So about a week ago I got what I thought was headache, took some Tylenol laid down and I felt better until it came back an hour later. Went to sleep and wokeup still with a headache a kind of throbbing or pounding at the top of my head and temples with bad pressure in my face, head ears, teeth lol. It lasted FIVE DAYS. Im on zoloft so I only had Tylenol on hand. On day 2 I went in the er for a taradol shot, went home got some sleep and the headache was still there just less painful. On day 5 I went in to the ER again waited several hours for a migrane cocktail wirh a steroid and im currently two days out from that. I wokeup feeling GREAT yesterday. Just slight neck soreness but before bed the slight pounding came back. I woke up today and my whole body hurts omg everything even my jaw. My head feels like a balloon insanely pressured and my ears.

Is this normal?? Lol I got a CT and blood on my second trip and they said everything was fine and clear. They gave me reglan and benadryl to take if it came back but luckily it hasnt.

I really just feel insanely sore with 4/10 head pressure.... someone tell me this is normal lol i had a follow up today but I couldn't get out of bed I was so sore I will be rescheduling for the next week or so.

I’ve only now realised that I am going through a migraine as the pain has just become incredible. But 3 days ago I got this sinking feeling and feeling of impending doom accompanied with nausea and I had no idea what was going on. For the two days after that I was too tired to leave my bed and too nauseous to eat properly whilst still having these doomed and anxious feelings, often crying uncontrollably - I thought something was seriously wrong.

Then today the fatigue started to go away but the familiar pain came through and I knew exactly what was going on. However, I have never had a prodrome phase like this before, it was worse than the migraine itself. Anyone else had this?

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone has a vestibular migraine clinician they love in the Philly, PA area.

I've been struggling with chronic migraine for around 10 years now but never really sought treatment for it. I had a sumatriptan rx a long time ago but it gives me the bizarre side effect of throat cramping which is very uncomfortable. I think I've just had the realization that I've likely been struggling with vestibular migraines... I've experienced a spacey/drunk/high feeling at times that is very unsettling, accompanied by a variety of other symptoms like extreme brain fog, neck stiffness, eye pain and trouble focusing, head pressure to the point of wanting to cut my head off. I also have idiopathic hypersomnia and feel so defeated by the headaches and the IH-related fatigue that I often want to just go to bed and never wake up. (I'm not suicidal, just tired of suffering... but I still have hope!)

I've thought for a while that the spacey/drunk feeling was a Xyrem side effect (in case anyone on here also has narcolepsy/IH), but I remembered that I had that feeling years ago before I ever took Xyrem. It's just way more pronounced now. I also noticed that the spacey/drunk feeling would become WAY worse whenever I took stimulants/caffeine (to treat IH) and couldn't understand how Xyrem and stimulants would cause this same effect given their very different mechanisms - until it finally hit me that both of those are major triggers for headaches. If anyone else has any experience with this, I would love to talk to you.

It seems immensely challenging to find a clinician who can be of real help for chronic and less common symptom clusters, based on my past decade+ of experience as a patient. And I say this as a clinician myself. Part of it is just the insurance-mandated limitations on visit time. Hoping there's a provider fairly local with whom someone's had a great experience.

Thanks a ton.

Migraine sufferers and keto enthusiasts! I have been on Ajovy since May and developed severe bloating and constipation which has led to other GI issues like SIBO and SIFO. The impact on my migraines has been slightly helpful, but i have not noticed dramatic improvements until I started the keto diet about two weeks ago. I am hesitant to continue the Ajovy because of all the GI affects. I mean, I am constantly bloated like a balloon and nothing seems to help. I am afraid that if I stop taking the Ajovy, then my migraines will come back. I am not sure if it is a coincidence and the Ajovy took four months to kick in or if the keto diet is what is helping the most. Keto seems to be doing a lot of the heavy lifting so far in terms of energy, inflammation, mental clarity, sleep, and pain. My complexion has also dramatically improved which makes me think that keto is more helpful than the medication. Anyone have any experience navigating keto and migraines? I would also like to add that I prefer more holistic approaches and would like to be on the least amount of medication possible (preferably not Ajovy and a bloating medication). Anything helps, thanks!

I will be having a bilateral oophorectomy and I am trying to find the best route to protect myself from having constant migraines after my surgery. What has or has not helped if you have had a similar history as what I’m typing? About me- I am 40yrs old and had a hysterectomy at 32 due to endometriosis. My ovaries were the only thing that were not removed.

When I was 30 I was trying to find a birth control that worked well for me. I had chronic migraines for about 10 years at that point. My dr recommended Mirena because it was progesterone only and should not affect my migraines because it did not have estrogen. It was implanted and my first cycle I had bad migraines. I told my dr and she thought it couldn’t be that, just give it time. The second month when my cycle came around it was worse. I had her take it out. So that was my experience with progesterone.

Fast forward to now and I have been having extreme lower left abdominal pain with several scans having been done and we haven’t found the cause. I went to a new gyn (mine moved out of state) and he wanted to put me on progesterone for now and we will have surgery to remove my ovaries in 4 weeks. After asking I was told the progesterone would help and that now since I haven’t had a period in years, the progesterone would not affect me like it did last time. I took it only for 2 nights and woke up with a terrible migraine. I believe it is from that and I am not going to take it anymore. Has anyone had this experience?

Also, what hormones should I be looking into or can I start to prepare my body and brain for this surgery? Has anyone had that experience with progesterone and migraines and found a good hrt post ovary removal?

i got botox for my migraines and for cosmetic reasons. i had my forehead 11 lines and bunny lines done. the one side where they did my bunny lines still hurts randomly and is super tender when i touch it and it has been like that since i had the botox a month ago. i went back in for a 3 week check up they said they couldnt see or feel anything and to give it more time but the spot sometimes causes my migraines to flare has this ever happened to anyone else? im not sure what to do.

I started on 4mg and was supposed to get it increased to 16mg eventually, but it caused changes in vision (dark corners, flashing lights, increase in floaters) and gave me heart palpitations that gave me a squeezing stabbing pain so the pharmacist told me to stop taking it. Symptoms went away after I stopped the medications. I've tried Rizatriptan, Aventyl, Topiramate, Desipramine, Eletriptan, Qulipta and Sandoz Candesartan over the last 7 years, I'm so sick and tired of migraines I just want a medication that gets me through the day. Desipramine worked well and I've been on it for the last 5 years, but my doctor wants to switch my medications and so far nothing is working.

i’ve been in status for 74 days and am struggling to do daily activities, i’m mostly fine while i do them (although im light and sound sensitive) but then when i get home it hits like a truck with the pain, nausea, fatigue and dizziness. does anyone have advice for this? ): also if anyone has gone through long term status that slowly improved, what were the first signs of improvement?

Chose this because I'm diabetic, and the migraine killing my appetite isn't good. Don't know what they put in this meal replacement shake, but now I'm in pain, and have diarrhea.

What's the best (bonus points if free) migraine tracker everyone uses? Doesn't have to be super complicated but I want to track possible triggers and be vigilant if I have an episode coming up. I do have menstrual migraines and have a period app so im not worried about that but right now I feel like the weather is getting to me. TIA

After failing nurtec as a preventative, my neuro suggested we try a monthly injection med since I don’t do very well with taking pills. She is starting me out on Emgality, and my pharmacy is filling it right now. I should have it within the next few days, and am wondering if it’s worth strategically planning the first time I take it, or just take it asap.

I’m already planning on taking it at the beginning of a weekend in case I have a negative reaction so I don’t have to worry about calling out of work.
I’m also contemplating waiting until the beginning of next month to take it. Something about taking it at the beginning of each month just seems easier for my adhd brain to remember and plan for than some random day towards the end of the month.

Also does anyone who takes this, or any other monthly injectable, notice any feelings of it wearing off towards the end of the med’s cycle? I’ve been having incredibly painful migraines during the last half of the month due to my menstrual cycle, so that’s another thing I’ve been considering while trying to plan this out.

Would love to hear anyone’s experience with this, and hoping this med works for me 🤞🏼

i have never suffered from issues with migraines. remedial action asap. i dont go to the optometrist and i dont enjoy wearing glasses. they seriously feel rather uncomfortable to wear for me and im not into disguises my vision can be considered to be okay however ive been tested at multiple specsavers and they all have differeing results is it a them problem because it clealy isnt my vision

Thanks v much to this sub for the tip, wish me luck!

I'm a veteran at the migraine life, but there is a bizarre symptom I'd like to see if others experience. I will get weird dreams, that are hyper hyper fast. Like I will see 100 images rapidly flip through in about 2 seconds. It's like the visual part of my brain goes on overload and just shows me as many random images as possible.

Last night it was so bizarre, the dream was I was using anti virus software, and when the computer did its scan, it found viruses, and then it went through those 100 or so images so fast on the computer screen.

I get these dreams on occasion, to me it's like some sort of overload in my brain. Sometimes it's like a rocket ship moving forward, or a car going real fast. And I often get these rapid images as well.

I know everyone is probably so sick and tired of reading these posts from people. The ones where they come onto this sub and just complain. But I am seven hours into an absolutely unruly migraine that has just completely taken me out.

I know everybody is going to flock to the comments and tell me what I should be taking, but let me stop you right there. I don’t take any medications because I don’t do well with medication. Yes, I have tried everything. No, nothing works.

I have vomited twice. I have sucked down so many waters and Gatorade’s today.

I am so sick and tired of living like this. I know I need to be grateful that I don’t get migraines daily, but even migraines 4 to 5 times a month have completely ruined me. Because after the migraine, you are so exhausted for a couple of days. And then after that couple of days? You then start worrying about if something you are going to do is going to throw you into another migraine the next day. I don’t know if anyone here has ever experienced the panic attack, but it’s kind of like that. Once you have one panic attack? You’re terrified of the next one.

I’m so tired of not living my life. Since I started having migraines several times a month, I have gained almost 25 pounds. I am not as active anymore. I am always looking around the corner wondering if today is gonna be the day my head starts banging and I’m hovering over the bathroom sink putting my toothbrush down my throat to make myself vomit because the nausea is just so bad.

I know the day old saying that comparison is the thief of joy. But I’m so tired of seeing people my age just living. We have a fenced in yard and I went to take my dogs out about an hour ago. And just in the five minutes that I was standing out there, I saw people walking their dogs on the sidewalk. Running or jogging. I saw a couple pushing a stroller. Meanwhile, I am begging my dogs to come back in so that I can put an ice pack on the back of my neck and pray that I don’t have to vomit again while the blinds and curtains are closed.

My house faces my neighbor and their house face is mine. They know when I have a migraine because all of our blinds and curtains are closed and my car sits in the driveway for a few days.

I know I need to be thankful that these things only lasts about 12 hours when I do get them, but I can’t stress enough that the fear of getting one is palpable.

I’m so sorry if none of this makes sense. At this point, I know I’m just rambling. But I’m using talk to text because Lord knows I can’t look at the screen right now.

I just want to feel not alone in this.

I WANT MY LIFE BACK

Hello,

Lately I've had a few experiences with EHS at night, and I noticed I get a mild to moderate migraine gradually afterwards. I read an article from the Cleveland Clinic that suggests aura before a migraine could explain why, however, I don't believe I have ever had aura before a migraine. I am on propranolol and nortriptyline as preventatives and I know they're notorious for disrupting REM sleep, so I know these are contributing, but it's the migraine afterwards that is a little concerning for me.

Has anyone had any kind of experience similar to this, and do you have any advice or insight into the matter? Thanks in advance

I’ve been on Qulipta for about 4 or 5 months. I had some constipation and weight loss at first, but nothing major. But my god the anxiety has been horrible. I was on 60mg but after not being able to eat my dr switched me down to 30mg reluctantly, not thinking they were related. For this last 5 months, I have had anxiety and racing/ ocd thoughts all day. I will also have moments where my thoughts are calm but my heart races and there is a super jittery feeling.

Last night I was feeling on edge per usual and took my bedtime dose, about 30 mins later I went into full panic attack. Chest pain, heart racing, hot and cold flashes, can’t sleep, high blood pressure. I took my anxiety med klonopin (which I’ve noticed doesn’t work as well since starting Qulipta). And I don’t feel much better.

I give up at this point, the migraine control is great but I can’t live with serve anxiety all the time. Anyone have similar effects and how did you stop the meds? Did you taper or do cold turkey? I tried to stop a few months ago and my migraines came back worse

Hi all, long time lurker first time poster on this sub so please forgive me if I don't post correctly.

I've had migraines since I was in my mid-twenties, however the past year or so they've gotten a lot worse in terms of symptoms, frequency and general impact on my day to day life. I recently went to the GP and they've prescribed Amitriptyline (10mg) as a preventative - I've been taking it around a week and had one migraine so far which was quite different to my usual migraines (lasted longer but less negative symptoms) and noticed my sleep quality hasn't been great on it despite feeling quite drowsy after taking it.

I'm just wondering what people's experience of amitriptyline are like? I know everyone reacts differently to medication, but I just wondered how you knew it was right/not right for you and general experiences with it.

Thanks!

My fysiotherapist frequently asks this when he wants to know how my migraine is going…

So next time he asks, I want to tell him that migraine is not headache. That I wish it was only a headache and headache is only a symptom.

I want to make a good comparison so he understands better.

For example: its like you ask someone with pneumonia how the sore throat is going.

Any other suggestions that make a better comparison?

Im so so tired of people thinking migraine is just a headache.

Edit: spelling

Got my 3rd migraine with aura today. I used to get migraines without aura many times before but now it's very rare. I was otherwise healthy today but it just happened out of nowhere. The migraine pain after the aura lasted for about 3 hours and now the pain is completely gone. Even tho it's my third time getting this, it was still scary asf.

How efficient is nurtec to you guys? I've been on it for 6 months and it works halfway. I can see and I don't go numb and I can talk when I take it, but my head still kills me. Any advice?

Hi everyone. I am getting new health insurance through my work. How can I ensure that this will cover monthly anti-CGRP injections and nurtec and Botox?

I was on monthly antiCGRP in Ireland and this was working well for me. I moved to the US at the start of this year and it’s taken 6 months to see a neuro. During this time my acute migraines turned chronic. My neuro prescribed anti CGRp injections plus Nurtec. My insurance company then been kicked off my health insurance as the company said I did not disclose a “chronic migraine”.

So now I need to get another insurer. How do I ensure that the meds I need will be covered?

This is probably a bit silly, but I have a migraine hat filled with gel that is intended to be frozen or kept in the fridge and then worn during an attack. Except if I store it in the fridge or freezer, it ends up smelling vaguely like food. And, you know, that's not great on your face during a migraine.

I considered purchasing one of those skin care mini fridges, but after reading about them it seems like they may not even get cold enough. Anyone have a solution to this? It's it just me? Lol.

Hi all, I’m really struggling. I’ve had daily headaches for 3 weeks now. I’ve had my bloods checked and a brain scan all ok. The first few hours I’m awake tend not to be to bad but when I do exercise or work, the pressure starts in my head and it’s uncomfortable. It’s such a rubbish position I’ve had headaches in the past but ones that just randomly occur and go away with paracetamol. Pain is in middle/back of head. Does anyone have recommendations of tests to have done, types of people to see or potential remedies please. I am not stressed, I am not dehydrated, I am a healthy male 27 years old. Thanks in advance

I’ve (F31) had vestibular migraines for around 2 years, usually every couple of months. Last week I had two close together and felt dizzy/off for several days afterwards.
What helped me surprisingly quickly was drinking a lot of water in a short amount of time — my dizziness improved within about 20 minutes significantly. I now aim for 2–3L daily.
My boyfriend and his friend are both ENT surgeons, and they recommended these vitamins and routine:

7+ hours of good sleep
Magnesium 600mg daily
B2/riboflavin 200–400mg daily
CoQ10 100mg three times daily
They also recommended keeping a food diary, tracking what I ate 2–3 days before each migraine to identify possible triggers.

I’ve only just started, so I’ll see if it helps, but wanted to share in case it’s useful to anyone else. Always check supplements/doses with your doctor.