Late onset migraine

[vcatay12]

I’m 45 and started with debilitating headache that are on the right side of my head , behind my right eye and also the right side of the bridge of my nose . I also get a tingling across the right side of my head . The doctor said it sounds like sinusitis and gave me 10 days of antibiotics. I was headache free for 5 days however last 4 days the headaches are back worse than ever now with nausea. I was so bad last night I haven’t slept. I was photophobic and have cried with the pain . I’m so frightened it maybe something sinister as I’ve never known migraine to start late in life , does anybody have any advice. My husband wants me to attend the hospital

[Kzwalls]

Hello does the pain intensify at all ie do you have an underlying pain continuously and then get ice pick pain for upto a minute a number of times a day?? Does you eyelid droop or is it swollen?? Is your nose blocked first thing in the morning?? I am 46 and never had a migraine in my life until 8 months ago now i have them every day.

Its scary but your not alone! It seeks like sometimes the doctors don’t understand but you and your husband need to keep pushing. It took me 6 months to get a proper diagnosis!

Take care x

[vcatay12 in reply to Kzwalls]

It was the worst it’s been last night , the pressure in my head is bad I can hear a pulse in my ear . I think it gets worse when I lay down.

Thanks for the reply, I’m so frightened of the pain now it’s making me so stressed

X

[Aundrea in reply to vcatay12]

Hi it does sound like a migraine I get pressure behind my left eye that feels like it’s going to pop. Also get pins and needles sometimes on side of my face and tongue. Also with my hand that sometimes goes up my arm. I loose my sight with my migraines then get the headache. You are not alone keep your chin up hope you start to feel better soon.

[vcatay12 in reply to Aundrea]

Thanks so much Aundrea , it’s an awful debilitating condition x

[KatherineM_PBC in reply to Kzwalls]

"I am 46 and never had a migraine in my life until 8 months ago now i have them every day" - you sati took 6 months to get a diagnosis, are you saying it's migraine or something else? Im the same as you in that, aged 49 I never experienced migraine before last year, now am plagued by head pain on virtually a daily basis. What treatments have you tried and how effective were they?

[vcatay12 in reply to KatherineM_PBC]

Hi my GP thinks it’s migraine but I have CT tomorrow to ensure there is nothing else that could be causing it . I’ve been put on eletriptan and it works amazing. I wake up every morning with the beginning of a migraine pain behind my right eye , bridge of my nose pain right side of head but when I have coffee the pain subsides. Apparently coffee although a trigger for some is a vasoconstrictor which helps to constrict the dilated vessels in the head that cause the pain

[KatherineM_PBC in reply to vcatay12]

Eletriptan is 1 of the Triptan group of meds given to migraineurs to be taken at the start of an attack to abort the migraine. You don’t take it as a daily preventative do you??

[vcatay12 in reply to KatherineM_PBC]

No not at all I take it when absolutely necessary, it’s so expensive

[Kzwalls in reply to KatherineM_PBC]

Hi my first neurologist thought it was chronic migraine but my specialist neurologist (who i was referred to after i had tried three preventatives) has diagnosed a primary headache disorder TAC called hemicranial continua which is lesser known but fits my symptoms squarely! Just keep going and pushing you medics to help you! Sometimes it can be very frustrating but you know your body! Ive also been advised to cut out sugar gluten dairy as well as normal stuff recommended for migraines like caffeine carbonated drinks chocolate and cheese😩 but it has helped! Good luck xx

[Frodo]

With new headache later in life it should always be properly checked out by a specialist so I agree with your husband. There aren't enough specialists to go round so unless there are 'red flags' it's unlikely you'll get a referral unless you can pay privately, but you can try. Not all neurologists specialise in headache disorders either.

If you're female, you may be going into peri-menopause which unfortunately can cause these debilitating migraines. You might need to be on preventive meds and triptans.

[vcatay12 in reply to Frodo]

Hi Frodo

It was the 3rd time today I seen my GP , he has referred me for a CT but has started me on triptans as the last few days have been a write off . He is convinced it’s migraine’s as I also had an eye check today and both eyes look healthy.

As for peri-menopause I’ve heard this God awful condition can start then . I just pity the people that have had this condition all of their lives ☹️

[Kzwalls in reply to vcatay12]

So glad the gp has referred you for a ct scan at least this might give you some piece of mind! I discovered at age 45 that i was peri menopause too when i migraines started so maybe worth asking your gp to do a blood test to check your hormone levels! Hope the triptans work! Have they mentioned the usual ditch caffeine, drink plenty of water and eat regularly to keep your blood sugar levels stable! Hope that you get some relief soon xx you are not alone take care xx

[Speedyt17]

get them to check for cluster headaches , it sounds like the right area maybe just not painful enough

[vcatay12 in reply to Speedyt17]

They are very painful and thankfully responding to triptans however the triptans cost $32 for only 4 tablets

[Speedyt17]

they give me triptrans for cluster headaches and also a few oxygen bottles its worth asking if it is cluster headaches and not just migraines

[vcatay12 in reply to Speedyt17]

To be honest Speedy that’s what I thought the headaches were but I suppose it won’t change the treatment except for the oxygen

[Speedyt17 in reply to vcatay12]

I had a feeling from what youd written it was cluster headaches and the oxygen does help I just thought id point it out as they don't sem to know qwhats going on with us when we get these horrible headaches

hope you get some relief soon

[vcatay12 in reply to Speedyt17]

I think my attacks were cluster headaches too . My CT was normal (Thank God ) I’ve been started on prophylactic propanol to stop these horrible attacks and have been free of this since the day I commenced the treatment. Thank God for amazing GP’s

[lynnimp]

Okay -- I had debilitating days-long migraines which commenced in my early 40's. These seemed to correspond to my menstrual cycle and the onset of perimenopausal symptoms. I had not yet been diagnosed with Hashimoto's -- which may have exacerbated this. Once I stopped having periods -- 15 years now -- I no longer had these severe attacks. Two things I found helpful: Sumatriptan and acupuncture. But, be aware 'the change' begins years before you menses stops and this could be the source. Good luck!