I started getting the "visual migraines" back in the early 90's. Scared the crap out of me the first time I experienced it because of all the spots and flashes and stuff, with only good vision peripherally ... I thought I had a brain tumor or a tumor on my optic nerve. It only lasts for about 15-20 minutes.

I don't get them much anymore (probably only once or twice a year now), but I was lucky that I never got much in the way of a headache. If I did have any headache, two extra-strength Tylenol would take care of it ... I've known people who get severe headache migraines, so I count myself lucky.

~~Bonnie




>Interesting topic. I used to get migraines starting when I was 9 and didn't stop having them until I was about 20. They were terrifying as a kid because I knew of the unbearable pain and inevitable "hurling in the can" that would soon follow, and that would last for about 8-12 hours. My mother discovered Fiorinal from her Doctor and I found that if I would take one of those right after seeing those nasty "spots and halos", I would only have a really bad headache for about 2 hours. That was like manna from heaven. But I had no idea that Fiorinal was actually a narcotic until years after I quit have the migraines. Since we never took it except when we had the migraine, there was no addiction or abuse. (For that, we did crack. LOTS of it.) totally kidding.
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>It's been over a decade later now, and just recently I have been having been having periods where all of the sudden I start seeing the spots. Freaks me out, but no headache. Makes me wonder if they are trying to come back. I went to my doctor and he gave me a couple of samples of Maxalt & Frova (triptans I guess you are referring to), just in case the Migraines do return.
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>Migraines to me are like HELL I mean really HELL. I would prefer to just be shot in the head with a 50 cal. than to go there again. Getting older, it's SO much fun.
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>"A lot of men are afraid of getting old. But I welcome my golden years because it will allow me to do things that I have never been able to do.... like getting very sick & dying..." --comic unknown
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>>My wife and I both have had them all our lives and are amused by people who say "Oh, yes, I get terrible headaches. Sometimes I have to take 2 aspirin ! " With a real migraine you can take enough codeine that they could amputate your foot without your noticing and still feel unbearable headache pain.