evening whilst watching TV or reading but I have not seen it for a while! The blue light aura (if it is an aura?) is very bright and still, no flashing, no movement - very strange! It lasts ten seconds or so then disappears.
Sorry I couldn't do it justice! I am looking at a way of doing an animation of it on the computer!
Your website is an invaluable resource to migraineurs and it helps not only the sufferers of migraines feel that they are not alone, but is great to show it to family and friends too!
Best wishes
Claire L"
(Claire L, Email to Klaus Podoll, July 28, 2008)
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