There are people who are constantly on painkillers for migraines. They self-prescribe, or go to the chemist and ask, “Nipatie your most powerful painkiller.”
Migraines are not to be taken lightly. They are severe, recurring pains that mostly occur on one side of the head. The International Classification of Headache Disorders classifies migraines under primary headaches together with three other different types of headaches (tension-type headaches; cluster headaches; and miscellaneous headaches). If you have them often, you can know when they’re about to attack you.
Kawaida, the extreme pain from migraines can last for hours or even days. In addition to the pain, migraine also causes nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
Symptoms of a Migraine?
Migraines often begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. There are early Aura attack and post-attack signs of a migraine.
Early signs
One or two days before a migraine, your body portrays these early, subtle, changes.
- Constipation or Diarrhoea
- Mood changes, from depression to euphoria
- Food cravings
- Stiffness in the shoulders, neck, or limbs
- Increased thirst and urination
- Frequent yawning
- Sweating
- Temperature changes
Aura signs
Aura may occur before or during migraines. Most people experience migraines without aura.
For many people with a migraine, the auras act as a warning, telling them that a headache is soon to come. See some examples of migraine aura signs.
- Seeing various shapes, bright spots or flashes of light
- Vision loss
- Pins and needles sensations in arm or leg
- Weakness or loss of sensation in the face or one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking
- Hearing noises or music
- Uncontrollable jerking or other movements
- Sometimes, migraine with aura may associate with limb weakness in one half of the body
- Confusing thoughts or experiences
- Unpleasant and irritating smells
Attack signs
Symptoms of a migraine can occur a with or without a headache, and all migraines are never the same. Examples of typical symptoms include:
- Pain on one side or both sides of your head
- Pain that feels throbbing or pulsing
- Sensitivity to light or sounds, and sometimes smells and touch, which is relieved by lying quietly in a darkened room.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision and visual disturbance similar to the sensation that follows exposure to a very bright camera flash.
- Light-headedness, sometimes followed by fainting
- Stomach-ache
Post-attack signs
The final phase, known as post-drome, occurs after a migraine attack, and you may also experience:
- Confusion
- Moodiness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Sensitivity to light and sound
