“Thunderclap” Migraines

I had a Thunderclap headache 2 years ago and I was in the hospital for 8 days before they could stop it. It started like my normal migraine headaches. I felt a headache coming on at night and by the morning I was in immense pain. The next 3 days I was in the worst pain of my life. I don't remember much except nothing was easing my pain. I finally went to the ER and was admitted immediately because something in my blood work indicated a possible brain aneurysm. Nothing was stopping the pain until they finally did 2 days of IV DHE. The biopsy thankfully showed no blood clots and I was able to go home after 11 grueling days. It did somehow change my migraines, I would not have any symptoms that I had a headache coming on. They just hit hard and quick. I now have headaches every day, but they vary in pain. My Neurologist has not been able to find anything to help them or decrease them. So now they think I have NDHP. My Dr has moved and I currently don't have a replacement. Not a lot of good Migraine Drs here in SC. I did nothing special that caused it but I hope and pray I never have another one!

@scbooboo. wow, how scary that must have been. I'm glad you haven't had another one.
I am traveling 3 hrs to go back and see a neurologist I saw a few yrs ago just to be safe.

@purple26
It was very scary! I had just had a co-workers wife die 2 weeks earlier from a brain aneurysm. When you have headaches as bad as many of us do, everything bad goes through your head!
If you have a good neurologist, stay with them, they are hard to come by! I would travel anywhere to get a good one.

My wife has had migraines, sometimes thunderclap, for almost 3 years. They are nearly daily. All started about 2 weeks after taking the 1st booster covid shot. Been to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, University of Iowa Neurology Department, a cardiologist and a neurologist in Peoria, Illinois. Have tried many of the new drugs, Nurtec, Qulipta, etc. plus Botox shots (31 around the head, temple, neck and shoulder area) every 3 months for 2 years before giving up on them. Currently doing an Emgality shot monthly, but it is not helping, either. Tried to get into Mayo Clinic, but do not have the correct insurance and they won't accept it, we have Aetna Advantage plus medicare. I even offered to pay cash, but they don't accept that either!!
Does anyone know of a good neurologist that has good success with daily migraines? My wife is a retired RN with 40 years experience, and we have run out of options.

Brain MRI is the gold standard test for severe headaches. You should pursue that with your doctor.

@steve92 At this point, it sounds like she has tried everything. The Noran Clinic in Mpls has a Headache Clinic, but I would think the providers in Chicago are top notch. Does she take tylenol or ibuprofen every day? I stopped doing that because of rebound headaches from too much OTC meds. But she probably knows that already. I save the OTC meds for the really bad headaches (rated 6 or greater on 1-10 pain scale). I use gentle chiropractic adjustments for my neck, massage therapy, and essential oils (5 drops of peppermint, lemon, lavender, and frankincense oils in a base of coconut oil) along the scalp line. Unfortunately I have had more problems with headaches this winter, which culminated in the thunderclap headache a couple weeks ago. So I'm still trying to figure this out too.

@purple26. It has been a couple of years now, but she has had brain MRI, CAT scan, every blood test you can think of, tried acupuncture, chiropractor, botox, cardiologist, neurologist, you name it. Only thing that gives some relief is Maxault (Rizatriptan) and that is temporary. Has tried Nurtec, Qulipta and Emgality which she is presently taking but doesn't help

@purple26 She has found that 2 Anacin with a coke help with a headache, but doesn't do anything for migraines. Doesn't take too much Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

@denimart
I have a long history of headaches/migraines. I experienced my first thunderclap h/a last month on a Saturday, what a scary painful experience. I waited until the Mon to see MD, had CT scan (neg) but the gold standard for brain imaging for headaches is brain MRI (with and without contrast) so I have one scheduled soon. MRIs see the soft tissues, ventricles, blood vessels in the brain much better. You could have inflammation of the blood vessels which is not seen on CT scan. I have had a lingering daily mild headache since that big one. My doctor has also suggested Botox injections in the scalp - alot of people have success from that. I could also try a 5 day regimen of steroid to try to break the cycle of the headaches. Get a MRI order for sure from your doctor, check out neurology clinics - many have headache clinics/neurologists who specialize in migraines. They are usually booked out, get a referral now and get an appt. Good luck!