Is anyone out there a migraine sufferer? If you are, you have my deep sympathy. I got one today.
I have suffered migraines since my twenties — my brother also gets them, so they must be genetic in my family. They almost always start out with a light show. I see jagged edges in my field of vision and I see lights. After a while, the light show leaves and then I get the headache. What a headache.
When I was younger, the headache ruined the day and put me in bed. I felt like my head was cracking in half. Sometimes I vomited.
Now, for some reason, the headache is much duller and merely makes me tired. I am tired right now and don’t think I can read tonight. I’ll watch TV and go to sleep early.
I get a migraine every three weeks or so. I don’t know what brings them on.
J. Isola
I used to get migraine’s in my latter-teens; during the same time period, I started experiencing severe reactions to bee stings. Both “problems” went away in my early 20″.
I chalked it up to some hormonal thing. I can’t imagine being our age and still getting migranes.
May 23rd, 2012 8:27 pm
Jim Bancroft
Those are dreadful. I used to get them every few weeks in middle school and once every couple of years in high school, then once in my freshman year in college. None since, thank goodness.
You’re right, the pain when you’re younger is unbelievable, and in my case was more than matched by the accompanying nausea. It’s been 20 years since I had one and I still remember them like it was yesterday.
Get well soon Lowell. At least they don’t hurt as bad as they used to for you– small comfort but it’s something.
May 23rd, 2012 8:34 pm
mendozaline
I am sorry for your discomfort Lowell.
The light show sounds like an ocular migraine.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ocular-migraine/AN01681
I hope that with time the intensity of your migraines diminish
and the time between them increases.
May 23rd, 2012 9:45 pm
CohnZohn
Thanks, mendozaline. I get the classic migraine aura.
May 23rd, 2012 10:22 pm
Dennis
I get ocular migraines, but no headaches with it. I have to stop what I am doing for about 30 minutes and wait for my vision to become unimpaired. I can’t focus on anything. But no pain and I am thankful for that. I wish you a pseedy recovery. I would have never guessed you get migraines that often. Your work seems to continue uninterrupted.
May 23rd, 2012 11:28 pm
Real Niner fan
Had them since my teens. My mother had them too. Tried everything to get rid of them. I have not had one in over 10 years. I drink at least 7 water bottles a day now, try to drink 10. It worked for me!
May 24th, 2012 7:45 am
GWHIZ
i used to get them years ago. Light show was right on, mine would start with tingling in my left fingers, then go to light show etc. Dark room was my only fix, when i realized the signals early and didn’t fight them i did better. Mine were stress related, usually 1 to 2 weeks after an event. Hope yours keep diminishing, they make life tough. Good luck
May 24th, 2012 8:15 am
Kathy
That’s a pretty high frequency, Lowell. Have you sought treatment for them? There are new medications that can help prevent the occurrence. Worth checking out if you’re getting every three weeks.
May 24th, 2012 11:16 am
Stan
Its been about 20 years for me…and maybe they weren’t classic migraines..other then extreme pain,and light sensitive. But they could last days-torture- and at night it was like a toothache..all you can think is how much it hurts.
The only thing that worked finally,was Pseudofed. It was like a miracle. Now,its a behind the counter thing..but still legal,I think without a prescription.
Try it….has my genius ever done you wrong?
May 24th, 2012 12:08 pm
Stan
Well,ask you doc first. Way back then I didn’t have high BP..If you do I would ask first.
May 24th, 2012 12:37 pm
Never Had One
My wife had them, most often when low pressure is approaching, like today.
She stopped taking any caffeine, to sleep better, and it cured her migraines.
Hasn’t had even one in 3 or 4 years.
I have a too low blood pressure level, so I pop caffeine and salt tablets like
crazy, but have never had a migraine. Everyone’s different.
May 24th, 2012 12:41 pm
Jonathan
I started getting migraines when I was seven. I knew one was coming when I would have an euphoric day. Then, at night, I would feel a pain in my left ear. It was as if someone were poking a hot anvil into my ear. The pain would migrate to the middle of my head. Now it felt as if someone had blown off half of my head. I had blind spots and auras. I used to enjoy vomiting, because I knew that I would have five minutes of blessed relief from the head pain.
Most of my episodes occurred in between 17 and 45. I would have two to three per month, most lasted between one or two days. Almost as bad as the migraine, though, was the “afterglow.” First I would have a rebound headache–not as intense as the migraine, but still, not good, and then a major depression.
I really felt bad for my young kids during this time. I can’t count the number of planned activities we did not do because Dad was up in his bedroom. Their only benefit–my one comfort food during a migraine was a chemical milk shake during an episode. My wife would often pick one up for the buckos when she fetched this nectar of the Gods for me.
At age 45, my migraines–as my father’s did when he was about that age–stopped. I understand that migraine cessation is quite common in males at about this age, especially when there is a heredity link. From time to time–about three times a year–I will still get the anvil feeling in my left ear, but it does not become a full blown episode. I do not miss my friend. So all my sympathies to you and your brother, and I hope that your son can avoid this family trait.
May 24th, 2012 1:36 pm
Stan
I think the Sudofed’s effect of opening blood vessels is what cures the head pain. And it the Sudo that has Pseudophedrine.
It worked..and in an hour the migraine was gone. Try it(with Dr.’s approval)..and let me know.
May 24th, 2012 5:24 pm
Joe H.
My wife suffers horribly from them.
There are excellent medicines and you should always have them ready.
You need to be aware that migraines and stroke are related. My wife’s family, she lost her mom and brother who both suffered form migraines. I’ve lost a co-worker to a stroke after a major migraine.
It is serious, get medicine.
May 24th, 2012 5:42 pm
Streetglide
Got them as a child. It was stress. I find a big glass of cold water really helps headaches. Most people who do get headaches don’t drink enough water. Try it sometime; it might help.
Semicolon…
May 24th, 2012 6:01 pm
Stan
I think it will help Lowell..but ask a Dr…I don’t want to be known as the guy who killed Lowell Cohn!
May 24th, 2012 7:54 pm
Bob In Beaverton
I had one migraine. It was in the early 1980s, a Sunday. I’d had a few extra cups of coffee for breakfast, did yardwork for a couple of hours, had a beer, and then the wife and I got down. Suddenly I got that crinkly aura and the most enormous headache I’d ever had.
So I gave up yardwork.
May 25th, 2012 9:54 am
CohnZohn
Bob in Beaverton, You made me smile. This was a clever comment.
May 25th, 2012 12:10 pm
tkh
I’m in the club. inherited from my mother. wouldn’t wish them on my worst enemy.
May 25th, 2012 12:16 pm
Fred G
Mine went away when I started running. I lost 30 lbs and got healthy. I read you are going to a gym now. Keep it up and you might see similar results. I know 4 other people that have the same story…..
May 25th, 2012 12:20 pm
Pocohantas
I have had migraines most of my adult life. Chalked it up from “that time of the month” and stress. I finally have figured out that what I eat has affect on migraines. I kept a log of when the headaches occurred and what I did before it started. (somtimes after eating something with MSG) Bummer, because I love Chinese food!
Like the Real Niner Fan, I found that if I am dehydrated, the headaches will occur.
Try and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
I hope that works for you.
May 25th, 2012 1:36 pm
Karin Lease
There is a great monthly support group at Palm Drive Hospital. The 3rd Monday or something. Call to get exact times and dates. I found it really helpful and it is hosted by a wonderful doctor!
You should go.
You can learn a lot from the group!
May 28th, 2012 10:59 am