#530 jruddy's sister

ChelleWMCN [subject #272], Visual loss, 2008. © 2008 ChelleWMCN

"The first image looks like what my sister [subject #530] gets and has been diagnosed as an odd form of visual migraine."

(jruddy [subject #515], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - More images - Finally, January 23, 2008; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"As I mentioned in another post, my sister [subject #530] now suffers from odd migraines, for example, in some attacks, half her vision goes black in each eye.

I spoke to her tonight - I asked her a direct question: When you are in a dark room, what do you see?

She sees gold sparkling donuts, swirls and lava flows... she always has and assumed everone did...

I had her ask her 12 year old son [subject #531], when he is in a dark room, what does he see...

'Everything is pixelated.' With clarification I determined that he sees visual snow in dark rooms, much like I did at his age.

Her husband just sees darkness as does my wife.

Coincidence or familial connection?"

(jruddy [subject #515], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - KSomething - Interesting data - Family connection?, February 28, 2008; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"1. Name or screen name (optional): jruddy's sister

2. Email (optional):

3. Location (optional): Canada

4. Age: 40

5. Sex: F

6. Nationality and Race (optional): Canadian Caucasian

7. Do you have classic migraine (migraine with aura) or common migraine (migraine without aura)? When did it begin?

I get both kinds of migraines as well as optical migraines where I lose peripheral vision entirely but have very little pain. They began at age 11.

8. What do you take for your classic or common migraine and does it help?

Caffergot - sometimes helps - codeine - Demerol if migraine lasts more than three days and is unbearable.

9. Have you been diagnosed with persistent aura (prolonged migraine aura status)?

No.

10. What is your visual problem and how long does it last?

In a dark room I see snow/fuzz as well as glowing lava flows, orbs, and circles.

11. Any other problems that you think might be related?

No.

12. What do you take or do for your vision problem and does it help?

Luckily it only affects me in the dark when I should be sleeping anyway.

13. Have you found a trigger for your vision problem?

No.

14. What tests have you had and the results?

MRI - all normal - CT scan - all normal results. Neurological exam - normal.

15. Drug history (pre VS):

No.

16. Drug history (post VS - effect on VS - negative, positive, not at all):

None.

17. Do you have a positive family history for migraine? If yes, who is affected?

Yes, brother, father, daughter, uncles, aunts on fathers side.

18. Other information you want to provide?"

(jruddy's sister [subject #530], Email to Klaus Podoll, March 4, 2008)

"Ever since I can remember I have had persistent aura in a dark room. The glowing donuts (circles), lava flows and snow were simply something to watch until I fell asleep. I never thought anything of it and assumed everyone saw this in the dark. I never mentioned it to anyone as it never affected my life in a negative way.

When I started getting migraines with the aura it occurred to me that some aura's were exactly like the visual disturbances I had in the dark. As I was a child I never thought much about it.
When I have severe migraine attacks, where I absolutely need to be in a darkened room, the aura's are extreme and the intensity only diminishes if I vomit. But then, the intensity of the pain also diminishes after vomiting and then of course, I fall asleep and awake with the migraine 'hang over' (it only hurts if I move my head too quickly or cough etc.).

In my thirties, my migraines began to change significantly. I would feel pressure behind my eyes and have a bit of a migraine type headache, see a glittering aura and then lose peripheral vision. I found this to be quite interesting as I had never experienced life as a partially blind person and actually found myself really looking at things to see just how blind I was. Due to the pressure behind my eyes and the blindness, my doctor thought I was going to have an aneurysm and sent me to a neurologist and of course I was diagnosed as having optical migraines.

Since then, I've started having blurry optical migraines - these are much more annoying that just losing partial vision as it makes driving difficult and reading impossible. These blurry optical migraines do not have any aura at all (no sparkles or lights or anything of the such). I went to an optometrist when I had my first blurred optical migraine as I did not recognize it as a migraine. He diagnosed me as having a different sort of optical migraine. Driving home with an optical migraine which turns the world into a blur as well as having dilated pupils from the eye drops was interesting in a somewhat dangerous way. I'm sure my frown line between my brows increased ten fold from trying to see where I was driving.

I have never noticed whether menstruation had an influence on the intensity of the symptoms - I will pay attention in future.

Since my brother [subject #515] and I have been discussing these optical issues I've been paying more attention to what I'm actually seeing. During the day or in lit spaces I do not see snow as a rule however I do have consistent shadows crossing my vision. It doesn't make it hard to see, as they are very faint, but they are there. Dark shadows which float around (not floaters in the eyeball itself although I have thoughts quite often too). I don't know if that means anything to you I just thought I'd mention it.

I must mention that the MRI I have had on my head had nothing to do with migraines but to do with REM Behaviour Disorder. I act out my dreams - something which is usually associated with men who suffer from dementia and an indication of the onset of Parkinson's disease. Fortunately for me, I've been acting out my dreams ever since I was old enough to stand up in my crib and thus the sleep specialists are a bit puzzled. Also, REM Behaviour Disorder is something that is associated with head trauma. Professional athletes will suffer from this. I've never had a severe head trauma that I am aware of so I don't fit the bill here either. Regardless, I just wanted to mention that although I had MRI's that came back clear - they were not for migraine study purposes. The REM Behaviour Disorder is not an issue in my life now that every night I take 0.5 mg of clonazepam. Also, since I've been taking clonazepam my migraines have lessoned considerably. Interesting side affect! The persistent aura in a dark room has not been affected in any way.

I will make some illustrations of the aura symptoms I've had with and without migraines and send them in my next email.

Thank you very much for your time. Its greatly appreciated! Oh yes, one more thing, you do not need to keep my identity as anonymous."

(jruddy's sister [subject #530], Email to Klaus Podoll, March 5, 2008)

"I believe my sister [subject #530] also suffers significant constant photophobia, as does my father, I'll have to double check that though."

(jruddy [subject #515], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General Discussion - Participation in Sofia Greene survey at day 8 of PMA, April 26, 2008; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"My sister [subject #530] wears sunglasses outside all the time because of her aversion to light. I need to determine if this is a mild aversion or clinical photophobia. Any advise on how to seperate the two?"

(jruddy [subject #515], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General Discussion - Participation in Sofia Greene survey at day 8 of PMA, April 26, 2008; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"I spoke to my sister [subject #530] - I can't say for certain that it is PMA - it may take more educated questioning than I can ask.

She is a lifetime migraine sufferer with what seems to be quite signifiant photophobia which gets even worse after a migraine attack, but the increase only lasts a few days.

She can't recall if it was ever better than it is now, but then she has been a migraine sufferer since she was quite young so... I really can't say for certain. From what I asked her and what I understand about photophobia it is likely real clinical photophobia, not just a mild sensitivity to light.

I asked for my niece to fill out the form. She is also a migraine sufferer and sees snow in low light.

She will try and get the images and info to you, but the dummy went to the Dominican Republic and caught some horrible thing from getting a mouthfull of pool water and is feeling pretty rough. The medications she is on are making her feel even worse, 4 antibiotics, gravol on top of her regular meds so don't expect anything for a little while."

(jruddy [subject #515], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General Discussion - Participation in Sofia Greene survey at day 8 of PMA, April 26, 2008; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

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