Migraine Symptoms

Before we begin, let me say that proper medical diagnosis is very important. Severe headaches, by themselves or combined with other symptoms, may indicate medical conditions other than migraines. Searching the web and learning about migraines is important, but you should really let your doctor perform the necessary neurological tests to rule out other conditions and diagnose you as a migraine patient.

The list of possible migraine symptoms is long. Symptoms vary between migraine patients. In fact, even the headache itself can sometimes be absent, especially with children who suffer from migraines. As a migraine sufferer you can probably work out the profile of your specific migraine attacks.

Early Signs

Migraine patients sometimes notice the early signs of a migraine, up to 24 hours before the actual pain begins. Telltale signs can be as minute as mood swings, fatigue and problems with concentration and memory. Sometimes it's just a general "foggy" or "clouded" feeling.

Right before the migraine pain begins, some people experience something referred to as an "aura". The aura usually consists of visual changes such as seeing bright lights or shapes, or partial loss of vision (blind spots). Some people experience dizziness and numbness of the limbs as part of their aura.

Symptoms Of A Full Blown Migraine Attack

During the attack, a migraine sufferer usually has severe throbbing pain in the head, on one side or both. The pain is often debilitating. This is not your ordinary headache and you can't just go on with your life and suffer quietly.

The pain is often centered behind one or both eyes and it sometimes feels like there is some sort of internal pressure on the eye. Apparently, in some cases, this pain may indicate glaucoma (internal pressure on the eye) – a dangerous condition that can result in partial loss of vision if left untreated. I doubt that anyone who is currently under the effect of a full-blown migraine is reading this, but if you are a friend or a relative doing the reading for them, you should know that a sense of acute internal pressure behind the eyes can sometimes indicate a medical emergency, so please help the migraine sufferer get immediate medical attention. If you're a migraine patient and have experienced internal eye pressure, contact your physician and let them know about it.

Another common symptom of migraines is increased sensitivity of one or more of the senses. Migraine sufferers are famous, or maybe infamous, for being sensitive to light during an attack.

Usually, all you want to do during an attack is stay in a dark and quiet place. With me it happens to be sensitivity to smell. During a migraine I turn into a bloodhound and notice even the faintest trace of any scent. Strong smells, such as perfumes, spicy foods, smoke and aerosols, all tend to aggravate the migraine. It is like those smells are actually painful.

Nausea and vomiting are another common migraine symptom. Unfortunately, I can personally attest to those as well. Somewhere along the attack, a strong sensation of nausea takes over me. During my first migraine attacks I tried to fight it off. Today, I no longer fight the inevitable and patiently wait for the unavoidable vomiting. In many cases, mine included, the sickness itself is actually the peak of the migraine. That means it's bad, but things get slightly better once you're over and done with it.

A distraught mental state is often part of a migraine attack. Personally, I also experience shaking and sometimes diarrhea as well. These go hand in hand with a general feeling of loss of control over my body. It's like being in a bad storm and having very little to do but somehow wait it through.

As The Storm Subsides

Migraines can last for hours and even days. My migraines usually last a few hours, but the after effects can certainly last for several days. Once the peak of the migraine has been reached, things suddenly quiet down. The pain is still there, but it's more bearable.

The after effects of a migraine can include fatigue and difficulty with mental concentration. I usually feel groggy at least for 24 hours following a migraine attack.

It took me nearly six months and several attacks to go see a doctor and get properly diagnosed. For a day or two after a migraine attack, I usually feel so listless, I found it hard even to go and see a doctor. Migraines do not run in my family, so my mother was naturally confused and worried when she heard about my weird episodes of headaches and retching. She insisted on a visit to the doctor, who referred me to a neurologist. The head doctor performed a series of tests to rule out other causes and then told me the news – I have migraines.