How can you tell if you have migraine?
You'd be wanting / wishing / waiting for your head to ExPLoDe...and it'd be Welcomed. Because then the Intense Pain would be over. When the pain in your head feels like you want to smash your head with a ball peen hammer... You have a migraine. When the pain makes it where you are incapable of ANY light coming into your eyes without making you vomit...or cry out in pain.... You have a migraine. When the pain makes a whisper sound like a ROCK concert.... You have a migraine. When the pain makes someone tip-toeing across the room sound like a herd of elephants stomping through the room... You have a migraine. When the pain in your head makes you pull your own hair (Real HARD).... You have a migraine. When the pain in your head makes you bang your head against the wall (Real HARD).... You have a migraine. When the pain in your head makes you throw-up incessantly and violently.... You have a migraine. When you have to go to the Hospital and get a shot for the pain; and 1 for the nausea.... You have a Migraine. (I've had one since last Wednesday, and up to today) EDIT: Exactly as "Ic3y Wind" said: "PAIN. LOTS AND LOTS OF PAIN."
Do you think that's still MIGRAINE if you don't have ALL of the symptoms?
There is a new development in migraine therapy: http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr...
Can i join the navy if i have migraines?
Can you still work through them if necessary, after taking Excedrin migraine? If not, don't even consider applying. You will find yourself in an operational military unit where you are one of very few people qualified to be at your post (this is especially common in the Navy, but not at all unheard of in the medical and intelligence fields in the Army.) If you can't work because of your migraine, you put the mission at risk. And possibly the lives of the people you serve with, depending on your job.
What does it feel like to have a migraine?
The first time I had a migraine I didn't know what I was experiencing so I didn't know how to medicate myself.I was in the grocery store shopping, I was reading a package and all of a sudden I couldn't focus on what I was reading because I couldn't see it. I got that visual distortion in my field of vision that feels like you have been staring at a light bulb for too long, and you look away and you still have that afterimage in front of your eyes. Do you know what I mean? It looked exactly like that and I thought to myself "huh. that's weird, I don't remember staring at a light bulb... I guess must have" And I just kept on shopping & drove myself home. On the drive home my vision did not improve - infact, the visual distortion got bigger and bigger and eventually formed a ring that expanded out to the sides of my field of vision. I was worried I wouldn't be able to see well enough to drive.When I got home I had this full blown overwhelming sick feeling. Like I was seasick. My head just had a slight pain & did not hurt much at first, just overwhelming nausea and everything was way too loud and too bright. I went into my room, shut the blinds, turned the lights out and curled up under the pillows thinking I had food poisoning. Eventually I couldn't take it anymore and called my mom who immediately informed me that it was a migraine and I should take lots of ibuprofen and caffeine.I have since learned to spot the symptoms. If I don't take immediate caffeine and ibuprofen, I will be completely unable to function. Everything will hurt, light, sound, movement, talking, sitting, you name it - complete debilitating nausea & pain & a desire to shut down and lay down in the dark. But, if I catch the staring at the light bulb show early, I just grab a cup of coffee and down 3 ibuprofen with it & bam! No pain just a desire to take it easy and not move my head too fast.So stare at a light bulb for about 30 seconds then look away if you want to know what the early onset of a migraine might feel like to you. :) Then go on a roller coaster or spin in a circle for about 5 minutes and then you'll know what the progression of a migraine might feel like.
Do you think migraines can cause racing thoughts?
Although a doctor could answer this better than anyone, I myself have suffered migraines for a very long time. Everything gets louder and brighter, as you know. This makes it hard to concentrate for me because it does amplify my thoughts. I don't know of it scientifically/neurologically actually does, but it sure feels like it! Because of the lack of concentration, thoughts can seem to race, which can also cause anxiety! Hang in there. And if you haven't already, try to see a neurologist who specializes in migraine.
What is the best way to treat a migraine?
I feel your pain-literally! I have been getting migraines since I was six years old, and I am currently 21. I have been studying migraines for years since they are such a big part of my life, unfortunately. It is crucial that you take medication when you feel the SLIGHTEST migraine coming on. This could simply be a slight pain in your temple that comes and goes. I understand the fear everyone has today of taking too much meds but you know what, the pain you will feel later IS NOT WORTH IT! Once the migraine hits, no meds will really help you out. You just have to tough it out, but there are ways to get through it. Wet a hand towel with cold water and place it above your eyes. Lay there for about a half an hour, and you should feel some relief. You should have someone rub your neck, and massage your pressure points such as your temples or the area between your thumb and index finger. Head-On is something you can buy at Walgreens that offers temporary relief. It is almost like a Bengay for your head, that basically relieves the tension in your muscles in the forehead area. Otherwise, make sure you are in a dark room with no lights or noise. It might seem impossible, but try to get some sleep. If I can suggest anything, it is to see your doctor and get some prescription meds such as Imitrex for your occassional migraines. They really affect personal life and restrict most people from doing what they want to do. I just set up a blog called MIGRAINESINTHEMEDIA.BLOGSPOT.COM... I will shortly be posting stories and updates on there for migraine sufferers, and am trying to set up somewhat of an online help center.... because frankly, no one realy understands what you're going through except other migraine sufferers. I hope this helps! Good luck!