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Q: Can you have 2 types of migraines? I have migraine with aura and menstural related migraines...is that common?
Hi Cynthia,
You can certainly have two types of Migraine and headache disorders. As Kath said, hormonal flucations may trigger a Migraine for some people. Menstrually triggered Migraines may be helped by taking a triptan a few days before your cycle begins. Take a look at some information about this in the question; Prevention of menstrual Migraines? and the article Frova®: Trial for Menstrual Migraine Successful.
One of the most important things is to get an accurate diagnosis. This simplifies matters and makes it easier to get information and treatment. Today, doctors usually go by the gold standard for diagnosis, the International Headache Society's International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICHD-II). You can read more about the importance of a correct diagnosis in, The Type of Migraine Does Matter.
Good luck
Nancy
Let me start by saying I'm not a doctor and this isn't medical advice...
As far as I know, "menstral migraine" isn't a type of migraine, it's just that the hormone fluctuation from your period is a migraine trigger. It's not a whole different migraine (though it may feel different than the sneaky ones because it's a different trigger).
That being said, it's not uncommon for people with migraine disorders to have different types of migraine/headache. I have migraine with aura, without aura, occipital neuralgia (which causes daily headache), and get occasional tension headaches.
From my own experience I know that you most certainly can get different types of migraine...
I for one experience regular atypical migraine with aura, I also get hemiplegic migraine, and silent migraine (the sort that you don't actually get the headache)
It's important to get a proper diagnosis however to rule out any other underlying conditions....
It's also important to know what types of migraine you suffer from in order to seek the best treatment as there are some medications that should not be taken with certain types of migraine etc....
Best of luck and I hope that I answered your question :)
*E-J*
I get several different migraines, not sure how to clinically describe them. Sometimes I'll get entire frontal lobe migraine, that takes over my entire brain & cannot be ceased by medication. The migraine can last up to 3 days.
After not missing work since Oct of 2010, (I am on fmla), I've had 3 since the beginning of the new year & missed work for the first time this week. The 2nd week of Jan I had a migraine that was managed by Frova 3 times a day, the 2nd lasted one day & was on the right side of my brain which caused naseau & vomiting. This last week, I felt like I could poke my thumb through my eye because I couldn't locate the point of pressure to stop the throbbing in my left eye. Neither the 2nd or 3rd migraines were controlled by drugs, they had to ride themselves out. I due beleive that migraine 3 could have been serious, but I've had the electic magnet needles stuck in my arm, doc said I was fine. I have had migraines for 15 yrs, when I have to take the placebo pills & not birth control, I will always get a migraine.
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I havent had much luck with doctors...I was so excited to finally get seen by a neurologist, and all she told me was that I seem to have my warning signals under control & to keep doing what I was doing and that was it. I do take imitrex (have taken it for 13 years). Didnt know that I could take it a few days before my period...I always take it when the migraine is coming on. That is what aggrivates me, I have learned more about this disease on line than I have from the doctors. Thanks for the info...will look into the frova.