Scintillating Scotoma
The images below are a crude attempt to show you what the scintillating scotoma progression is like for me. The dots would actually be more like small shimmering or flashing straight lines of light. The effect is usually over after 30 minutes as it simply dissipates. While I do feel more fatigued by the end of the episode, I don't get a migraine headache.
Normal view (no scotoma)
scotoma at 5-10 minutes of onset
scotoma at 15-20 minutes of onset
Here is a case vignette (pdf) of a migraine with scintillating scotoma from the American Association for the Study of Headache. More about migraines at imigraine.net.
MRI scan results
| Symptom: | Scintillating Scotoma (blind spot) |
| Onset: | 1996 at the age of 39. |
| Frequency: | Up till Feb. '98 it was once every 6 months, then once a month for about 1 year, now back to every 6 months. |
| Duration: | About 30 minutes |
| MRI scan results: | Negative ("Essentially normal cranial MRI") |
| Diagnosis: | Migraine symptoms without the migraine headache. |
