Understanding Migraines

Migraines are a type of headache that is defined by severe throbbing and pulsating pain located on side of the head. These headaches usually have nausea and/or vomiting associated with them. They can cause a person to be extremely sensitive to light, sound, and temperature. Migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. The pain and sensitivity often interfere with a person’s everyday activities and the ability to function.

There can be warning signs to a migraine anywhere from an aura that is made up of visual issues such as flashes of light, blind spots, color changes of objects in a person’s line of sight. Migraines can cause a numbing or tingling sensation on one side of the fact or head and it can sometimes lead to speak difficulties.

There are usually four stages of a migraine. The first being the prodrome, which is a warning that a migraine is about to occur. The warning signs can be anything from a change in bowel function, mood swings, cravings, stiffness of the neck and spine, yawing, and fatigue. The second is the aura which come before or during a migraine attack. Auras can begin gradually but last up to an hour or more. The third is the actual migraine attack. The attack can last from four hours or longer and they vary from person to person. They can come once or more a month for some people. The final and fourth stage is the post-drome where you can feel wiped out, drained, confused, and washed out for up to a day.

I suffer from severe migraines several times a month. There was one point in my life that I was having them 2-3 times a week. They are painful and disorienting when I get them. Mine usually last for a day and a half and then they start to ease up. I take several medications for my migraines when I get them. I experience extreme nausea, pain in my head, tingling in my limbs and I am very sensitive to sounds, light, and temperatures. I need to take my medication and go lie down on the bed where it is dark, and cool in the room. My migraines are what actually lead to my MS diagnosis because I was having so many of them, I needed to have an MRI done to see what was going on in my brain. Even with my MS diagnosis I still experience migraines several times a month. I am to the point with my migraines that I cannot function when I have them. They are a beast to deal with but I am thankful for the medication and the cold room to help me heal from them.