[embodiment|migraine] adventures in perception

[kaberett]

I noticed, this evening,¹ that I'm significantly more photosensitive in my right eye than in my left eye. I have "side-locked" migraines: they are always on the right hand side of my head.

... I also don't actually get much information from my left eye -- it's generally weaker, and while my right eye's open my field of useful vision is dominated by input from my right eye. I get some peripheral vision on my left, but my depth perception is... poor.

So! I have no idea whether my right eye seems to be more photosensitive during a migraine because that's the side my headache is on, versus that's the eye that's more sensitive in general, and I also have absolutely no idea how I might go about experimenting on myself to try to establish which it is. Suggestions (on the back of a postcard or otherwise) very welcome!


¹ why yes, I am going to be saying in my next GP appointment that I do understand that I'm not actually a dehydration risk but nevertheless my migraines are now definitely lasting more than 72 hours as migraines, so, can we address this? as an urgent problem? please?

Comments

[conuly]

Migraines that last that long can be a sign of increased risk of stroke. You may want to tell your GP that you urgently need a referral to a neurologist to rule that out.

[davidgillon]

The only way I can see to even out the eyes would be to mask each in turn so that they're the sole input while you're trying to assess photosensitivity, but that makes it dependent on memory, rather than being a direct comparison, so that isn't perfect either.

[kaberett]

I was Noticing this yesterday because I had my "good" eye screwed all the way shut but was willing to keep my left eye slightly more open!

[chiasmata]

Might this be an occasion to take A (or other) with you to the GP as advocate? What with the whole, ‘who the heck am I going to end up seeing this time’ thing. x

[lunabee34]

That's what that's called.

My migraines are always directly behind my right eye.

Hugs

[vass]

...Yeah, I'm seconding the suggestion of asking for a referral to a neurologist. I think this is probably above your GP's training.

[kaberett]

It is okay, I am in fact intending to ask what the threshold for referring me to the UCLG headache clinic is a week on Monday. <3

[fyreharper]

Thirding - my housemate finally got to see a neurologist for her migraines recently and they were *so much more useful* - had generally Much More Clue and also access to a whole different set of treatment options that roomie’s gp wasn’t even aware of the existence of.