Migraines are not 'just a headache'

@ElicBxn (64169)
United States
September 11, 2022 10:34am CST
I've had migraines since I hit puberty. 99% of them involve head pain. I didn't get a doctor to admit that migraines were more than anything that previous doctors had told me had 'typical' symptoms. He said that a headache more than 3 times a week was a migraine. Yeah, headaches normally 7 days a week. Now, when I cut corn out of my life I had a few years with only a few headaches a month, but we're back to 7 days normally. However... however... while I was still working, and after ... there was a point in time I was taking a 'rescue' medication that did give me some time even after I stopped taking it I didn't have daily migraines. So, one day I was sitting at my desk working and I suddenly couldn't see out of my right eye. Okay, I could see light, but it was all a blur. If I looked at the paper all I saw was white, if I looked anywhere else it was all rainbows. I closed my right eye and finished up what I was entering. It was already almost break time, and I told my supervisor I needed to take my break early. She asked if something was wrong and I told her I wasn't sure - maybe. I went over to another office where I had made some friends. They were generally pretty busy at the first of a month, but this wasn't the first of the month, and one of them also took her break to talk to me. We walked out and I told her what was happening. By this time I was beginning to be able to see some. She suggested I call my eye doctor. We went back to her office and talked to the other two ladies who agreed with her. I went back to my office and called my eye doctor. Now... at that point I had seen this doctor since I was a child. In fact, this doctor had operated on my four years younger sister when she was 3, I was nearly 50 at this point. He wasn't doing surgeries or anything, but I knew this wasn't anything like that. If he did think I needed something more than he could provide I knew he'd tell me. The other plus was that he had a pretty open schedule and could see me that afternoon. He took my blood pressure and looked in my eyes. Then he asked if I ever had migraines. Oh yeah, remember, those things had started almost 40 years before. But I hadn't had too many since having taken that round of migraine medications a few years before. He told me I had an aura. Now, remember, I had never had a 'typical' migraine. I had never had a cluster migraine, a migraine that only affected half my head and I had never had an aura. Did I feel relieved? Well, yeah, I did. I mean, beats having a stroke or something. That was my first aura. Have I had any since? Yes, once. It wasn't at work, it wasn't as bad (neither was as complete and didn't last as long.) I had gone to a restaurant, by myself, and was reading when I suddenly had rainbows around the white center of my right eye's vision. I had to stop reading while I waited it out. The waiter I guess noticed something about me and came to check on me. I told him I was fine, I was just having to wait out an aura. After I could see well enough to drive, I went to the nearest drug store and got something, don't remember what. So, I still have migraines, it has honestly been a while since my head hasn't hurt, but I seldom have had to bury my head and hope the world goes away.
2 people like this
2 responses
• United States
11 Sep 22
I have had migraines ever since I had the on-the-job injury to my neck. I was warned by my neurologist that I had to be very careful about my activities, as a fall or wrong move could lead to my being a quadriplegic for the rest of my life. I also am on migraine meds for the times that they may show up. I also have turned into a label reader because certain foods or spices can trigger them quickly. The really big avoid is to at all costs "avoid stress". I had done well until I moved into my apartment. The lady that lives across the way from me has become a dear friend, BUT she is a dramatic queen. She will come into my apartment after something happens and the incident will turn into a major trauma. I finally had to tell her that I needed to cut down my stress levels, that they cause horrible problems to my health. I am hoping she got the hint. I don't remember what vitamin that I was taking to control migraines, I will do some research and see if I can find the book that I found the information in, but when I do, I will send the information to you, and you can decide whether to try the vitamin or not. I can so relate to your pain and suffering, I wish I could have your migraines for you, so you don't have to suffer from them. I am surprised that you haven't been sent to a neurologist or similar kind of doctor that can do some diagnosing and find you relief. I remember spending hours laying with ice packs on the back of my neck. I would fall asleep, dreaming that I was an ice cube, but would wake up feeling much better. I really wish there was a way that I could have your migraines for you, so you can enjoy your life pain free. Just remember my wishes when you have your next migraine and imagine that I have the migraine instead of you. Maybe, luck will be with us and your migraine will be transferred to me.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
12 Sep 22
Honestly, Toni, I don't wish these things on my worst enemy, much less a friend. And, yeah, I've been to a neurologist, it was from him that I got put on that rescue medication for several months. Sadly, since my migraines are inherited - thanks Dad - the family connection does seem to cause them trouble. Also the allergies... can't just have a migraine come from one thing now can I? I was explaining to my guy friend that he really needs to talk to a doctor about his pains. I also sent him home with one of my diclofenac sodium pills. He's taking 2 Aleves... which is less than 1 prescription strength naperson pills. Before I was given the diclofenac pills, I was taking 2 prescription strength of them, that worked out to about 6 Aleves... he needs to be taking more. And he's all worried about starting with social security and working, that he'd have to stop working. I told him that wasn't the case. I swear, you could hit him up the side of the head with a shovel and it'd still not get through... So, don't worry about my pain, I've had it so long and I just keep living...
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
12 Sep 22
@BearArtistLady got up this morning to your lovely notes. I'm glad to see you back to making bears. I have a dental appointment today and going to a hand guy Wednesday. I try to not go to anything on Wednesday, but this was the first appointment and the thing going with my hand is just that annoying. What is going on his that the outside 2 fingers on my left hand are going to 'sleep.' I know it isn't carpel tunnel - been there, done that. When I dislocated my wrist in high school I pinched the ulnar nerve in my right arm... this isn't as bad, but it is the same area. I suspect it is because I lean on my left arm, but I just want a suggestion - well, besides "don't lean on it."
• United States
12 Sep 22
@ElicBxn It's like some of my friends, you can hit them up aside the head with a shovel, a sledgehammer, and then drop a brick wall on them and they wouldn't understand or get the grasp of what you're trying to tell them. What frustrates me to the max is I tell them something, they don't grasp what you're telling them, then about 4 days later they come to me and tell me that I was right. ARRRRAAAAAGHHHHHHH! There are a lot of people I know who are still working and on Social Security. He is paying into the program with each paycheck, so he really should be drawing it now. We covered drawing Social Security and when to start drawing it. It wasn't the most interesting part of my business classes, but it did give good advice. I had a ball taking the rest of the courses for my business major, and even had fun driving the instructors crazy with my off-the-wall term papers. I learned tons and have helped a lot of my neighbors with their problems and their "need-to-knows". I know, with the migraine pain, you wouldn't wish it on me. I just hate the thought of you suffering. I got the migraine "blessing" from my mom, and she would have them at least four times a month. Somewhere along the line, when I moved in with her, we got her migraines under control, so she didn't suffer from them again. I started really suffering from them right after the on-the-job injury and had to go through drastic life changes. But for special people I would gladly take on their pain so they can enjoy their lives more. You're one of those people. I should drag my tail to bed. I cleaned up the potted plant area this afternoon, and then I got myself in gear and really did some work. I sorted the sewn bears into three categories. One is miniature bears that have been hand sewn and are waiting to be stuffed and finished. Then there are the ones that are cut out and waiting to be hand sewn (those are the miniatures), then the ones that are larger that were machine sewn and ready to be stuffed. It works well to help me relax before I go to bed. I'm hoping that I will get to the point that I can sew, joint and stuff more bears. It would be nice to work through the stacks of faux fur, mohair, and real fur that I recycle into teddy bears. I got two beautiful mink jackets on Ebay and am looking at getting a faux fur jacket early this week. It's multi-colored and would make three or four bears depending on what size bear I am going to make. But it's also helping me keep from suffering from the migraines so much, it's a great tension releaser. I get to concentrating on the bears and I'll even forget that I have the horrible headache. Well, anyhow, good night. Have a pleasant night and an even better week. I'm taking advantage of this not being such a hectic week and doing some bears and a bit of house cleaning. Good night!!! Sweet dreams!!!!!
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@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
11 Sep 22
I can sure relate. The first time I had an aura, I did the same thing you did: I called my eye doctor. Had auras off and on over the years, but no headaches afterwards. Then about 2 or 3 years ago I started having several headaches all day every day. Was diagnosed with chronic migraines. Tried lots of meds that didn't help and finally got on Botox injections that do help. I've only had a few typical classic migraines and I have a deep sympathy for people who have that kind.
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@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
11 Sep 22
Nobody has suggested botox, but with all my other problems, I'm kind of wary. I've had a bad enough headache to send me to the ER. That time it turned out to actually be something other than a migraine. Turned out my gall bladder was dropping stones into my pancreas and I had pancreatitis. Sumatriptan nasal spray helps me when it is bad, but Lordy does it taste BAD.
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@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
11 Sep 22
@ElicBxn Did you get over the pancreatitis? I really don't like the 30 injections of Botox every three months, but it's worth pretty much no headaches.
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@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
12 Sep 22
@1creekgirl oh yeah, no food or drink by mouth for several days and then taking out the gall bladder fixed me right up. My joke for the next year was "Don't go to the ER with a headache, they'll rip your gall bladder out." However, having the gall bladder out was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
1 person likes this