Do you suffer from migraines or know someone who does? Have you ever wondered what a migraine is and what causes one? Most people know someone who has migraines, but many people do not know what a migraine really is. In fact, doctors are still not entirely sure what causes migraines in the first place. And they often prescribe medication that was meant for some other health issue, but seems to work for migraines even though they can’t say why. My migraine experience has taught me many things. And I’m still learning.
I have struggled with migraines for the last decade. There have been a lot of ups and downs for me on my migraine journey. I have found a few things that have helped me and tried a lot of things that haven’t. I’ve also learned a lot about migraines along the way. So, in this post, I want to share my experiences and hopefully help someone else find more ups than downs in their own migraine journey.
What is a Migraine?
Many people think a migraine is just a bad headache. But it isn’t. It is a neurological condition that can have many different symptoms, one of which is severe headaches. Migraine attacks actually occur in several stages. For some sufferers, the stages are very obvious. For others, they may miss some of the stages and symptoms all together. When I first began having migraines, I didn’t notice the early stages. Each individual experiences migraines differently.
Prodrome
This is the stage that happens one or two days before the migraine. The symptoms are often subtle and easily missed. Migraine sufferers may have neck stiffness, constipation, mood changes, increased thirst, and sleepiness. These can all be symptoms of many other ailments. So people don’t always recognize them as migraine symptoms. My experience has been that I often have extreme tiredness a day or two before a major migraine episode. I often can’t seem to stay awake and sleep a large portion of the day.
Aura
Not every migraine suffer experiences an aura with their migraines. Auras can occur before or during a migraine attack. They are symptoms of the nervous system. Most frequently, they are visual in nature. For example, flashing lights, blurry vision, or loss of peripheral vision.
Some auras can also be touch related (sensory), movement related (motor), or speech related (verbal). These can include numbness, difficulty speaking, hearing noises, seeing lights or shapes in your vision, and even limb weakness. I have struggled with various forms of migraine auras. My experience has included visual and sensory aura and lately, verbal as well.
Attack
A migraine attack can last anywhere from four to 72 hours. The duration and frequency of migraines varies from person to person. Usually, the migraine sufferer experiences pain on one side of the head, often behind the eye. But it can affect both sides. The pain is usually throbbing or pulsing in nature. Sufferers often have sensitivity to light, sound and/or smell. Lightheadedness and nausea are also very common.
Postdrome
The postdrome stage occurs after the attack. It can last a day or more. Many people feel drained and weak. Sensitivity to light and sound may continue. Dizziness and moodiness are also common. After the pain of a migraine has subsided, I often feel completely wiped out.
Me and My Migraine Experience
I started having migraines in my mid-30s, shortly after the birth of my last child. At first, they were just severe headaches that knocked me down for a day or two. They usually coincided with my menstrual cycle. I had a friend who also struggled with these headaches and offered me some over the counter migraine medicine and told me to take it with a Coke. It helped, mainly because I don’t usually drink caffeinated drinks. This home treatment lasted for a few years,
Then, my migraines disappeared. I can’t really pinpoint why, but after about 5 years of them, they were gone. I went about 18 months without one. Can’t say I missed them. When my migraines returned, they did so with a vengeance. They came with hormonal changes like they did before. But they also came with weather changes, especially hot days and stormy days. They showed up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason at all. And they stayed, for days and days.
After a particularly bad migraine, I started having other symptoms. Flashing lights in my field of vision and numbness in my face, tongue, hands, and legs. I was worried I might be having a stroke, but it turned out the migraines are more than just headaches. My family doctor sent me to a neurologist and I got more serious about treating my migraines.
The neurologist put me on a series of medications to treat my migraines. These drugs were taken every day as a preventative measure. Each one had side effects that were pretty unpleasant (brain fog, weight gain, dry mouth) and none of them really helped much. The benefits the drugs gave me were not worth the price I paid in side effects. After two years of living in a brain fog, I finally quit taking them and began looking for alternate treatments.
What Has Helped Me
Most of my migraine discoveries have happened when I was desperate to try something, anything, to get some relief. I’ve done everything from internet searches and reading library books to talking to doctors and taking advice from fellow sufferers. I have read books, articles, and studies, searched Google, Amazon, and even Pinterest. When you are desperate for relief, you’ll look everywhere. I have found some things that help and want to share.
Essential Oils
Two years ago, I began trying essential oils for relief and have found some help there. I can’t say they work 100 percent, but I do feel like they take the edge off of the pain. Migraine Support from Rocky Mountain Oils is my favorite for headaches. I have no stake in recommending this product. Rocky Mountain Oils and I have no business connection other than me being a happy customer.
My Headache Hat
One particularly miserable day last summer, I ordered a Headache Hat out of desperation. We had been having a serious heatwave and the heat was wreaking havoc with my brain. I found it on Amazon and was happy to pay the nearly $40 for it. I’m still extremely happy with it. It has been some of the best money I have spent in seeking relief from my migraines. As an Amazon Affiliate, I am paid a commission on sales of this product if you use the link provided. But commission or not, I wholeheartedly recommend the headache hat. I have even considered ordering a second one for me so I can switch them out when one melts down.
I know it looks a little silly. My kids love to comment on it. But it feels really good on my throbbing headache. It is a sleeve filled with plastic ice cubes. It has velcro on the ends to make it adjustable to different head sizes. If you use an ice pack on your migraines and it helps, consider getting a headache hat.
Sleep Mask
During my migraines, I often have light sensitivity. I put an extra sheet up over my bedroom blinds to block more of the outside light. Sometimes that isn’t enough
What Else Has Worked For Me
The neurologist told me I shouldn’t take over the counter medicines for my headaches because they had a rebound effect, making the headache last longer. But I still use it occasionally because it works when I take it early. I also use the prescription medication sumatriptan. Again, it works if I take it early. Of all the medicines I’ve tried in my migraine experience, sumatriptan and Excedrin Migraine have had the fewest side effects. In order to take either of these pills early enough, I have learned to recognize my pre-attack or prodrome symptoms. As soon as those symptoms start, I take my medicine and usually this keep the migraine to a minimum. But if I don’t catch it early, I’m in for a world of hurt.
My family doctor recommended I try taking magnesium. I had several friends recommend it for migraines, but my magnesium levels were normal so I didn’t think it would work for me. My doctor recommended trying it anyway as the side effects are almost nil. I take it every day and since I started, the frequency and duration of my headaches have lessened. Before trying this out, ask your doctor for the right dosage. It may differ depending on your age, size, and current medications.
One of the most important things I do is try to take care of my overall health. When I am drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly, I feel better overall. Doing all this has not eliminated my migraines, but it has helped lessen their severity and, often, shortened my recovery time from them.
I also started a yoga class and meditation. I can’t say for sure that these help with my migraines, but they definitely help with my overall health. This week, I have had a lingering headache for four days. I went to yoga last night and felt better when I was done.
Other Sites to Check Out
In researching this topic, I have come across several websites that I found helpful. If you want to read more about migraines, migraine treatment and prevention, and migraine research, check these sites out.
Whether you are a migraine sufferer or care for someone who is, educating yourself about migraines is important. The more information you have, the more informed your treatment can be and the more informed your support can be. I hope sharing my migraine experience will help you with yours.
Thanks for reading and please share.
