Question, update, and vent

Hi All

Ovr the past few weeks, I have noticed a new symptom just before the migraine hits or during the worst of the pain. At the time, I find myself wanting absolutely no stimuation- no sounds, no light, just wanting to curl up and hide when these spells hit. It is strange, as I have usually been able to read during a migraine and it is getting harder to do so. I also find that simple noises- sch as the croaking of frogs that live in a smail fishpool in our garden drive me crazy- they have never bothered me before. Even though I am normally sensitive to light- it gets much worse during these spells. I just want to curl up in a dark room and hide when this happens. Does anyone else experience this?

Update-
I haven't been posting a lot lately due to a combination of migraines and the fact that my mother had back surgery about six weeks ago and is having a really hard time. Right now, She is housebound, so that she won't fall and damage the fusion.

The fainting is about the same. There isn't a whole lot that current doctor is willing to do about it. So for now, I am just going to muddle through.

Painfree days,
sailingm

Yes! When my migraines are starting out I really need to find a dark, quiet place where I can block out everything - if I don't it just feels like my brain is on such overload it is going to explode! Even noises like my husband typing on his computer can really be excruciating! This light/noise sensitivity has been getting worse over the last couple of years. I have found though it helps to lie down with my eyes closed and focus on listening to a tv show at a very low volume - I guess it helps me to block out the other noises around that I have no control over. It is very frustrating to have our migraine symptoms shift so often - we finally get accustomed to our symptoms and they change.........hope your day is going better and your mom's back is healing! L

Hi,

Thanks so much. It helps to know I am not alone in this. These symptoms have been really bad this week- it could be due to what triggered the migraine or it could just be that symptoms are creeping up on me. I was able to go to a good friends wedding last weekend- it was hot, but beautiful. Anyway at the reception- the had an Elvis impersonator and as he entered the music got louder and louder and the Dad looked at me- he says I white as a sheet and sort frozen, like a dear in headlights, and I wouldn't even respond to my name, so he simply grabbed my hand and led me back to the car. Basically, I had a pretty bad sensory overload.

The headache hasn't let up at all and I am more sensitive to noise. I know I have some Bose noise cancelling headphones somewhere and will try those. I have earplugs as well. I will definitely use them. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. Thanks.

This particular migraine has been horrendous. I took a short couse of decadron yesterday and am hoping that will help. I am also having to take more tylenol3, klonopin and benedryl to survive this one. I hate to take too much, but it is pretty much what I have to do so I can be well enough to help Mom. And yesterday, Mom got mad at me for taking it and told me to "perk up". Not what you want to here from a woman still having a really bad time seven weeks post-op- she is on her fourth post-op UTI, and on more pain medication than I am. I finally explained that I felt that I had to take care of her now. My brothers, though both are caring and wonderful people are not particularly good at it- so the main burden has fallen on my father, me, our incredible housekeeper. When I explained everything especially that I had to do this- she seemed to understand more, which is good.

I am going to a friend's house today-to swim, have a cookout, all that stuff. Headache or no headache, I think it will be a lot of fun and will give me a break and allow me to get out for a bit. I will take earplugs and meds with me.

Pain free days,
sailing

I have the same hyper sensitivity to sounds. It is one of the ways I know a headache is coming on.

I definitely get the light and sound sensitivity sometimes before the headache(especially the sound) or during the headache...my husband is startled sometimes when the slightest sound drives me crazy as I know what is coming...Keep your spirits up as best you can and come here for understanding and support from those of us who know what you are going through! Barbara