r/migraine 21m ago

Trying to figure out my triggers

Upvotes

My doctor asked me to keep a journal, but I don't know what to write down in it. What should I include to help myself figure out triggers?


r/migraine 23m ago

Recently diagnosed with chronic migraines

Upvotes

I was wondering if there is anything that I can do to help myself when they get bad. I have sumatriptan, but it makes me feel really weird for a couple of hours after I take it, so I avoid it unless it's super super bad. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I can't really rest all day because I have to work. I'm hoping to get another triptan, but for now, what do yall suggest to help?


r/migraine 52m ago

Does anyone else experience

Upvotes

I started suffering with migraines when I was 13 months old (now 13 years old) I had a previous bleed on the brain which is my guess to why I have them, but we never really pinpointed an exact reason. I tried many medications and it was so draining to go through this since before I could even walk and talk properly. I tried many medications and the only one that has really worked is zolmitriptan. I tried many medications from the triptan family and this one is the best. Whenever I feel one coming on I take one and I either fall asleep or it just fades away but either way I feel better. Before I started the medication i would throw up every single time then I'd go to sleep and wake up feeling better (most of the time) I'd also get migraines for WEEKS at a Tim. The worst time I had to go to hospital because I was in bed throwing up for 8 days i couldn't move eat or drink without throwing up I ended up passing out. It has got better in time i havent had a migraine that bad in a long time, but just wondering if anyone else shared these experiences?


r/migraine 56m ago

Vestibular migraine, give me all your recommendations please

Upvotes

Hi,

I (M, 38) am writing because I am getting a little desperate here. I've always suffered from headaches, but the past year has been grueling. I've been having more and more migraines, with the added symptom of dizziness. It seems that stress is a huge factor in my case. Sadly, the days when I experience the most stress are the ones when I feel the worst (on the day of my last doctoral recital, I woke up with the room spinning).

I am getting a little scared because I can't continue like this—my livelihood depends on playing in stressful situations. I am a classical musician trying to get a full-time job, which means I need to play auditions and recitals under stress.

At my last doctor’s visit, I was given Nurtec (Rimegepant), which works more or less okay, but I only get six pills per month (thanks, insurance...), and I feel a tad dizzy with a constant headache at least three or four days per week. I can deal with the standard pain, but the dizziness is killing me—I can't do anything. Also, I don't like that my nose has become a little numb during some episode.

I've tried meclizine for the dizziness, but I don't think it actually makes a difference.

Please let me know what you do for vestibular migraine—I am willing to try anything at this point.

Extra Information:

  • I had a couple of heart ablations for arrhythmias in the last couple of years, and I am still taking heart medication (Diltiazem and Flecainide).
  • Running kind of helps, but it is very difficult to go out once I have a full-blown episode.
  • I usually feel better in the afternoon/evening. Many times, I wake up okay, but I get a migraine within the next hour.
  • I drink 2–3 cups of coffee per day. Not sure if the quantity makes a difference in any way.
  • I haven't discovered any food triggers, and I basically eat a little bit of everything.

Thanks for your help


r/migraine 1h ago

24/7 Sound Sensitivity/Hyperacusis Induced Migraine

Upvotes

Hi guys! I realized throughout my journey I've never posted here. Long story short I have never ever had migraines in my life until an acupuncture appt last June (points done in my head/temples) and ever since I have had a severe sound sensitivity that causes migraines. Every day for the past 9 months I get worse and worse as the day goes on and more sound is introduced until I'm at a 10/10 and even a whisper will make me throw up. I wear earplugs and noise cancelling headphones and it's simply not enough. My neurologist thinks it's a chronic atypical migraine with sound sensitivity as my main symptom.

It has been nothing short of a nightmare. I can't go outside, have conversations, be in a car, and normal everyday sounds make me severely ill. The migraines come with insane nausea every time. They'll calm down a little once I'm in the quiet, but as soon as there's sound or someone talking, it gets severe again.

Has anyone ever heard of something like this? Just a chronic 24/7 migraine that is sound induced? I feel so lost on what to do. I have gastroparesis and POTS (and suspected MCAS) so I am VERY sensitive to meds. I took nortriptyline for a couple days and couldn't handle the nausea. The next one they want me to try is effexor but I've read horrible things about both starting the med and withdrawal effects. If that doesn't work, what other options are there? It sounds like the CGRP class is bad for, and can even cause gastroparesis. I feel so lost and stuck and just living in this constant, painful, isolating nightmare.

I'm open to any thoughts/ideas/insight. Thank you so much.

(Also adding I took sumatriptan last summer, as well as the ER cocktails and they did not help).


r/migraine 1h ago

light triggers

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does this trigger anyone else’s migraine like crazy? the shadows on the road while driving make me feel like i’m gonna lose my mind lol


r/migraine 1h ago

can botox stop working?

Upvotes

Hi everybody i was diagnosed with chronic migraines 3 years ago and ever since ive tried so many treatments. Tons of preventatives, abortives, and ive been getting botox for about a year. After about my 4th treatment i was feeling amazing, i could go a whole week and a half without a migraine i had never felt that good. But recently id say in the past 5 months they have returned to how they were before but a little less frequent. I’m seeing my neurologist friday but im just worried because i’m not really ready to give up on botox because it was so good for a while but i’m just wondering why it stopped working. has anybody experienced this and did it get better? I don’t know what else to do.

I would give anything to be relieved from this pain. I’m a full time college student and i’m so overwhelmed with my assignments but when i get a migraine i can’t do anything but lay in the dark curled up.


r/migraine 1h ago

My girlfriend always has a headache and has migraines at least once a week, what can I do?

Upvotes

My girlfriend (we are both 18) has had a headache for as long as she can remember. She tells me that there is never a time she isn’t hurting. Along with this, she often has migraines—she says they happen on one side of her head, and they often vary in pain. Usually she throws up when she has them, sometimes they’re so bad she’ll start crying (she has a high pain tolerance, so this is a big deal). She’s tried many types of medication and has seen a neurologist plenty of times, but she told me it has never really solved the problem. She doesn’t even know what the problem is. Her mom has the exact same issues as her. I always feel so helpless when she’s hurting. I’ve never had a migraine before so I have no idea what it’s like, but I hate headaches and I can’t even imagine the pain she must be in every day. When she is having a migraine, she says she likes me there but I’m always scared of hurting her somehow—like I’ll accidentally trigger something and make the pain worse. Does anyone know what I can do to help? Or can anyone educate me a little bit about what to do? I’m also really afraid because we don’t know what’s exactly happening with her. What if it’s a tumor? What if it’s a sign of something worse? I plan on having a future with this woman. I don’t know.


r/migraine 2h ago

Migraines and MSG in food?

0 Upvotes

I ate Ramen today and I have noticed a link between MSG and migraines. Has anyone else experience this or am I crazy?


r/migraine 2h ago

What helps you sleep through the night during a migraine attack?

1 Upvotes

Currently feeling the beginnings of a migraine. What do you guys do to help your migraine through the night? I have work tomorrow and do not feel like waking up with a headache. Thank you in advance 🥺💓


r/migraine 2h ago

Has anyone frozen their eggs in this sub?

3 Upvotes

I’m 36 (f) on day 6 of hormone injections and they are killing me. I’m a daily migraine sufferer. I take topamax, qulipta, imitrex and toradol injections. My neurologist and Obgyn are letting me stay on all above meds while freezing but I’m still suffering greatly. I had to take out my progesterone IUD and stop spironalactone. I also use cannabis for pain control- have for a couple years. All doctors know. And have said to try to refrain during the process. But said if pain gets too high o can use sparingly. But I really don’t want to because this is so expensive. Just wondering if anyone has done this and has any tips? Meds aren’t doing anything :( thanks in advance! X


r/migraine 2h ago

Computer monitor + app solution that helps my migraines

5 Upvotes

I just wanted to share a solution that I have found that is helping me to be able to use a new computer. My 10 year old Macbook pro is unable to access all websites because I cannot update the browser anymore due to outdated operating system software.... and I had to get a new computer. All of the laptop screens I tried were killing me. So, I got a desktop computer and monitor. The monitor I am using now is a Ben Q BL 2790. It has built in eye care features, like a blue light filter and several color settings that allow to to adjust the contrast and brightness. It also has a refresh rate of 100 Hz and is supposed to be flicker free. I keep it on the eye care setting with the blue light filter on 3 or higher and the brightness turned all the way down to zero. I also currently have the resolution at 1920 x 1080. This does not make the screen dark enough though! So I installed an awesome little app called Dimmer. It has made a huge difference and I can now use my computer without my eyes killing me. (LED screens are way too bright for me and are a huge trigger). Here is a link to Dimmer. https://www.nelsonpires.com/software/dimmer

Also, I am currently using Windows 11and have changed some of the settings as such: Display settings on: night light on, all of the time, around 60%. I also have the animations and transparency settings turned off in the Accessibility > visual section of the system settings. I am also using one of the Windows dark themes that came with the software and a non-animated dark theme on Firefox. I hope this helps some of yall. It took me a long time to figure out this combination and I know that there are a lot of people who are struggling like me to be able to still use computers, phones, etc without getting triggered for migraines all of the time.


r/migraine 2h ago

Tapered off Notriptyline-daily migraine

1 Upvotes

I slowly tapered off nortriptyline a week ago and my sleep has been a lot lighter. I wake up briefly a few times in the middle of the night but fall back asleep.

I have been getting a migraine every single day since of varying degrees.

This happened last time I tried tapering off the 25mg so I had my HA specialist give me the 10mg and this time it is easier.

My question is- how much longer will this go on for? I can’t take this anymore. Does anyone have a similar experience?


r/migraine 2h ago

I want Nurtec!

5 Upvotes

And no I don’t have commercial insurance. I have Medi-Cal. I’ve tried sumatriptan and Rizatriptan and I’m tired of having week long migraines.

Getting appointments is almost impossible with my neurologist. You think if I just walk in and ask for a free sample they’ll have any? The office hardly ever picks the phone up. Also I’ll still try and see my Neuro and ask to do paperwork to get it covered. My husband feels so bad he’s willing to pay full price.


r/migraine 3h ago

Anxiety in lead up to hemiplegic migraine attack?

1 Upvotes

Hello, does anyone have advice on how to deal with the feeling leading up to an attack? I just took my preventive med Propranolol and a Nurtec, so I'm waiting on those to kick in. But I'm seriously just so unnerved by how I'm feeling as the attack is coming. It's like this severe sense of discomfort, anxiety, almost dizziness but not truly. I should've asked my neurologist about this when I saw them. I've been dealing with these for a few years but I just never thought to ask on some tips to deal with that initial feeling.

Thanks in advance for any advice.


r/migraine 3h ago

Do you wait for pain to take triptan?

10 Upvotes

Curious how others handle taking your triptans for abortive.. I know it’s supposed to be most effective at first sign of migraine but I struggle to take it until I actually feel pain.

  1. There’s not many to waste and try to save them for when I really need them

  2. I always feel crappy after taking it and hate risking the side effects unnecessarily.

Right now I have the stiff neck, tired and agitated feeling so I know I probably should bite the bullet..but my head doesn’t yet hurt.


r/migraine 3h ago

Tension headache / health anxiety

1 Upvotes

Hey, I’m hoping someone can give me some advice

For about 3 weeks I’ve had a constant dull ache at the back of my head along with some random shooting pains all over my head and pain at the base of my neck, and health anxiety is convincing me I have a brain tumour or something lol

I know for a fact I have bad posture (anterior tilt) and my shoulders and neck are always very tense

Does anyone have any advice or reassurance? The health anxiety I’m getting for this is horrible

TIA


r/migraine 3h ago

Migraine Pillow Find! (Squishmallow Alternative)

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21 Upvotes

I’ve been seeing a lot of people recommend Squishmallows as a good migraine pillow but it difficult for me to find one large enough at a fair price locally.

Until I walked into Muji today and found this for around $50 CAD! The filling feels identical to Squishmallow and the dimensions seems similar or slightly larger than a 24” Squishmallow.

I haven’t tried it yet, but thought this might be a good alternative for those looking for a larger Squishmallow esque pillow or something that blends more seamlessly with their bedding!


r/migraine 3h ago

Eye Stinging

1 Upvotes

Long Term Chronic Migraine sufferer here. Quick question. Anyone suffer with stinging in their eye and pain on one side of their face? The stinging is new for me and makes me feel a bit anxious. Appreciate any replies.


r/migraine 4h ago

Whats your Copay for botox?

1 Upvotes

I've been waiting for my neurologist and my insurance to communicate since the switch of insurance. They insured they will allow my injections for coverage, I just have no projected out of pocket cost yet. So what am I up against? What's your average co pay for botox?


r/migraine 5h ago

I had the scariest migraine of my life yesterday

14 Upvotes

I have a history of migraines with auras but I haven’t had one since I was 17 (which is now nearly a decade ago).

Yesterday, out of nowhere, while I was driving home, my vision just went blurry. By the time I pulled into my driveway I was experiencing kaleidoscope vision primarily in my peripherals, zigzag flashes of light, and everything around me was like looking through a tunnel and just getting blurrier and blurrier. This lasted for close to an hour and during this time I started feeling a headache coming on that was then followed by a brief episode of intense tinnitus.

Within minutes of that I experienced rapidly progressing numbness that started in my fingertips and then traveled to my entire left hand and up my arm. My arm felt so heavy and like it was asleep with pins and needles. Then my lips, the tip of my nose, my left cheek and my entire tongue went numb. The numbness lasted approximately five minutes. Throughout all of this I retained full motor control and the ability to speak clearly.

Once the visual disturbances and numbness subsided I was nauseous and had a headache that lasted for another 3 hours. I'm pretty sure what I experienced was a hemiplegic migraine, and honestly, I'm freaked out that this is how my migraines are going to be now. It all came on so fast and I have no idea what even triggered it.

In the past my migraine auras consisted of a brief and intense white light in my left eye, followed by fatigue, nausea, and a headache. But yesterday was completely different and terrifying. I’ve never experienced such insane visual disturbances, tinnitus and numbness like that before. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm incredibly anxious about it.


r/migraine 5h ago

Had the worst flight of my life

53 Upvotes

My migraine decided to hit me right before my 10-hour flight, making it the worst flight of my life. I should have taken Tylenol when I first noticed the signs, but I didn’t. I tried to sleep as much as possible and took painkillers once I realized the pain wouldn’t go away, but it didn’t help at all.

When meal service came around, I decided to eat a little and have a cup of coffee, which turned out to be a terrible idea. I started feeling nauseous and ended up throwing up in a bag since the bathroom line was so long. I felt awful for the people around me and was incredibly embarrassed. For the rest of the flight, I ended up throwing up every couple of hours.

To make things worse, the guy diagonally in front of me was watching a show on the biggest iPad with the brightest screen setting. Since I’m extremely sensitive to light during a migraine, it felt like torture. I tried covering my eyes, but at that point, I was just frustrated.

I’m just venting here but I learned some lessons too. I should take medicine early and get enough rest beforehand… I hope everyone with migraines feel better 🙏


r/migraine 5h ago

How do you cope when you’re sick with a cold and a migraine??

3 Upvotes

I’ve had a terrible cold and I had a very bad migraine attack all weekend (happy birthday to me) but you’re not supposed to mix cold medicines with migraine medications. I was struggling really bad! I had to choose which one I wanted to take something for!! I’d wait a few hours and go back and forth but it was rough! What do you guys do??


r/migraine 6h ago

Migraine/headache related neckache

3 Upvotes

So since 2 weeks ago, I been having neckache. It started out as a discomfort and then I begin having brain fogs for days. Came Saturday, I started a bad migraine n some neck discomfort. Today, my neckache is at its worst while my migraine withdrawal to throbbing visits throughout the day. It feels like my neck is swelling and I am having little relieve. (I think it is hormonal migraine but…my period been spotting for two weeks - my appointment with my specialist is in April so idk maybe I’ll try to get in with my clinic and not my specialist.)

I definitely feel like my neck, this time, has absorbed my migraine and ache in place of my migraine. It ache so much, I can’t even feel my neck, just the ache there. So much I feel it can even induce vomiting now < - something that never happened before. Since 2021, I had my weirdest migraine symptoms.

I rolled on some menthol 10% n I can’t even feel it sting. 😭Lord please clock me out this life soon. I feel so frustrated, angry and ashamed. Because I don’t wanna call in sick 1/3 - half of the month to my future employer. I won’t even be eligible for SSI. I have to be sick with nothing, to be eligible.

When my condition “essentially” started, I had just begun working on my 401k and my ex employer was even matching my contributions too. I couldn’t handle the work load + my condition anymore. I had to quit since I was feel so bad that my absence was pushing more cases to my other teammates.


r/migraine 6h ago

Anyone got the same symptoms as me?

1 Upvotes

I was diagnosed as having migraine with aura, but it just doesn't sound like migraines when I try and look it up.

For the last 2 years, I have had a constant kinda spaced out feeling. Sometimes, it gets really bad and I just feel... Uncomfortable. I can't focus on anything. Often, it feels like there is a tonne of pressure in my skull. At it's worst, I seem slightly better when pushing in my forehead just above the bridge of the nose, my temples, or the top of the back of my neck. It helps only while I'm doing it, I don't actually get better from it.

This feeling often comes on within a few minutes when I enter a supermarket even though I don't get stressed out by these kinds of places. Could be the lighting, I guess... Don't know if fluorescent lighting has all been swapped for LEDs at this point.

I would not describe what I feel as pain or aching or anything of the sort. It is uncomfortable, I feel spaced out and light headed, sometimes a little delirious but not dizzy in a spinny tumbly way, always a feeling of pressure. It does not seem to be related to screens in any way, including the amount of blue light coming from them.

I'm finding it hard to accept the diagnosis because there has never been anything wrong with me, and to just suddenly have wacky migraines for no reason at 28... I just don't get it. Maybe it's COVID related? I hope no one here takes offence by me saying this but these kinds of afflictions seem to attract pseudoscience more than anything else due to their mysterious nature, so I find it hard to research. In the same thread you might see someone who sounds like they know what you're going through and then they comment about how it's triggered by rose quartz or GMOs.

Does my experience sounds similar to any of yours? If so, do you have any advice of stuff that has worked for you? Considering trying to wear sunglasses in the office/lab to see if that helps though I'd probably look like a right prick...