sounds dumb... i'm seeing 'sparkles'

ajetter · January 2010

Does this happen to anyone else? Over the past two days it has happened four times. Yesterday morning I was sitting at the table eating breakfast, got up to put my dish away and I started seeing 'sparkles'. Kind of like when the black closes in when you know you might pass out, but there was no black, and I wasn't dizzy or lightheaded. Just seeing 'sparkles' for a minute or two. Happened again a few hours later but only for like 20 seconds while I was work. Today it happened while I was in the shower, and again while I was sitting on the couch.

Any thoughts? Or a better explanation to call and ask the doctor other than 'I'm seeing sparkles?' ) I feel like I sound like and idiot. Thanks for any help!

lmpdjc · January 2010

I have that, too. My Neuro calls them "floaters" and said they don't mean anything. I haven't asked my OB about it though.

NastyAnnie · January 2010

I think this sensation can be surprised as seeing spots. Sometimes it comes from things like blood pressure fluctuations, so keep an eye on it! Definitely give your doc a call!

jalhartm · January 2010

I have had the same thing happen to, I was told it was due to fluctuation of my blood pressure

smittysoup · January 2010

It is a sign of high blood pressure. Call your OB if it keeps happening.

UrbanLe1 · January 2010

Blood pressure! Could be high or low. All I know is...it's happened every time I've fainted during this pregnancy (NOT fun). Drink some serious water. Move from sitting to standing veeeeeeery slooooooooooowly. And watch yourself in the shower, when doing things like putting your arms up to wash your hair might make it worse.

And, obviously, tell your doc.

NastyAnnie · January 2010

Leah&Jack:

NastyAnnie:
I think this sensation can be surprised as seeing spots. Sometimes it comes from things like blood pressure fluctuations, so keep an eye on it! Definitely give your doc a call!

described?

Lmao, totally. I was on the phone when I wrote this post. Sorry OP! I totally meant "described" as opposed to "surprised".

Although I am sure those spots are surprised to be called something as fun as sparkles.

ajetter · January 2010

Leah&Jack:
I saw them the other day, and I know there is something in a pregnancy book about them but I haven't found it.
Mine appeared from the sides and moved in little trails toward the center. They lasted seconds, and reappeared when I blinked and looked in a different direction. Were yours like that?

That is exactly what it was like. And my blood pressure has been fine every single time I've gone in, but I guess I better give the OB a call. Why do all of my issues come up two days after I've had an appointment? Never fails )

Luv-a-Bug · January 2010

I was told it can be a sign of blood pressure when I mentioned it to my OB- However my BP history has always been good, so he was not worried, and said it can also just be random eye changes that can happen with pregnancy and will go away after.

I'd mention it to your OB just in case but don't get too worked up about it yet.

emilynichole1 · January 2010

It happens to me also. Like gold sparkles moving from the outside of my line of sight in. My bp has also been great at every appointment.

adriennevla · January 2010

It can be a sign of your BP being off, but I get them fairly often, and my blood pressure has always been very good, so I was told it's nothing to worry about.

ajetter · January 2010

Thanks girls. I'm not too worried yet, I'll just check with the nurses at the doc's office on Monday.

eyunger1 · January 2010

I have seen them too, and they are usually a precursor to me getting a migraine, but during my pregnancy, I haven't had any migraines. I assume it's a blood pressure thing. When I have checked my pressure at work after seeing the sparkles, it has always been fine, but you should mention it to your OB anyhow. He/she may want to just monitor your pressure.

NastyAnnie · January 2010

Just FYI, during pregnancy your bp can go from "great" to "dangerous" in the matter of a week. How do I know?

Last Monday my BP was 123/70.

At 9 am it was 176/90.

It can seriously happen in no time, so be your own advocate. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but it's a big deal, and I have never, ever had a problem with my BP in my whole life.

aborgra · January 2010

I had the same thing. My Dr. was worried it could be retinal detachment, so he sent me to the opthamologist. She said everything looked fine and that the pregnancy could be causing the sparkles as part of a migraine, even though I wasn't feeling a headache. She said it was possible to have the migraine without the headache and it was just one of those weird pregnancy things. Just make sure that if you see a sudden bright flash of light or a "veil" over part of your vision, that you call the eye dr. right away.

laumholl · January 2010

I have had this happen too! It goes away after a few seconds, but it's really annoying. Wish I had an explanation for you!

Puertoricanbeauty22 · January 2010

I saw them for the first time today! It was so weird I couldn't even explain them to my dh. I had an appt on the 19th and my doc didnt say anything about having low of high blood pressure. Hmm odd Hmm

adamstodrake · January 2010

I've had issues with low bp and many times I know it's running low because of seeing the 'sparkles'. Typically it's from moving too quickly, but surprisingly sometimes also happens while eating.

KFoss · January 2010

I've been seeing them, too for a few months. Started sometime in the second trimester. I'm now 33 weeks. I spoke with a neurologist that I work with. He says that as long as I see them in both eyes, and I can see them even with my eyes closed, it's probably just "optic migranes" - meaning that I'm having a little migrane without any pounding headache or other typical symptoms. I mentioned it to my eye doc during my routine visit, he also agreed and told me that unless it changes into a black curtain being pulled across my vision, not to worry about it (black curtain could mean a retinal detachment - very unlikely) Same with my OBGYN.

You may want to mention it to your OB, they get all kinds of crazy questions... I'm sure they wouldn't be surprised by this one. It's good to know that other people are seeing them, too! I thought I was the only one!

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