I have come up with a sort of scale system to categorize my migraines. I call it MC1-MC5. It is short hand for Migraine Category 1 through Migraine Category 5. Think Hurricane categories. Because, we all know, a migraine can feel a bit like being hit by a hurricane.
Before getting into the categories, I have to explain the difference between a headache and a migraine. With my migraines, I have a few "tells" that let me know one is developing. With a headache there are none of the "tells" just a headache. And, just a headache responds to OTC medicine.
So, what is a "tell"? I have many as I'm sure most migraine sufferers do. Here I'll list some of mine, and the one that I don't experience. A sharp pain in the hinge of my jar, a tingling under my scalp in the "headband" area, pressure behind the eye socket (usually only one eye socket is effected), pressure between my eyes; as in the bridge of my nose area and sharp pains in and around my cheek bones.
And then there's the aura that people talk about. I do not get the aura. The best way to describe this is to call it a vision distortion. Sometimes people can see wavy lights in their peripheral vision. From what I've read, within thirty minutes of the aura, the migraine begins. This is listed as the most common "tell" of an oncoming migraine. I'm not sure why I don't experience this "tell", but I've been told my migraines are unusual and they also don't respond to migraine medicines. I know, I'm obviously, medically weird. As expected.
So, that being said, I can get into the categories now and you'll understand what I'm talking about when I say "tell".
Let's start from the least severe and work our way up.
MC1:
This is when you have a tell going on and then shortly after your head starts to throb. You've tried OTC medicine and it will not alleviate it. You move on to prescription migraine medicine and with one dose it goes away. It helps to drink lots of water. Generally you can continue your day without the effects of the migraine interfering. The difference between a MC1 and a regular headache is the tell being present and the medicine used to alleviate it.
MC2:
You've had a tell, your head is throbbing, OTC medicine is not working and neither is the first dose of prescription medicine. You can somewhat function in your job, or the world, but it's starting to effect you. Some effects are trouble concentrating and blurred vision. A second dose of Rx meds helps, but not make it completely go away. Eventually you make it through the day and can go to bed to "sleep" it off. Generally you wake the next day without a migraine or any headache.
MC3:
All of the above for MC1 and MC2 happen, but no amount of medicine is alleviating your pain. You can't function well at work or in your daily activities. You need a dark room, absolute silence and a cool rag splashed with lavender or peppermint. An MC3 will be accompanied by trouble concentrating, slightly slurred speech, nausea and blurred vision. Sometimes to the point of not being able of driving safely. Your head feels too heavy for your own shoulders and you can feel the veins pulsating through your scalp. Sleep is the only answer. Sometimes you wake the next day with a slight headache, but OTC meds will work to alleviate the headache.
MC4:
The main difference between MC4 and MC3 is the vomiting that occurs with MC4. The nausea that you felt with the MC3 is intensified and actually makes you physically sick. The pain is so intense that the only way to alleviate it is by vomiting. No amount of meds are helpful. Water, dark rooms, silence or sleep will not help put off the inevitable; puking your guts out until there's nothing left. After heaving your stomach contents, you have less pain, but it is still there and you have an immediate reflex to sleep. And sleep now! I have actually fallen asleep beside the toilet before. No joke. Upon waking the next day there is usually a headache remaining but it is not anywhere near as intense. It's usually about a MC1. Water is your best friend. And food, because your stomach is empty.
MC5:
And, that brings us up to a MC5. The mother of all migraines. This is the one you never want to come to town. MC5 is the MC4 plus you end up in the Emergency Room. The reason you end up in the ER is simple, dehydration and pain. It takes an IV bag (or two) and a shot of Demerol to end this type of migraine. Earlier on in my migraine life I visited the ER on a regular basis, even once when I was out of town, but since then I have figured out ways to keep from suffering from the MC5. The main way to stay out of the ER is by drinking lots of water. When the first tell begins, before you ever feel your capillaries pulsating, drink water. Don't chug it, just take a sip here, a sip there and so on. I've found that room temperature water goes down the best when you are starting to feel the effects of a migraine coming on. I don't know why, but it's just something that works. The day after a MC5 you will definitely have a migraine hangover. I've had one last for five days and had to take strong prescription pain medicine such as Vicodin.
MC3, MC4 and MC5 are all debilitating to your day. Don't expect to do anything the day any of these categories come into your life, except cope.
Alright, now that I covered the categories of migraines, I thought I might add some things over the years that have been known to cause migraines for myself. These aren't the same for everyone, but if you suffer from migraines and you are not sure what is causing them, maybe you should check out what you are eating or your surroundings.
Here's my trigger list:
Aged cheddar
Lunch meat
Soy foods
Hot dogs-or any food that contains nitrates
Some citrus foods
Chocolate
Excessive amounts of caffeine (This is because caffeine dehydrates you)
Wine
Secondhand smoke
Some cigars
Strong perfume
Flashing lights
Too much direct sunlight (Yes, this one sucks. I really enjoy the sun)
Dehydration
And STRESS. Just FYI, stress is listed as the number one cause of migraines. Although I believe dehydration is.
Here is a list of other triggers known to the migraine world, but none of these seem to bother me.
Nuts
Avocados
Alcohol (except wine effects me)
Citrus juice (weirdly I can drink small amounts of juice, but not eat very much citrus)
Marinated, pickled or fermented food
Peanut butter
Sourdough bread
Broad beans, Lima beans
Figs
Raisins
Papaya
Sour cream
Bacon
Menstrual cycle
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is strictly my opinion and information I have gathered on my own migraines. Do not replace your own physicians advice with any of my experiences. Seek professional help.
Adios Muchachas,
Mel
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