Had my first one go away before it got started...

[anneli...@yahoo.com]

I have been having these for about eight years now, very intermittently. I feel pretty strongly that mine are related to stress. Just recently I've been having one every day after a period of about a year and a half without having any. I hadn't had one yesterday, but last night I went outside to meet the pizza delivery guy, and as I was walking back into the house (in the dark, looking towards the front door, lit up by the porch light), I noted that I was starting to get one. By the time I got into the kitchen (where it was brighter), I noticed it was gone. This is the very first time I can remember not having one progress across my entire field of vision. This morning I've been noticing a kind of blurriness (like tv static) pattern where I focus that is very reminiscent of the beginning of an SS, but it has not developed. It just makes it really annoying to write or look at something on the screen. I tried closing my eyes in the car for a little bit, then when I got out into the overcast daylight I could see it again. I had an MRI around the time these first started and it was fine. I'm wondering if it's time to do that again. (Although my stress level is higher than ever before). I'm also excited by the concept that maybe changing the amount of light or darkness could potentially nip it in the bud. I was also excited to read that breathing, neck exercises and changing pillows, etc. may make a difference.
Any thoughts are appreciated!

[p...@rocketweave.com]

I have occasionally had either a scotoma that was VERY slow to start - i.e. it stayed very small and unobtrusive for longer than I am used to - I don't recall having one of those not eventually "bloom" off to the right or left peripheral vision area.  Also, in addition to any kind of stress - but especially physical/mental stress related to insufficient sleep, I have noticed over the years that very often a high-contrast situation (bright outside to suddenly dark inside or vice-versa) is the most frequent/common trigger.  Most times there is some small bright light source providing the contrast, but other times the light may only be bright in comparison to some other darkness within my overall field of vision.  Not sure why this is, but I've logged these events and my various hypotheses about possible triggers for years now, and as I look through my notes, a large percentage of scotoma instances involve being very tired and finding myself in a high dark/bright contrast situation...  not sure if this helps you, other than to say: you are not alone...

[Jessekig Baka]

Really sorry to hear you have them so frequently.
I've been having SS's for a few years myself, anywhere from every 2 weeks to a month or 2 between. almost always starting as a blur and blindspot then the rainbow zigzags forming, evolving into a arc and growing outward to the edges of my vision, leaving me tired and fuzzy, and sensatuve eyes the next day. (alot of after images)

I try to document the situation and circumstances of each episode, including the day before it.
I've found most of my episodes had a couple triggers.
Caffeine, too much sugar, soysauce, bananas, msg, chocolate, dried fruit.

Usually just having some of those isn't enough to trigger a SS in me, but if I am staring at some sort of monitor or screen intently for a few hours in addition...bingo, I get one.
Sometimes just too much screen time can trigger one.

I deal with them by trying to be calm, lay down and take off my glasses and drink watèr with an aspirin.

I found personally it helps alot to go for walks in the morning and not start on the computer until about mid day. I've also cut out alot of the soda I used to drink, only having it more rarely, like when I eat out. It seems to of helped as my SS's seem to of decreased in frequency of about every 2 weeks to about once a month.

I wish you luck and much sympathy, these things are so annoying and even debilitating.