My Three Strangest Migraine Symptoms

By Tonilyn Hornung

2 min read

I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider. I first noticed this in grade school when I didn’t find myself fitting into one particular social group. Maybe it was my rainbow leg warmers that scared the kids or my affinity for Xanadu-like ribbon barrettes. I’ll never really know. So, when I discovered I had unusual migraine symptoms, it simply seemed par for my misfit course.

My most common migraine symptom

I do have some migraine symptoms that are very common. Along with 80 to 90 percent of migraine sufferers, I experience sensitivity to light. Photophobia is a term used for those who suffer from “an abnormal and extreme sensitivity to light and is a common symptom of migraine” according to The American Migraine Foundation.¹ This hypersensitivity leads me to spend vast amounts of time in a dark room when suffering from a migraine because light of any kind skyrockets my pain.

Are there solutions for my strange symptoms?

A quick internet search yielded information and solutions for my photophobia. Excited that my migraine symptoms were fitting in, I tried searching out some others I thought would be a fast fix too. But apparently, my misfit tendencies (or my rainbow leg warmers) shorted out my online search engine. I couldn't find an answer to these three symptoms:

An odd sensation

While lying in my bed during a migraine attack, my body becomes racked with chills. I don’t have a fever. I don’t experience any cold sweats. I can feel these fever-like chills (sans fever) start at my toes and work their way all the way up to my head until my whole body shivers. The whole ordeal lasts a minute or so and subsides until the next incident. This happens with every migraine I have and can sometimes wake me up if I've finally been able to fall asleep.

A weird taste

During a migraine attack, I endure the strangest taste in my mouth. It’s a bad taste that finds me dragging myself out of bed so I can brush my teeth to get rid of it. It’s not acidic. It’s not metal. It's not good. I can’t even describe it other than to say it tastes bad. And this only happens when I have a migraine.

A sinus reaction

When I have a migraine, there are times that I suddenly become congested. It’s like a magic wand is waved over my sinuses, or I’ve stepped into a field of dust, pollen, and ragweed so my nose has no choice but to become swollen and stuffy. This doesn’t happen every time I have a migraine, but it does happen often enough that I have a box of tissues by my bed ready to go.

Over the years, I've come to understand that all of the qualities that might lead me to feel like a misfit are my awesome personality traits that make me who I am. The same applies to my migraines - they're such an individual experience because no two migraineurs are alike. Unless I'm willing to share my rainbow leg warmers.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Migraine.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Tara O'Connor Moderator
Hi <inline-mention user-id="3907613" username="Tonilyn Hornung"/> I really liked this article. It is so crazy how each person with migraines experience them differently. Sometimes I have found for me personally it is best when I don't fit in, but everyone is different! Warmly, Tara (team member)
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Tara, thanks so much for your kind comments! I totally agree that it's so wild how everyone's symptoms are so very different! Thanks for reading! 😀
janene Member
You’re not alone. I get all three of those weird symptoms, and a few others. Another weird one: My husband can tell me I have a migraine coming before I notice because he says I get a unique type of “bad breath”. It’s a bit embarrassing and irritating to me that he can tell before I can.
1. silver Member
 Nene, that kind of reminds me of what Assistance dogs do. It's interesting he has that skill.
2. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Nene, thanks for taking the time to read and comment! Wow--that you that have the same ones too! Especially the "weird taste" one. I find that one so difficult to describe! Thanks for letting me know! And it is SO interesting that your husband can tell early on before your migraines strike. I hope it helps sometimes! Thanks for sharing!
happyhyperlove Member
Well, I didn't have rainbow legwarmers--mine were purple and white striped, but I can relate to the myriad of strange migraine symptoms. The day before I get a migraine, I will have black circles around my eyes. During the migraine, my scalp is so tender I cannot brush my hair. It tingles and feels like it is constantly moving. Sometimes I will even have pimples on my scalp after the migraine is over. The only thing I can figure out is it is just an overstimulation of the nerves. Best wishes to all!
1. azreynolds Member
 <inline-mention username="amendt" user-id="3805856"/> The bumps on our heads were like hard zits. You couldn't pop them, and they hurt. But as I grew older, I also noticed that I developed bumps on my arms and shoulders. These however, were more like tiny blisters that you can pop. They sting and itch, so you have to pop them or go crazy. None of my sisters have the tiny blisters. All of us noticed the head sores and in my case, the blisters, disappear when we removed gluten from our diets. Problem for me is keeping gluten out of my diet.
2. JakeMaxwell Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="azreynolds" user-id="3677307"/> Oh wow - that's interesting you noticed removing gluten from your diet made these blisters go away. I know a few people who have taken gluten out of their diet. It's no easy feat! - Jake (Team Member)
glassmind Member
I track 112 unique symptoms on MyBuddy migraine app. Each migraine flare differs in which I experience and to what severity. Some are more frequent (throbbing pain). Some more rare (yawning). I do get chills. I get dark circles around my eyes. I taste metal. And every one of the 112 symptom I track has other users tracking the same. (The app shows you anonymously how many people are tracking the same.) While, I am grieved to know others are suffering, it is comforting to know that any given symptom I have is valid and part of Migraine (rather than psychosis lol). Hugs to all
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi glassmind--thanks so much for sharing your symptoms and the name of the app you use to track them! I've never used it, but it sounds so very interesting. I agree when you say, "I am grieved to know others are suffering," and it is comforting knowing that others are experiencing the same. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
dopamine Member
Hi I just got back from 5 hours in ER getting IV of cortisone, Benadryl and dilauded. Histamine is my trigger, I have mast cell Disease. So I get congested, my eyes get puffy, light sensitive, Trigeminal nerves crazy pain. I do get a taste in mouth as prodrome. A metallic taste. And in the ER I got the chills today. Check with a great Mast cell dr snd see if your migraines are triggered by histamine. Tap down inflammation w monoclonal CGRP shots, and think about What triggers migraine. You can do genetic testing about DAO, it breAk down histamine in the body. And Benadryl is beyond helpful. Look up MCAS, cardinal sign are migraines. Good luck Wendy
1. dopamine Member
 <inline-mention username="amendt" user-id="3805856"/> check out taking DAO w every meal. It breaks down histamine. Game changer. Also I’m Now getting Botox from a neurologist. It is helping. Also I have hepa filters from iq air in every room. That way the air is clear , it helps a lot. Along with Chattanooga gel ice packs. They are amazing. Good luck. We are in this together. Wendy 
2. Melissa Arnold Community Admin
 Hey, Wendy! Thanks for this interesting tip. I wasn't familiar with DAO, but fortunately the site has been around for so long that there are few things we haven't discussed. 😉 I'm going to share a helpful resource here about DAO for others who may want to learn more: <a href='https://migraine.com/blog/the-migraine-food-trigger-youve-probably-never-heard-of' target='_blank'>https://migraine.com/blog/the-migraine-food-trigger-youve-probably-never-heard-of</a> It sounds like you have a great toolkit. Good stuff! -Melissa, <a href='http://migraine.com' target='_blank'>migraine.com</a> team
4uivxh Member
I have always been considered weird or strange and as I’ve gotten older I’m kind of proud of it that’s not great when you’re younger and you just seem to want to fit in in any case I think that a lot of migraineurs Might be a little out there but as for how I now it now that’s a badge of measurable distinctive significance!! <a href='http://Ok.Your' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>Ok.Your</a> third symptom of clogged sinuses has always been a problem of mine associated with migraines in fact my first diagnosis was sinus problems and I was given sinus medication so that’s that I guess I also get a weird taste in my mouth mine is closer to metallic my biggest trigger now since I’ve gotten older it’s definitely barometric pressure I don’t sleep well. But I definitely wake up every single time right before it starts to rain and more often than not with a headache
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 <inline-mention username="4uivxh" user-id="3780921"/> hi there! Sorry I’m late to respond but wanted to say totally agree that yes—when you’re younger it can feel weird not fitting in but as I got older I definitely found the joy in being different. 💗 And thanks for sharing our mutual weird symptom—barometric changes are also a trigger for me as well! We have so much in common! 😊 Thanks for taking the time to read and comment! 
2. 4uivxh Member
 <inline-mention username="Tonilyn Hornung" user-id="3907613"/> I don’t know when I became the numeric acronym I am still Delilt but in any case you got me on a day that I am suffering from this I live in the south and we have that hurricane type of storm moving in and my head is killing me so can’t say much but did want to acknowledge!!
hippygurl Member
I want Rainbow leg warmers!! I get the stuffy nose too. But not every time.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi HippyGurl--aren't rainbow legwarmers the best?! Thanks for sharing your migraine symptoms too! All the best!
katmahan Member
I understand all those symptoms and more, my weirdest migraine symptom has to be olfactory hallucinations both phantosmia or "phantom smell" where you smell something that isn't there and parosmia or the altered smell of something that does exist in your environment.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi KatMahan--thanks so much for taking the time to read and share your experience! While I don't like hearing that others suffer from migraines, I do like hearing that I'm not alone in my "strange symptoms." So thanks again for sharing. All the best to you!
2. Melissa Arnold Community Admin
 Hi, Kat! We've had so many great discussions here about phantom smells. I thought you might enjoy checking out some of the archives on this, so I ran a search for you. <a href='https://migraine.com/?s=phantom+smell' target='_blank'>https://migraine.com/?s=phantom+smell</a> Let us know if you have any specific questions! -Melissa, <a href='http://migraine.com' target='_blank'>migraine.com</a> team
silver Member
I don't really have clear-cut "attacks". I have an on-going migraine for over 3 years which just keeps changing shape from one thing to another and yes, some unusual symptoms you wouldn't normally associate with migraine. Sneezing A peculiar "flipping" sensation deep down in my esophagus. Not really acid reflux but a lot weirder, like something hasn't gone down or wants to come up again, and little spasms down there. That one is really difficult to describe. Sore ear cartilage when I wake up in the morning. Gone within minutes, but so bad I can't bear to touch the ear, and have to bathe it with very cold water to get it to ease up. It can be either ear. That doesn't happen every day. A twisting feeling in my neck, like my head wants to keep turning to the left. Increased intestinal motility which runs in phases. Sometimes worse, sometimes better. Lower abdomen distention (does the same as the above. Can go away for months, then come back again.) Shortened sleep duration. Sometimes go completely off my legs for about 3 minutes, then I'm fine. Sometimes I get a day when I have no symptoms at all and feel perfectly normal and fit!! If I'm lucky I can get more than one day like that. It is wonderful when that happens.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Silver--thanks so much for taking the time to share all of your symptoms. I'm so very sorry to hear that you've had an on-going attack for over 3 years which keeps changing. As I read through your symptoms, I realized I share one with you! "Sore ear cartilage when I wake up in the morning." This happens to me too! Thank you for naming it. I hope that those days when you have no symptoms become more frequent and you find some relief. All the best to you!
starfire33sp Member
Phantom smells so badly that I taste the smell. Forest fire, gas, perfume, etc. Weird blue lights. Hypersensitive ears that pop.
1. steveo Member
 <inline-mention username="starfire33sp" user-id="3878206"/> I get the burning smell sometimes too, that normally means its going to be a bad one. I also get super smelling ability !
2. Holly Harding Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="steveo" user-id="4199987"/> I've often said that we migrainuers are like a new breed of superheroes! https://migraine.com/blog/migraineurs-the-new-superhero Here's some information on the symptom of phantom smells: https://migraine.com/blog/experiencing-smells-taste-prior-to-migraine You are definitely not alone in this! Warmly, Holly (migraine.com team).
cdmarsh Member
Tonilyn - thank you for this article. I have the same weird symptoms but have never found another migraineur who also has them. I find that, along with the bad taste in my mouth, my taste has changed as well. Either things taste strange, or not at all except for very sweet or very salty.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Carol--thank you so very much for taking the time to read and tell me that you share this "bad taste in your mouth" symptom! I've never found another migraineur who has had it either! Even though I don't love knowing others suffer from migraines, I do feel less alone knowing I'm not the only one with this symptom. And thanks for letting me know this "bad taste" is also subject to change." 😀 All the best!
martiedgar Member
My weirdest symptom is that I hear music - it sounds faint, like it's very far away. I searched the house thinking that somebody had left a radio on somewhere but I couldn't find it. After this happened a few times I realized that a migraine started soon after.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi seeker--thanks so much for sharing your symptoms here! Thanks for bringing to light yours of feeling a radio playing in your head and your tinnitus. All the best to you!
2. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Marti--thanks for sharing your symptom of hearing music! It seems like others below have described hearing the same as well! I do so love this community when fellow migraineurs can share their experiences together. Thank you!
amendt Member
These are not odd symptoms at all. When I'm in really bad migraine pain I also shake w chills. Same thing w a friend of mine. The stuffy nose seems pretty common. I have it, and most of my friends that get even just "regular" headaches get a stuffy nose. Not sure about the odd taste sensations, but I'd guess with all our neurons firing on "wacked-out" mode, and our meninges inflamed, that's a side effect people could easily get. Your different. I like your rainbow leg-warmers! Way to go! ️‍
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Amendt--Well, first of all, thank you so much for liking my rainbow leg warmers. 😀 I enjoy them as well. And thanks for sharing your symptoms and letting me know that you experience the chills. Until I wrote this, I had no idea other migraineurs had these same symptoms! It's been fascinating! Thanks again!
dankitty Member
I’m wondering if anyone has severe eye pain by itself, as a migraine symptom. After a years treatment for dry eye, my headache doctor concluded eye pain was migraine, not an eye problem. Related to shoulder muscle tension. I’m now getting pt and Botox and have some improvement, but I’d love more. Anybody else out there with this?
1. MelanieM Community Admin
 <inline-mention user-id="3865883" username="rbcoffeelover2021"/> , I am sorry to hear that! Have you found anything that seems to help you when you have a migraine? ~Melanie (team member)
2. amendt Member
 <inline-mention username="MelanieM" user-id="3827353"/> Yeah--cutting our heads off works great! 😅 One person suggested to me migraines were like "phantom limb pain'"...huh??
chronicmigrainecure Member
I feel like migraines are our body’s way of fighting off something that is attacking our immune system. Mine last for 3 days(usual time of a virus), which make me think I may have a good allergy since it takes 3 days for food to completely clear from our system. But then I get them with dehydration, sun expose, high intensity exercise and alcohol(food allergy). I M meeting more and more people who suffer from migraines. Is it the chemicals on our food, allergy to specific food, autoimmune disorder or something else? I wish I had the answer. I am tired of being a prisoner in my own body.
1. jems Member
 Agree - thinking along the same lines, something attacking the immune system - strong connection between allergies and histamine intolerance - and mig. For 'allergic' individuals, what we eat / drink creates a histamine reaction - a combination of allergens combine to tip the scales of what the body can cope with - then inflammation reaction knocks on to mig. I'm looking at Quercetin and DAO supplements and researching 'histamine intolerance' ie. allergic to everything! Also tired of being prisoner in my own body, would love to be free a 'normal'.
2. amendt Member
 <inline-mention username="jems" user-id="3768013"/> Ditto
geniasinkey Member
I to suffer the chills, so bad it feels like my bones are shaking. The bad taste is awful I can't stand it found that the stuff for dry mouth helps with that taste. Plus my nose gets all stuffy. Flonase helps with your nose. Now all we need is something to stop the chills, I always have 2 shirts on short sleeve and a sweatshirt when I have a migraine I have had this one since June or July with maybe 50 hours in that time with out head pain. Nice talking with you hope what I shared might help you out some.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi GeniaSinkey--thanks so much for sharing what you do to get through your migraine! Those are extremely helpful! I may have to start placing a sweatshirt next to my bed. 😀 Thanks again!
moneypenni Member
I always thought these were just me! Thank you for sharing, now I know I'm not crazy, though I usually smell strawberries and taste I don't know what. It's nice to have some solidarity.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi moneypenni--I'm so happy to hear that you found the article helpful! Thanks for letting me know and sharing your symptom of smelling strawberries. All the best!
mrs-doyle Member
- I get painfully cold feet and nose at the start of the full Sx phase, sometimes back of neck, right side of face as things progress I’m always cold but then a switch flips and I’m suddenly super hot but only hands and feet sweat. Sweaty hands & feet for no apparent reason can happen a few hours prior, too. - I will smell manure that is not real (literally & ironically BS) about an hour before full blown Sx (very attention grabbing warning system, although I would prefer honeysuckle) - 12-36 hrs before, I get about 3hrs of giddy-giddy go-go’s where I have abundant energy, am really chatty, and want to do everything fun and make plans for adventures -or- the ultimate opposite very serious depression, well beyond normal depression, considering hospital depression. Both extremes only last around three hours, so I make the most of the giddy and sleep off the doom-gloom. I suspect the depression is actually postdrome phase but hard to say with chronic episodes that roll through on top of each other. - Our dog Luna Beare recognizes a different smell on my breath and checks me every 30 minutes or so. She is extra calm and well behaved, brings me her favorite toy as an offering and stretches out full length of my body to gently hug in, like she’s trying to tune my system to a different station. That doesn’t happen with any old nap or lounging. My Sx have changed over the last 40 years from their start in second grade. I would rather not have them, but they do get my attention so I can adjust and minimize an episode’s impact. They will also vary based on whether the primary provoking influence is weather or hormones or any other of many triggers, but the above remain consistent.
1. jems Member
 Tonilyn - how does your dog react when you're having a mig attack? I yearn to have a dog but have concern that I wouldn't be able to offer her/him a good life as there are so many days when I can't leave my bed due to mig.
2. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Jems--I have two dogs right now and they're so patient and kind when I have an attack. They both take turns checking on me and one will sleep with me while I'm in bed. It can be difficult dragging myself out of bed to feed them and take them outside when I'm in head pain, but they're older and know the drill. As a person who has had dogs her whole life, I'd suggest rescuing a dog where the rescuers already know the dogs personality. That's super helpful. A dog that needs a lot of playtime and walks might be a challenge. I adore dogs so I hope it works out for you in a way that helps! Best!
dawnangel1966 Member
Sometimes half of my face goes numb, I guess that's not that usual. The biggest symptom or aura is if I'm writing I leave the last letter off words. Also I can't think of words and/or mix them up, while talking or writing. Once I have a full blown migraine, sometimes I get a sore throat, but it's like in the roof of my mouth and top of my throat, my eyes burn and I get a fever. 99.1 my temp is usually 97.2. it's really weird.
1. rellenh Member
 "The biggest symptom or aura is if I’m writing I leave the last letter off words. Also I can’t think of words and/or mix them up, while talking or writing." I never thought of these as related to migraines. But I have had variations of these problems throughout my life, but the last ten years, it has been really problematic. I misspelled a word in my nephew's birthday card, and then I misspelled his address on the envelope. I found a couple stickers to fix his card and used whiteout for the envelope! Geez! I was really beginning to think it was the beginning of dementia. And then, it could also be the crappy migraine medications. But the other side effects of the medications have become so bad that I have had to stop those and am winging it on my own now. I will contact the doctor, promise! Thanks for sharing your story.
2. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi dawnangel1966--thank you for sharing your symptoms! I also mix up words when I have a migraine. It can be so difficult to form a sentence with a full-blown migraine happening. Thanks again for sharing!
mbabi1970 Member
I get a stuffy nose as well as a phantom smell. Can’t describe it, it’s just unpleasant. I’ve resulted to putting Vick’s in my nose so I smell that and it relieves the stuffiness. I also get a weird taste in my mouth. I usually have to use mouthwash to make it less prominent. I also have eye pain. My eyes just ache. Need to put drops in to soothe them.
jayess58 Member
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has weird symptoms!! I also get yawning. It's constant yawning-not just one every 5 minutes. It only lasts a few minutes but it's aggravating. I also get kind of hyper and have a fantastic mood before crashing with a migraine. Sometimes I get a stuffed nose with a migraine so I started using this nasal spray with capsaicin which is made from pepper. It hurts like crazy for a few seconds then it unplugs your nose AND knocks the migraine down a little bit. The funniest thing to me is that my husband of 37 years can just look at me even from across the room and knows I have a migraine before I do. I look in the mirror and can't see what he's looking at. But it gives me the capability to start taking meds like ondansetron (for nausea) and rescue medication like Ubrelvy at an early point in the migraine.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Jayess58--Hi there! You're definintly not the only one with some unsual symptoms! Thanks for sharing your yawning symptom! And thanks for discussing your nasal spray and that it provides you some relief. All the best!
2. jems Member
 I get the "migraine face" too - my right eye droops, both eyes tighten, my whole face sags and I age by about 20 years, it's like being possessed. As you say, it's the warning to take meds. After all these years and the many times it has happened, I still find it scary and unsettling.
l-thomas Member
Have these symptoms too..but when I try to brush that taste away,all i do is throw up...
1. seeker Member
 Agree completely.. Docs or pharmaceutical companies really don't have complete understanding of migraines, they tend to try an put it in a box with a few points ...but actually the opposite is true ...
2. Melissa Arnold Community Admin
 That's so hard, <a href='http://L.thomas' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>L.thomas</a> -- talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Have you tried using mouthwash, or maybe a mint candy? I wonder if those things would help deal with the taste without triggering you the way brushing does. Just thinking outloud here. Wishing you a peaceful weekend! -Melissa, <a href='http://migraine.com' target='_blank'>migraine.com</a> team
mcadwell Member
My body will alternate chills with hot flashes with my hands and feet set at permanent frozen. I'll smell odd smells that aren't there - one time I kept smelling parmesan cheese, another time it was camphor, etc. Minimal light and noise is necessary. And after the migraine is gone I get the 'hungry hippos' - in other words I'm starving and can't seem to eat enough.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi there mcadwell--thanks for sharing all of these migraine symptoms! I too share your "minimal light and noise is necessary" and clearly the chills are a part of my experience. Hot flashes aren't yet part of the mix, but I find my migraines shift and change over the years so there's always time. 😀 Best to you!
boobah08 Member
I happen to smell cream corn before an attack. I carry vicks vapo rub with me every where I go. I get horrible neck pain right neat the nape of my hair line. I get diarrhea and I vomit. Light sensitivity.
boobah08 Member
I also get hallucinations of spiders. Or things on the wall in the fading shape of spiders or shadows of them but then disappear like a vapor. I told my doctor and he looked at me like I was crazy.
1. Melissa Arnold Community Admin
 Boobah and Melly, I wonder if the shadowy spiders you're seeing are a kind of aura. <a href='https://migraine.com/migraine-symptoms/aura/' target='_blank'>https://migraine.com/migraine-symptoms/aura/</a> In any case, I hope you find some comfort knowing you're not alone! -Melissa, <a href='http://migraine.com' target='_blank'>migraine.com</a> team
2. amendt Member
 <inline-mention username="boobah08" user-id="3737020"/> Sorry, but doctors can be assholes....
25c6vye Member
Thank for sharing. Reading these comments made me realize that my symptoms are more common than I thought. One of my main symptoms is eye watering on one side. Mine are cervical and menstrual. My husband has symptoms that mimic a stroke, he loses his speech ability and vision on one side. He’s had more scans than we can keep track of because this. His are cervical...many neck surgeries.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hello there 256vye, I'm so happy to hear that these comments have helped! My main triggers are hormonal and then my "strange symptoms" occur when they begin. Thanks for sharing your experience and your husband's. All the best!
rellenh Member
I want Rainbow leg warmers! I have the chills too. And the weird taste. And sinus drainage. Thank you for sharing!
seeker Member
Oh my .... It's heartening to know, there are many "not the fitting in" kinds here ... I guess that's our Superpower... Have been living with migraines for more than 20 odd years , so I guess there is a familiarity now . My symptoms have changed over years... initially had nausea etc but that vanished soon enough. Didn't have aura either. I experience chills , stuffy nose , the sinus point over the eye ,on the eyebrow gets overly sensitive and hurts, also have water flowing from the eye , when touch the point. Vicks is my loyal companion for ages now .. Pain and stiffness in neck is definitely there, most times that's the precursor to the attack. Someone did mention, sensitive ear cartilage, I have that but not always. Also I experience a weakness in one side of the body, the doc had mentioned once, that quite a few get that. Lightsensitive Yes ofcourse.. My husband gets to know before that an attack is on the way.... perhaps by change in my facial expression... "Of me Trying to manage the migraine" Of all these years , the only thing that helps me is few painkillers and uninterrupted rest for few hours. The trick for me is never to have meds ... Before ... In anticipation of an attack. It only worsens it. To take it once it's a prominent , take meds then darken the room and rest for a couple of hours ... Weirdest for me ... At times I hear songs ...or conversation in my head , it's loud at times. It goes over and over like a record...Those times I feel there is so much noise in the head , when that happens...oh boy then can't sleep..can't sit ... As few mentioned... The grouchy is very much there ... Thanks to all for sharing their experiences... It definitely helped. It's like most of us ...have a lil weird in-somewhere ....
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi there seeker--I responded to you below as well, but I wanted to thank you again for reading and commenting. I'm so sorry to hear that you've had migraines for over 20 years. We do have some similarities in our experience: I don't have an aura, and I'm also fascinated to discover this sensitive ear cartilage symptom. I thought it was just me! Thanks for taking the time to share!
jems Member
Thank you for writing this article. I have felt lifelong that 'I don't fit in' - that I'm different from 'the norm' and not in a good way. There may be a strong connection between Migraine and being a 'Highly Sensitive Person' - also between Migraine and 'Histamine Intolerance'. Currently researching all I can find about both of these conditions. For weeks at a time I can smell cigarette smoke when there is none, then it disappears - feel this is part of mig "olfactory hallucinations" I've found over the years that my attacks can vary in format (with a wide range of symptoms) eg. sometimes 3 days in bed and a week to recover, other times it can disappear overnight and not develop but then rebound 2 days later on the opposite side. During an attack I get a droopy right eyelid, my whole face sags, (hormonal) hot and cold flushes intensify, hideous palpitations, nausea, retching, digestive system closes down, even to water, light sensitivity, blocked nose, intense heat on right side of head (inflammatory response) you could fry an egg on my head, intense depressing thoughts. Often in the midst of an attack if offered I'd press an 'exit the planet' button. Such fun! Pre and during an attack smells make me sick to the stomach, eg. soap - and I can't bear lavender or peppermint which I love when not having an attack. At 58, I feel at war with my body - it is not happy and I feel there is a strong connection with histamine intolerance - ie. allergic to "everything" and when one's histamine level "bucket" increases and spills over to more than the body can cope with, a migraine ensues. Early menopause at 44 and loss of estrogen and hormone profile made the migs much much worse, so in my case estrogen must have had some form of protective effect. Sorry if this reads as a bit of a downer - just saying how it is. As we know, life is a struggle with mig, it's a terrorist that can strike at any time, overcoming the ensuing anxiety and depression this creates is so challenging - hence I don't feel "normal" compared to peer group. ugh.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Jems--thank you so much for taking time out of your day to write and I'm so pleased to hear that the article resonated with you. I too understand how living life with migraines creates many challenges. Thank you for sharing your feelings. I share many of your symptoms one being that my whole face sags too--so much so that my 7-year-old has even commented. Thank you again for sharing and all the best to you.
2. Melissa Arnold Community Admin
 Hi, jems. I know you wrote here a few days ago, but I am getting caught up and wanted to pass you a resource. It's interesting that you mention histamine responses, because one of our advocates just wrote about this last week. <a href='https://migraine.com/video/histamine-response/' target='_blank'>https://migraine.com/video/histamine-response/</a> We have also had discussion about it in the past. Here's a link to our archives on the topic: <a href='https://migraine.com/?s=histamine' target='_blank'>https://migraine.com/?s=histamine</a> I hope those are useful for your research -- you are definitely not alone in struggling, especially after menopause. We're here for you! -Melissa, <a href='http://migraine.com' target='_blank'>migraine.com</a> team
mellymouse Member
Its so helpful to know that we are not alone in the way we feel. The way I feel with the onset of an attack has changed since I was 13, or I understand it more. It can also be different with some migraines. sometimes I will slur my speech or the way I speak changes. I personally don't notice this, but my family does. My face on one side droops and my eye feels different. On another occasion, I have a distinct taste in my mouth, I will continuously yawn, I am cold and shivering to my bones, I need to inject myself and sleep. Another occasion I could crave foods I am not allowed, which is weird, Chocolate, cheese, etc. I don't have them, I am incredibly thirsty, my neck aches, the back of my head hurts. Again I inject myself and rest. There are many different feelings that have to be recognised, at 54 I am still trying to be kind to myself, as mine have never really eased up. I have had moments of respite with different medication but short lived. It is best to recognise your own symptoms and act accordingly.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Mellymouse--Hello there! When you said, "It is best to recognise your own symptoms and act accordingly,"--this is some wonderful advice and I thank you for saying it. I too crave foods that I generally don't eat which I've always found strange. And thanks for saying that you also have a strange taste in your mouth like I experience as well. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! 😀
2. sjb Member
 Histamine intolerance is a fancy word for a simple allergy which is why we take "antihistamines" to treat allergy symptoms. You can use your special word if you choose but basically your body releases histamine in response to an allergen and then you take an antihistamine to clear it out of your body. That is nothing new or unique but feel free to think it, if it helps you somehow. I know this sounds sarcastic and it is but please , you do not have a histamine intolerance . I think most people react to histamine in the same way which is why antihistamines fly of the shelves of pharmacies all over the world .
azreynolds Member
I have so many of these symptoms too: stuffy nose, eye pain, cold hands and feet while getting hot flashes at the same time (How is that even possible?!!), phantom smells, and spiders? Geez, I thought I was just crazy there! But since I also have AIWS, I assumed the spiders were just part of it. I guess AIWS episodes are my weirdest "fun" symptom because I never know what to expect, especially now that I am beginning to actually feel the odd visual perception. But my auras change all the time. Sometimes it's optical, completely losing my vision in seconds. Sometimes it's just the scalp pain, other times it's smelling gas. Then some go away completely. Like for several years I felt a strange sensation in my chest that crept up to my throat, then overwhelmed me to the point I couldn't communicate what I was experiencing. These spells would cause me to curl up on the floor or couch until they passed, usually within 10-20 minutes, but one night it lasted for 8 hours happening over and over. That's when the fainting started following. Luckily I was usually already on the floor, but the time between the first sensation and the actual faint became less and less, and soon I couldn't even think, "Oh, I'm having an episode" before I hit the floor. The last 2 episodes I hit my head on a marble dresser and I fractured my back. Suddenly, no more fainting. But my optical auras and AIWS have increased in frequency and splendor since then. I just have to say, we may not be normal compared to the general population, but it seems to me that there are so many strange symptoms of migraine that they need to start considering these as totally normal!! PS. I had rainbow leg warmers too!! 😉
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 AZReynolds--Well, firstly--YAY for the rainbow leg warmers! 😀 I couldn't agree with you more when you say, "there are so many strange symptoms of migraine that they need to start considering these as totally normal." This is why I love this community so much as we are able to share and learn from everyone's experience. Thank you for sharing yours!
2. sjb Member
 I have heard of people having optical aura migraines A women I worked with had one and went to ER because she saw a spider web type thing in her eye She freaked out but they told her in ER it was an optical migraine No pain at all , just visual My migraines were excruciatingly painful - vascular I think because cold packs on my forehead soothed them or shrunk them or something I also took excedrin. Lots of caffeine in it I think One Dr. gave me a pill with some codeine in it . I used it but never refilled it. Wasn't drmatic relief and Excedrin worked just as well It is just trial and error with headaches . What works for one might not help another so you have to find your personal combination which helps you There is no one miracle drug that I have discovered so far
kelly25 Member
My horrible headache to my latest is the one I had last week. My head racked with pain so badly that all I wanted to do is just lay still so if my head was hurting that I wouldn't feel the pain but then someone would talk and that was the end of that. Eating supper didn't help it much either. I don't take over-the-counter meds because none of them work. People ask how do you get through a migraine with no meds I have meds doctor prescribed that make me very sleepy so I do my best to wait it out and then take my medicine
1. MelanieM Community Admin
 <inline-mention user-id="3786158" username="kelly25"/> , I am sorry to hear you were feeling so bad, but glad to hear you are feeling better now. I've struggled with sleepiness with a lot of prescription migraine abortive medications, so I totally hear what you are saying there. Thanks for adding your thoughts. Melanie (team member)
2. kelly25 Member
 Thank you I am glad to because when I get that way all I want is quiet don't always get it either. There is always something that happens and I know it can't be helped.
sjb Member
You might be having a sinus headache which is almost the same as a migraine except for the stuffy nose and strange taste in your mouth from draining sinus infection. My sinus infections were just like migraines , I felt nauseous , could not stand light or noise and so I stayed in a dark room with a hot or cold compress on my forehead and I took Excedrin The pain was excruciating and I slept it off They came on sometimes if I rode in the car for a long drive or it was allergy season or it used to be my menstrual cycle I think they were vascular which is why the cold compress helped but heat was soothing as well and it was a distraction from the pain. Check it out Both caused severe painful unbearable headaches. Nausea , no appetite Drinking a coke used to help for some reason- I think the caffeine , a vasoconstrictor Whether it be migraine or sinus related you are suffering greatly and whatever helps for any reason is good enough I no longer have them. I am now 77 so It might have been hormone related . We have also moved south which might have helped ?? I did see a Dr. twice and neither had anything definitive to say about what was happening and why I had the headaches . They went away so we never did a cat scan or anything like that. I had the headaches maybe once every month or two. I never kept a log or journal which might have helped me pin it down as far as potential triggers . Looking back there were a few things I could have done to figure it all out but when your head is in a vice you are not thinking at all Keep a journal , what your ate or drank before the headache came on , what was going on around you , the weather , rain or high pollen count or ??? So many triggers so keeping a journal might help you to figure it all out . I hope so
sjb Member
one more thing I did which helped was putting my hands into hot water , the cold pack on forehead and hot hands might have redirected my blood flow or something but it was quite helpful with a bad headache, crazy as it sounds
1. MelanieM Community Admin
 Thanks for sharing this tip with us <inline-mention user-id="3886367" username="sjb"/> ! I am glad you found something that brings you some relief. ~Melanie (team member)
ChroniKat Member
Hi Tonilyn - I get chills and feel extremely cold when I get a migraine attack, so much so that I have a hard time warming up. My nose gets stuffy as well. Add those to my "usual" visual auras, light/smell sensitive, etc. Thanks, fellow outsider!
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi KatsHead--Greetings fellow outsider! 😀 Thanks for sharing that you too experience the chills! I'm so sorry that you have a hard time warming up! It's so no fun! Seems like we have some symptoms in common. All the best!
alice727 Member
Dear sister Tonilyn. All your symptoms are all too familiar! Add to those imbalance, hearing music, the fragrance of gardenias, chocolate or marinara sauce (which I hate). You forgot sensitively to sound and fragrance (perfume lovers take hede!). Migraine is the shape-shifter of Neurological diseases. By the way, do you crave sugar after an attact? Oddly, the only non-medical alleviant for me is Elvis Presley ballads played softly. Helps immensely. NOW how much much of a mis-fit do you feel (LOL)?
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hello Alice727--I couldn't agree with you more when you say, "Migraine is the shape-shifter of Neurological diseases." Yes to that one! And I crave pizza after an attack and while that's not sugary like a candy bar, it's a carb high in sugar. 😀 I'm going to try playing Elvis ballads during my next attack--I'll let you know how it works. 😉 Thanks for sharing!
katlin Member
I can identify with the stuffy nose. There is no mucus but the tissues are so swollen I cannot breathe through my nose. I often woke up like that and could actually feel the migraine developing while I lay flat. I find that sleeping with my head well raised helps to stop this happening - or certainly reduces it. I can also identify with the chills you mention. I used to get those when my migraines started as the abdominal type in my 20s. I would wake at about 1am and spend about 4 hours on and off the toilet with sickness, diarrhoea and dreadful shivering attacks. When I developed the head pounding migraine headaches about 10 years later the shivering attacks stopped. I still get the other two symptoms, though plus other more classic ones.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 Hi Katlin--Yes, when I have a migraine I find the pain is slightly less with my head elevated. So we have that in common too! I'm so sorry you experienced the dreadful chills but glad to hear they stopped. Thanks for sharing your symptoms. All the best to you!
RedRoses55 Member
Found this article while searching those symptoms so Yep! I get all three of those as well. I also have to breathe into my shirt, under sheets, throw a cloth over my nose and mouth, or now that we all have masks I double mask up. I don’t know if it’s dry air or cold air, but during a migraine, even if no one else is cold, breathing feels like daggers shooting up my nose into my Brain. The hot air bubble I create by covering up my nose and mouth helps minimize that. Maybe it’s a co2 thing? I can’t find anything online. Anyone else? 
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 <inline-mention username="RedRoses55" user-id="4157355"/> thanks so much for sharing! I’m sorry that you experience the same symptoms but glad you found us over here chatting about them! 😊 I have tried raising the sheets to cover my head during a migraine and found a little relief for a bit. Eventually I become too hot and then have to place them back down though. It’s those little tricks that we each discover during an episode that help get us through I find so interesting! Thanks for commenting!
RedRoses55 Member
I will say, I don’t get the bad taste in my mouth, but, my teeth and gums feel off, like achey almost? It just feels wrong and I have to brush and rinse because that releases some of the tension I feel in my teeth. Totally odd. 
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 <inline-mention username="RedRoses55" user-id="4157355"/> Yes! I’ve gotten this one too on occasion!! Thanks for mentioning it here! My teeth feel just...off. And generally speaking I don’t even notice my teeth until I have a migraine. Right there with ya!
amendt Member
These are well known migraine triggers. OMG! Stuffy nose? Horrible! And I get the chills do bad the ER nurses think I'm cold! I'm not!
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 <inline-mention username="amendt" user-id="3805856"/> I'm so sorry to hear about your bad chills! I know how all of those can pile up in the big bag of migraine side effects. Thanks so for sharing your experience!
phennessey Member
I get a bad taste too, it's both sweet and gross, like some kind of dessert gone bad.
1. Holly Harding Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="phennessey" user-id="3854221"/> Fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I thought you might find this piece interesting- right along the lines you are talking about: https://migraine.com/blog/experiencing-smells-taste-prior-to-migraine So glad you're with us- please stay in touch. Warmly, Holly (migraine.com team)
2. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 <inline-mention username="phennessey" user-id="3854221"/> I love the description, "Like a dessert gone bad!" Yes--I feel like it's some sort of food gone bad as well! Thanks for that! And thanks for taking the time to comment!
Serena Jacobson Member
I sometimes get the strange chill with tingling, but only on the right side of my body. Even my doctor found that strange. Which lead to an EMG. Electromyography https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/emg/about/pac-20393913 Very unpleasant and found nothing. I hate feeling like a guineapig when I have a new or different symptom.
1. Holly Harding Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember23" user-id="4604077"/> Thank you so much for chiming in. Glad the EMG came back normal. And it IS so frustrating to feel like a guinea pig. I think many of us can relate to this idea on many fronts. The way we are poked, prodded, tested, etc - and how we often take medications that don't have a long history of being on the market. But, we're desperate for relief, so it's a hard choice that doesn't feel like a choice. I thought this piece might resonate with you: <a href='https://migraine.com/living-migraine/trying-new-medications-cgrp' target='_blank'>https://migraine.com/living-migraine/trying-new-medications-cgrp</a>. Thanks for being a part of our community. Warmly- Holly <a href='http://-migraine.com' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>-migraine.com</a> team
2. Serena Jacobson Member
 <inline-mention username="Holly Harding" user-id="3755969"/> Thank you
dpasek Member
I often, but not always, get a sinus congestion symptom with migraine. For me, it is dry congestion, so tissues are no help. It resembles the effect I would get if I were to hang upside down from a gymnasium device like parallel bars. I have tried taking sudafed, but this does not seem to be much help. I have checked my blood pressure during these episodes and it remains completely normal and unchanged whether I am congested or resolved. My guess is that there are 5-HT receptors in some sinus blood vessels that respond to the serotonin level changes during the migraine episode. I think the congestion resolves when my triptan rescue med takes effect.
1. Tonilyn Hornung Contributor
 <inline-mention username="dpasek" user-id="3725273"/> thanks so much for sharing your symptoms. I’m so happy to hear that you find relief from the congestion after you take your triptan rescue meds. It’s challenging enough dealing with migraine pain and then add congestion pressure on top of that and ugh! Thanks again for sharing!

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