@theillustratedmummy
I really feel for you. My migraines (started at 14) were very severe and debilitating from my early 30’s. Typically the attacks lasted 3 days plus and failed to respond to any available treatments. Day 1 would be the visual aura and nausea, Day 2 a very spaced out feeling and then extreme head pain, Day 3 a massive headache and digestive stasis. Day 4 & 5 I would be hung over and spaced out.
i spent several years being treated at the London Migraine Clinic and saw a number of Consultants. One said to me that if I understood the brain changes that occur during Migraine, I would not risk driving at all. All fine in theory but when you start an attack on the M25, miles from the next service station, what can you do.
In the end the only way I could maintain a career and live a normal life was to really understand my triggers and also recognise my aura, so that I knew an attack was imminent. I did this through assiduous diarying over the space of 18 months. Every single day diarying of what I ate, did, etc. etc.
I discovered that my attacks were definitely hormonal and linked to my menstrual cycle. However they were exacerbated by dappled sunlight particularly strobing when I drove, excess heat, high sugar consumption, alcohol, oranges, stress and altered sleep patterns. A Saturday morning lie in was disastrous.
I also came to recognise that chocolate was not a trigger but chocolate cravings meant an attack was already on the way, as did dizziness, slight shimmering in my vision, feeling spaced out and heightened anxiety.
The only drug that has ever worked for me are Pink Migraleve, taken the second I recognised an aura. They can delay, but not stop an attack. My Consultant tells me he has no idea why they work when nothing else will, but they do.
My attacks diminished at the Menopause although I do still have at least one a month.