Brief Answer:
All possible causes listed for you ma'am, need to avoid them

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I would like to start by letting you know that I am also a migraine-suferrer since 15 years or more now, although the frequency of my migraine headaches has reduced significantly due to education in the field.

What you are describing is called the pre-migraine aura (i.e. the wave like lines, black spots in vision, etc.). The aura can either just be an aura or be accompanied by a very mild and easily tolerable headache. It is good to know that you have been cleared by an ENT specialist, a clear MRI, etc. This leaves us to the more simple causes of a migraine headache. From my experience and education I shall put forward a list of all the possible triggers or causing factors of a migraine headache so you can avoid them and try your best to live a migraine-free life.

They are:

+Stress
+Extreme temperatures: I used to live in the gulf and prolonged exposure to the sun used to cause migraines for me. Now I live in Europe and the winter can get quite cold here, and some times when my head is not well covered, I get a migraine the very same day
+Dieting and long periods without food
+Poor sleep cycle or lack of sufficient amount of sleep
+Long gaps between meals: Now one of the only cause for my migraine headaches, as my schedule at times takes me to surgery for hours without food or drink
+Opthalmic cause: Like poor eyesight which has not been accurately managed with prescription glasses or lens
+Hormonal causes in women: Some women have conditions like ovarian cysts, polycystic ovarian syndrome, are on birth control pills, irregular menstrual cycle, etc.

If at all you can relate to any of the above listed conditions, please write back to me mentioning it and I shall guide you from there on ma'am. I should also tell you that migraine headaches are more common in women than in men (out of 10 migraine-sufferers, 9 are women). This is mainly due to the hormonal influence that women have, causing the migraine headaches. I am sure one of the above listed causes is the problem in your case as the other conditions have been ruled out with the MRI, and ENT examinations.

I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further. I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
Not common if there is no stimulus (cause) for the symptoms

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

I completely understand, and this was the main reason for listing all the causes out for you. It is indeed uncommon for individuals to have constant visual symptoms even in the absence of migraines or between them.

But if at all the stimulus (the cause for the migraine headache) is always present, then the visual symptoms can always be present. For example, once when I was on a mild camp visit to a rural part of Russia, food supplies were low and so we were only given one bar of chocolate every 16 hours, and I had blurry vision and spots in my vision for almost 3 continuous days. This was only because of my poor intake and lack of adequate blood sugar to avoid the migraine headaches or visual symptoms. As soon as I reached home and had more than sufficient to eat and rest, my symptoms vanished.

So in simple terms, for the symptoms to last without the stimulus (cause) to be present is unlikely, but the more likely scenario would be if the cause is present and so the symptoms are too.

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you ma'am. Please do not think twice before writing to me about anything, I am only here to help.

Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
That would be most wise at this juncture

Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.

Yes, that is the logical and most wise next step. Migraine management will be considered irrespective of the cause at this point ma'am. I have worked with a XXXXXXX neurologist during the initial years of my medical practise and he always treated all migraine headaches similarly, of course if the cause is identified then he removes it, but if it isn't he treats the headaches either way.

The aim of such an approach is the concentrate on giving the individual back their quality of life, and not working too hard on just finding the cause, and in turn watch the patient go through a lot more.

I wish you truck loads of luck, and sincerely hope you can come out of this ordeal healthy and happy at the earliest. Please also know that no matter what the issue, I am always here to help so do not ever hesitate to write back to me anytime in the future.

Best wishes ma'am.

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