There’s a question that I see a lot. It gets posted a lot of different places. It gets emailed directly to me. I’m sure that other migraineurs out there that have a presence on the internet get it as well. It goes something like this:
“Hi. For the last [some amount of time], I’ve been experiencing [list of aura-like symptoms] followed by [headache description]. Also, this is usually accompanied by [other semi-neurological symptoms]. Is this a migraine?”
I have to be honest with you. I don’t wear a white coat. I don’t own a stethoscope. I couldn’t read an MRI if you put one in front of me. I’m not a doctor! Besides that, even if I were a doctor, if I was worth my salt I wouldn’t diagnose a migraine based on that description alone.
When I went and talked to my neurologist for the first time and described what was going on inside my head, the first thing he said to me was, “It sounds like a migraine, but let’s get an MRI to rule out anything more emergent.” That’s right, folks—there are other things that could be masquerading as a migraine. Things that are more dangerous. Things that need addressed right away.
So, if you think you might suffer from migraines, the short answer is “see your doctor.” If you still need convincing, ask yourself why you are reluctant to go. Is it because:
• You are afraid that they are going to find something more serious (like a tumor).
Better to find something serious as early as possible to give medical science every chance possible to treat it. Besides, the odds are definitely in your favor that it’s going to be nothing major.
• You are worried that it’s just a regular headache and you’ll be wasting your doctor’s time.
If it’s enough to worry you, it’s definitely not a waste of your doctor’s time. Besides, he’s getting paid for the visit, whether it’s a common headache or a migraine.
• You don’t have insurance and/or can’t afford the appointment.
Ugh. Ok, this one’s not so easy to answer glibly. If you can’t afford the appointment, I suppose the only option is to find someone to take you pro bono.
Ultimately, what it comes down to, though, is that you can’t find the final answer to this question on the Internet. You can find lots of clues, but to be safe, you need to talk to your doc. He or she is the person that will be able to order the appropriate tests, ask the questions, and finalize the diagnosis. And, most importantly, they’re the ones that can write the prescriptions that can help keep you pain free.
“Hi. For the last [some amount of time], I’ve been experiencing [list of aura-like symptoms] followed by [headache description]. Also, this is usually accompanied by [other semi-neurological symptoms]. Is this a migraine?”
I have to be honest with you. I don’t wear a white coat. I don’t own a stethoscope. I couldn’t read an MRI if you put one in front of me. I’m not a doctor! Besides that, even if I were a doctor, if I was worth my salt I wouldn’t diagnose a migraine based on that description alone.
When I went and talked to my neurologist for the first time and described what was going on inside my head, the first thing he said to me was, “It sounds like a migraine, but let’s get an MRI to rule out anything more emergent.” That’s right, folks—there are other things that could be masquerading as a migraine. Things that are more dangerous. Things that need addressed right away.
So, if you think you might suffer from migraines, the short answer is “see your doctor.” If you still need convincing, ask yourself why you are reluctant to go. Is it because:
• You are afraid that they are going to find something more serious (like a tumor).
Better to find something serious as early as possible to give medical science every chance possible to treat it. Besides, the odds are definitely in your favor that it’s going to be nothing major.
• You are worried that it’s just a regular headache and you’ll be wasting your doctor’s time.
If it’s enough to worry you, it’s definitely not a waste of your doctor’s time. Besides, he’s getting paid for the visit, whether it’s a common headache or a migraine.
• You don’t have insurance and/or can’t afford the appointment.
Ugh. Ok, this one’s not so easy to answer glibly. If you can’t afford the appointment, I suppose the only option is to find someone to take you pro bono.
Ultimately, what it comes down to, though, is that you can’t find the final answer to this question on the Internet. You can find lots of clues, but to be safe, you need to talk to your doc. He or she is the person that will be able to order the appropriate tests, ask the questions, and finalize the diagnosis. And, most importantly, they’re the ones that can write the prescriptions that can help keep you pain free.
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