Do migraines make you feel generally unwell?

[Neonprint]

I've just been diagnosed with migraines, bruxism (teeth grinding/ jaw clenching) and tmj by a consultant.

I thought it was sinus pain/issues which is why I was refferd to ENT. Anyway it was quite a surprise as I when I get headaches (which he said ar migraines) and facial pain I will often have general body aches, feel exhausted and just run down so thought it was a virus / sinus issue. But the consultant said migraines can do this and then said something I've slightly forgotten about migraines causing a change in blood vessels which can effect the whole body. Obviously a consultant knows their stuff but after searching online about the blood vessel thing and effects on the body I still feel a bit unsure if this is the right diagnosis. I'm obviously not expecting anyone here to diagnose me!

But I'd really appreciate anyone who has experienced migraines sharing if they have this generally unwell feeling and if you know anything about migraines effect on blood vessels. Also anyone with similar issues caused by bruxism and tmj I'd live to hear your experience.

I do understand migraines aren't just headaches so I don't want to sound skeptical that they have an impact on people and their lives. I'm just trying to get my head around an unexpected diagnosis.

I forgot the slurred speech and totally inability to answer questions/think straight

It’s very noticeably on one side only for me. My left hand side.

I haven’t been diagnosed with migraines but I get severe debilitating headaches, and I also get D and V with it. The actual ‘migraine’ tends to last a day including the lead up to it, and I feel washed out for a further 24 hours or so.

I also get headaches which are annoying but not on the same scale as the severe ones.

I get a full-on very migraine quite rarely but i quite often get migraine aura and right-sided headaches. The aura symptoms come feel a feeling of utter exhaustion (I wonder if that’s cause or effect?). A full- blown migraine is very definitely a whole-body experience!

I get hemiplegic migraines that can leave me wiped out for up to 10 days afterwards with fatigue, nausea, a bruised feeling in my head when I sneeze, cough or move my head too quickly. And I'm knackered from the pain. During the migraine I get the aura type warnings, where everything is heightened. So everything is too loud and bright and my sense of smell is overly strong. Then I'll usually go a bit blind or with fuzzy vision, numb face and hands and I'll slur my words. Migraines are so shit but the symptoms can vary so much

I get visual disturbances for about 30 minutes depending on how severe. Usually travels between my eyes. Sometimes I get slurred speech or I can’t say a word. That doesn’t last long.
Then the headache, it’s worse on my left side behind my eye, but my whole head is sore. I also sometimes have pain similar to sinus pain, like bones on my face ache.

I have overwhelming tiredness immediately afterwards and can sleep for hours, I’m usually a poor sleeper.

The next couple of days are like a hangover. I feel groggy, my head hurts all over, I feel physically exhausted.

I don’t have one trigger though I think mine are mostly hormonal, started when i was 12/13, much much worse in pregnancy, and are just starting to ramp up again now I’m 45+. I’ve also been triggered by strong smells (paint being one). Lack of sleep, sometimes exercise. If I’ve had a period of stress such as exams, I always seem to be worse afterwards.

@Bustup that sounds horrific. I hope they can find something for you.

Yep, they make me feel like death.

Major one sided headache and feel extremely sick and often am. Once they've gone, I feel washed out for a good 48 hours.

What do you do about work and every day life? I often have to lie in a darkened room for a day, then I feel horribly hungover, like I've been on a 3 day bender.

A recent symptom that I've noticed is pain/ sensitivity in my hands. So can't do the washing up in anything more than lukewarm water

Same as everyone else

My hangovers also feel the same as a migraine, in that it feels like the blood vessels are all over the place and then a sense of really achy muscles afterwards

Mine make me feel ill all over. These days, the headache isn't the worst bit but I know it's a migraine because pain killers don't work and I feel just like I've got a dose of flu. Every flipping month!

Not really the thread I would want to say this on but...I have found my people. Reading all the replies, whilst you all have my sympathies as it's bloody awful, makes me feel understood at last and not a freak when I try to explain to people just how awful my migraines make me feel.

I have chronic migraines..so a migraine most of the time, the list of symptoms is honestly endless and for me pain is definitely not the worst aspect of it.

I often think the generalised "ill", nauseous feeling is worse than the head pain - although your head still throbs/pounds in time with your breathing.

Ugh, haven't had one for a while and I worked through the last one somehow - felt utterly depressed for hours. I take preventative medication OP, 40mg propranolol twice a day. Seems to keep them in check, as does avoiding certain triggers (chocolate, sadly).

Otherwise it's bed, sumatriptan, paracetamol, ibuprofen, a cold wet flannel and nobody speaking to me for a bit.

@Bustup

Has your neuro mentioned the new anti-CGRP antibody drugs to you? They're the first class of preventatives to have been developed and approved specifically for migraine prophylaxis.

All the old style preventives stopped working for me a couple of years ago. I was having bad migraine attacks around 25 days a month, and feeling rubbish and headache-y on the days inbetween. I managed to get onto a programme at Guy's where they were giving out aimovig, one of the anti-CGRPs, to patients for three years and it has been life changing.

Aimovig was rejected by NICE due to cost (although I believe being re-reviewed), but others such as ajovy and emgality are available if you meet criteria. This is a diagnosis of chronic migriane (>15 days/month), you don't have medication-overuse headache (ie taking painkillers more than 15 days per month or triptans more than 10 days per month) and have tried 3 preventatives previously.

@oldegg123 Thanks, I have literally just started on Ajovy, it's been 3 days so I'm desperate for it to work whilst also being aware that everything else has not, so it's tempered with fear.

Thanks to pps, not sure what got me here but I guess this is just the cards life dealt me.

I feel awful with a migraine, flu like. Tired achy and sick plus my temperature goes up but I’m freezing cold.

When I have a migraine, I vomit, have diarrhoea, and can't see straight. Anyone who thinks migraine is just a bad headache has no idea.

Yes, very much so. I feel fatigued, proper brain fog, parathesia (odd skin sensations, almost like burning), flu-like. I quite often have a prodrome for a couple of days before which oddly I NEVER recognise until after the event (migraine really plays tricks on you) where I feel oddly spaced and ever so slightly manic. Migraine for approx 90 mins, no headache but I have a fierce aura and am so so sick. They are a miserable experience and I’m sorry you’ve joined the club!

Yes! @HandyBendySandy the depression is fierce with them. And tearful! I always cry after one.

I usually just have to power through a migraine. My preventive treatment makes them less powerful and the crisis meds also reduce intensity. I have a job which means I can generally do less difficult tasks on those days. The DC know to leave me in peace (they also get migraines).
When no meds work Im signed off work for 3-4 days and just there doing nothing except suffer.

[quote Bustup]@oldegg123 Thanks, I have literally just started on Ajovy, it's been 3 days so I'm desperate for it to work whilst also being aware that everything else has not, so it's tempered with fear.

Thanks to pps, not sure what got me here but I guess this is just the cards life dealt me.[/quote]
Congratulations! This genuinely made me break out in a big smile, I'm really happy for you.

I noticed a difference within 2-3 weeks, I still got migraines but it prevented the absolutely sick-inducing thumping headache part. It took another 2 months or so to really take effect which is normal. I hope it makes a big difference for you!

I quite often have a prodrome for a couple of days before which oddly I NEVER recognise until after the event (migraine really plays tricks on you) where I feel oddly spaced and ever so slightly manic.

So many times I've only realised this was happening after the migraine is finished. So that's why i was so tired Duh!

@Bustup I can’t imagine the hell of this, I send all the positive vibes and hope they just switch off one day 💐💐💐💐

I get two kinds - one which is a slow burner ..pain starts on one side and over the days gets worse to the point I have to take prescribed medication- which then knocks me out for 24 hours with sickness thrown in. I’m then left with a general headache for a few days which I can manage ok. I get slurred speech and tingles on one side in arm and legs no appetite and usually a fowl mood because of the pain. Thankfully these only seem to happen once or twice a year no idea what the trigger us for them!

The other type I get seem to be more manageable triggered from usually smells ie someone’s aftershave or washing powder! But these are a day or so at most and just more of an annoying migraine.

On top of sometimes vomiting 10-20 times an episode, and severe head/rye pain that makes me want to bang my head on the floor, my migraines make me feel such a sense of general malaise, I just KNOW when they are coming (vs a mild regular old headache). I feel nauseous,weak, just... off. And I always have diarrhoea. I dont have the energy to move beyond the end of my bed, and I could sleep 20 hours in 24
...its just terrible.

Interestingly, I started taking 500mg magnesium daily in jan and since then, I have had none of these symptoms,just mild to moderate one sided head pain. Its remarkable as I was getting them every 4 -6 weeks without fail, and it was really starting to affect me as I was anticipating them (and I have 2 very young kids, so extra disruptive to our days). This is a near miracle, I have had migraines my whole adult life.

But yes, it is SO much more than a bad headache