Hello all, I am hoping to find reassurances and/or information here from anyone who can relate to what I THINK are migraines that'd I've had. Yesterday, I believe I had my second one but it was different that my first one (ever) that I had over 3 months ago - so I need some help!
When I had my first one (out of the blue!) happened at work. It stared with me feeling kinda "funny" and then immediately, the back of my head was in great pain and all I wanted to do was lay down, cover my whole head and try and sleep. The room would spin and I would get nauseaous if I lifted or turned my head. The "whole thing" lasted about 8 hours and then, I felt pretty much back to normal. My doctor thought it was a migraine but referred me for an MRI and MRA since I never have had headaches and this was one so powerful and due to my age of onset of this (almost 50). Had MRI, MRA and it was nothing - even though the neurologist that I went to for the tests was less than "soft" and said - before the tests - "could be migraine, it could also be a brain bleed!" SCARED me to death! Then, I had to wait 4 days for the tests and 5 days for results! It was a horrible experience - one I do not want to have to repeat. Thankfully, both tests came back fine. I never had another migraine or headache until yesterday.
Yesterday, I woke up feeling fine despite the fact I had felt SOOOO fatigued the day before that I spent most of it in bed just trying to take it easy (thankfully, it wasn't a work day). Since I woke up feeling good, I decided to do some puttering and clean out my closet. I started feeling "funny" - but no aura, etc - just a bit woozy and fatigued. I then reached up high to get something, tilting my head upward and I almost lost my balance. I steadied myself and then had to sit down. Got a sick feeling and a mild, mild ache in the back of my head. My sweet husband put me to bed and immeidately, I got dizzy and had to cover my eyes and ears - any level of noise just about drove me out of my mind. I was shivering and anytime I moved my head up or side to side I got very very dizzy and sick feeling. Long story short, I slept most of the next 12 hours with the STRANGEST most vivid dreams. This morning, I got up - got ready for work - and I have a slight ache in the back of my head, I feel a bit "off my feet" - but not dizzy - just like a bit "fragile feeling" if that makes sense. No sick feeling, fatigue, etc either.
But, since migraines and headaches are so new to me - can you help me? I don't want to have to go through those same medical tests, etc (MRI and MRA both done within the last 3 months). So here are my questions:
Does the expereince yesterday sound like a migraine for those of you with more expereince with this?
Does it make sense that I still feel a bit "off" today? Esp since the first time I was really back to normal after about 8 hours of sleep?
Is it a normal part of a migraine to be able to sleep so much? I took no medication, etc and slept almost 12 hours, waking up only briefly a few times.
Is each migraine different?
Is the feelig of "weakness/not completely normal"after common for a migraine?
Is it normal for your head to still hurt (a bit) after the "big" part of the migraine is over?
What meds or natural treaments have helped? I had read in Northup's book to put heat on your feet and ice at your neck - I did that yesterday as I slept.

As you can tell - I am scared and need some reassurance/information. Thank you so much! This is just one more "thing" and sometimes I wonder how much more I can take! Thank you for your support. Kathleen

Hi Kathleent - sorry you are having such a tough time

I have had migraines during 2 periods of my life
1 Puberty
2 Peri

I get nasty headaches on and off quite often - together with dizziness - I think sometimes it is cos I am so knackered (I am a meno-insomniac)

I have had some soooooper migraines since being peri - they are unpredictabe and infrequent but floor me when they occur - mine start with eyes going funny - the wavy lines - so bad I can barely see - and then the headache - back and top of head - horrid and frightening. I can feel the 'after shock' for days afterwards!

I also had an MRI - for my balance problems and headaches - I was also told my an idiot DR at work it could be a brain tumour - what a twit telling me that!!

Your balance stuff sounds like mine was when peri first hit - I couldnt walk the length of the room without falling and feeling sick - awful migraine headaches - I was out of it for 4 weeks!! I also had strange psychological effects - I felt detached - cant explain it - but very aware and strange - like I was drugged or something (although I was on balance meds at the time)

I take paracetemol for the pain - and try and get on with stuff - as I cant sleep it is pointless me even trying to lie down and dose - so I carry on and put a brave face on it.

I know what you mean about 'one more thing' - I do sometimes wonder how much of this I can take - I have the odd evening (well perhaps about once a week) when I break down and sob pitifully about how crap I feel and how I cant go on - my hubby just gives me a hug and says I am doing fine

Peri is pants

Mele

Kathleen, You poor thing...I can definitely empathize with what you're going through. I had terrible migraines during puberty, then they pretty much went away until I went on the pill in my 20's, got that regulated and didn't have them again until a very stressful time in my early 30's, and I've had a couple of mild ones (thank God for the mild part) since starting peri. Your description is spot-on...the sleeping is normal, as the experience itself is so exhausting. And the aversion to noise and light...oh, my, I've spent hours in darkened rooms with a pillow over my head to drown out the slightest sounds. During my worst ones, I've also lost the ability to think straight, to the point that I once had to pull over and suffer in my car in a parking lot because I couldn't figure out the stop lights (the difference between red and green--so I didn't know when to stop!) I was so afraid a policeman would show up and think I was on drugs or something, as I couldn't have given my name or phone number if I'd tried. Like Mele, the aftershocks have lasted up to a week...a feeling of weakness, being "out of it", and sometimes nausea. I've found that if I take Fiornal (a prescription med) when I first start feeling "funny", it makes them milder. Also, one thing that has helped me with the pain is to have someone (my dad when I was younger, now it's my husband) press on the back of my head while I press up...you put your chin forward toward your chest, have them put their hand on the back of the head (right above where it meets the neck), and they press down and you press up against their hand. In a pinch, you can do it for yourself, lacing your fingers together (like some people do when they do sit-ups) and pushing against your own hands. More than anything, I think it helps relieve some of the tension in that area, which helps with the pain.

I hope you are feeling better soon, and that this phase of your life doesn't last too long...while it's happening, it feels like e-t-e-r-n-i-t-y. Good luck!!!!!!!

Irish Lass

Sounds like a migraine. I've had them on a regular basis for over 40 yrs. A Google search will net you many sites with symptom info but here's a rather concise list that might help you.

cam

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PRODROME (the period before the pain begins)

Visual (aka aura)
a bright shape that spreads across the visual field of one eye and appears to block some or all of the vision; can be seen whether the eye is open or closed
flashes of light and color
wavy lines
geometric patterns
blurred vision
partial loss of sight

Sensory
numbness or tingling on the face or upper extremities
a sense that limbs are a distorted shape or size
smelling odors that aren't actually present (like natural gas or something burning)

Motor
partial paralysis
weakness or heaviness in the limbs on one side of the body

Language
difficulty finding words
problems understanding spoken or written language

Cognitive
mental confusion
disorientation
transient global amnesia (similar to amnesia that follows a concussion)

Digestive
food cravings (particularly for carbohydrates, candy and chocolate)
stomach rumblings
constipation

Fluid disturbances
increased thirst
bloating/fluid retention
frequent urination

Mental/Personality
mood changes
irritability
high energy
lethargy

HEADACHE PHASE

Sensory
sensitivity to light and noise
intolerance of being touched
heightened sensitivity to odors

Digestive
nausea
vomiting
intolerance of food odors
loss of appetite
diarrhea
constipation

Skin
paleness
cold, clammy hands and feet
facial swelling
goose bumps
bloodshot eyes
black circles around eyes
sweating

Fluid disturbances
water retention
frequent urination

Respiratory
frequent yawning
sighing
hyperventilating
nasal congestion
runny nose

Mental/Personality
irritability
depression
anxiety
nervousness
difficulty concentrating

Circulatory
changes in blood chemistry
changes in blood pressure
blood vessel dilation
difficulty regulating temperature
changes in heart rhythms

POSTDROME (24 hour following headache)

Cognitive
inability to concentrate

Respiratory
frequent yawning

Mood/Personality
fatigue
depression
euphoria
feeling of intense well-being
lethargy