How do you know if your headache is a migraine?

Question

I have been having bad headaches that I could attribute to the stress of grad school but I think they might be migraines because tylenol doesn't always help. I just want to know from people who experience these headaches what symptoms to look for and which over the counter medicines work best for you?

Answer 1

where are the headaches...generally ones in the front of your head are tension headaches...migraines are usually characterized with severe pain, usually only on one side of the head...left, right, back, and sometimes incur nausea, and blurry vision....if you are getting what seems to be migraines..for me only prescription meds helped.....i got them often when i was school age, and my doc prescribed some mild narcotic medication, since back then things like imitrex were not available...luckily i grew out of them for the most part....the best over the counter stuff i use is aleve, but if that is not working, see your doctor to help diagnose the root of these headaches, and he can prescribe something that will help....if they are tension headaches, you can try to do some relaxation techniques that will help...sometimes for me, i can take an aleve, then get in the shower for about 20 minutes and get a lot of relief...seeing that you are a grad student, you may just need to try and relax, i can somewhat relate, as i am a full time 3rd year undergrad, and i work full time as well....good luck

Answer 2

When I get a migraine, I find that I get very sensitive to light and noises. I also sometimes taste a sort of metallic taste in my mouth and I read on one of the migraine boards that I found that that can be a symptom also. The best thing you can do is to lower your stress level. If you feel a migraine coming on then turn out the lights and go into a very quiet room. There are a lot of otc meds for migraines and I have found that aleve or goody or bc powders can help a lot. Good luck.

Answer 3

I get migraines myself, as well as treating people who get them

Migraines are one sided, not bilateral (not across the front of your head or in the back of your scalp). people with migraines often are sensitive to light and/or sound. Sometimes they get nauseated or throw up.
Pain is on the high end of a scale of 0-10, sometimes people will say it's a 15- unbearable.

Over the counter medications usually don't work for true migraines, you will need to see a doctor & get prescription medications- they work quickly & don't make you sleepy or groggy.
They target the blood vessels in the brain that cause the migraine-- that's the difference between a migraine & a "regular" headache-- migraines are vascular in nature & other headaches are most often muscle tension related.

Answer 4

when i get a migrain, first it starts out feeling like a sinus headach, in the back of my eye (usually my right eye). then it feels like my eye is swelling and is going to pop out of my head. for some reason, applying presure helps. but then it hits me and i cant stand any light or sound. i have to hang blankets up over windows and cover my head with the pillow to keep out the noise. its gotten to the point where the pain was so bad it makes me vomit. the best thing i've found is excedrian migrain, except you can only take 2 pills in 24 hours. so i only take one, so that if it doenst go away i can still take another. and if i take 2 it makes me really shakey and out of it. but the headache usually starts going away within an hour. if i can, i take the meds and go to sleep until i wake up naturally. by then its ususally gone.

Answer 5

I take an herbal supplement called MiGone Plus that works great. Stress is a major cause of headaches and migraines. Try to relax, meditation and breathing. It really helps. Good Luck !

Answer 6

Try some stress management techniques.

1. Focus on the task at hand and not allow yourself to be overwhelmed with thoughts about, everything. Narrow your mental focus.

2. Learn some relaxation techniques.

3. Moderate your thinking. Develop the habit of recognizing the situation and making the effort to determine the rational, moderate thought about what is happening.

Answer 7

symtoms are nausea, sensitivity to light, sound, smells, weakness, and intense almost worse than being in labor without the epidural (yes a have a very good experience to base this on) pain that can literally bring you to your knees.
i take motrin migraine, drinks lots of coffee and walk around in sunglasses inside when it gets bad. if this continues you need to go to the doctor and find out what is triggering this.

Answer 8

Here are some links that may help you. If you think you have migraines, I would suggest seeing a doctor and making sure that there are no physical problems that could be causing the headaches.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migrain...

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/migra...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/migraine...

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/migra...

http://www.midas-migraine.net/

Answer 9

I am having migraine problem. I know there is migraine there would be ache in the any particular large area of head.

Answer 10

i am a regualr sufferer from migranes.a migrane is extreemly different from just a bad headache. it affects people in different ways. with me i cant move my head, it hurts to move atall, i feel sick and i usually get pain on one side of my head right behind my eye. i have to go in a quite room and try and sleep. the pain is immence. if you are concerned go and see your gp. here is a website i often use..have a read it may be some help to you.

http://www.migraine.org.uk/section.aspx?sid=3

medication wise i have to take prescribed tablets for my headaches but here in uk you can get tablets called migraleave which ive heard some people say they work for them but they dont touch mine