Migraine

Hi

Im not sure if this is the right place to post this but ive been getting problems with daily headaches for about a year and a half now. Because of the frequency of the headaches some doctors have diagnosed them as tension headaches due to anxiety or migraines. I think i maybe getting both types of headaches but im not sure.

Some of the headaches (the worst ones) dont feel like tension headaches to me. From what i can tell tension headaches are supposed to feel like a tight band around your head where as these headaches are usually a sharpe pain on the left hand side of my head, and sometimes down into my neck as well. They also seem to be accompanied with a nasty bout of dizziness, swiss cheese memory, feeling confused (ie i will get up to make a cup of decaf coffee and forget how to make one meaning i stand there at the kitchen counter staring blankly into space trying to figure out what im supposed to do next, i figure it out eventually though!), some nausea, sensitivity to light, and visual disturbances (that usually only last for an hour maximum) including seeing blue blobs of light in my visual field, fairy lights or occassionally blind spots where things disappear out of my field of vision and then come back again. The latter scares me because when that occurs it feels like im having a damn stroke or something.


The headaches can range from moderate to really bad and i usually get the worst of them around my menstrual cycle although i can get milder ones at other times during the month as well. The more moderate ones tend to slightly more frequent (around once a week) but are still on the left side of my head and are still accompanied with mild confusion and dizziness etc. Eating large amounts of dark chocolate will also set the bad ones off. The really bad ones can last for the best part of week before wearing off.

I do get headaches that feel similar to a tight band around my head but those dont really bother me because they dont come along with all the other stuff. Basically i can ignore them and function over them.

Anyway ive tried relaxation and that doesnt really seem to help the headaches at all.

Is it possible to get migraines as frequently as i seem to if they are migraine headaches or are they most likely just bad tension headaches?

The diagnosis depends on which dr i see, some say anxiety headaches other say migraine headaches. Id like to work out which type it is so that i can find any triggers and elminate them. So far ive only managed to track any triggers down to very bright lights, emotional stress, dark chocolate and lack of sleep, my menstrual cycle but i still seem to be getting the headaches anyway so i figure there must be another trigger out there.

I know its nothing nasty cause i had a CT scan and that came back fine.

Id appreciate the opinions of others who have suffered from migraines/tension headaches on this.

Welcome to the forum, enigmatic. I'm glad you found us.

It is definitely possible to have migraines as frequently as you seem to have headaches; you will find some of our forum members struggle with that, and I had chronic daily migraines for a relatively short time. Fortunately, my frequency has decreased greatly with my current preventative.

I italicized the word "possible" because there is no way anyone here can diagnose you over the internet. It sounds as though you need to get to a headache specialist. I'm pretty sure there are some in the U.K. I know in the U.S., some of our members travel six or eight hours to get to a specialist--but it's worth it in order to get a solid diagnosis and good treatment.

You do not need to call your headaches, whether or not they are migraines, "nothing nasty." Migraines don't show up anything on a CT scan, but they are a serious neurological condition, and should not be taken lightly.

I'm sure one or more of the hosts will be here shortly with additional info for you. Again, welcome to the forum.


Types of headaches

Welcome Enigmatic. Nutcracker gave you a good link, it lists all types of headaches. If, after you read through them, you have any questions, please let us know.

Welcome to the discussion forum.

Sounds like a new doctor is in order. We have a list of Migraine specialists in the United Kingdom you may want to look up. I don't know how far they are from you, but if you can try and see one of them.

There are lots of options to treat Migraine disease. And if you are having them everyday you may need to be on a preventive.

Migraine Preventive Medications - Too Many Options To Give Up!

Keep us posted on how you are feeling, ok?

Hi, Enigmatic_Soul!

I think the headaches you describe sound much more like migraine, too. It is very possible to have them frequently, as often as daily as a matter of fact. It's also possible to have combination headaches, where you get both migraine and tension at the same time, feeding off of each other. Generally, the tension headache will start first, and then will "morph" into migraine or trigger migraine on top of it.

It probably is time to find an actual specialist who understands migraine and combination headaches in order to get this sorted out.

Hi, thankyou for the replies.

Sorry about the change in profile/login name, but for some reason it wouldnt let me log in as Enigmatic Soul so i had to register again.

Ive either forgotten which email address i used (although i tried both of them and it still wouldnt let me in) or got the password wrong or both, im not sure which but as i can be found as Moonlight magic or Enigmatic on the web, i went with moonlight magic this time around.

Its ok i have ditzy days where i cant remember my login details for various sites.

Anyway, as i was saying, thankyou for the replies. Im still having problems with the headaches so i think it might be time to track down a specialist in headaches as someone suggested.

Moonlight (aka ES)

PS when it comes to making lifestyle changes that help with headaches, which lifestyle changes have people found most effective in reducing the frequency or intensity of their headaches over time?

Or is that a different thread or has such a thread been done previously and where can i find it?

Hi Moonlight/ES,

Welcome to the site. I have been diagnosed with migraines and chronic daily headaches. You had mentioned that you are looking for lifestyle changes that have helped others. During this past year, for various reasons, I decided to go ahead and do the full blown elimination diet. I was able to identify food triggers and when I stay away from them, I have a definite decrease in the frequency and intensity of both my migraines and headaches.

Here is more information on Managing Migraine Trigger Foods. This is an article that Teri put together and it even has a downloadable workbook at the bottom which includes a checklist of potential trigger foods. I found it to be very helpful. Even if you don't do the elimination diet, this can help when trying to identify other potential food triggers you may have. It also helps to keep track of what you eat on your migraine diary. I noticed that you have already listed chocolate as a trigger for you. That is a common potential food trigger which is on this list and one that I must try to avoid too.

Take care.

Hey there,

I just welcomed you again!! Sorry for the duplication.

How about keeping a Migraine diary? That really worked when we did it for our son. Here is the linkYour Migraine and Headache Diary

quote:

Originally posted by Moonlight_Magic:
Hi, thankyou for the replies.

Sorry about the change in profile/login name, but for some reason it wouldnt let me log in as Enigmatic Soul so i had to register again.

Ive either forgotten which email address i used (although i tried both of them and it still wouldnt let me in) or got the password wrong or both, im not sure which but as i can be found as Moonlight magic or Enigmatic on the web, i went with moonlight magic this time around.

Its ok i have ditzy days where i cant remember my login details for various sites.

Anyway, as i was saying, thankyou for the replies. Im still having problems with the headaches so i think it might be time to track down a specialist in headaches as someone suggested.

Moonlight (aka ES)

PS when it comes to making lifestyle changes that help with headaches, which lifestyle changes have people found most effective in reducing the frequency or intensity of their headaches over time?

Or is that a different thread or has such a thread been done previously and where can i find it?

Well I'm bad because I don't think I welcomed you under either name!

Sorry! And Welcome!!!!

For me - as far as lifestyle changes (not including suppliments or any meds or anything like that) Just plain old changes - I make sure to get enough sleep - well rested sleep - like at least 8 hours - more if I can - but I am an early bird so I usually get just 8. I go to bed early.

I also avoid smokey areas - bars/clubs that don't have a smoking ban.

I watch my wine consumtion - I love the stuff but sometimes it hates me.

I keep a headache diary almost obsessivly - to note any changes. I am very very active in my healthcare and will ride my drs butt if I think that's what needs to be done.

We have this link too about healthy habits for migraine sufferers if you care to take a look.

Oh, I also wear sunglasses all the time (like till way after dusk) and have my brightness on my computer turned way down to not be to bright on the 'ol peepers.

Hi enigmatic!

Do you work a lot with computers? Because I heard that bad computer chairs can cause a lot of health problems, espacially back pain and headaches. In this case, you could try ergonomic furniture , it's developed according to anatomical studies, as far as I know, and might decrease your headaches.

Gwen