When is a headache actually a migraine?

2 Dec 2007

I have always thought I don't suffer from migraines (my sister does).
But if I drive in low sun or work on a too-bright pc screen I get a blinding pain behind my right eye (always the right) that spreads down my face to my jaw that's so bad I just want to cry. It lasts at least 3 days, paracetamol doesn't touch it and only darkened rooms and relaxation has any effect - difficult as I teach IT.
Recently a few people in chat said it might be migraine, but I don't get nauseous or anything. I feel a bit daft going to the doc with it, especially since I have worked out what helps with it.
Does anyone have experience of anything similar?

2 Dec 2007

I am not sure but this might help

2 Dec 2007

Thanks that is really useful. It sounds like it might be migraine, I forgot about the blurred vision too.
I think I'll take it to the Doc and see what he says - it causes real problems at work since I can spend all week delivering IT training using a PC on my desk and projected onto a screen.

2 Dec 2007

I am glad I could be of help to you this evening smile

2 Dec 2007

I think they are quite personal and unique to your own system. I have had one or two, where I felt paralysed and hopeless for about a day or so.
But I suppose I was lucky in that they haven't come back as a regular thing.
I don't think there is cure for them, only pain relief. So I think everyones must sympathise with sufferers.

2 Dec 2007

Believe me, I sympathise with my sister much more nowadays. Although she has used a migraine as an excuse to avoid the in-laws on more than one occasion.

2 Dec 2007

Foxy that certainly does sound like migraine. I too am a sufferer and its not nice. I rarely feel sick with mine...sometimes I have visual disturbances with mine (flashing lights or blindness) and sometimes not,
sometimes the pain can be described as feeling like a long sharp rod has been passed through a certain part of the top of my head, and travelled theough my sinus and out of the bottom of my jaw and into my chest....sorry thats a bit graphic, but its like you can trace the pain in a path from the top of my head down to my chest.
Similar to you, mine only go with sleep, rest and darkness, i can pop painkillers like sweets, to no avail, and mine are linked to hormaonal changes leading up to my time of the month.
Dont feel daft going to your gp, migraines can take many forms and he/she should be able to prescribe suitable meds for you to help lessen the time a migraine knocks you down for
good luck and kiss

for the pain when it comes kiss

2 Dec 2007

Foxylady
Go to your Dr and get it checked out...
Tablets or similar might make you feel a whole load better.

2 Dec 2007

I don't suffer from Migraines as such but I suffer from "cluster" headaches. I get an attack about 2 - 3 times per year and the headaches start off on day 1 mild, day 2 horrible, day 3 vomiting horribly and need to lie down, day 4 back to normal.
They're not migraines because I don't get the flashing syndrome (apparently) and the Doctor reckons they could be neuralgic (sp?).
Either way you are experiencing something horrible and a doc visit should be in order to rule out anything else. Pain along the jaw could mean the start of abscesses or anything!
Hope you feel better soon x

2 Dec 2007

Sounds very much like a migraine foxy. If you continue to get them, I'd recommend you keep a diary - what you eat or any particular stresses in your life at the time.
Migraines can be caused by many things, mine are triggered by stress, serious under or over sleep and even the smell of raw onions :shock: When I was younger my mother banned me from having cheese - my favourite was cheese and onion sandwiches - it didn't make any difference and it was only years later that I twigged it was the onion! Now I know what to avoid I hardly have any migraines any more, probably one a year compared to one a week.
I also found migraleve helpful but in my experience, if you don't catch it quick enough, nothing works. Good luck at the quacks.

2 Dec 2007

Sounds like migraines. I had them while pregnant so clearly hormones can cause them. In people I know stress causes them too. Mine were never that bad but I know people who had severely disabling ones.
Deffo go to your doc, they are really unpleasant to live with particularly if you use pc's all day.
pink x

3 Dec 2007

Quote by hornyinslough
...
I also found migraleve helpful but in my experience, if you don't catch it quick enough, nothing works. Good luck at the quacks.

Migraleve helps me, and if I can a heavy hit on sugar and a dark room. Unfortunately, migraine if a group of disorders, different thinks work for different people.
Go see your doctor, write down your symptoms as you are having them, if you are able. That way you do not forget to mention something.

3 Dec 2007

Hi foxylady
Migraines can be really devastating. But as with man flu (a common cold to everyone else but the suffer), often people with headaches will claim a migraine. It sounds much better. But this does not take away from the fact a true migraine can be an absolutely rehabilitating event. There are hundreds of websites out there giving a diagnosis but these can often leave you more confused. Your gp is the best person to visit and get advice.
Usually their onset can be quite fast and linked into an event. For some people this can be something they have eaten, ie chocolate, or even, I have know someone that the vibrations from electric hair trimmers trigger an event. Usually the pain is unilateral ( just one side of your head) but on occasions can be both. Commonly there is a associate aura. Now the aura can be flashing light or a metallic taste. But nature being nature also put in the variable to confuse people. Some “suffers” actually may not even feel any head pain at all and just see flashing lights. These can be so serve that they are temporally blinded.
On the whole though a typical person experiencing a migraine will have really bad head pains, feel sick, hate any form of light and dislikes any noise. They will just want to crawl into a dark corner and try to sleep. The attack can last from an hour to 10days. So lasting 3 days as you say is horrible but does happen. Migraines develop in an entirely different way to headaches and so have to be treated with different class of medication. The medication used is very different from the usual pain killers like paracetamol. This may be why the paracetamol does not seem to have any effect on you. There are other alternative treatments available but when some does have a true migraine, all they want to do is to get rid of it as quick a possible.
Your GP now has some excellent medication available for true migraines
.
Hope this helps

Quote by foxylady2209
I have always thought I don't suffer from migraines (my sister does).
But if I drive in low sun or work on a too-bright pc screen I get a blinding pain behind my right eye (always the right) that spreads down my face to my jaw that's so bad I just want to cry. It lasts at least 3 days, paracetamol doesn't touch it and only darkened rooms and relaxation has any effect - difficult as I teach IT.
Recently a few people in chat said it might be migraine, but I don't get nauseous or anything. I feel a bit daft going to the doc with it, especially since I have worked out what helps with it.
Does anyone have experience of anything similar?

3 Dec 2007

I really feel for you kiss

. I suffer with migranes and have been having them for while now, it always starts with my vision going blury and my eyes "feel" funny confused

. I am generally able to catch it in time and take something for it, if I don`t tho I know I will be in agony on one side of my face with stabbing pains behind my eye! and will need to sleep in a really dark room to try and rid myself ofit.
Go to your doctors and see what they say any pain the the head which is lasting up to 3 days at a time needs to be checked out by a doc. Good luck.

3 Dec 2007

Migraines are the most awful things and i would not wish them on anybody. Mine would start with a rise in body temp and tunnel vision where part of what you can see is just not there. Very hard to describe. This lasts about 20 mins and then goes as fast as it comes. Shortly after i would feel awful and the head ache would start. It can only be described as a pressure behind your eyes. Its unbearable.
I had one a few months ago at work that reduced me to a wreck and i only just managed to drive home. Went and slept it off in dark bedroom and was ok by morning.....
I put this down to stress as i was about to seperate from wife and was very stressed. I also immediately stopped eating chocolate and cheese and drinking coffee. Now I only have tiny amounts of each when I cant resist. I have noticed now that although I get the eyes I dont get the follow up headache.....just my own observation hope this helps xxx gary xxx

3 Dec 2007

i have suffered with migrains since i was 15 they are bloddy awful i get about 2 a month and usually around that time of month i get tablets fromn the doc to take though so definately worth while visiting the doc, a cold flannel seems to help aswel as a dark quiet room

4 Dec 2007

There is a bright side. You can grow out of the attacks. I had margarine when I was in my teens. They stopped around about twenty five. I was free for well over ten years, had another bout of attacks and now I have very light attacks, never so bad as I have to stop work for more than 10 mins.
So do not despair, but go to your GP.

7 Dec 2007

migraines dont always give u problems with vision, they vary from person to person ..... i get them and mostly they dont involve vision problems just occasionally they do
some medication the docs give work on the blood vessels, they are not pain killers
however you still might need painkillers too
the problem with migraines tho is that once they take hold, ur stomach shuts down and any tabs took after that simply arnt absorbed until the migraine has gone
there is a way round that tho .... take ur tabs with a drink of fizzy lemonade or similar as that will help it be absorbed biggrin

the tabs that work best for me are syndol, they make me sleepy which helps, i also take ibruprofen at the same time ..... used to have stronger painkillers from the doc but they just made me sick :cry:

9 Dec 2007

I lot if it can be stress related - when you get to my age you have to watch the blood pressure too :!:
Seeing as how the lady lives in Derby I wouldn't have throught life was too bad - why not visit the dance class at "The Waterfall" - that will make you relaxed :!:
Plim rolleyes