Headache calendar?

[Onthemove1971]

I saw the Neurologist today and he told me that I need to start keeping a headache calendar. Has anyone done this before? Do you know of a good format or what should be on it. They want to start me on Amgen and I have to have 2 months filled out before I can start it.

Thanks

[Calm_mama]

Hi,

I like these:

On an app:

itunes.apple.com/us/app/mig...

Paper:

migrainetrust.org/living-wi...

You'll start on Aimovig, correct? That's great! 🤞

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Calm_mama]

It's really great that you responded. I have to do an MRI, which is scheduled for next week. I have not tried Botox so those 2 first then he will let me try it. I am very excited we have a plan, I am getting them everyday. They are horriable!

Thanks again. I will look at these.

[Alexa49 in reply to Onthemove1971]

It is good that you are getting an MRI headaches/migraines sometimes can cause white matter lesions and other types of abnormalities in the brain so an MRI will tell the neurologist and you how the headaches/migraines are potentially impacting the structures of your brain. BRAIN SPECT is another good test.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Alexa49]

Thanks

[Alexa49]

Yes I had to keep at least a three month headache diary in order to get into a headache clinic to see a neurologist a the University of British Columbia. Here is a link to that headache diary that they provide, its in pdf and downloadable:

headacheclinic.ca/wp-conten...

So you can get an idea for how a headache/migraine diary looks like.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Alexa49]

Thank you!

[Cat00]

I've had to keep headache diaries for 10 years. I have to write every time I had a headache which I have to give a pain score of between 1-10 and I have to write down every time I take a painkiller.

[designer111]

I've done one from The National Migraine website for the past 2+ yrs (monthly template). It's amazing how covered in pen they are from all my migraines! It's good to try to notice a pattern. I write at the top of each month's page how many I had that month. Interesting to see if you can challenge yourself to have less the next month! I then ring round all those dates on a yearly calendar I print onto one page from the net. And add those up. Awful to see how many you end up having throughout the year! Mine was climbing but has calmed down. Although still having way too many. Your Dr can look through and try to decifer a pattern that you may not think of too.

[Catmag]

Yes, I have kept a migraine diary for over three years now. Initially the migraine clinic gave me a print out to complete following a block nerve injection. I keep my own now.

The format I follow is: date: time migraine begins: how long it lasts: the pain level of the migraine & what meds I take.

I've found the diary really helpful in tracking frequency, severity & medication, especially so I avoid too many pain killers & rebound/ medication overuse headaches.

Hope this helps & best of luck.

Cheers, Catmag.

[Catmag]

Hi,

Also meant to say, I keep a daily diary because it's as important to note the migraine recovery days (fog) and any No Migraine days, as it is to note the migraines. My last Neuro appt I was asked how many clear days. I had 4 no migraine days out of the 35 days, since my last block nerve injection.

Cheers, Catmag.

[Hidden]

I have devised my own daily log chart with about 10 columns.. logging everything I eat and drink with times, any physical/medical symptoms noticed (eg restless/hyperactive, sharp pains in head, sore throat in morning, stiff neck, ... Basically anything that comes up as well as migraine attacks obviously), detail on how I slept that night, mood fluctuations, any painkillers taken, activity done such as runs, longer walks etc, even toilet patterns (tmi?!) I'm determined to identify patterns and themes across my migraine attacks and get a handle on this!!!!

[Onthemove1971]

Wow! You are my hero! Have you heard of the migraine summit? They are meeting and broadcasting . Changed my world. Leading experts talking about many things. Hope you can enjoy it. IT'S FREE!!

Take care

[JulieOoze]

I use an app Migraine Buddy. It allows me to gather all the info in one place, medication I took, what helped, when and where it came on, did I have my period, had I done anything that might have been an issue etc. All downloadable for appointments, looking for patterns etc. Would recommend mostly highly even though I'd love never to look at that buddy ever again!