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Migraine Headache

Most information you find on the Internet about the Migraine Headache is of a clinical nature, which is helpful and necessary in its own right, but I think it's even more informative and helpful to read about other's actual experiences.

So, throughout this page and the entire Migraine section, in addition to factual research information, I will share many of my own personal experiences in the hopes that it will help others identify their own triggers, patterns or cycles.

The more you understand about your own personal Migraine Headache experience, the better equipped you are to deal with it effectively and develop coping strategies that will minimize the impact it has on your life.

As someone who has lived with Migraine headaches for 9 years I just haven't been able to find the words that can describe the pain, the experience or the intensity adequately. Words like throbbing and pulsating just don't seem to do it justice.

Migraine pain is indescribable, excruciating and incapacitating. It is an experience like no other. In my opinion it's more painful than child birth, and after it's over there's no beautiful bundle of joy. At its worse it can be completely disabling and at best it is disruptive to daily life and functioning.

For those who have a high frequency of Migraines the quality of life can be impacted greatly. Life can feel pretty uncertain and unpredictable. Plans, events, tasks and chores may always have to be tentative, depending on whether a migraine appears. Learning to live with such agonizing pain is an incredible challenge. This is all very frustrating and difficult to adapt to, to say the least.

Migraines typically occur on one of the side head in the temple region and/or under the eye, however they can occur in other areas. They usually last from 4 to 72 hours. Most people must lie down in a dark, quiet area until it is over. They occur more often in women than men. Experts report that most migraines occur in the morning, but that has not been my experience.

My Migraine Headache is always on the right sight of my head. I've never had one in any other area except the right side. However, sometimes the pain will travel and expand down to the lower back side of the head on both sides. It usually involves the right temple, the right eye, and the whole right side of my face. My right eye usually swells up like a monster eye and their is swelling on the right side of my face as well.

I've never had one that is any shorter than 10-12 hours. Mine almost always start in late afternoon and escalate as the night goes on. By 8 or 9 PM I'm down until it runs its course. Once in a great while (maybe once or twice a year) I will have one that starts in the morning. The one's that start in the morning are usually some of the most severe and intense and hardest to get through.

Two are two types of Migraine Headaches

Classic

This type is accompanied by some sort of sensory warning like flashing lights or spots in front of the eyes, often referred to as a Migraine aura.

Common

All symptoms are the same as the classic, except there is no aura. The common Migraine occurs more frequently.

Migraine Headache Triggers

A trigger is something that sets the migraine cycle into motion. Most individuals living with Migraines tend to have something that works as a common trigger, however some people may not be aware of what their triggers are.

Triggers can vary from one person to another, however some common triggers are dehydration, hormonal changes, certain smells or foods and skipping meals.

Migraine pain is typically accompanied by a variety of other symptoms like nausea, and sensitivity to sound and light.

Migraine pain can vary in intensity from one episode to another. My experience has been that each migraine is unique, although they all are similar in many ways and run a similar course.

I've found that a good sense of humor in the face of such a grueling experience is a helpful coping tool and I've been using this fun little ranking system for my Migraines for many years.

My Migraine Headache Ranking System

Since the experience of my Migraines often feels like a devastating storm, I rank each one of them according to Hurricane Category status. Just like a real Hurricane, Category 1 is the weakest and least destructive and Category 4 is really severe.

Here are the symptoms and level of disability that occurs with each one.

Category 1

Moderate pain.
Sensitivity to light and sound is mild.
Eating is still possible.
Sometimes I crave sweets.
I can still function a little bit.
I can do activities that are quiet and don't require a lot of activity.
Lying down is required intermittently.

Category 2

Moderate to severe pain.
Sensitivity to light and sound is moderate.
Light to moderate nausea.
I usually can't eat because of nausea.
At this point I'm beginning to whimper like an injured animal now and then.
I can't function very well.
If it's a mild Cat 2 I may be able to do quiet things on the computer that don't require too much cognitive functioning. I'm laying down a lot. If it's a severe cat 2 then I'm down for the duration.

Category 3

Pain is excruciating.
I'm now whimpering, crying out and occasionally howling in pain.
Nausea is severe and I'm probably throwing up or having the dry heaves.
Sensitivity to light and sound is severe.
I can't function at all.
I'm flat on my back in bed.
I have gas and indigestion.
My gallbladder hurts terribly.
Heart palpitations.
Shaking.
Dizzy.
Weak.
Unable to talk
The smell of any food is unbearable.
I'm doing some major sleeping that is fitful and intermittent.

Category 4

In a Cat 4 I have all the symptoms of every category listed above to the most extreme level, plus:

Visual disturbances.
The pain now has me howling and wailing with each wave.
At times I feel incoherent.
I'm wishing I had a gun!

Within each Migraine Headache category there can be degrees of severity as well. It may be a mild category 1, 2, 3, or 4 or a severe category 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Each Migraine is different. Some are fast movers with high wind and tear everything up in their path, while others move slow with lots of heavy rain. Fortunately I don't get too many cat 4 Migraines. I have a lot of cat 1 and 2s and a moderate amount of Cat 3s.

Whenever I come out of an intense category 2, 3 or 4, I often feel like I've been in another dimension and just returned to earth. It is sometimes a dream like state.

The intense Migraine pain can be over, but it can take several days to recuperate completely.

I also experience a lot of days when I have what a call a (Half of Migraine). This is when I have Migraine pain lingering in very light intensity, but it never moves into the full blown phase. This may last anywhere from several hours to several days. I can usually function moderately during these episodes.

Although the main symptoms of Migraine headaches is pain that occurs in the head, Migraine is a whole body experience. My whole body often feels like I've been beat up or at war.

Migraine Headache Phases

I have found that Migraines typically go through 5 phases.

1. Initial Phase - this is when you start to feel the twinge of pain and accompanying symptoms off in a distance.
2. Arrival Phase - the pain and symptoms arrive and start to increase.
3. Peak Phase - the pain rises to the highest point. This point is usually unbearable.
4. Coming Down Phase - once you hit the peak phase, then it starts to settle down. The pain and other symptoms slowly begin to dissipate.
5. After Shock Phase - not all episodes contain an after shock, but usually if it's been one of severe intensity, there may be a period of several hours to several days that little twinges of pain shoot back and forth or other accompanying symptoms may linger around for a while, or you just plain feel ill.

At this time researchers are not sure of the "true" cause of the Migraine headache and there is no real "cure." Migraine pain can be managed and relived to some extent with a variety of holistic and alternative health methods. The most important keys in managing this debilitating condition are education, awareness and lifestyle changes.

By becoming aware of triggers and learning to avoid them, Migraine Headache sufferers can sometimes reduce the severity of the pain, reduce the length of time their headache lasts, and sometimes reduce the frequency of their occurrence. However, even with the most stringent avoidance plan, there is no guarantee that a Migraine won't occur. Unfortunately there are many times when there is nothing to be done, but the ride the wave of pain until it's over.