Changing Conditions

The nature and character of my headaches have changed dramatically over the course of my life.  I still get headaches but they are so different from how they started out that I am trying to figure out what to tell my doctor.  Here's the history"

Headaches started at 16 usually associated with my menstral cycle.

At age 19 I was diagnosed with migraines when I was a college and told that they were not dangerous in any way and to take aspirin and lie down when I had one.

I lived in Denver for about 5 months and had the worst headache of my life.  It lasted 3 days.

I had a baby at age 25 and one at age 27 during the pregnancies the headaches went away completely.

During my thirties I headaches became more attached to eating certain foods.  My dad (a doctor) said they were probably hystamine headaches.  I asked him if an antihystamine would than take care of them and when I tried it, there was some relief.

Middle 30's I started teaching again but ended up working for the most stressful boss of my life.  I began to have the more painful and serious headaches about once a month.  After a few years of this I finally mentioned it to my PCP.  She said to come in the next time I had one.  It was a few months but when I went in she gave me a shot of Imatrex and it was like a miracle.  That worked well for many years.  Now at 46 I have noticed over the last 2 years (since I no longer teach) that my headaches have changed.  I have less issues with the food I eat and seem to have more issues with changes in the weather.  A quick drop in the barometer will  bring them on.  They still start out pretty much the same.  Pain in the lower right rear of my head which eventually goes to my temple and behind my eye and sometimes to my right forehead.  Headaches of late have pretty much stayed that way and not escalated like my migraines did. Sometimes Imatrex helps and sometimes it does not. 

I have never seen a neurologist for my headaches but have decided to do so since they have changed in nature and the Imatrex is not always effective.  I am overweight, have high choloesterol and borderline high blood pressure.  I know all of those things will effect my headaches and what can I say, I'm working on it.

I guess what I am asking is has anyone else had the experience of changes such as this?  Are these still migraines?  I will go to the doctor but I believe that we all have to be in charge of our own medical issues and want to have some information before I go to the doctor.

Thank you, 

I have had similar experience with changes in headaches, however mine seems to be more related to my mensrual cycle and have inreased significantly with perimenopause.

I think you should see a neurologist, because some preventatives may be helpful for you. I started taking a beta blocker (Corgard) at night and it has helped the intensity somewhat. He said that usually helps people with high blood pressure (which I dont have by the way) which can also cause headaches.

When I have the worst migraines, the combination of a 100mg imitrex and 1 ES Vicodin works best. I do this maybe 4 or 5 times a month and it gets me through the worst of it.

I have not had good experiences with other preventatives but we are all different so unfortunately you have to go through some potential torture to get relief. I tried Lyrica, Topamax, and Depakote all that had different side effects I could not tolerate and only Depakote even helped the headaches.

anyway I think you situation warrants a visit to the neuro, who can give you some guidance on your treatment.