New Symptoms
Is there a specific reason why new symptoms start popping up in people who have had migraines all their lives?
It made sense last year for me when I had COVID. But right now I can't think of any reason for these new symptoms. Numbness into eyelid. Weak and shaking hands (different than the twitching I get with hemiplegic migraines on one side).
- This is such a good question and one I've wondered about too. There don't appear to have been any studies about the causes for this - but I have some guesses based on my years of moderating for the site and living with migraine for decades - so please don't take this as anything official. The dynamics I believe that could be at work for the shifting landscape of symptoms include the following:
1) As we age, our bodies shift and perhaps alter the way we respond to migraine (including hormonal changes)
2) Over time, it's possible (again perhaps due to aging or something else) that the way we process or respond to our medications shifts. Perhaps this causes changes in how migraine attacks appear within us- or it could cause varying side effects to arise that we haven't before experienced and if so, then it would become hard to parse apart what is a side effect and what is a symptom.
3) As you raised, perhaps we gain a new condition (temporarily or permanently) that interacts with migraine in a way that shifts our experience of migraine.
Again, these are just my personal reflections. What are your thoughts on this? Warmly - Holly (team member)Honestly, other than the fact that I had COVID once last year and once this year and the fact that my health and stress levels this year in general have been particularly bad, I really don't know. Hmmm.... those all sound like pretty valid reasons that you might be feeling an uptick in symptoms. I'm so sorry it's been such a rough year (and last year). Have you discussed these new symptoms with your doctor? Warmly - Holly (team member)
