Hi... had migraines since around 12 (and think had them before) and am now 77 !!!
At first I didn't notice, I suppose, the visual aura, but the headache and boy was it bad and frightening for a child. Mum gave me an aspirin and I went to bed alone of course... it was always on one side of my head and am not sure if I lay there crying or what..... or for how long but seemed a long time, for a child, then threw up (vomitted) and was OK. Not sure how many I had til Mum took me to local Dr.who made diagnosis.
Long story short then had them rest of my life ... ALWAYS with aura first. Yet I was not a "heachachy" person and rarely had a normal headache. The vomiting stopped at an age I dont recall but probably as young adult... and many times had to be driven home from work or take the bus to lie down, again only Aspirin, but could not see clearly and the pain was bad, one sided. Later could not see to drive.

The aura starts as a tiny part of vision is off and then its a tiny spinning almost circle, and a Dr. once said be glad you get it as a pre-warning of pain; but its scary. The circle is like tiny ZZZZs and VVVs joined together and i put cold cloth on eyes dark room and the circle gets bigger and brighter and moves and jiggles around for about 20 minutes and goes out of my field of vision. Odd that I think around by 40's I got the "aura" but not the bad headache... just when aura left felt a bit out of sorts. But before then the headaches lasted hours and two young children to look after during it all... and the post migraine ache.

But a Dr. then gave me my first migraine meds: Cafagot PH - think thats how it was spelled... Cafagot given go women miscarriaging that shrunk the bleeding blood vessels or so I was told and phenobarb. Well I am scared of meds and just took one; but one day I took the recommended six a day and couldnt wake up to go to work! So I decided I would not take any prescribed meds and just took OTC's also tried to pretend the flashing light were fireworks!

From then on I get/got about 10 or more a year and in fact 2 days ago got 2 back to back, one last week and 2 weeks before 2 more back to back. What is happeninng now is: sometimes during or after I have one I have memory loss: while lying there waiting for aura to stop, could not think of my relative's first names; another time, could not think of the medications I am on; recently could not think of my doctors' names.... very unnerving and once went to emerge had ct scan but told not a stroke.

I understand these are now called ocular migtraines and I never stop feeling scared when my eyesight is affected, especially since a few years ago being diagnosed with Glaucoma.

My thoughts go out to everyone suffering, I remember the pain. I too was around 12 yrs of age and find many adults got them pre-teen - hormones? genes?

Anyway, just my overly long story but probably will get them til I die and although the wicked PAIN has stopped, now I have a host of other illnesses (had cancer, have P.N.,24/7 tinnitus and ear pain, hypothyroid, tmj, ibs-d, fecal incontinence ... and often wonder if I was "born to be ill" or just unlucky - as a Pain Specialist once described it to me .. said I had been dealt a bad hand of cards!!! Imagine!

Take care and I hope you find some help soon... life's too short to suffer but seems if its not one thing, its another!!! I do not know a lot of people/friends but any retired all have one illness or another, or lots .... I am thankful that things were not worse but bad enough... but whereas I used to bounce back, that bouncing ball has no air in it any more. Best of luck and best wishes for a medical miracle so you can again enjoy "life." J. (sorry to ramble)