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Hello, I have just joined this site because, although I have not been diagnosed with migraine, I do seem to have them from time to time. The last time was Aug. 4, just over a week or so ago, and the only way I knew it was a migraine for certain (I suppose) is that I vomited, which I rarely do with headaches.

My sister has been diagnosed with headaches, but I have not (yet). I do, however, have questions about headaches that I'm looking for others' views on. I don't get headaches on a very regular basis (for instance, I don't get them every week), so I have attributed most of them to weather or PMS. My headaches seem to have changed over time, though, in intensity and position.

Many times, the headaches I get now are not as severe as ones I used to get, while others (like the one on Aug. 4) was a real brain-buster, and came on the same day as our school's Open House. I did go to the E.R. last October with a really bad all-over-the-head headache that also involved high blood pressure. For both of these bad headaches, I woke up with them that morning.

I used to get headaches mostly on one side or the other, and right in my temple. I called them "pinpoint headaches" because I could put my fingertip directly on the painful area.

Now, my headaches seem more often to hit the back of my head and the top, and sometimes behind my eyes. When on the top of my head, they seem to favor the left side top of my head, though sometimes they are directly on top. When in the back of my head, it is right in the middle, and doesn't seem to be involved with my neck. When behind my eyes, all I want to do is take out my contacts and go to sleep.

I do have muscle relaxers originally prescribed for sciatica that the doctor said I can take if the headaches are muscle-related. However, I do try to hold out on those as a last resort as much as possible, trying everything else first. My sister takes Imitrex for hers. My headaches don't really seem to follow much of a pattern (except around PMS time), nor have I been able to identify any preceding symptoms (light flashes, auras, etc.).

I did have a seizure out of the blue two years ago this past July (2013), and tests such as EEG, CAT, and MRI showed no abnormalities, so my brain is as good as it's going to get, LOL. Right before I had it, I remember seeing letters and numbers running up and down in a line on the right periphery of my vision, like in "The Matrix." That is the one and only seizure I have ever had, and I remember nothing until I woke up in the ambulance.

I know no one can diagnose over the Internet. I would, however, like insight from anyone who might be able to chime in. Even though I do have headaches, I've never considered myself as someone who "has headaches" (chronic), which I guess is why I have not pursued it further. I don't have them every week, and the ones I do have rarely, if ever, last more than a day. They vary in intensity and in location. The ones on the top of my head (especially the mild ones) are more bearable than the ones behind my eyes, but it seems that any headache can make me feel distracted.

Thanks,

Deana

  1. Hi Deana,

    Welcome to the Migraine.com discussion forum - we're so glad you are here!

    Even though you aren't having these "headaches" every week, or even daily, you've mentioned they are distracting. In that light, seeing your doctor for an accurate diagnosis is of utmost importance. This way you'll know exactly what you are dealing with and how to treat them. Your doctor can give you a complete neurological exam, go over your symptoms, discuss your medical history and your family's medical history. After all this he can arrive at a diagnosis. Here is information on the importance of an accurate diagnosis; https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-management-essential-diagnosis-and-doctors/.

    Migraine and headache are two different things - a migraine attack has four phases, prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome, but not everyone experiences each phase. In fact, you can have a migraine attack without every getting the headache phase. These are called silent or acephalgic migraine. Let me share our 'Seven Essentials of Migraine Management' for more information on migraine; https://migraine.com/infographic/migraine-management-seven-essentials/.

    I hope this helps,
    Nancy

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