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Bright/Dark Instant Flashes

JL_
I have been experiencing daily flashes of black light and white light. The black light is complete darkness while the white light is the brightest light I have ever seen (almost fluorescent or like a camera flash). I have been experiencing these flashes since I was a very young child (1st grade-ish). The flashes are instant, but may repeat constantly for a couple of minutes. Once I went completely blind for a couple of minutes, but that was the only time that happened. I had EEG's, MRI's, and EKG's in high school. They all come back negative for seizure activity, but I still feel like electricity is going through my brain when I experience the flashes. I have always had good vision and have never needed contacts or glasses. My neurologist told me it could be a couple of things like atypical migraines or micro-seizures. Now that I'm older, I'd like to know more about what I might be experiencing or if anyone has had similar experiences?
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Avatar universal
Hi and welcome to the Migraines & Headaches Community.

It sounds like typical migraines to me. You can have other migraine symptoms and not have an actual headache...like vision issues, nausea, dizziness, etc. You can have many symptoms, one symptom or any combination of some of the symptoms. Each person is different and each migraine within the same person is different. Here are some over-the-counter times that have helped me in the past.

1. There are several symptoms of migraines and what causes the pain of a migraine is the blood vessels in your brain become dilated. So, sometimes it helps it you put a bit of pressure on your head. I am sure you have already been doing this unconsciously with your hands from time to time. So, get a bandanna or a cloth headband and wrap it snugly around your head.
2. If you rub Mentholatum across your forehead and on your temples that helps relax those tense muscles. You can do this with or without the wrap, depending on if you like the heat or not.
3. Try either a cold or hot pack, whichever is more comfy to you.
4. The best OTC meds that I have found that works is Excedrin. It is a combo of Aspirin, Tylenol and Caffeine and that happens to be an excellent combo for migraines.
5. I mentioned caffeine before...well, drink coffee, Mt Dew, take Vivirin...sometimes a mega dose of caffeine will stop it in its tracks.
6. If you get nauseous or dizzy get some Meclizine from the pharmacy (the stuff behind the counter) you can take 25mg three times a day as needed. Yes it works on both.
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