Migraine Related- Has this happened to anyone?

JadziaDax

Every now and then I post about migraines because I feel they are ruining my life. I spent the last two days in bed because I have the flu. Wednesday, during my commute home I have to take a train to a ferry to a train. I guess I was beginning to get flu like symptoms, and along with them came a migraine. I get the aura as well when I lose vision and become really dizzy.

Well, during my ride home I felt like I was going to collapse. I had a long commute and began panicking. It was one of the worst headaches I had and I was so scared I was going to faint. I woke up today still sick but more afraid then anything to take public transportation.

Does this happen to anyone? Does anyone get migraines so bad you feel you are going to faint? I've been to specialists and I'm told this is normal- what is so normal about this??? If this happens to anyone (the aura), what do you do to stay calm when it happens in public?? After years, i'm still trying to figure this out.

texagj

The specialist said what was normal exactly? Having migraines? Or is there an underlying condition you have that causes the migraines?

missy68

Do you keep rescue medication with you at all?

JadziaDax

Doctors have told me this is all normal and part of the headache. The specialist I went to said it is genetic.
I have the rescue medicine. It usually works really well but it takes a while. It works maybe 90% of the time, but usually takes over an hour to work. This was one of those times when it didn't work at all.

Ash2985

I get the auras, but they come for half an hour (almost exactly) before I get the migraine, so I usually can take meds in time, so that the headache is mild.  I also do get dizzy.  I freaked out the first couple of times that I lost my vision, but my doctor also told me that it was normal with migraines.  Since I know how long it's going to last, I just take it as a warning sign to go lay down and take some medicine until it passes.

When it happens in public, it's scary.  I've had it happen while on a long distance drive before (I think mine are brought on largely by stress), and just had to pull over for a bit until it passed.  I usually have some type of pain medicine on me, because I don't get them frequently, but it's unpredictable when it does happen.  I don't think I helped at all, but I can certainly commiserate!

sep72fendr

How often do you get them? You really might want to see a neurologist, especially if your migraines are triggering anxiety attacks.

I've had that feeling before of wanting to pass out, everything goes grey and dotted, and then you get nauseous and your stomach feels like it got punched by an elephant.

You really need to keep a journal of your attacks. That way you can get a timeline of when they happen, what happens, write down the foods you ate, things you drank, and see if there is a correlation between migraines to find an underlying trigger.

AutumnFair

My mom gets your kind of migraines, it really takes her out most the day. It's kind of random but she gets it a fair number of times a year (enough that I know what her emergency migraine medicine is which she uses Replax). I would do what missy suggested and go to your doctor and have him/her prescribe rescue medicine. 

missy68

I don't get auras, but I do get sick when mine are bad (I also have cyclic ones, which are daily in the spring, and I just function through them).
My suggestion would be to find the darkest place you can on the public transportation, and keep something with you - as simple as a sleep mask. Block the light as long as possible after you've taken the medication. Then, sleep when you get home.
But - if you're still feeling bad, check with the neurologist (I'm assuming that's your specialist).

danieliza1127

It sounds like your migraine is also causing like a panic attack.  Either that or the migraine itself causes the dizziness, which causes you to panic about maybe fainting.

I used to get migraines about once a month but they stopped when I got off birth control pills.  A few months ago, I had a migraine aura for the first time and I was at work.  It was so scary and I was panicky because I didn't know what it was.  Once I realized what it was, I was able to calm myself down.  The internet said they usually only last about 20 minutes or so, so I just kept reminding myself that it would go away, I wasn't having a stroke or anything, stay calm until it goes away.  Then when it went away, I went home for the day.  The key to the migraine and panic attacks is just to keep reminding yourself that it's just a migraine, it's just an aura, you won't pass out, it will pass, just keep saying those things over and over until you get to a safe place (like home). 

You might want to learn some typical panic attack relaxation and breathing techniques too.

JadziaDax

Ash, your post did help. It's scary to be in public, especially around other people who have no idea what is going on. I felt like my worst nightmare came true- people were staring at me like I was on some drug.

mgietler76

I used to get the same thing, with the aura as well. I've had it happen while I was driving and it's definitely panic inducing. I usually have to pull over and take a few minutes to collect myself. Migraines have so many causes but for the most part doctors really don't know a lot more than we do. I will say though that once I had my wisdom teeth taken out my migraines have stopped being 2-3times a week to 1-2 a month if that.

JadziaDax

I appreciate everyone's responses on here. I posted a while back randomly about migraines and remember reading other posts, so I figured some of the women on here might relate.

Danieliza, I was thinking the same thing about the migraines and panic attacks. Even after writing the post, I noticed it sounded like a panic attack as well.

I have a neurologist, went to a specialist (director of a headache clinic) and have kept journals in the past. I guess i'm just complaining 'cause i'm frustrated! lol.

doctabroccoli

Mine are usually only mild, but I get awful ones maybe a couple times a year.  I had one after dropping off a co-worker at the airport back in May as I was driving back home (about a 10 mile interstate drive).  My body started to go numb and stuff and I got really panicky, especially since I was driving at 65 mph.  I kept thinking, what if I black out?  I'll be roadkill.  One of the top Cleveland hospitals is on the way from the airport to my house, and I pretty much talked myself out of going to the ER the whole way home.  Then, I was still rather panicky the rest of the night cause FI was out with his friends, and I kept thinking that no one would find me until it was too late if this was a bigger problem than a migraine!  So yeah, my migraines definitely freak me out on occasion.

pumpkinpumpkin

About a year ago, migraines were ruining my life. I was missing 1+ days of work/week because of them. I went on some medication that I take daily (nortriptilene - that is not spelled right)...plus, about 4 months ago I went off birth control pills, and have completely cut out the medication, and I feel fantastic. Seriously.

J&K10910

I've felt like collapsing when I've had migraines before, but normally it's because I've spent over an hour puking and I'm exhausted and dizzy.  I find the best thing to do is take my rescue med plus naproxen (I take them together, per my dr's orders) as soon as I start seeing the little black spots or swimmy clearish blobs.  The sooner I take them, the better they work.  If your rescue med takes a long time to work, perhaps there's a better one you could use.  If I take mine in time, it works in about 15 minutes.  Obviously everyone's different, but I would definitely talk to your doctor (though I'm sure you've tried a bunch already, I know the feeling).  Do you have any other signs you're getting a migraine before the pain actually starts?  Getting in tune with your symptoms (if you haven't already) will help you get your rescue med in in time.

I agree with Missy on bringing a sleep mask (or even sunglasses) to help block light as much as possible.  You could try earplugs too if you get really sound sensitive. 

JadziaDax

Thanks for the advice. It's been helpful. I'm going to look into switching meds, at least sometime in the near future.
I'm also going to start wearing sunglasses to my classes on Wednesdays. One room has lights so bright, it's ridiculous- and there's no cover so it's extra bright. That's probably one trigger.

J&K, I like your pic. I always remember you from box kitty!

Bride127

I didn't read what others wrote, but could it mono?  I am a chronic migraine sufferer, and I had the worst headaches ever during mono.  It could be hard to distinguish between flu and mono symtoms (nausea, for example).  Hope you feel better!