I'm curious, so I have to ask. Were you diagnosed by a headache specialist or neurologist with retinal migraines? (The term ocular migraine is not longer used, they are now called retinal migraines). I ask because visual disturbances such as zig zags, or even severe pain in the eye are not retinal migraines, they are migraines with aura.

Anyway, even if that headache goes away, it's not uncommon for just a really bad headache to linger making you feel really fatigued and out of it. It probably started with the migraine, and is still lingering with your bad all over headache.

I didn't know they changed the name. I have had them for years. I was diagnosed by a neurologist with them about 15 years ago or so. I had my first one about 22 years ago. Yeah I just can't get rid of this one. More of a dull ache now.

So there is a difference between retinal migraines and migraines with aura?

Yes, there is a difference between a retinal migraine and a migraine with aura. Retinal migraines are pretty rare, and almost always accompanied by blindness for a period of time. Migraine with aura is much more common and is accompanied by just visual disturbances such as zig zag lines, bright flashes that come and go, and the like. The migraine can even be centered in and around the eye. (I have one of those yesterday...felt like I wanted to die).

Do you know anything about the increased risk of heart attack or stroke when you get the migraines with aura?

There is a current thread where someone asks about the increased risk of stroke associated with migraine with aura. There is more of a risk if you have migraine with aura than without aura. I'm going to try to find some link and put them here......

http://www.migrainetrust.org/factsheet-stroke-and-migraine-10891

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/825451

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/806983

http://www.helpforheadaches.com/articles/mx-stroke-risk.htm

These were just a few of MANY websites that talk about stroke and migraines. If you just google migraines and stroke, you will find more than enough, and I'm sure it will answer any questions you have.

Hi,
Wanted to thank you both for bringing this up.
I too, was diagnosed several years ago with ocular migraines (now, apparently, retinal migraines). But I also get migraines with aura, and they feel quite different. The migraines with aura start with the aura for about 90 min and then go to a full head pain with mostly forehead type pain. This doesn't seem to have a connection to my eyes as much as my retinal migraine does, those are triggered by UV light of any kind that happens to just hit me wrong and are always just in my left eye and the pain is sharp/stabbing and only on the left side of my head.
I'm so light sensitive I have UV film on all my house windows so that I'm able to open the room darkening curtains on a nice day and not have to wear sunglasses in the house.
Is this common in the headache world? the UV sensitivity, that is.

@megsmom, surely hope you are feeling better, wondering if your doc mentioned a virus going around that's hitting folks like this? Seems to be a lot of it around here (New England), folks who never get headaches are being hit by a bug that gets into the sinuses and hangs out.(me included), it's not a typical kind of sinus infection, no drainage, just some blood with blowing the nose and the awful headache... antibiotics helped me finally after having that miserable headache for nearly a month.
Truly hoping you are better by now, sorry I didn't see this earlier....busy on the CFS site lately.

ps, thanks Yvette for the info on the stroke connection, scary but not unexpected....kind of makes sense.

I have migraine w/out aura. I get auras, but they are never connected to migraines.
Nina, I'm extremely light sensitive. I bought glasses that are specifically designed to filter the light for people who have migraines. They are called Theraspecs. Their website is just www.theraspecs.com. The tint they use is fl-41. They are a bit pricey, but so worth it. I even bought the sunglasses (darkest sunglasses I've ever owned, and they filter out the green light).
At night, I have to sleep with a sleeping mask on, so zero light gets in. My blinds are never open. Light just kills me. Especially when the migraine is in my eye, the light just feels like an ice pick stabbing my eye. So I feel your pain.

Nina, no he never mentioned that but it makes sense. I have had no drainage, just tons of headaches. Yesterday my blood pressure was pretty high all day despite the fact that I am on blood pressure medication. I am wondering if all of the sinus pills and NSAIDS I have been taking for headaches and back issues are raising the blood pressure.