One reason why it is thought that around half of all migraine sufferers remain undiagnosed is that there is no specific definitive test which can be done to show that someone suffers from migraines. If you have a condition like anemia, a simple blood test will prove or disprove the diagnosis, but if you think you may suffer from migraines then getting an official medical diagnosis is a little more complicated.
So, if you think you might suffer from migraines what should you do?
Well, do go and get a diagnosis. It’s worth doing because once you have been officially diagnosed your doctor will be able to prescribe medications specifically produced to target migraines (and thus treat the problem better), and you’ll also have more protection at work thanks to the Equality Act of 2010.
Although it is true that there is no test for migraines, a diagnosis of migraines can be given on the basis of ongoing patterns and repeated attacks. So in order for a diagnosis to be given as quickly as possible it’s a good idea to prepare a few things in advance of your visit to the doctors; there are some questions that they’re pretty sure to ask you.
Firstly, how long have you been getting these attacks for? Did anything change in your life at that time that might be responsible for the attacks? For example, a family tragedy could result in enormous amounts of stress and might trigger new medical conditions, or if you’ve started taking a new medication then that might be the cause.
Next, how long does each attack last when you get one? A migraine can typically last between four hours and three days and includes more than just a headache, and sometimes even involves symptoms and no headache pain. So when you get an attack, what symptoms do you get aside from head pain? Migraine symptoms are very varied but can include nausea, dizziness and sensitivity to light.
Another thing to find out before you go is whether any other members of your family suffer from migraines. It’s been found that if a member of family, e.g. an aunt or a grandparent, suffers from migraines then you are more likely to suffer as well. In addition to this, if one of your parents is a migraine sufferer, then the probability that you will suffer from migraines is even greater. In this case there is on average a 40% chance that you will suffer too, and if both parents suffer then the likelihood increases to 90%.
Also worth keeping track of and noting down are whether you’ve noticed any patterns in your migraines. For example, some sufferers regularly experience a migraine attack shortly before the start of their period. Some sufferers identify certain foods and drinks as a trigger for their migraines; e.g. they always get a migraine after eating pepperoni pizza.
Other things to note down before you go to the doctors are: any other medical conditions you have (as these may affect which migraine medications you are able to take); and the extent to which your attacks affect what you are able to do (some migrainers find that they are unable to even stand upright during an attack).
It might not be the easiest thing to get a diagnosis for, but once you have one, then you can really start to treat the problem.
DISCLAIMER – When using any medication, always read the label and make sure you keep all medicines out of reach of children. The information supplied within this online resource is brought to you by Imigran Recovery Tablets (contains sumatriptan) for migraine relief, from a variety of author sources including health care professionals, lifestyle experts and the general public. None of the published authors endorse any brands.
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