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Original poster

Migraines...............what are the symptons and is this one?

30 replies

emmatmg · 20/02/2005 15:24

Ok, never had a migraine before, had head aches of course but this freaked me out abit .

At about 9am the morning I was getting DS3 dressed and my vision went all wierd. Kind of like I was look through a crystal or something, like lots of little segments......errrr....hard to describe really. Just on the outer edges of my sight. Hope that makes sense. It just changed, in an instant, as I bent down to pick something up.

Well that lasted about an hour or so, I felt quite wobbily TBH. Then the head ache started. Forehead, eyes, sinusis(sp?) all really really hurt.

I've taken some super-doper strength pain killer and they have taken the edge off but I feel...well....just odd, I suppose. Achy/shooting pains in neck and shoulders ATM with a fuzzy head.

Do you think this a Migraine?

I've never had/felt anything like this before I'm thinking all sorts of sinister things going on and am freaked out

OP posts:
noddyholder · 20/02/2005 15:28

that is a migraine the little shapes on the edge of your vision are the aura a warning to take some pills quick!If you can get to a chemist and you aren't pregnant get some syndol If you are still worried or have it tomorrow go to the gp.Also if you can't get strong painkillers taking paracetomol with aspirin sometimes works HTH

Kittypickle · 20/02/2005 15:29

Yes, that sounds exactly like a migraine. I don't get them very often, but mine start with my vision distorting and if I take Migraleve at that point it stops it going into a full blown one with the headache etc.

Original poster
emmatmg · 20/02/2005 15:32

It was so wierd, the vision thing I mean.

I bent down to do what ever and it just popped/clicked(whatever) and was in segemts when I stood up. Instantly

Is that how quickly it happens to you?

OP posts:
noddyholder · 20/02/2005 15:35

that is it exactly sometimes I get the vision thing bad and the pain less so sometimes no vision disturbance but excruciating pain sometimes both have you taken anything?Also eating loads of crackers/crisps/dry things takes the edge off mine

Kittypickle · 20/02/2005 15:35

Pretty much. The first time it happened to me was when I was doing my finals, I'd been in the library for hours and went into the bright sunshine from the gloomy library and my vision went funny nearly immediatly - I could hardly walk back home as I couldn't see properly.

Snugs · 20/02/2005 15:37

Classic symptoms emmatmg. Agree with noddyholder to eat something - my migraines hit if I am late eating as my blood sugar drops.

Original poster
emmatmg · 20/02/2005 15:45

Have taken some Anadin extra about 40 minutes ago.

I took paracetamol this morning but they did bugger all which I think is why it freaked me out so much. I don't take tablets unless I really need to (I needed to today) and as they didn't do anything I was thinking all sorts of stuff.

Still feel freaked with the vision thing even though it's gone and I know it's all part of it now. Really scared me TBH.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 20/02/2005 15:47

i was at wotk when I first got the vision thing and I really thought I was having a stroke!I can assure you the docs said it was perfectly normal A good nights sleep will get rid of the last dregs of it I always feel washed out after one

Original poster
emmatmg · 20/02/2005 15:49

I love Mumsnet.....and you all......was really quite worried that I was gonna keel over or something!

Roll on DH getting home form work so he can entertain the kids.

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 20/02/2005 15:52

Migraleve which you can get over the counter, really works quite well. DH gets migraines only a couple of times a year, but they really fend them off.

One of the classic signs of a migraine, other than the vision fun, is that the headache you get is generally asymmetrical - on one side of the head mostly.

Do be aware you might throw up.

Tiggiwinkle · 20/02/2005 15:55

The effects can also last into the next day too-I usually feel as if I have a "hangover" the next day. Mine are usually triggered by bright light or stress.

Original poster
emmatmg · 20/02/2005 16:02

Ah!

Tigglewinkle........stress!

I can safely say that with half term this week I am more stressed than a stressed thing doing something stressful!

Can't wait until tomorrow.....back to school!

OP posts:
NameChangingMancMidlander · 20/02/2005 16:07

migraine symptoms differ quite a lot from sufferer to sufferer. i get them, for me thay are mainly 'focal migraines' with no pain at all but considerable visual disturbances. i get tunnel vision with no peripheral vision whatsoever, or i can go completely 'black' in one eye. this can last anything from one hour to four.

i do get a painful migraine too, around 4 or 5 year. i can only describe the pain as 'hot' it makes me want to stoop away from the pain, if that makes sense. i also get nausea with the painful migraine. no over the counter methods help me, i just have to rest in a totally black room until it passes which can take up to 5 hours. really really bad ones have left me 'paralysed' for 4 hours. thankfully they're rare & i've only had 3 or 4 of those.

i can't use any sort of hormonal contraception because of my migraines and the increased stroke-risk

NameChangingMancMidlander · 20/02/2005 16:13

my triggers are tiredness & caffeine (also wearing my contact lenses for too long).

my brother gets them to and his triggers are chocolate & cheese

Original poster
emmatmg · 20/02/2005 16:13

Blimey NCMM....that sounds awful.

DH home now so am handing over the 3 beasts to him.

OP posts:
NameChangingMancMidlander · 20/02/2005 16:18

it's one of my bugbears when people refer to a bad headache as a migraine, IME they aren't even in the same league.

same with a bad cold and flu.

glad you can hand over the reins. get some rest

tigi · 20/02/2005 16:23

About a year ago, I had same thing, I bent down, and I could see all flashes around the edge of one side of my eye, which slowly increased to travel all the way aroud. i was really worried I had a detached retina or something sinister! Doc says start of migrane, and asked whether headache came on afterwards - It did ,but it was an ok headache, not even bad enough for a tablet. It has never happened again.

Elf1981 · 20/02/2005 16:34

I suffer quite regularly with migraines, and find that the only thing that usually works is going to sleep, which can be hard depending on what your life is like. Recently I have found that Kool N Soothes work really well, much better than a wet flannel!

I stick a cool n soothe on my forehead and lay down for a bit. I'm not saying that these would work for you, as everybody is different, and tables, syndol and that forehead stick stuff does nothing for me.

It may also be worth trying to get a doctors appointment for in the week. Migraines can be frightening, especially if you've never had one before. It's worth it, just for the peace of mind.

Elf1981 · 20/02/2005 16:40

NCMM - totally agree with comment about comparing migraines to headaches.

In the past, when I've had a migraine, I've been on the bed, unable to move in agony, and not being able to do anything but cry in pain, knowing that the crying makes it worse. And then have people say "oh she's got a headache".

ARGH!

DH is much more understanding. He turns off the light and the telly, makes the room as dark as possible, and regularly used to wet the flannel for me (until I found cool n soothes).

But it works both ways - I then do the same for him when he's suffering from an absess under a tooth, and people say "toothache doesn't hurt that much"!

suedonim · 20/02/2005 16:44

I've had migraine since I was about 10, sometimes with aura, mostly withouit. Dh also gets them, though not so much nowadays, and three of our four children get them too! the Migraine Action Assoc is useful for info.

doobydoo · 20/02/2005 17:02

Poor you.Migraines are poo!
I started having them about 14 years ago.I use Maxalt which is on prescription.If I feel a twinge i put one on my tongue and they melt-very quick and effective.But possibly not a long term solution.Your ability to digest food etc is compromised with Migraine which is why tablets are not usuallt effective.The melting things are great for me.The doctor prescribed me some tabs to take as a preventative measure to try and break the cycle.These made me feel really anxious though so i stopped taking them but will probably try again.If i can i lie in adark room clutching a lavender cologne stick which i rub on areas just for some relief,this is if i have run out of Maxalt.Thing is tho even with them i usually have to battle for 3 days or more to get rid of it.I wish you luck and i see that some one has posted the Migraine society address.
Lots of help/support available.

Uwila · 20/02/2005 20:12

I too get migraines. Mine are quite mild (as far as migraines go) but very frequent -- often overy week or two. I have one word of advice for you: TRIPTANS. It is a family of drugs that many migraineurs will swear has restored there lives to normalcy. Sumatriptan is the most common. I prefer naratriptan. Both are made by GSK. Naratriptan is a much weaker effect but it last longer. I get mild mirgraines that don't go away for a few days, so naratriptan (brand name Naramig) is my choice. For a more powerful migraine, you may find Sumatriptan is more suitable. Oh, and the side effects on naaratriptan are milder.

You need a prescription for these drugs, but they are available on the NHS. Ask your GP. Also, just in case you take the combination pill, you should stop because of an increased risk of storke in migraine sufferers who experience aura.

Good luck.

Uwila · 20/02/2005 20:13

storke = stroke

Snugs · 20/02/2005 20:22

Absolutely - sumatriptan (Imigran is a common brand) did it for me. Also Tolfenamic acid (brand name Clotam) which I had prescribed when my migraines worsened after a bout of viral meningitis. I have classic aura migraines, with blind spots and tunnel vision but very few actual headaches. Nothing used to work and I would have to sleep, but they would still last 24-48hr. Now I take one or other of those 2 and I am usually fine within a couple of hours.

binkie · 20/02/2005 20:34

You regular migraine sufferers - all my sympathy.

I've had four or five and they are textbook examples of a kind called something like "classic atypical" - regular sequence of (a) scintillating zigzag vision disturbance (b) blind in one eye (c) (scariest of all) language loss - you can't even think in words, let alone put a sentence together, which for me is beyond terrifying (d) not really a headache, agree with the "hangover" description. I'm only saying this because you might want to be aware of the language aspect, which I think hasn't been mentioned below. Also - no long-term effects or consequences whatsoever (apart from as above enormous sympathy for those who suffer often).