Definition (from: PubMed Health) – A migraine is a common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head. Some people who get migraines have warning symptoms, called an aura, before the actual headache begins. An aura is a group of symptoms, including vision disturbances, that are a warning sign that a bad headache is coming.
I get migraines.
I get them in clusters lasting 3-4 days, usually once a month. I am currently in the midst of a cycle of migraine. I’m on day three and have already taken more than the recommended daily dose of my triptan. I’m contemplating another dose, just to get through the day. While husband works on the movie score, son is napping and daughter is watching Toy Story, I sit here in front of my laptop trying to focus on something other than the tip of the knife I can feel starting to tickle my left eyeball. The migraines used to migrate – sometimes the pain would be behind my right eye, sometimes on the side of my head, sometimes behind the left eye. For the last few years though, the migraines have been pretty consistent – behind the left eye. I don’t get aura, but sometimes a tension headache starts and it “transforms” into the migraine. I do get nauseated, and loud noises bother me. Usually a dark room, cold compress and sleep help. But more often the not, I just need to get through the 3-4 days, then the cycle breaks and I’m good for a month.
The only time I can remember when I didn’t get a migraine for a good stretch of time was during my pregnancies. The first three months were brutal, I got lots of them and since I couldn’t take the triptan, I would have to resort to ice-cold showers (which work amazingly well, I might add). But a switch flipped during the second trimester and I would be headache free until about a month postpartum. Those 7 months were the best!! It was one of the reasons I loved being pregnant – the migraines stopped.
Migraines are horrible and I don’t think anyone who doesn’t get them can even comprehend how debilitating they can be. One of my worst pet peeves is someone claiming their bad headache is migraine.
I suffered from reoccuring migraines throughout my early twenties. They all but disappeared once I went off birth control. Thankfully, they only happen periodically now, particularly during intense emotionally charged, high stress situations. I still keep a handy stash of Maxalt in the medicine cupboard.
I used Maxalt for a long time but that minty flavour was gross. I also tried the nasal spray, Zomig, but that too was kinda nasty. My mom kept telling me how her headaches stopped after she had children, so I was really hoping that would be the case for me too. Sadly though, it’s not. 😦
Just wait till menopause . . . maybe you will have relief then!
Yeah, right! If my mother’s menopause was any indication, it’ll be 10 years of hell for me. 😦
I also suffer from monthly migraines lasting a few days. I was told that they are hormone related. Mine totally disappeared with pregnancy. Aren’t women more likely to get migraines than men?
Yes, the prevalence of migraine is about 3:1 (F:M).
I too was lucky during my pregnancies – the first 3 months were brutal, but I had 6 glorious months headache free for both of my pregnancies. Sadly though, they returned about 3-4 weeks PP.
http://www.neurology.org/content/68/5/343.full
That is interesting….Why is that? Is it due to hormones?
Presumably, yes. Though it’s not completely understood.