Does anyone know what migraines feel like?

Question

I think that I am suffering from this; yet, I'm not sure. I head hurts and sometimes I feel like when you get brain freeze...

Answer 1

Migraine symptoms can differ somewhat from one person to another. I can only tell you what I feel myself. My neck hurts (usual first symptom), then I feel very nauseas. Then either the back of my head or the side and tons of pressure behind my eye. I get so sick and hurt so much it puts me right down. I can't tolerate any noise. I usually just lay in a half awake half asleep state until it goes away. They can hit anytime and last for one hour or for a few days. I'm on alot of different medications, which has them under control to a point where they haven't gone on much longer than about 2 hours. They are miserable, horrible, and awful. You can go to www.webmd.com which will give you much more information about the variety of different experiences and symptoms that people have. It can also help diagnose you. Good luck, and I really hope you are not having them!

Answer 2

Nope that's not a migraine. That is probably a sinus headache. If you have a migraine you will know. It feels like the entire top of your head is going to blow off. In addition it makes you throw up the pain is so intense. Along with that you can not have any light at all on because the lights hurt too. It's pretty miserable.

Answer 3

Migraines are awful! When I experience them, I most always notice a "halo-type" light that warns me one is coming on. Then the pain is so intense I sometimes throw-up. Bright light and noise make it worse. The pain can last from hours to days. Medication along with lying in a dark, quiet room can be helpful. Some-times migraines can be triggered by diet...........knowing what these food items are is extremely helpful in avoiding migraines. Avoiding stressful situations as much as possible is also a good idea.

Answer 4

Migraines are painful, throbbing headaches that last from 4 to 72 hours. When you have a migraine, it may be so painful that you are not able to follow your normal routine or do your usual activities. But even though they make you feel bad, migraines do not cause long-term damage.

Migraines are a disease. You cannot just "will them away." Talk to your doctor about your migraines. There are treatments that can help you manage them.

What causes migraines?
Experts are not sure what causes migraines. The blood vessels in your brain may get wider or narrower. This may cause swelling and pain.1

Migraines run in families, but it is not clear why some people get migraines and others do not.

What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of a migraine is a throbbing headache on one side of your head. You may also feel sick to your stomach and vomit. Activity, light, noise, or odors may make the migraine worse. The pain may move from one side of your head to the other, or you may feel it on both sides at the same time. Different people have different symptoms.

Some people have an aura before the migraine begins. When you have an aura, you may first see spots, wavy lines, or flashing lights. Your hands, arms, or face may tingle or feel numb. The aura usually starts about 30 minutes before the headache. But most people do not have auras.

How are migraines diagnosed?
A doctor can usually tell if you have a migraine by asking about your symptoms and examining you. You probably will not need lab tests, but your doctor may order some if he or she thinks your symptoms are caused by another disease.

Many experts think you have migraines if:2

You have 5 or more headache attacks without an aura or you have 2 attacks with an aura.
Your headache lasts from 4 to 72 hours without treatment.
You also feel sick to your stomach and may vomit. Light and noise may make your headache worse.
How are they treated?
You can usually manage your migraines. First try an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Brand names include Advil, Motrin, and Aleve.

If over-the-counter medicine does not work, your doctor can prescribe stronger medicine that stops the migraine as it is starting. You may not be able to use some medicines if you are pregnant or have other health problems, such as heart problems or high blood pressure.

When you feel a migraine coming on:

Stop what you are doing, and take your medicine. Do not wait for the migraine to get worse. Take your medicine exactly as your doctor told you to.
Take it easy. Rest in a quiet, dark room. Close your eyes, and try to relax or go to sleep. Do not watch TV or read. Put a cold pack or cool cloth on the painful area.
If the first treatment you try does not work, try something else. It may take time to find what works best for you.

Some people also use other kinds of treatments, such as acupuncture or the herb feverfew. These may help reduce the pain or the number of migraines you have. But experts need more research to see if they really work.3, 4

Be careful when you use your migraine medicines. Taking them too often can cause you to get another headache when you stop taking the medicine. This is called a rebound headache. If you find you are taking your medicines very often, talk to your doctor before a problem starts.

Can I reduce how often I have migraines?
You may be able to reduce how often you have migraines by staying away from things that cause them. These are called "triggers." Common triggers include chocolate, red wine, cheese, MSG, strong odors, not eating, and poor sleep habits. It may be helpful for you to track and write down your triggers. You may be able to avoid the trigger and more migraines.

If you have migraines often, your doctor may prescribe medicine that helps prevent them.

Answer 5

There is a new development in migraine therapy:
http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html

Answer 6

if you had a migrain you wouldn't be here on answers looking at a computer screen.

you'd be in bed crying. that's how much one hurts.

Answer 7

Like someone is taking a hammer and banging it on your head. You get really sensitive to bright light and loud sounds.