Migraines?

[iJenny]

I've never had migraines before. No, thats not true. I had a headache once about 5 1/2 years ago that put me in the ER. They said it was a "cluster migraine", whatever that means. I thought I was dying. But thats the only migraine I've ever had.

Until lately.

Two sundays in a row now I've been getting what I think are migraines. Both times my vision got a bit "wonky" like seeing little black stars in my periferal (sp?) vision (last sunday) and today everything in my perifieral (other eye though) was "swimming". And both times it stopped after a few minutes and then about 15-20 mins later I got a terrible headache. A very sharp, piercing pain above the eye OPPOSITE of where they "wonky-ness" happened.

Are these migraines? Whatever they are, they SUCK!!! Not cool, weird heaches. NOT cool. :thumbdown:

[Shawna]

They sound pretty similar to the migraines my DH gets from time to time. He usually takes some Excedrin Migraine and then pretty much just has to sleep them off for a few hours until he feels better. He does get the blurred vision first usually followed by the sharp pain in his head. They really do suck, he's been getting them for as long as we've been together (15+ years) but luckily they are much less frequent now than they used to be.

[DawnMarch]

I just started getting migraines in the last few years and it started as totally ocular - weird flashing zig-zaggy lines in my eyes. I would never have thought it was a migraine because I didn't have a headache at first. Now, I get the headache too. Lucky me!

[mcardall]

I get sinus & weather related migraines. But it definitely affects my vision. If you haven't had an eye exam for a while, though, you may want to get that checked. I would just talk to a doctor about it, you don't want to mess around where your eyes are concerned.

[mturnidge]

My DH gets really bad migraines and they always start with vision problems... he sees these big spots and they get bigger adn bigger... we haven't found a medication that works for him. He has to suffer through them a nd try to sleep it off. :(

[ColleenSwerb]

Those are usually cues that a migraine is coming Jenny. When you get that "aura" (the blurred vision and or stars) you can try and cut it off at the pass with an excedrin migraine, or extra strength tylenol and a cup of black coffee.

Personally, I get no cues. Which is almost worst because all of a sudden it feels like someone slammed an axe into my head above one head. Sleeping it off also doesn't work for me, but many ppl get relief by putting a cold compress on their head and laying in a dark room, eventually sleeping.

[alexandra]

I suffer since longer time at (self more diagnosed) migraine. Through the pregnancies it became worse. Everyone lasts once three days until it becomes better (on the first day it comes, a day it stays, the third day it go)
I have it more frequently and they become worse. I hate that, it irritates and it is simple only annoying.
And yes, so as you describe it, it sounds like migraine. A doctor visit should give you certainty. Something what I already since months wanted to do...

[lisabranka]

yep sounds like a migraine. I've used excredin migraine with good results, though I now have a prescription to try when the next one hits and knock on wood.. maybe the migraine gods know i have this becaue I haven't had one since I filled the prescription!

I also get extremely upset tummy usually have to be sick and then just sleep it off... :( migrianes are no fun and I wish them on NO ONE!

[newfiemountiewife]

Sounds like mine. I get numbness, etc, but it's always on the opposite side that the headache appears. They suck, no doubt, I had one last Saturday, I had the worst aura ever...I couldn't see anything at all, I had to get Tony to help me.

I take meds as soon as I get the aura, because I only have a 15 minute window between that, and the headache. I try to take the meds and run to the darkest room in the house and hide. Usually that keeps it from being absolutely horrid, but for me, it doesn't prevent it. Normally I take something that will make me sleep (ie codeine) so I can sleep through it. I usually get very stomach sick as well. My dad gets them as well, he says if he can get some meds when the aura comes, the headache won't come at all. Lucky!

[NettieB]

Yes, Jenny - those are migraine with aura. I'd enourage you to make an appointment with a neurologist who specializes in migraine as soon as you can. A great site with more information can be found here: http://www.headaches.org/
It is a good way to get more information not sponsored by drug companies, find a headache specialist near you, and has a great education section.

Mine started worsening as soon as I hit my 30's - as was the case with most all of my cousins. Pregnancy didn't alleviate them, and now I take daily maintenance/preventative medication, as well as rescue meds when they hit.

I'm sorry you are suffering! Hopefully you will get a treatment program that works for you set up soon!

[lizzyfizzy]

sensativity to light? nausea? one-sided? pulsating? hmmm...it may be a migraine. usually they last hours though. sounds more like a cluster ha, thing like they said before. yucky...sorry love! sounds more to me like a margarita withdrawal. :p love you, hope you feel better soon!

[iJenny]

Ok, so here's my problem..... I can't have caffeine. And I know thats the main ingredient in most migraine meds. I have anxiety disorder and caffeine really screws with my head and sleep and all that stuff so I haven't had it in almost 10 years. If these migraines/clusters/whatever-the-crap-they-are start becoming more frequent, I might have to sacrifice a night of sleep and some sanity in order to take the excedrine and get some relief. Especially since I'm not going to be a SAHM anymore after a couple of weeks and can't exactly "rest" all day long if a migraine hits.

Poo on migraines. :thumbdown:

[FlirtatiousBrat]

Jenny Try just take Tylenol first and if you have it like an hour or two later still, follow up with some Motrin or Advil

I had a sensitivity to caffeine when I first started having migraines, sometimes caffeine would trigger it, so my dr had me do that. Now I take Topamax as a preventative and have a prescription med (Imitrex) for when I DO get one that isn't preventable with tylenol. I can now take/drink caffeine so I don't really have that initial problem anymore, but you can try that first.

Hope you feel better!

[iJenny]

Thanks for the tip Meg! Its good to know there might be a non-caffeine option for me! :)

[lizzyfizzy]

yes! and the caffeine can make you have a re-bound ha!

[SeattleSheri]

Ugh, migraines are the worst :( If you call your doctor they may be able to prescribe a non-caffeine alternative. I usually use Tylenol3. I've been getting them since I was a pre-teen, mostly brought on by hormones. Like Jamie, I get the one sided numbness ... and sometimes loss of speech, etc... my auras last exactly 30 minutes. {{HUGS}}

[EveRecinella]

Headaches suck! I get cronic sinus headaches, at least 4 times or more a week lately I have them. I need to go to the DR. but just never have the time..

[Laura_A]

Certainly sounds like a migraine. You also might want to check your blood pressure when the aura starts... if you can. Sometimes it's blood pressue related and taking meds to regulate that will aleviate the headaches.

I get migraines that make me natious. All I can do is take my prescribed medication and lay in a dark, quiet room and hope it goes away. Sleeping sometimes works, but not if it's full blown.

I'm sorry you're suffering this... it's no fun.

[Paula]

Sounds like migraines to me!! I can't bare it most of the time and have to go to bed with darkness and cold compresses.

[AmyM]

I have them too. Luckily now it's only once or twice a month. At one point I was having as many as 4 a week, so of course I went to a bunch of doctors and tried all kinds of different preventative meds for about 2 years. I never could figure out the triggers. I suspect mine was mainly hormonal. Try upping your B vitamin intake, regular sleep patterns, and drink tons of water. That helped me more than anything.
They are the pits Jenny, I hope you are better!

[Nonnie917]

I use to get terrible migranes when I started into that phase of my life that no women wants to go through. I was getting them every week sometime last for 3 days. No warning, just woke up with it. Missed a lot of work and this went on for 2 years. After the first couple of months of this I finally went to the doctor and he prescribed Imitrex shots. Everytime I got a migrane I took a shot and within 10 minutes it was gone. Even carried them to work with me. Of course, now they say that Imitrex causes heart damage. Who knows? Sorry your not feeling good. Hope it goes away soon.