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Pete_G · 02-08-2007, 10:10 PM

I've suffered from occasional migraines since I was about 20. Real, debilitating migraines. Work or anything else is barely an option no matter how tough you are if you're feeling the wrath of a true migraine and not just a headache. I can't even drive if I have one since I have trouble reading street signs and seeing traffic lights.

Try to find the trigger if they're true migraines! It sounds like they are, the light sensitivity is a classic symptom as are the vision issues. Are you having vision issues before the pain? That's a prodrome and another sign that it's true migraines you're enjoying. I've even had a few migraines that screwed up my speech. Scary stuff, and often people do NOT understand. This isn't really pain you just kind of "man up" and soldier through in many cases, but most people's experiences with common headaches are that it's something that hurts but you can carry on with.

There's a wide variety of triggers for migraines, some as subtle as high pressure moving into the area or windy days. Low blood sugar is thought to encourage them too. Far more common would be things like flashing lights.

I know you're a gamer. Are you playing any new games lately? Especially with flashing lights? A game was responsible for my first migraine. A new TV? A new monitor at work or home that's really bright? Took me a week or so (and a second migraine) to make the connection to a new video game, but without a doubt it was it and I've other migraines triggered by lights since. I don't even like being near a rotating ceiling fan with light filtering through it in a restaurant.

I'm very careful these days about lights. I don't like clubs or bars with flashing lights, I don't like the movie theater, I don't play computer games in the dark, I always wear sunglasses on bright sunny days, etc. Because of that people often read me as anti-social, but I'd prefer that to being curled up in the fetal position in a dark room, hiding from all sound, nauseous, and being in ridiculous pain.

Some people have migraines as frequently as several times a week. I don't know how they live like that. I'm good for one a year since I found the things that were triggering them.

You're probably going to find Tylenol, Advil, and other OTC "migraine" drugs really don't do much, if you haven't already noticed. What does help for me are the various triptan medications. They put an appreciable dent in the migraine, often enough so that you can actually carry on at work if you take it at the first sign of the migraine, whatever that may be for you. For some they lessen the intensity of future migraines as well. That has mostly been the case for me.

Get educated, find medication that works, and try to identify what triggers your migraines. Unfortunately some people just get them without any obvious triggers. Flashing lights, certain foods, low blood sugar, there's a long list of possibilities and it could be more then one. Flashing lights is number one for me, and I think low blood sugar is the other. Believe it or not I think the smell of Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla coffee is one too. Sounds ridiculous I know, but the smell of it sends me running to then other side of the room because I know the potential consequences.

Good luck and I hope you make progress figuring out what's wrong and controlling something which can definitely seriously impact your quality of life.

02-08-2007, 10:10 PM	#8
Pete_G Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Newport, RI Posts: 2,316	I've suffered from occasional migraines since I was about 20. Real, debilitating migraines. Work or anything else is barely an option no matter how tough you are if you're feeling the wrath of a true migraine and not just a headache. I can't even drive if I have one since I have trouble reading street signs and seeing traffic lights. Try to find the trigger if they're true migraines! It sounds like they are, the light sensitivity is a classic symptom as are the vision issues. Are you having vision issues before the pain? That's a prodrome and another sign that it's true migraines you're enjoying. I've even had a few migraines that screwed up my speech. Scary stuff, and often people do NOT understand. This isn't really pain you just kind of "man up" and soldier through in many cases, but most people's experiences with common headaches are that it's something that hurts but you can carry on with. There's a wide variety of triggers for migraines, some as subtle as high pressure moving into the area or windy days. Low blood sugar is thought to encourage them too. Far more common would be things like flashing lights. I know you're a gamer. Are you playing any new games lately? Especially with flashing lights? A game was responsible for my first migraine. A new TV? A new monitor at work or home that's really bright? Took me a week or so (and a second migraine) to make the connection to a new video game, but without a doubt it was it and I've other migraines triggered by lights since. I don't even like being near a rotating ceiling fan with light filtering through it in a restaurant. I'm very careful these days about lights. I don't like clubs or bars with flashing lights, I don't like the movie theater, I don't play computer games in the dark, I always wear sunglasses on bright sunny days, etc. Because of that people often read me as anti-social, but I'd prefer that to being curled up in the fetal position in a dark room, hiding from all sound, nauseous, and being in ridiculous pain. Some people have migraines as frequently as several times a week. I don't know how they live like that. I'm good for one a year since I found the things that were triggering them. You're probably going to find Tylenol, Advil, and other OTC "migraine" drugs really don't do much, if you haven't already noticed. What does help for me are the various triptan medications. They put an appreciable dent in the migraine, often enough so that you can actually carry on at work if you take it at the first sign of the migraine, whatever that may be for you. For some they lessen the intensity of future migraines as well. That has mostly been the case for me. Get educated, find medication that works, and try to identify what triggers your migraines. Unfortunately some people just get them without any obvious triggers. Flashing lights, certain foods, low blood sugar, there's a long list of possibilities and it could be more then one. Flashing lights is number one for me, and I think low blood sugar is the other. Believe it or not I think the smell of Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla coffee is one too. Sounds ridiculous I know, but the smell of it sends me running to then other side of the room because I know the potential consequences. Good luck and I hope you make progress figuring out what's wrong and controlling something which can definitely seriously impact your quality of life.