How do you tell a migraine from a normal headache?

[ForTealBee]

Just that really.

I got one of the worst headaches I've ever had last night, it was awful. I felt sick (to the point I was gagging over the toilet) and lying in bed in the dark didn't help. It's mostly gone this morning, little bits are hanging round but not that bad.

I get these maybe every 3-4 months, just out of the blue. How do I know if it's a migraine or just a headache?

It does sound like a migraine. There's a lot of different types of them, usually accompanied by neurological symptoms such as nausea, seeing lights/ dots/ going blind for a while etc etc. I slur my words for days after a migraine. A cluster migraine is excruciating and over one eye, nothing helps that that I've found. I'd see the gp and see what they say personally.

The brain fog, overwhelming tiredness, nausea and sometimes upset stomach are signs for me that it's migraine. The headache sometimes isn't that bad even.

A migraine is worse and more painful than a headache.

It sounds like a migraine

A normal headache won't make you feel and be sick. Unless maybe a hangover.

My migraines make my head feel boiling hot, my body freezing cold. I feel and be sick, dry heaving etc. sometimes almost hallucinate with pain. It feels like someone is punching me in the back of my eyes.
I used to get Alice in wonderland syndrome as a migraine aura, where everything looks like it's in miniature!

I just use an iced flannel over my head/face, take pain relief and try to sleep when I get an attack. It's horrible though isn't it?

Oh that sounds like a migraine.
A migraine is impossible to power through imo.
I have to lie down in the dark and not move. For me feeling pressure on my head helps (as my head feels like it will explode) so I put a tight eye mask on.
Coffee also. I drink an espresso and go to bed. Usually it’s only once or twice a year though.

This is how I felt last night

Pain mainly over the left side of my eye, freezing cold, shaking, I felt so incredibly sick. I think I wasn't actually physically sick because I went to bed, but if I hadn't I think I would've been sick.

Feeling very fuzzy headed today and like my brain hasn't properly engaged.

Did you take painkillers and did they help if yes?

usually a normal headache is due to stress being in a stuffy atmosphere loud noise etc which is usually relieved by sleep fresh air paracetamol etc
drugs aside such as Migraine tablets nothing really helps with migraine sometimes dark rooms can ease it a bit as light usually kills.
sickness upset stomach flashing lights any extreme reaction can amount to a migraine and the pain is off the scale. I have even had to have morphine to cope with it

Migraines have stages. The worst is the post drome stage for me, which it sounds like you're experiencing now. Like a hangover almost.

Mine usually start with feeling off, then aura, then a headache and the overwhelming need to lie down. Followed by the post drome.

When I have a migraine I have blinding pain and nausea and have to apply pressure to my head to try and relieve it. But I also get really bad pins and needles and loss of warmth and sensation in my fingers and toes and raised respiratory rate.
Have you tried taking a triptan analgesia? They can be very affective in migraines

Yes I almost feel a mild hangover today. Sick-ish still, tired, fluffy headed

I took paracetamol and they didn't touch it

I've never spoken to my doctor about it because I never really thought it was that bad. It was only when I spoke to someone at work today they said it sounded like a migraine

That def sounds like a migraine OP. Next time that you feel one coming on try taking a couple of aspirin with a full fat coke. It’s a known treatment (even some doctors will tell you do to it) and it can stop it getting as bad. I keep a stash of full fat coke in the fridge just in case!

I might grab some aspirin now on my lunch break!

It's the caffeine and sugar in coke that helps them, right? I don't drink fizzy drinks

Thinking about it now, my vision was funny for about an hour before it came on. I was wearing a striped top and it was almost flashing.

Is it worth speaking to my GP? They only tend to come on in the evening and they just ruin my night, then I spend the next day feeling grotty. Is it worth wasting an appointment?

You poor thing! I often find drinking coca cola and eating toast and marmite helps if you can't keep much down.
Keep you head cool and your body warm. I hope you feel better soon! X

I agree with the coke but its odd I get a craving for hot sweet tea that is something I do not drink just before the migraine hits me hard. one day at work I said to my oh who was at home please bring me a sweet tea which he did with a few digestives. he knew what was coming and I would need something in my stomach

Thankfully I do feel a lot better today, just a bit crap.

Someone at work has said you can't see a doctor with them unless they happen everyday though, which has confused me slightly

Mine usually start with the aura usually visional disturbances but I have also had a few times when I struggled to speak properly.

Once the vision settles the headache starts. It feels like I’ve got a axe lodged in my head. haven’t ever been sick (my DS is always sick), but I feel so tired and could sleep for hours.

the day after I have a migraine hangover, like my head feels too heavy for my shoulders.

a normal headache I rarely take painkillers for. A take loads for migraine.

It's absolutely worth seeing a doctor. Firstly to make sure it is migraine and then to seek appropriate treatment. I was referred to a migraine clinic and we cycled through loads of treatments before hitting on the right triptan. They are nowhere near as frequent as they were and I know that once one is near to do the triptan, a neurofen, full fat coke, coffee and sugar. If none of that works or I'm too late then it's off to bed for however long it takes.

Nausea and anadin extra and pain killers don't work. Lasts 3 days and the only thing that shifts it is sumatriptan.

Of course You can go and see the doctor. There is medication which can prevent them. Whether they would prescribe based on 3/4 times a year is a different story.

1. What age are you? Migraines often get worse with menopause
2. Not all migraines have a headache associated with them. Silent migraines have aura but no headache.