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768044 tn?1294223436

Recognizing a Migraine

We all know that we get migraines (or that our partners, children or friends get migraines), but do we always recognize a migraine when it is happening?

Do you ever second-guess your symptoms or wonder if something else is happening? When are you sure that you have a migraine?
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Avatar universal
I have been getting migraines since at least 10 y.o. and I'm now 41. And to this day I still find myself second guessing myself.
Part of my problem is that I get just about every type of migraine. So this makes it hard to pin point what I am getting. A lot of the time they start or feel like they start as a regular headache. So, I will let it go. As otcs do not help me with any headache, don't know why.
So, when I have had medications in the past that you are supposed to take before the migraine gets full blown, I end up not taking them because I am unsure.
Now, I have gotten to the point that I have run out of medications that I can take that work anyway so I ride them all out, I feel bad for my husband having to deal with me during these times. It's hard to talk to me without my going off. Not because I'm mad but because I am a wounded animal that doesn't understand that you mean well.
Any way, my point is I second guess all the time. And after 30+ years it isn't getting any easier.
Helpful - 0
768044 tn?1294223436
Dame, my mom is also good at detecting that sort of thing! I often second guess my symptoms. When I used to have a daily low-grade headache, I found it really hard to tell when it was turning into a migraine. My mom somehow always knew the difference though. I used to second guess her too, I still do sometimes, and I almost always end up regretting it because it means I'll have waited too long to take my triptan. My mom also seems to know when it's going to be a really bad one too, because she'll tell me to take my stronger medications then.

I am really glad that I have my mom around to tell me to take my medications. I still struggle with feelings of guilt and shame about taking strong pain killers, because every doctor before my current neurologist made me feel like I was over-using medication or even abusing it. I stopped worrying about it in a intellectual way when my current neurologist showed me how little I was actually using the stronger pain killers and how if anything I was under-using them for my severe headaches (for all of my severe headaches). Having a direct order from him to take my medication did make me feel better about it, but I still second-guess myself every-time and find myself trying to hold off until the pain is unbearable. My mom will always intervene though and tell me to take my medication. She also knows when I'm wrong about the headache, like if I've decided it's really just allergies, a low-grade headache, shoulder pain, etc... my mom still tries to make sure I take my medication before it's too late.

For me, I absolutely know its a migraine and have no doubts about it when the pain reaches a completely disabling or frantic level. I also have no doubts about it if the pain is moderate to severe and completely localized to one eye. If I get blind spots, I also know it's a migraine, but do sometimes question my sanity, and usually then it's only when the headache hits that I'll put two and two together. I'll always wish I had taken the triptan when the blindspots and twing in my head had started.

The ones that start out like they could be allergies are the most confusing, I find. My nose gets so stuffed up and sometimes it starts to run. One, or somtimes two eyes, will get blood shot. And I won't even realize that the pain and discomfort I am feeling is a headache, because it starts in my lower forehead instead of the back of my head or eye like usual. It isn't until I'm crying or begging my parents for help or banging my head on the wall that I realize it's a migraine. And those very quickly turn into some of my worst migraines. I am really trying to reprogram myself to take my triptan ASAP when I get those false "allergy" symptoms.
Helpful - 0
910419 tn?1289483727
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to pinpoint when my migraine spike starts, because I've got status migrainous where I *always* have a migraine of some level going. It's making it very difficult for me to successfully use abortives, because I'm always second guessing. I can't tell if it's a new migraine layer that's happening, or if it's just an increase in the daily pain level until it's too late.

Oddly tho, my mom is really good at detecting when I'm getting a migraine spike. She'll catch the beginning about 15-30 minutes before I would decide that it counts as a migraine. She'll let me know, and that way, I can take my abortive or other preventative action and have a chance of keeping it under control.
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