Sorry for the long post.
Any migraine sufferers out there who can share experiences / talk me down? Feeling anxious that what I'm experiencing merits A&E. I suffer from health anxiety so deep down I think this is just a migraine. Hoping so anyway!
Had an ocular migraine today at about 1.15 pm. Triggered by walking into bright sunshine, I think, reading a book, noticed the page was blurring and then saw the zigzgs, sparkling, funny turning shape in corner of right eye. Lasted 5 minutes or less. I panicked but knew what it was as had one once in 2016. (Was never properly diagnosed but it was exactly that and occurred during a period when I had a month long (mild) headache / 'silent' migraine. That all resolved - had a (private) brain scan for the headaches, nothing sinister, all resolved and was never referred (NHS) for migraine).
Felt ok afterward today but at 2 pm ish took Migraleve anyway (normilally works a treat for migraine for me), no real pain, just fuzzy, woozy, slight hungover feeling but all fine, then at 6.30 pm (4 hours later) suddenly the headache is MUCH worse. Back of my head. Came on pretty suddenly. Took more Migraleve. Slightly relieved, but was quite bad for an hour or so, during which time I felt scared and desperate for reassurance. Wanted to go to a and e. Has just settled somewhat. I am 51, normal BP. Very peri-menopausal - not had a period for 50 days and frequent hot flushes / sweats for a month now. I am a teacher and have had prolonged stress for most of the academic year, which is now lessening. (Family history: my mother died suddenly at 74 of aortic dissection, my grandmother of a stroke at 82; not sure relevant as no family history of migraine but it scares me).
Is this just a migraine? Is back of the head pain normal after ocular migraine??? I occasionally get migraines, but not at the back of my head.
Recently I have had a mild 'spot' headache in the back of my head that comes and goes. Have seen GP about it twice (along with other things) and she was very thorough in her approach but not concerned about this. No red flags. Thought it could be tension headache and referred me to the physio and to check my eyes at optician. Which I did. No pressure behind eye - all normal.
This morning at about 11 am the back headache / mild spot of headache switched to the other side of the back of my head - from left to right. Then at 1.15 pm the ocular migraine.
I rang 111 earlier, who said pharmacist, and pharmicist said optician. Do I need to ring them again?
Sorry for the very long post.