Migraines are hard to be treated without the help of a doctor and can get worse if you keep ignoring the signs.
In order to diagnose a Migraine, you can go to your primary care doctor, but for proper treatment, you should switch to a neurologist.
Talking about migraines can be a bit hard because of their varying signs and symptoms. Many people, especially women ignore the early signs, and when they see a doctor, they give him a blurred idea of their situation.
This not only makes the doctor unable to get hold of the disease but makes the medication less effective, which is not something you would want to experience.
How to Prepare
- The best way to monitor your migraine attacks is to keep a headache diary. Keep a record of what triggers your migraine and when you get them.
- Write down which medicines you take, the level of pain you have, and how long the headaches last.
- Make a list of changes you are feeling in your body or behaviour. It includes crankiness, mood-swing, and forgetfulness.
Note down symptoms, even if you can’t relate them to migraine directly. - Make a list of medications. Write down any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you take for headaches. Include any medicines you take for other conditions.Add vitamins and supplements, too. Include the doses and how often you take them.
- Know your history. Be prepared to tell your doctor when the headaches first started and if there’s someone else in your family who has migraines.Think back on all the treatments you’ve tried (both medicines and lifestyle changes) and which ones have helped and which ones brought side effects.For preventive meds that are taken daily to reduce migraines, your doctor will want to know the highest dose you took and how long you took it. Talk about any major stresses or recent life changes.
Know the Answers
Your doctor will likely do a physical exam and ask about your migraines and medical history. Be prepared to answer questions like these:
- When did you get your first migraine?
- How often did you get them when they first began?
- Did anything trigger the first headache?
- How many days each month do you have them now?
- In an average month, what percentage of your headaches are mild, moderate, and severe?
- Can you identify signals that warn you a headache is on its way?
- Do you experience the after-effects of a headache? If yes, what are they and how long do they remain in your body.
- What triggers your migraines or makes them worse?
- Does anyone else in your family have migraines?
- What symptoms do you have? How severe are they? Do you have nausea or vomiting? Are you sensitive to light or sound? Do they hit you at a certain time of day?
- How long do your migraines last?
- Do they keep you from your daily activities?
- What makes your migraines better? What makes them worse?
- What medicines have you tried? Have you tried treatments besides drugs?
- Have you ever had a brain CT or MRI?
Questions To Ask
- How can I pinpoint what triggers my headache?
- What should I keep track of in a headache diary?
- Could any of my medicines (such as birth control pills) be making my migraine headaches worse?
- Is there a chance my migraine symptoms might go away in a few years?
- Can hypnosis, biofeedback, or other non-drug treatments help?
- Could over-the-counter drugs be strong enough to ease my pain? If so how much should I take and how often should I take them?
- Would prescription medications that prevent migraines be likely to help me? Is it safe to buy anti-migraine drugs online from a reputed online drugstore?
- What are the side effects of the drugs you have prescribed? What can I do to handle or prevent them?
- Are there some lifestyle changes that might help prevent my headaches, such as diet, exercise, or meditation?
- How might my migraine headaches affect my life, and what changes, if any, should I make?
This was the guide to getting started with your migraine treatment and converse with your doctor. Share it with people who are going through the same phase and don’t know what to ask their doctor with regard to migraine.
Tags: migraine symptoms, which doctor to consult for headache, how long do migraines last, migraine treatment in ayurveda
