Migraine

[PerkyOchrePeer]

Recently I've been getting migraines. I've had one every couple of weeks whereas before they were every couple of months and before that every two or three years. I had one this evening.

Previously I have asked the doctor to send me to a migraine clinic but each time I ask, they say no because my migraines are not severe. As they are now more frequent I contacted the doctor again and was given tablets. These are meant to calm the migraine and so it doesn't last as long without the tablet it lasts 20 minutes but I took a tablet this evening abd the migraine had died down in 5 minutes.

That us good but I am getting scared because of the frequency cy and I am on tenterhooks now knowing from day to day if i am going to get a migraine. H can't live like this. I am having sone blood tests too try and determine what is causing these migraines. I dont think it's food. I would like a brain scan but I dont think I will get one

I do keep a diary. Twice it's been after eating food and once it was upon waking up on an empty stomach before breakfasts. Two other times it's been whilst at work using the computer

If you get it from the computer you might find a blue light filter helps.

I installed the f.lux app which works well. Most phones have a filter in settings.

Im age 62 a d went through the menopause at 48 i too some painkillersso I'm long past the menopause. Im not well today because I had a migraine yesterday evening and took a migraine tablets abd the migraine stopped after about 5 minutes unfortunately one of the side effects of the tablets is headaches and I was left with a dull headache all round the back of my head last night. I took some painkillers and went to bed. I woke up and had the same headache round the back to my head. I went to work and took two more painkillers which did not work and I had the headache all day so left early and came home and I've got the headache this evening. 🙄 I'm fed up with it all. I used to be so healthy

🤥

Keeping a migraine diary doesn’t just entail writing down what you were doing when they started. You need to keep a record of what you eat, what you do, your sleep etc to see if you can find the common link, and it’s usually something that you’ve done about 24-48 hours before it starts that’s the trigger. Because the aura is not the start of the attack - the prodrome is. By the time you have the aura you’re already well into it.
Look it up.

You may never find a specific trigger, but it can help.

I use Headapp which makes logging mine a lot easier.

Prodrome - basically the day before your migraine- is really important as that is when your migraine actually started.

Triggers should be before prodrome. It's common to misidentify triggers - for example eating chocolate when really prodrome is driving the desire to eat chocolate.

I can sometimes spot when I am in prodrome but often not. For me it's eating bottomless amounts of carbs, feeling depressed and rolling around in bed unable to sleep.

God yes, this.

One of mine was excessive yawning. Another was a sudden change of mood. Often known as the “migraine pit of doom”.
I often didn’t put two and two together and recognise that one was on the way until the vertigo (which was how my auras often presented) hit a couple of days later. Usually about 36 hours for me.
Prodrome symptoms are really important.

I've had migraines with aura for the past 30 years. Inherited from my mother's side. They've varied over the years in frequency, intensity, types of symptoms. I was put on medication when they became thrice-weekly. Occasionally they were twice-yearly. Never had a scan or a referral - they're just a condition I have 🤷‍♂️

I don't think my migraines are inherited because my parents and grandparents never had them.

The only thing I'm concerned about is shifting my tension headache and painkillers are not budging it

I had fits and blackouts as a teenager. In my early 20s they stopped and it's been 40 years I hope my migraines will stop

Are you taking regular breaks?

I don't find painkillers helpful at all during the headache phase, and the headache can last at least a day. Rest is the only thing that helps.

Yes

I cannot rest properly with a headache. I think my headache is the migraine tablet side effect. As its on the list of side effects. I will try some painkillers and if they still dont work then seek medical advice

Headache is the phase of migraine that comes after the aura. It’s completely usual to have one as part of a migraine attack.
This thread is infuriating. You’re not listening to a single word that people are telling you. People who are kindly taking time out of their days to give you information.

I suspect you are not going to be referred because (and I mean this kindly) what you are describing is what most migraine sufferers would be happy with if they had an attack. What you are describing is alarming to you but it’s really not a major migraine.

For many on this thread it is a drawn out process. Often with vomiting, screaming headache and being unable to function for several hours, if not days. Having those type of severe migraines are the ones that get referred on. I suffer badly. I have never worked out why. I have needed hospital treatment and, at my worst it cause me to black out and I needed an ambulance.

Have a read the Migraine Trusts information on their charity website.

TBH you would have to fall under the medically complex to manage group to get a referral to a specialist hospital headache clinic. Of those only a handful are kept on by neurology. Migraine is common and managed by GPs, disabling and forms of primary headache tend to be tag team between GP and occasional headache clinic reviews. Disabling and complex are far rarer and often under hospital management.

I am the latter, I can still drive. I pull over and stop driving if I get aura start. I do not drive when migraine is very active as frankly I cannot see and that would be insane and dangerous. Not driving because you might get aura might be anxiety getting the upper hand.

Ok but normally when I get these aura attacks and they stop, I dobt have a headache. This is why I didn't think you normally get headache afterwards

OP my zig zags in my eyes and loss of speech are the first things to go with me. That's my trigger to get meds in me ASAP. The headache comes shortly after.

Never had speech go. I once had my memory go and didn't know where I was but it soon cane back. That was years ago with a migraine. Never happened since

You can get migraines without the headache, silent migraines. As long as I take ibuprofen when I feel the pain beginning or get an aura, I can stop the headache. The prodrome and postpone are still there though and can each be a couple of days. A pp mentioned excessive yawning, weeing a lot the day before is an indication for me that one is coming. And oddly, tasting a particular food. Something really specific like a milk chocolate hobnob for example, I can taste it as if I am eating it.

Hormones are my triggers and so is dehydration, I always have a small water bottle with me.

You would do well to read up on the different phases of a migraine attack and how they present, because you appear to have no understanding of your own medical condition. Which is why you’re so overly anxious about something so common.

😎

Ok, I’m out. You’re just wasting everyone’s time here.
For future reference, when you ask for help and people take their own time to try to help you, don’t be so rude to them.