Migraine Headaches-Symptoms, Treatments and Causes

I, personally, only get migraines once every couple years. I do have every day or every other day headaches. They are called "tension" headaches. My son, however; is a severe migraine sufferer. He has been since he was a little tot. So, my story is telling you what we go through, or more ideally, my child. After seeing him and his migraines, I feel stupid saying I have a headache and take some Excedrin Migraine. Until they bring Excedrin back on the market, it's a little bit hard right now trying to deal with them. Ice pack and sleep is the only answer right now.

Being a headache sufferer, I know first hand what it's like. However; when I was younger, people would say they had a headache, and I just "blew it off" as in "no big deal." However; I guess this is payback for all those times I really didn't take it seriously when someone said they had a headache, because it is not fun. Two things in life are harder than anything: That would be-

1. Headache
2. Toothache

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A migraine is a horrible painful headache. It feels as if your head is going to explode as it pounds, pulsates and throbs. You can't even look at a light or the sun. You don't want anyone to speak because the noise alone, is enough to throw you over the deep end. There are studies that show or are assuming, that when you get a migraine, your blood vessels swell around the brain and press on nerves which cause the pain. No one really knows what causes the migraines to happen, but let me tell you, if you know anyone who says the suffer with migraines, I instantly feel for them and know what they are going through.

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Again, no one really knows what causes these horrible headaches. If you are married, it could be your spouse. If you are under stress, that could cause them. Menstrual cycles, anything. I have a pituitary tumor which a Dr. said could be causing mine, but again, they don't know for sure. I had a migraine about a month ago, and I wanted to almost shoot myself. Since my son is a sufferer, he said, "you'll be okay mom. I live with them." He either understood, or didn't have any pity on me since I don't get the migraines all the time, just the tension headaches, which believe me, aren't fun, but the Excedrin Migraine usually help. If it doesn't, then I sleep with a cold rag on my head until it goes away.

Now, my sons migraines are bad. We know what is causing his, which is unusual to know, but also, he has a condition called CVS-Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. I have written a whole other hub, that you can read HERE on CVS. He gets what is called, an Abdominal Migraine. That's when you get a migraine in your abdomen and your head. The story is too long and you can read it on my other hub if you wish. It's interesting and it may help if you have a child with migraines.

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• If you haven't gone to see a Dr. about your headaches, I would do so right away. There are other conditions that can cause them
• Shut off the lights
• Get a cold compress and put on your head
• Always make sure you have waste basket next to you if you vomit with it
• Go to sleep asap

I'm not a Dr., so please check with your physician to see what he recommends. These things are what my son does and when I get a headache. Everyone is different.

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There are migraine medicines out there that are prescribed from a Dr. However; don't be surprised when you go to pick it up from the pharmacy, that you have to pay a couple hundred dollars for it because a lot of insurances do NOT cover migraine medicines. I do NOT know why. Evidently, no one in congress suffers with migraines or headaches, or they would add it to the list of covered drugs. There are times my husband has been to the Emergency room and they have given him a shot for a migraine. He gets one maybe once every 2 or 3 years that literally take him out.

Prescription Medicines for migraines:

• Axert
• Frova
• Maxalt
• Imitrex
• Amerge
• Zomig
• Relpax

You have to please consider, that most of these medicines will require prior-authorization from your insurance company. They don't want to pay for migraine medicines. Evidently, no one who works for the insurance companies have suffered with migraines.

A migraine is debilitating as I have seen it first hand in my child. It's on top of the list for totally incapacitating you, and if you are a sufferer, you know what I am saying.

If you are a sufferer, please comment and let me know how you cope with it. Maybe getting our heads together (no pun intended), can help someone else or at least give support. I can deal with it usually, it's my kid that I'm worried about suffering.

Thanks for reading my story

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