Migraine Headaches Support Group

Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.

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oceans11 01/29/2014

I came onto this board somewhere around late last week because of a recent migraine episode but this episode is different compared to my usual. Typically my migraines last from aura to relief about 3hrs max! I feel that I am lucky in that regard.

But since last Thursday I've had either aura, pain or aura & pain 4 out of 5 days!!? Is there such thing as being trapped in like a migraine "cycle"? Here's what it looks like.

Thursday = Aura, no pain, after work
Friday = Aura, major pain (level 7), before lunch
Saturday = no pain, no aura, no migraine
Sunday = Aura, no pain, evening
Monday = Aura, minimal pain (level 3) after work
Tuesaday = Aura, no pain, evening. Goes away, aura comes back around 2am w/minimal pain (level 4) I was able to sleep through it mostly.

Now the one thing i do want to point out & i'm like 90% sure it's most likely my trigger is I'm on Metrhotrexate for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. My doctor recently reduced my dosage. I took my new dosage on Sunday like ususal (once a week) & the migraines started on Thursday.

Coincendence? Maybe, I guess.

22Lynn 01/29/2014

You could be having rebound migraines after the initial migraine from Thursday. That is really common. Especially if you are using Excedrin. I know I have been in a rebound cycle since the stress from the holidays I am trying to break. The rule is to use no pain meds or a sumatriptan type med more than two days a week in order to avoid the rebound effect. It's just something to consider.

Lemanns67 01/29/2014

I experiance Migraine cycles all the time. I seem to be very suspectible for a about a month at a time followed by 1 to 3 months were I will hardly ever experience one. I take no medication at all for them, and still seem to have these cycles.

oceans11 01/29/2014

Thank you both 22lynn & Lemanns67

I appreciate your input I didn't even want to post this because I thought I'd be the only one! LOL

I've been able to go through my migraines lately without the OTC but I wish I would have taken it on Friday, that one needed the ES Exedrin!

I guess the most frustarting thing about migraines is there's no clear cut way to pinpoint them. Anything and everything could be a trigger, all the time & then none of the time.

Weird!!

deleted_user 01/29/2014

I also read somewhere that with the aura, you could have a migraine without the pain.

When the cycle suddenly changes, it may be an idea to check in with your neurologist just to make sure everything is okay and see if they want to make any changes or if they want everything to stay the same.

oceans11 01/29/2014

@astimegoesby

Thanks but I've never had a neurologist. I've always just relied on OTC medication and my primary care.

deleted_user 02/04/2014

I also have had patterns like you described in your initial email, exactly. The doctors and (neurologists) cannot really explain such phenomemon (I've discussed the patterns with them). Their recommendation is to put you on the daily preventative, which I have resisted. I guess we have to figure out our own unique profile. As I'
ve said in other messages, I am drinking lots more water, and finding relief. Boh reduction in events.

dogwalker385 02/07/2014

My migraines come and go in cycles all the time and the past couple of weeks the main cause has been the change in the weather. I live in KY and the day we got the ICE storm and the day after were 8's then down to 6's last couple days. I am one of those people that can have a couple different types of headaches a day, and always have some type of headache everyday. Usually an avg of 14 migraines a month and I am on several preventative migraine daily meds. But was I getting at was if your headaches are changing you need to see a neurologist and maybe he can help. Good Luck ..I feel for you.

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