Headache and Migraine Group: Let’s connect

Hi all, this is my first time posting here and I'd like to share my story to see if anyone has any insight.

I'm at 24 year old male that's been experiencing daily headaches for the past 2 years that vary in intensity. ~70% of my days are spent in a moderate-intense pain, ~20% are spent in mild pain and ~10% of my time is spent (mostly) pain free. Aside from my headaches, I'm healthy. I exercise a ton, eat relatively clean and don't drink / smoke. I have a healthy relationship with my partner, and a wonderful family.

Before I go into detail, I'll note I've had the normal checks, CT, MRI and bloodwork, all were normal. I also had a sleep apnea test and was normal.

My neurologist has diagnosed me with 'migraines'. That's all I know.

The best way to describe these headaches is like my head is swollen, I can feel something off at the back of my head, and it is almost like blood is struggling to flow to the front of my head, and it pulses behind my eye. It pulses, all day, almost everyday. It's not sharp or piercing, more dull. It's only every on one side of my head. It used to be mainly on my right side, but now moves between eyes. Generally the side I wake up with is the side it sticks with me all day.

Other symptoms include:
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- fatigue
- sensitivity to sound
- poor body temperature regulation (I get very cold or hot),
- ear ringing
- I sometimes get a 'fluttering' around my eye cavity where it meets my nose, this is hard to describe

The pattern is:
1. Go to sleep
2. Sleep ~8 hours without waking up once
3. Wake up, open eyes, feel something behind my eyes (this is hard to describe, but it's just a general discomfort)
4. Stand up, hear a whooshing sound
5. Pulsing intensifies
6. Pulsing peaks after ~2-3 hours
7. Near the evening, it will begin to diminish in intensity, but it's still there
8. Repeat step 1.

Before I go any further, I've NEVER had one of these headaches come on during the day. It is always when I wake up in the morning. I'm almost certain something is happening during my sleep that's causing these.

I've been prescribed a slew of migraine medications, none of which have worked and generally make it worse. Especially sumatriptan, that stuff ruins me. Tylenol and Advil no relief. I've been prescribed a couple anti anxiety meds, none have done anything.

Things that sometimes can provide relief:
- A nap. Even falling asleep for 20 minutes can just get rid of it, this is the only thing that can actually make it go away.
- Yawning (hard to explain, but I feel relief when I yawn)
- Intense exercise, if I go for a run / bike ride and sweat a ton, I may get some relief afterwards, it won't go away completely.

Areas of note:
- Around 4 months ago, I woke up with excruciating neck pain, and could barely rotate my head
- I can't drink alcohol, even if I had 1 drink, I get this headache amplified and am sometimes out of commission for 2 days.
- I hurt my back ~5 years ago when someone pressed on my spine. It gave me sciatic nerve pain that hasn't gone away really to this day and has caused a slew of issues on the right side of my body. I can still squat, but can't run due to knee pain and a tight hip from the back injury
- I have a high pain tolerance -- I recently broke my wrist and realized I barely had any pain. If I did, it was completely overpowered by my headache. I think this is what is scaring me now, since my wrist break feels like a little paper cut in comparison to my headache.

There's probably things I'm missing, but wanted to share my story as my doctors really don't seem to be that concerned with me, despite my quality of life being drastically reduced.

I try and remain high spirited, battling it everyday and continuing my daily routine. Some days it's near impossible though and I just need to lie down and hope tomorrow is a little better. After 2 years of wishing that, it's getting harder everyday to keep my chin up.

Thanks for reading, and would love to chat more with anyone who's experienced something similar.

First time posting. Attempted to reply to member who mentioned taking Triptans plus SSRI antidepressants. It didn’t ‘take’, so I’m posting here.

I’m interested in a comment about taking SSRIs with a
Triptan. I had been using Ubrelvy for some time with little relief. After a recent hospitalization for the worst and intractable migraine I ever experienced, accompanied by a severe urinary tract infection, I received prescriptions for Nurtec and Imitrex when I was discharged. Those two meds aren’t taken together. I’ve used them on different days at migraine onset. I also take a monthly Ajovy injection for prevention; the effectiveness appears to be diminishing. I had the same experience with Emgality.

Nurtec doesn’t help; however, Imitrex usually relieves my headache within about a half hour. I’ve taken antidepressants for several years; perhaps that’s why Imitrex is working for me. It’s only been a few weeks since starting it, but I’m grateful for the relief with Imitrex so far. I hadn’t considered the SSRI connection.

I’ve seen postings relating to diet triggers for migraines, but haven’t connected them with anything I’ve eaten. I don’t use caffeine, cola or artificial sweeteners. Cheese and chocolate don’t bother me. My headaches seem connected to the weather, which has been awful this year. We have experienced a significant amount of rainfall, wind, followed by brief periods of pleasant weather, interspersed with chilly, cloudy days.

sjd416, Bless you. You have really been through it and I empathize. Migraines are terrible. So many things can be a culprit. I went for a long time and hardly had one and now I have
started back with them.

Does anyone in your immediate family have them? My dad had them.

I will be alternating Ubrelvy & Maxalt. Ubrelvy eased my migraine in 10 minutes. Ubrelvy
made me nauseous, so I am going to take Emetrol for nausea with it per my doctor. Nurtec
did not work for me. Zomig works the best, but, insurance will not cover it. I was on Imitrex
for years. My doctor then said you have to rotate migraine meds. I agree. I do find that
the migraine nasal sprays and dissolvable meds work the quickest.

I do take 200-400 mg of Magnesium Glycinate and Vitamin B2 for migraines. It took
a while to tell a difference, but, I do believe it helps.

I cannot tolerate any of the SSRI's for migraines at all. I find that if I take the Maxalt as
soon as I feel the first twinge of a migraine, lie down in a dark room with a heat pack, doze
off for a little while, I can get relief. If I try and stay up and keep doing things, the migraine
gets worse.

There is such a thing as a Migraine Cocktail at the ER. I have never had that, have you? Also,
there is a Magnesium Infusion for migraines a friend of mine received and he had great
relief.

A hot shower or soak in epsom salt helps with the soreness in the back and neck after a
migraine is over. I also use Volataren Gel on my back and neck with a heatpack....I have
a lot of arthritis.

I agree that the weather has been so strange this year. I have allergies and am prone to sinus infections, which triggers migraines for me. This was the hardest spring I have ever had.

I do have arthritis in my spine which triggers migraines as well. I find lack of sleep can cause
them as well.

COVID brought on some of the worst migraines I have ever had....I had a bad case of COVID in 2022.

I have had migraines since the 3rd grade. I use to throw up on the school bus with the headache.

I find some of my migraines are heat induced too. If the humidity is real high it will bring
on a migraine. I will usually get one when it is going to snow as well.

Foods that are a culprit are red hot dogs, soy, MSG, ham of any kind and homemade fudge.
I do believe sugar is a trigger as well.

Staying hydrated is very important and watching caffeine intake.

I am praying for you to get relief. Keep me posted. Blessings and you are not alone.

Hi all, this is my first time posting here and I'd like to share my story to see if anyone has any insight.

I'm at 24 year old male that's been experiencing daily headaches for the past 2 years that vary in intensity. ~70% of my days are spent in a moderate-intense pain, ~20% are spent in mild pain and ~10% of my time is spent (mostly) pain free. Aside from my headaches, I'm healthy. I exercise a ton, eat relatively clean and don't drink / smoke. I have a healthy relationship with my partner, and a wonderful family.

Before I go into detail, I'll note I've had the normal checks, CT, MRI and bloodwork, all were normal. I also had a sleep apnea test and was normal.

My neurologist has diagnosed me with 'migraines'. That's all I know.

The best way to describe these headaches is like my head is swollen, I can feel something off at the back of my head, and it is almost like blood is struggling to flow to the front of my head, and it pulses behind my eye. It pulses, all day, almost everyday. It's not sharp or piercing, more dull. It's only every on one side of my head. It used to be mainly on my right side, but now moves between eyes. Generally the side I wake up with is the side it sticks with me all day.

Other symptoms include:
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- fatigue
- sensitivity to sound
- poor body temperature regulation (I get very cold or hot),
- ear ringing
- I sometimes get a 'fluttering' around my eye cavity where it meets my nose, this is hard to describe

The pattern is:
1. Go to sleep
2. Sleep ~8 hours without waking up once
3. Wake up, open eyes, feel something behind my eyes (this is hard to describe, but it's just a general discomfort)
4. Stand up, hear a whooshing sound
5. Pulsing intensifies
6. Pulsing peaks after ~2-3 hours
7. Near the evening, it will begin to diminish in intensity, but it's still there
8. Repeat step 1.

Before I go any further, I've NEVER had one of these headaches come on during the day. It is always when I wake up in the morning. I'm almost certain something is happening during my sleep that's causing these.

I've been prescribed a slew of migraine medications, none of which have worked and generally make it worse. Especially sumatriptan, that stuff ruins me. Tylenol and Advil no relief. I've been prescribed a couple anti anxiety meds, none have done anything.

Things that sometimes can provide relief:
- A nap. Even falling asleep for 20 minutes can just get rid of it, this is the only thing that can actually make it go away.
- Yawning (hard to explain, but I feel relief when I yawn)
- Intense exercise, if I go for a run / bike ride and sweat a ton, I may get some relief afterwards, it won't go away completely.

Areas of note:
- Around 4 months ago, I woke up with excruciating neck pain, and could barely rotate my head
- I can't drink alcohol, even if I had 1 drink, I get this headache amplified and am sometimes out of commission for 2 days.
- I hurt my back ~5 years ago when someone pressed on my spine. It gave me sciatic nerve pain that hasn't gone away really to this day and has caused a slew of issues on the right side of my body. I can still squat, but can't run due to knee pain and a tight hip from the back injury
- I have a high pain tolerance -- I recently broke my wrist and realized I barely had any pain. If I did, it was completely overpowered by my headache. I think this is what is scaring me now, since my wrist break feels like a little paper cut in comparison to my headache.

There's probably things I'm missing, but wanted to share my story as my doctors really don't seem to be that concerned with me, despite my quality of life being drastically reduced.

I try and remain high spirited, battling it everyday and continuing my daily routine. Some days it's near impossible though and I just need to lie down and hope tomorrow is a little better. After 2 years of wishing that, it's getting harder everyday to keep my chin up.

Thanks for reading, and would love to chat more with anyone who's experienced something similar.