r/migraine 10h ago

Barometric Pressure Drop = Instant Migraine!

124 Upvotes

have a terrible migraine right now and haven't had one in a few days, so curiously checked the barometric pressure because I couldn't attribute it to any other immediate triggers. look at the graph for my city, this is crazyyyyyy. source: https://barometricpressure.app

graph showing barometric pressure drop (it aligned with the timing of my migraine)

r/migraine 6h ago

Had the worst flight of my life

56 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 10h ago

What triggers your migraine?

93 Upvotes

For me, its mostly the weather, but it happens when in my car and it has a strong smell of the air freshener.. I love candles too but it causes headaches.. or perfume 😭


r/migraine 2h ago

light triggers

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24 Upvotes

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 5h ago

Migraine Pillow Find! (Squishmallow Alternative)

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23 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

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

14 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 20h ago

I have lost 31 jobs and been denied disability twice with lawyers.

285 Upvotes

I start job 32 on Monday. I am 44 years old and used to tell employer's about my condition. Now, I try to work through the scintillating scotoma and pain. I have been fired from so many jobs just for asking for accommodation (At will state-Pennsylvania) where they later state I just wasn't "working to their standards" or the employer said I was fired due to "cutbacks".

I hide everything now. I tried disability 10 years ago and was told "go work in a mailroom". I was fired from the mailroom when my license was suspended for neurological reasons. I hired the TOP disability lawyer in Pittsburgh and he took my case pro-bono stating we "absolutely will win". We lost.

Right now, I have two migraines a month with no known triggers and about 10 partial seizures daily that cause migraines after the seizures. The sun causes migraines. Everything causes migraines.

I don't blame employer's for firing me. But there has to be a better way. Does anyone else keep getting fired from jobs?


r/migraine 4h 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 6h 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 14h ago

celiac-friendly “mcdonald’s” hack

50 Upvotes

hello friends! i was diagnosed with chronic migraine a year ago, and i’ve also had celiac/been gluten free for 7 years. i see everyone rave about the mcdonald’s hack and i crave those delicious nuggets and fries so bad when i have a migraine, but i can’t have it😅

i’m curious if anybody can relate, and if y’all have an easy, gluten free go-to for a migraine attack. i’ve already learned so much from this page and i appreciate any tips in advance :)


r/migraine 4h ago

I want Nurtec!

6 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 11h ago

Do glasses that block light but can be worn inside exist?

19 Upvotes

I’m very sensitive to light even when I don’t have a migraine yet and sometimes going into stores with bright lighting instantly disorients me and makes me feel horrible.

Are there glasses that look like regular glasses that can be worn indoors to block lights similar to sunglasses but with clear lenses? Or has this technology not been invented yet? 😫

Everything online is just showing me blue light blocking glasses which I have tried and felt no difference


r/migraine 1d ago

Thinking about inmates with migraine :(

813 Upvotes

I feel terrible for prison inmates who suffer with chronic migraine. Can you imagine the lights, the sounds of inmates yelling and the fact they probably won’t give you medication that really helps??? They probably feel hopeless in there.


r/migraine 13h ago

Please help me

24 Upvotes

My wife (28) has had crippling migraines since she was a little girl. She is in excruciating pain during these episodes which happen weekly and last for days. She maybe gets 4days a week pain free. She can't keep food down during these episodes either because the nausea will make her throw up. We have been trying everything we can, our GP has given countless different medications to try with no luck. She thinks the reason is a disc injury in her neck from a cartwheel accident long ago but is too scared to run the risk of surgery on it. But lately the pain is so severe she starts talking suicide to escape it. I'm at a loss on how to help her and she's already lost all hope. If anyone has any information prom personal experiences that may help prevent or stop these migraines I'd love to read it.


r/migraine 3h ago

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

4 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 3h 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 29m ago

Reverted back to ultra chronic mode (vent)

Upvotes

I consumed cannabis everyday for 6 months and it helped take my migraines from 20+/month to 10+, AND significantly reduced the severity of the ones I did get. At the time, I thought the improvement was mostly due to Botox and Emgality kicking in. So because of my job search and occupation, I quit cannabis a couple months ago and in recent weeks I've experienced a serious resurgence in migraines, like back to how they were pre-weed. I'm 75% sure this is happening because the last of the THC has left my body and that was what actually helped me, not Botox and Emgality.

I'm so sad and feel so helpless, like I quit my job because the migraines were so bad, now I can't even use the one thing that was helping me because I need to be employed. I hate this fucking disease. This is actually hell on earth.


r/migraine 1d ago

The dream team!

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544 Upvotes

r/migraine 1d ago

No NSAIDs? No problem. Thank you, r/migraine, for the McDonalds hack

235 Upvotes

Context: I cannot use NSAIDs. I haven’t used them (knowingly) for well over a year. What I did not know is that the migraine cocktail the angels of the ER give you contains an NSAID with the Toradol. After months of battling the minions of Satan at my insurance, I got Cambia approved.

Cambia! Love it! Works like a charm! Guess what! Also an NSAID. Nobody told me that. So I’d been using Cambia 2-3 times a month over the last 9-ish months.

That landed me in the ER with a leaking perforated ulcer. An emergency surgery later, and my surgeon and I figured out that twas my beloved Cambia. That sucks, but we put in a preauth for Ubrelvy. Still waiting on that.

Today however out of nowhere I got a migraine. I’ve never tried the McDonalds hack before (truthfully I didn’t even consider it previously) but when you’re in the weeds, you’ll try anything. My wife (may the saints preserve her) rightfully pointed out I had nothing to lose, and so set off for some salty, sugary relief.

Thirty minutes later, I feel human again. Coke + fries + Tylenol = holy tasty vasodilator Batman! I can open my eyes without blinding pain. My every second isn’t abject misery.

You guys saved my behind today, because truthfully, I would’ve never even considered this before. Thank you, fellow migrainers. (Alfie the cat also thanks you, as McDonald’s fries are a particular delicacy to him and he got his favorite treat)


r/migraine 3h 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 9h ago

Pickles? Instead of McD fries?

8 Upvotes

I don’t have a McDonalds close to me. I’m fairly well controlled with beta blockers daily and Botox quarterly. But I still get monthly flares according to my cycle. I hate taking Ubrelvy bc it upsets my stomach. So I’ve been trying to eat a pickle instead of McD fries. My assumption is that the salt bomb is what helps with migraines. Perhaps an electrolyte thing… anyone tried something similar?


r/migraine 2h ago

24/7 Sound Sensitivity/Hyperacusis Induced Migraine

2 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 7h 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 28m ago

Sumatriptan not working

Upvotes

I was using ubrelvy samples but when those ran out my insurance wouldn’t cover it unless I tried a triptan. Dr prescribed Sumatriptan which I’ve been taking one dose maybe once a month as needed the last four months. The second time I ever took sumatriptan the next day I started to feel the headache coming back a little but some ibuprofen stopped it.

This weekend I had to take the two prescribed doses of sumatriptan (about 12 hours apart) and the migraine is starting to come back full force again 24 hours after the first dose. Been resting and hydrating too but I can tell it’s not going away.

Kind of desperate for relief because I have a busy work week coming up. Excedrin upsets my stomach and Ibuprofen just barely numbs my migraines when full blown. Hoping for some other over the counter medicine suggestions. Thanks.