Does COVID Impact Migraine?
I got covid back in September. I’m a migraine sufferer but right after getting covid, they have been worse than ever. It’s all day every day and won’t respond to any medications. The pain is like nothing I have ever felt. I would rather go through labor again than wake up another day with this migraine.
My symptoms are worse
My mother is a migraine sufferer as well and also got covid and she says the same exact thing just curious if anybody else on here has gotten covid and has experienced worsening migraines?
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Hi
,
That is a great question! I did a little bit of digging and tried to find anything on this topic, but unfortunately I didn't have much luck. I'm thinking it's because there is still so much that is unknown about Covid-19 since it's still fairly new. I'm really curious to hear if others have had a similar experience to you and your mother though and I'm looking forward to having some others chime in.
Kindly, Crystal (migraine.com team)
Hi
,
I am sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. One of our contributors, Kelly, has a chronic migraine diagnosis (and a few others) and also had Covid- she shares in this article that her migraine attacks overall have increased since: https://migraine.com/living-migraine/covid-experience/. I hope her story might be helpful to you.
I hope you experience a reduction in the frequency of your attacks soon.
Melanie (team member)Hi Ricecakes - a few months on, wondering how you are now - if your migraine has eased at all?
I'm wondering if, long term, covid can make migraine worse due to the increased systemic inflammation, even after it has supposedly "gone" - and does it affect the trigeminal nerve.
Currently recovering from covid that I got in March 2021. It started with the most HORRENDOUS excruciating migraine I've ever experienced, straight into a 5 day fever. In last c.30 recovery days I've had more (thankfully shorter) migraines than I normally have and still feel awful, fatigued.
Migraine meds don't work for me as I'm highly med sensitive, so it's just Aspirin or Alka Seltzer that gives some minimal relief.
Some (depressing, unhelpful?) information from the UK Migraine Trust website - particularly the last paragraph.
"The risk of a more severe headache is higher in people who develop Covid-19. People who have had Covid-19 have experienced headaches that persist. There are also reports of people with migraine whose migraine attacks have got worse due to having Covid-19. There is emerging evidence that a lot of people who have Covid-19 may be left with long-term and potentially disabling symptoms."
I hope you're feeling a bit better?
Hi
, Thank you so much for sharing your words of encouragement and support - they mean so much!
I hope Covid recover continues and you are feeling more like yourself in no time!
Will you keep us posted? Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Advocate/Moderator
I had Covid in November and my migraines have been worse. There is so much that is not known about the side effects of this disease.
Hi
, I'm so sorry to hear this. Having Covid is miserable enough. Adding increased migraine attacks is awful. Has the doctor been able to help with this increased activity?
Hope today is a good day, Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Advocate/Moderator
