Anyone else suffer from migraines?
stephj1216
Posts: 75 Member
Hey everyone...
Does anyone else here suffer from severe migraines? And if you do, how do you get through them? I had one so severe last night that even my abortive medicines didn't work, so I didn't make it to the gym. I'm not sure how effective working out would be to help stop the pain. Are any of yall able to work through them or do you just go to a dark room and sleep them off like I do?
Any suggestions?
Does anyone else here suffer from severe migraines? And if you do, how do you get through them? I had one so severe last night that even my abortive medicines didn't work, so I didn't make it to the gym. I'm not sure how effective working out would be to help stop the pain. Are any of yall able to work through them or do you just go to a dark room and sleep them off like I do?
Any suggestions?
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Replies
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I get migraines -- I have since I was a child (diagnosed at 12, along with crippling vertigo). When I get a headache, I don't push myself to do any exercise. I try to take care of my head as much as possible, especially since mine are vascular, getting the heart rate up is not really appealing.
I live everyday life through them (I have a threshold to where they become 'I must curl up in a dark room and cry', but I've learned to live with the pain), but I always, always, always try to baby my head because I want them to go away. I've learned that for me, pushing myself just makes them last that much longer!
I can always pick back up with my calories and exercise after, but when I have one, I usually eat at maintenance (if I can eat) and rest my head. Really depends on how long it lasts (~1-2 days vs week or more).1 -
I get them but only during certain times of the month, and only in the past year or two I don't know why. Excedrin has been my life saver, i'm not sure mine are as severe as yours sound though. I always go lay down in a quiet and pitch dark room too. They make me feel really nauseous so eating is difficult.1
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Migraines are the worst. I empathize completely.
I suffered for decades. Luckily, as my neurologist told me, once I went through menopause they nearly disappeared. I went from having several a month to a few a year.
I have a few comments which you might consider.
First, if you aren't under the care of a neurologist, find one. A regular doctor really isn't the best choice to treat migraines as they tend to be a bit too cautious and sometimes don't take it as seriously as they need to.
Second, perhaps the medication you are using no longer is effective. This happened to me a few times over the years. Or you need a higher dosage. Sumatriptin (Imitrex) works great for me but I need 100 mg when I get a migraine now whereas years before 50 mg was enough.
Third, try to figure out if you have certain triggers that you might be able to avoid. Many you can't of course like hormonal reasons but if you know cigarette smoke is one well, these days it's not to difficult to avoid that most of the time. If you drink red wine, stop. That's one of the big triggers for many people due to the sulfites in them (or try sulfite free wines). Do you get enough, good quality sleep?
Last, if all else fails and you find yourself in bed for an extended amount of time, try some other methods of pain relief while waiting for the meds to kick in. I use ice packs on my neck or sometimes a hot wrap (I just kind of know which one I need for that moment). Using an eye mask to block out as much light as possible. Don't try to do anything during it - gosh, I have friends that will continue to write tweets during one - I have NO idea how they do it.
Good luck! I do hope you find something which works better for you than what your current regiment is. It's pretty miserable when you're in so much pain. It truly is the one thing that really has a way of knocking me down hard.5 -
When my migraines got a lot more severe and frequent I went to the doctor and found out I was hypothyroid. Started treatment for that and now I get a less severe migraine maybe once or twice a month instead of every day for over a week. I could not get much of anything done when the pain and nausea were too bad for days.
I used an app called migraine buddy to help track everything about my migraines.
What helps me is sitting or laying down in a dark cool room.
Caffeine does not make me feel better. I know it helps some people.
Triggers for me are usually my period, bright light, perfumes or air fresheners, artificial sweeteners, weather changes and I guess my thyroid not working.1 -
I have chronic migraine, and advise that if you get them often you see a neurologist.
I'm on a treatment regimen and find that it manages most of them, though some break through the rescue meds and require some sleeping off.
I can walk when I have a low level migraine and it sometimes improves it. Strenuous exercise is actually a trigger for me, so all of my exercise is at a moderate level at most.
I'm one of the oddballs whose migraines got worse after menopause for some reason.2 -
No way do I even think about exercise when one hits - I can barely move. I think about hiding in a dark, quiet room and trying to sleep it off.
On the flipside, I also don't think about eating, so don't eat more than I need (though afterwards I often crave salty food...).
If they are happening more, maybe a visit to the doctor?
My doc has been great - I've been taking a prophylactic for several years now, which kept them to a minimum, but this year they got out of control again.
One visit to the doc, and now taking another daily pill, and since then only had a handful in the last 3 months (was at least 12 days in the month before I went). Going back for a follow up next month, so will be interesting where we go from here. I didn't really want to be popping pills every day, but if the alternative is migraines, I'm all good with meds.
My triggers are:
Hormones
Bright lights/sunlight
Low blood sugar
Lack of decent sleep
Alcohol
Perfumes
Cigarette smell (seriously, I once bought a second hand pair of pants that must have been from a smoker's home and just being in the same room, not wearing them, set me off - could barely smell anything with my nose, but it was awful, and as soon as I took them out and put them in the wash, it started to improve)
It seems that none of these are a definite trigger, but if I reach a critical point it's all over (ie, tired, plus someone wearing strong perfume, plus bright lights).
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In addition to lack of sleep, I find too much sleep is a trigger for me as well. I really need to keep a very consistent sleep schedule to manage mine.1
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I get them, but I seem to get them in bouts. I'll not have one for a very long time then I seem to get them frequently for a while before they go away again and I agree, they're just the worst.
The only thing that pains me more than suffering from a migraine is how misunderstood they are -
- "Oh I've got such a migraine". No you don't you've got a headache, I can tell because you're still at your desk at work and not hiding under the covers from any light at all or hunched over the toilet bowl crying
- "You're probably dehydrated" - No, Just no
- "What do you mean you'll be off work for 3 days, it's just a headache" - No it's not. The migraine can last for more than 1 day by itself and even when it's gone I'm usually wiped for the next 24 hours while I recover. It's not just a headache
- "Have you taken paracetamol/ibuprofen/etc" - Really, that's like trying to fill the grand canyon by throwing bricks in it. But while the subject is up, you don't happen to have any morphine or heroin do you?
- "You should try Pranayama/Meditation/Yoga/Other Woo" - You should try shutting up!
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I get them, but I seem to get them in bouts. I'll not have one for a very long time then I seem to get them frequently for a while before they go away again and I agree, they're just the worst.
The only thing that pains me more than suffering from a migraine is how misunderstood they are -
- "Oh I've got such a migraine". No you don't you've got a headache, I can tell because you're still at your desk at work and not hiding under the covers from any light at all or hunched over the toilet bowl crying
- "You're probably dehydrated" - No, Just no
- "What do you mean you'll be off work for 3 days, it's just a headache" - No it's not. The migraine can last for more than 1 day by itself and even when it's gone I'm usually wiped for the next 24 hours while I recover. It's not just a headache
- "Have you taken paracetamol/ibuprofen/etc" - Really, that's like trying to fill the grand canyon by throwing bricks in it. But while the subject is up, you don't happen to have any morphine or heroin do you?
- "You should try Pranayama/Meditation/Yoga/Other Woo" - You should try shutting up!
YES!!! So much YES!!! To all of this.
And, ugh, those migraine hangovers are awful. Yes, I'm extremely grateful to not be crying on the floor in pain, but really, don't expect me to think or even follow a conversation for at least 24 hours after the meds & migraine wear off.
I often find I get a bit of a high the following day after the hangover though - probably just the thrill of being able to function like a human again.1 -
I tend to get a visual aura a few hours before an attack. My vision will go hazy or wavy. My eyes also go weird like I can see everything but can't focus my eyes on any one thing.
When this happens I tend to make a dash for home but there are no outward symptoms of what's going to happen. Many times in the past I've had an aura come on and said that I'm heading home because I'm not feeling well only to be told "What? You don't look sick, you look perfectly fine"1 -
I've suffered from migraines since I was five or six years old. Flickering florescence lights, certain colors of incandescent lights, sometimes sunlight, certain smells (perfumes, colognes, hairsprays, shampoos) tend to trigger them. I get everything with them - aura beforehand, sensitivity to light, sound, movement, etc. It's horrific.
Ultra hot showers followed by ice packs help, and I have to be in a completely dark room and stay as still as possible until it passes. On the bright side with a low dose anticonvulsant and then a diet change a few months back they've been reduced by 75% or more. Instead of near constant migraines I'm only getting them when exposed to triggers other than a handful of times.0 -
I have suffered with diagnosed migraines since I was 8. I do NOT exercise when I have one. I can barely move when I have one. My face droops and my speech slurs like I am drunk/having a stroke. (Seen a neurologist, no it's not actually a stroke but the symptoms scare people).
On preventative medication and rescue ones. I used to get them several times a month lasting several days. Normally the first three days were the worst. After that, the next couple of days were bearable.
Triggers for me:
- Not enough sleep
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Eating more than 2300 mg of sodium a day
- Perfumes
@Danp - YESSSSSS!!!! I hate all of those comments.1 -
I had my first one in about 8 months last week at work. I get really bad visual aura for about 40 min beforehand and sometimes if I’m really lucky it’s only the ocular migraine and real “pain” never hits just pressure everywhere. This time my district boss showed up for her monthly meeting so I had to stick around even though I could only see half of her face and it jacked with my speech so I swear I sounded like I was drunk. And yes the hangover for the next 24 hours is terrible! My anxiety spikes and I’m slow as hell. No chance I’d even consider the gym. I’d probably hurt myself.0
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »In addition to lack of sleep, I find too much sleep is a trigger for me as well. I really need to keep a very consistent sleep schedule to manage mine.
This. I find if I oversleep even by a little bit, I am WAY more prone to a migraine and then the weekend is gone like a candle flame in the wind.0 -
You may want to read The Migraine Brain, by Carolyn Bernstein.
That was a fantastic book for me for recognizing some triggers I didn't know I had, as well as understanding more about the process of migraines. Sometimes the process of a migraine can start days before symptoms manifest, which may be why a migraine sometimes seems to immediately manifest after exposure to a trigger, whereas other times it doesn't. One person can also have different symptoms at different times. Like another poster, my speech can often start slurring before I'm about to get a migraine. I often cannot tell, but others can. My coworkers will tell me if they notice, so that I can take my abortive. I've also experienced numbness in my face and, just a few times, on the left side of my body. I learned through that book that those are symptoms for some.
I also recommend seeing a neurologist if you are not already, as others have suggested. I had to teach myself about migraines because my PCPs were woefully ignorant. Thankfully, I am now seeing a neurologist due to my new insurance. His interest in The Migraine Brain was piqued as several of my answers to his questions I learned from that book.
My point with all of that is actually answering your question in a roundabout way. No one can tell you whether working out will help with the pain. Migraines are difficult to treat and difficult for others to understand precisely because they vary so much. Triggers, symptoms, and the pain and migraine itself can vary from person to person, and for each person. Sometimes I get aura, sometimes I don't. Sometimes a numb face, sometimes not. Sometimes nauseous, not always. Sometimes cigarette odor or perfume trigger an immediate migraine, sometimes they don't. You have to try things out for yourself to identify your own triggers and treatments.4 -
Thank you everyone! I saw my neurologist yesterday and we decided that my current regimen was not working so we switched it up a bit. She recommended botox as soon as insurance approves it now that I have failed 2 different preventative medications.
I feel much better than I did 2 nights ago but still having some postdrome headache which should go away soon.3 -
Thank you to everyone posting in this thread.
Anyone who "thinks" they have migraines should definitely get a diagnosis. I suffered with them for two decades until I went through menopause. For me they were completely disabling, I couldn't even get out of bed unless it was to throw up.
I ended up in the ER at one point because I couldn't even keep water down. I would say if you are able to do anything other than be in bed then it may be some other type of headache.
My prophylactic regimen started with a daily tricyclic, then they added a beta blocker, then they added an anticonvulsant. I tried Immitrex as a rescue, even the self-injectable. It worked but the increased heart rate scared me. Immitrex tablets worked but they took an hour or two to take effect. I finally settled on Maxalt, it dissolves on the tongue and it worked within minutes with no side effects for me. I was spending $200 a month out of pocket for treatment. Worth it, but the meds are expensive.
My healing thoughts go out to anyone who suffers. It is a chronic fear that's always there and a horrible chronic condition.4 -
stephj1216 wrote: »Thank you everyone! I saw my neurologist yesterday and we decided that my current regimen was not working so we switched it up a bit. She recommended botox as soon as insurance approves it now that I have failed 2 different preventative medications.
I feel much better than I did 2 nights ago but still having some postdrome headache which should go away soon.
The botox has been amazing for me this past year. Unfortunately, it's been losing its efficacy each time I get the next injection. It wore off 6 weeks early this time (I have just gotten over a 2 week long migraine and had to be treated with prednisone to break it). We are now going to try the brand new Aimovig which is supposed to be the first FDA approved preventative for migraine. I hope you get them under control! They are so debilitating!1 -
I do keto for migraine control, it is working marvelously for about 13 months now.2
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I get migraines with a scary aura that mimics symptoms of a stroke. In addition to a visual aura, I go numb on one side—hand, arm, neck, and sometimes foot—and I have trouble putting my thoughts into words. The actual headache part is mild and happens on the side that didn’t go numb. Sometimes I don’t get the headache at all. I also get the postdrome/migraine hangover for the next day or two. My neurologist told me that I can’t take most migraine medications with this type of aura. I also cannot take a combined birth control pill (the most common type) as the estrogen would raise my risk of a real stroke. My doctor just taught me how to tell my migraine aura from stroke symptoms: if I don’t have visual symptoms, I’d better call 911.
My trigger turned out to be almost entirely hormonal. I switched from the pill to a Mirena IUD (no estrogen, just progestin) and the migraines almost totally stopped. Now I get one about once a year or less, usually when I’m really stressed or getting sick.
I would definitely not exercise with a migraine. When I notice that aura starting, I drop whatever I’m doing, take the maximum dose of ibuprofen—which doesn’t do much, but it’s the only thing I can take—and go lie down to wait it out.2 -
stephj1216 wrote: »Thank you everyone! I saw my neurologist yesterday and we decided that my current regimen was not working so we switched it up a bit. She recommended botox as soon as insurance approves it now that I have failed 2 different preventative medications.
I feel much better than I did 2 nights ago but still having some postdrome headache which should go away soon.
Botox has been a game changer for me! Good luck with the approval process.
There's a new monthly at home subcutaneous injectable that has just been released that my neuro said has shown great promise. I'm hoping to find out on my next visit if my insurance will pay for that.2 -
leonadixon wrote: »stephj1216 wrote: »Thank you everyone! I saw my neurologist yesterday and we decided that my current regimen was not working so we switched it up a bit. She recommended botox as soon as insurance approves it now that I have failed 2 different preventative medications.
I feel much better than I did 2 nights ago but still having some postdrome headache which should go away soon.
The botox has been amazing for me this past year. Unfortunately, it's been losing its efficacy each time I get the next injection. It wore off 6 weeks early this time (I have just gotten over a 2 week long migraine and had to be treated with prednisone to break it). We are now going to try the brand new Aimovig which is supposed to be the first FDA approved preventative for migraine. I hope you get them under control! They are so debilitating!
Yeah, I'm starting to have it wear off too. My neuro is looking to switch me over on this next visit.
Regarding people saying "if it's not debilitating, it's not a migraine"... I take issue with that, and my neurologist (who is staff at a headache research center) would as well. I still get the debilitating kind, but it's important to remember that migraine is a systemic disease with a host of symptoms. Headache is only one of them. And the severity of the headache can vary in people who have migraine disease whenever they have a migraine.
Even with botox, I still have a daily low-level headache. I am never entirely pain free. I also always have mild nausea. The meds I'm on (tricyclic, anticonvulslant, and an anti-emetic - I don't tolerate beta blockers well) help to keep me at a manageable level most days. I can function.
Until something triggers a bad one. I don't tolerate triptans (they close my throat), so I'm on old school DHE as a rescue med.
Anyway, that daily low-level throbbing headache is part and parcel of my migraine disease, but it's not a full-blown migraine where I need to pull out all the stops. But it's still a migraine.11 -
I have chronic daily migraines. I've had them since I was 10. When I was in my 20s, the hormonal part of my migraines was horrible. Two weeks out of every month I was suffering with hormonal migraines. I started taking the Depo Provera shot to stop those, and that was a miracle. My headaches were actually manageable after that, but when I was 30 they became daily and I have not been able to manage them since. I'm on 5 preventative medications, I've tried botox, and most recently I've just tried the new medication Aimovig with no success.
What gets me through my days:
Excedrin/abortives/caffeine for the headache
Thorazine for the nausea
cervical heating pad for my neck
ice packs for my head
muscle relaxers
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Just for anyone who is going to talk to their doctor about the new migraine drugs, there are 3 CGRP drugs that were approved this year. Aimovig, Ajovy, and Emgality. All three can be monthly injections, but you can get Ajovy as a quartly injection. Also, Aimovig and Emgality are subq injectors but Ajovy is just a prefilled syringe.0
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When I got them, Excedrin or some caffeine and aspirin were the only things that helped.
They stopped about a year before I went into full menopause and have not had one in 10 years (yet another reason to rejoice that I finally reached menopause)1 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »leonadixon wrote: »stephj1216 wrote: »Thank you everyone! I saw my neurologist yesterday and we decided that my current regimen was not working so we switched it up a bit. She recommended botox as soon as insurance approves it now that I have failed 2 different preventative medications.
I feel much better than I did 2 nights ago but still having some postdrome headache which should go away soon.
The botox has been amazing for me this past year. Unfortunately, it's been losing its efficacy each time I get the next injection. It wore off 6 weeks early this time (I have just gotten over a 2 week long migraine and had to be treated with prednisone to break it). We are now going to try the brand new Aimovig which is supposed to be the first FDA approved preventative for migraine. I hope you get them under control! They are so debilitating!
Yeah, I'm starting to have it wear off too. My neuro is looking to switch me over on this next visit.
Regarding people saying "if it's not debilitating, it's not a migraine"... I take issue with that, and my neurologist (who is staff at a headache research center) would as well. I still get the debilitating kind, but it's important to remember that migraine is a systemic disease with a host of symptoms. Headache is only one of them. And the severity of the headache can vary in people who have migraine disease whenever they have a migraine.
Even with botox, I still have a daily low-level headache. I am never entirely pain free. I also always have mild nausea. The meds I'm on (tricyclic, anticonvulslant, and an anti-emetic - I don't tolerate beta blockers well) help to keep me at a manageable level most days. I can function.
Until something triggers a bad one. I don't tolerate triptans (they close my throat), so I'm on old school DHE as a rescue med.
Anyway, that daily low-level throbbing headache is part and parcel of my migraine disease, but it's not a full-blown migraine where I need to pull out all the stops. But it's still a migraine.
I completely agree they are not always completely debilitating. I managed to only miss 2 days of work during my 2 week migraine earlier this month. I went from experiencing zero issues with the botox to knocking me on my rear. I also get stroke-like symptoms like @apullum and not allowed any BC or triptans (vision impairment, can't speak clearly, loss of words, talking "funny"). I do take the beta blockers daily still as well.
The insurance definitely does NOT cover it right now for me. I got 2 free months from the maker and they do have programs to help pay for the first year while they get insurance sorted out. I took one injections a couple of weeks ago and the next in a couple of weeks. I would be happy to report how/if this works out for me.
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i get cluster head aches and migraines and are usually preceded by an aura of either smelling burning toast or having tingly finger tips. if i pay attention to the aura and get to pills b4 the pain starts, that usually makes them less worse. you should also get your eyes checked with the special tests that take pictures of the back of your eyes (an OCT). i had one done (not covered by OHIP here in canada so i had to pay for it) and they found increased pressure in my brain that was pressing on my ocular nerves and causing irrepairable blindness in both eyes. this is known as PCT or a pseudo brain tumor and is usually found in obese women. Once i got that under control, (by losing a ton of weight) my headaches have pretty much vanished. i rarely get them anymore.0
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »leonadixon wrote: »stephj1216 wrote: »Thank you everyone! I saw my neurologist yesterday and we decided that my current regimen was not working so we switched it up a bit. She recommended botox as soon as insurance approves it now that I have failed 2 different preventative medications.
I feel much better than I did 2 nights ago but still having some postdrome headache which should go away soon.
The botox has been amazing for me this past year. Unfortunately, it's been losing its efficacy each time I get the next injection. It wore off 6 weeks early this time (I have just gotten over a 2 week long migraine and had to be treated with prednisone to break it). We are now going to try the brand new Aimovig which is supposed to be the first FDA approved preventative for migraine. I hope you get them under control! They are so debilitating!
Yeah, I'm starting to have it wear off too. My neuro is looking to switch me over on this next visit.
Regarding people saying "if it's not debilitating, it's not a migraine"... I take issue with that, and my neurologist (who is staff at a headache research center) would as well. I still get the debilitating kind, but it's important to remember that migraine is a systemic disease with a host of symptoms. Headache is only one of them. And the severity of the headache can vary in people who have migraine disease whenever they have a migraine.
Even with botox, I still have a daily low-level headache. I am never entirely pain free. I also always have mild nausea. The meds I'm on (tricyclic, anticonvulslant, and an anti-emetic - I don't tolerate beta blockers well) help to keep me at a manageable level most days. I can function.
Until something triggers a bad one. I don't tolerate triptans (they close my throat), so I'm on old school DHE as a rescue med.
Anyway, that daily low-level throbbing headache is part and parcel of my migraine disease, but it's not a full-blown migraine where I need to pull out all the stops. But it's still a migraine.
I take it you were disagreeing with what I said.cmriverside wrote: »Thank you to everyone posting in this thread.
Anyone who "thinks" they have migraines should definitely get a diagnosis. I suffered with them for two decades until I went through menopause. For me they were completely disabling, I couldn't even get out of bed unless it was to throw up.
I also had those daily undercurrent headaches. I was diagnosed with two different things - cluster headaches and migraines. The migraines knocked me out of play for the duration. The cluster headaches, brought on by stress and muscle tension were with me daily and I could still go to work, school, do housework, function on OTC pain meds.
I guess it's partly that - like you said - there's a range, and partly that you misinterpreted my post. My migraines would not let me do anything other than lie down in a dark quiet room and get up to throw up.
It's just that over 20 years of people saying they had a migraine and then going on about their lives, I didn't understand how that could be possible since the pain was so bad I was hugging the toilet. There ARE other types of headaches, my post just stated, "Get a diagnosis."
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I get barometric pressure related migraines (usually a rapid drop in pressure). I have yet to need medical attention for them, as I've figured out pretty well how to manage them on my own. I am NOT heading to the gym with one though!
For mine, they have had me sick enough to leave work - usually the nausea is what kills me in that regard. I don't mess around with the pain - as soon as I feel a headache coming on, I take some tylenol. This seems to work pretty well as long as I take it soon enough and keeps the pain manageable. I can still suffer from the other symptoms, however, such as light sensitivity and nausea. A sleep aid containing doxylamine succinate and tylenol has kept even my worst ones from needing medical attention - but have definitely still left me unable to function normally sometimes. That, and that sleep aid knocks me out, so sleeping it off is pretty much the only option at that point.0 -
cmriverside wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »leonadixon wrote: »stephj1216 wrote: »Thank you everyone! I saw my neurologist yesterday and we decided that my current regimen was not working so we switched it up a bit. She recommended botox as soon as insurance approves it now that I have failed 2 different preventative medications.
I feel much better than I did 2 nights ago but still having some postdrome headache which should go away soon.
The botox has been amazing for me this past year. Unfortunately, it's been losing its efficacy each time I get the next injection. It wore off 6 weeks early this time (I have just gotten over a 2 week long migraine and had to be treated with prednisone to break it). We are now going to try the brand new Aimovig which is supposed to be the first FDA approved preventative for migraine. I hope you get them under control! They are so debilitating!
Yeah, I'm starting to have it wear off too. My neuro is looking to switch me over on this next visit.
Regarding people saying "if it's not debilitating, it's not a migraine"... I take issue with that, and my neurologist (who is staff at a headache research center) would as well. I still get the debilitating kind, but it's important to remember that migraine is a systemic disease with a host of symptoms. Headache is only one of them. And the severity of the headache can vary in people who have migraine disease whenever they have a migraine.
Even with botox, I still have a daily low-level headache. I am never entirely pain free. I also always have mild nausea. The meds I'm on (tricyclic, anticonvulslant, and an anti-emetic - I don't tolerate beta blockers well) help to keep me at a manageable level most days. I can function.
Until something triggers a bad one. I don't tolerate triptans (they close my throat), so I'm on old school DHE as a rescue med.
Anyway, that daily low-level throbbing headache is part and parcel of my migraine disease, but it's not a full-blown migraine where I need to pull out all the stops. But it's still a migraine.
I take it you were disagreeing with what I said.cmriverside wrote: »Thank you to everyone posting in this thread.
Anyone who "thinks" they have migraines should definitely get a diagnosis. I suffered with them for two decades until I went through menopause. For me they were completely disabling, I couldn't even get out of bed unless it was to throw up.
I also had those daily undercurrent headaches. I was diagnosed with two different things - cluster headaches and migraines. The migraines knocked me out of play for the duration. The cluster headaches, brought on by stress and muscle tension were with me daily and I could still go to work, school, do housework, function on OTC pain meds.
I guess it's partly that - like you said - there's a range, and partly that you misinterpreted my post. My migraines would not let me do anything other than lie down in a dark quiet room and get up to throw up.
It's just that over 20 years of people saying they had a migraine and then going on about their lives, I didn't understand how that could be possible since the pain was so bad I was hugging the toilet. There ARE other types of headaches, my post just stated, "Get a diagnosis."
I'm wondering how you were able to function with a cluster headache, considering on this "range" on pain, the clusters are worse than migraines. Because I was diagnosed with both. I haven't had one in years, thank god. But those are also known as suicide headaches because they are so painful, people have committed suicide during an attack. And there is no pain scale for a cluster like there is for a migraine. A cluster is a straight 15.4
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