From what I know migraines can run in families. My mother had them. I've certainly had them. And one of my brothers had them.
From my own experiance I recall having some aches "right behind the eyes and between the brows" and the stomache got a little queasy when I was a kid. Although sometimes I mixed them up with eyestrain though.
They slid into some of the the background during my school years, only to begin returning when I was in college.
I had recovered from 7-8 month fight with Mononucleosis in 1990-1. By the time I returned to college was dealing with various strange symptoms of some unknown illness (would later be known as the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis).
At first the headaches were like I was young, but "differnt" in some way, though I couldn't put I finger on it. Then I began having what I thought were small sinus headaches, thinking my allergies must have been getting worse. (They were actually, but that was beside the point.) Minor nausea came along with them along with a sensitivity to bright light. Unfortunately, at this time, I neither felt the need to keep a diary, monitor, keep up any possible links to the weather and or pollen counts or anything of the sort. It might of helped alot if just did a little research.
By the time graduation came in 1994 the migraines grew worse. They still weren't on a regular-basis, but now the sympoms were changing more. Was unable to take in food or swallow medicine or water. Doctor finally diagosed the problem as "Sinus Headaches" and the inability for my stomach to hold anything was due to "mucus build up".
Unfortunateatly for 6 years I believed the diagnoses.
By late 2002 not only the migranes had increased rapidly to 3-4 times a week, lasting about 24-27 hours each. (The only way I knew they were seperate is they always took a 4 hour "break" in between if there's nothing to stop the process.) And the symptoms not only grew, they also held a particular pattern which they never failed to take unless, again, something was there to stop the process.
Getting tired of it on one of the "days off" I did a little research on weather.com since I noticed there was a connection between these, the allergies, as well as the weather...especially big weather changes....which lead to a few more sites. I printed a sheet or two and took them to my present doctor. After commenting on all the symptoms he gave me some Maxalt samples. Which is just as well since another Migraine had alreadry started before I got to his office. Two doses of the abortive med (acts to stop migraines in progress) and the migraine was gone.
I then needed to be sent to a Neurologist for a preventative. After a year, I think the Specialist is close. He has me on two strong differnt types of anti-seizure drugs. But, he's still working on it. If he wants me completely off the Maxalt, he'll have to talk to the One in charge with the weather and the pollen counts. Somehow I don't think it works that way.
As it is, the Maxalt puts me to sleep when there is a break through and I'm awake to notice it. Still, it's alot better than the alternative.
Although when it has broken through I guess as much with anyone's elses thoughts would be to crawl underneath a cubby-hole somewhere until it passes.
