This is going to sound mad but it is amazing to know there are so many others out there who struggle with this, its such a lonely thing to suffer with migraines.
I've had them for the last 20 years, initially infrequently and following no discernible pattern but more recently very frequently.
Having my second child seems to have triggered a migraine avalanche.
I would get a severe one every month, lasting 5-7 days, these tend to have a two day build up when I'm disorientated, easily confused, sensitive to light and noise levels, yawn a lot and have very cold legs from the knees down. Then the headache and vomiting, dark room, ice pack etc. After the headache passes I tend to have a 'hangover' for a couple more days.
I would also tend to get another one two weeks after this severe one passes, although these intermittent ones are less severe and may pass in 2-3 days, I tend not to be sick with these lesser ones.
I've also had two thunderclap headaches in the last 5 years and been hospitalised both times - these are absolutely and utterly terrifying, nothing in my experience compares to this pain.
There is hope though, last year I referred myself to the London Migraine Clinic. Following their advice I feel the migraines are now much more under control, I'm more in control of my triggers and I can head off the less severe ones completely. The big ones are still as severe but I seem to get over them more quickly, so instead of a week of my life gone it may only be 3-4 days.
I'm now pregnant so cannot take anything for acute symptoms but have a programme of medication to try to manage their severity/frequency which is sort of working.... I am counting the days until I can take tryptans again, oh how I miss these!
Sorry, bit of a long post, got carried away!
Anyone struggling to manage and not getting much help from their GP, I would thoroughly recommend the consultants I saw at the clinic, they have literally changed my life.