My First Migraine

over30
Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:56:21 +0000

I had my first migraine at 4 with vomiting and visual disturbances. They continued occasionally until high school when they became much more frequent. When I had them the worst (late teens through late 30’s) they were definitely hormone related. Birth control pills made them much worse.

I had visual disturbances as a warning most of the time (mine were more like strobe lights, and real strobe lights could trigger one). Sometimes I’d wake up in the middle of the night with one. I also occasionally smelled oranges right before the onset. Some would last for hours, others for a day or two. Darkness and silence, along with an ice pack on my forehead and a heating pad on my neck.

I was completely migraine free during both pregnancies! (My OB suggested I stay pregnant through menopause.) They became less frequent through my 40’s. I rarely have one anymore. I still have headaches, but only 1 or 2 migraines a year.

I had 2 neurologists and we tried everything over the years, including Imitrex and another drug, biofeedback, yoga, massage, etc. Unfortunately none of this provided complete relief. Prescription pain pills helped some, but made me so fuzzy-headed I hated to take them. Birth control pills made them MUCH worse. For the last 15 years or so I have had good luck with Excedrin. It isn’t a miracle drug, but helps a lot with the pain.

Hormones, stress, red wine and MSG triggered mine. My father and gradfather also had them, and one of my boys had them in elementary school. See a neurologist. Migraines can really have a negative impact on your life and there’s no need to suffer needlessly.