Hi, I have only experienced migraines about 5 times in my life (now 41, first one at around 18) and each one is accompanied by an aura about 15-30 minutes before the intense pain hits. It affects my peripheral vision which makes it very hard to walk, focus on things, etc. My last migraine was 4 years ago when I was pregnant with my son. The aura started at work on my way to heat up some food in the microwave in the kitchen. My peripheral vision was completely gone by the time I somehow made it back to my desk. I immediately went to my computer to send an email to my husband to tell him I was going to go home (why I thought I could drive home at that point is beyond me). When I went to type the email, I found I could not figure out how to type any words - couldn't even really understand what I was trying to type in the first place. I must have tried for a full 5 minutes and I would only type random letters. The weird thing is I didn't panic at all as you would expect. I was just so confused as to why I couldn't type and why I couldn't understand the emails that were right in front of me. I felt like I was in a fog. I then picked up the phone to call a colleague who worked in my building for help. Somehow, and thankfully, I could remember his extension but when he answered the phone I could not even form a sentence. I just kept mumbling and stopping and starting because I could not manage to say anything coherent. No matter how hard I tried, I could not form any words. It was incredibly frustrating but again, I wasn't panicked, just totally confused. Thankfully, he ran right down to my office to help. He immediately called my husband to pick me up (after asking 100x if he should call an ambulance) and that's when the pain hit - the worst migraine pain I had ever experienced so far. Excruciating 45 minute car ride home. I still could not really talk to my husband but I think that may have had to do with the intense pain. I immediately went to bed when I got home and stayed there for about 6 hours before I could handle the pain. When speaking to my doctor about it afterwards at my next checkup, he was not concerned - said very flatly it was just the migraine and to take advil when I know the symptoms have started. I never followed up further and haven't had another since. After reading this article however, if I ever experience this again, I will definitely be visiting my new doctor to make sure nothing else is going on. Thanks all for sharing.
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Hi, I have only experienced migraines about 5 times in my life (now 41, first one at around 18) and each one is accompanied by an aura about 15-30 minutes before the intense pain hits. It affects my peripheral vision which makes it very hard to walk, focus on things, etc. My last migraine was 4 years ago when I was pregnant with my son. The aura started at work on my way to heat up some food in the microwave in the kitchen. My peripheral vision was completely gone by the time I somehow made it back to my desk. I immediately went to my computer to send an email to my husband to tell him I was going to go home (why I thought I could drive home at that point is beyond me). When I went to type the email, I found I could not figure out how to type any words - couldn't even really understand what I was trying to type in the first place. I must have tried for a full 5 minutes and I would only type random letters. The weird thing is I didn't panic at all as you would expect. I was just so confused as to why I couldn't type and why I couldn't understand the emails that were right in front of me. I felt like I was in a fog. I then picked up the phone to call a colleague who worked in my building for help. Somehow, and thankfully, I could remember his extension but when he answered the phone I could not even form a sentence. I just kept mumbling and stopping and starting because I could not manage to say anything coherent. No matter how hard I tried, I could not form any words. It was incredibly frustrating but again, I wasn't panicked, just totally confused. Thankfully, he ran right down to my office to help. He immediately called my husband to pick me up (after asking 100x if he should call an ambulance) and that's when the pain hit - the worst migraine pain I had ever experienced so far. Excruciating 45 minute car ride home. I still could not really talk to my husband but I think that may have had to do with the intense pain. I immediately went to bed when I got home and stayed there for about 6 hours before I could handle the pain. When speaking to my doctor about it afterwards at my next checkup, he was not concerned - said very flatly it was just the migraine and to take advil when I know the symptoms have started. I never followed up further and haven't had another since. After reading this article however, if I ever experience this again, I will definitely be visiting my new doctor to make sure nothing else is going on. Thanks all for sharing.
October 16, 2013 - 5:56amThis Comment
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