That electric zapping especially if around the crown of the head is very worrisome, I've worked with too many women who had strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIA's), in their thirties and up. That's a very important sign to me to ask if they've gotten an EEG or more extensive tests. There would be abnormal brain function or scarring that would show up on the sophisticated x-rays used for that.

I too think she needs a doctor to admit her for observation and tests. Your a good person to be concerned.

Meon - you are so sweet. YES, she needs to get herwelf to a doc ASAP. She doesn't want to admit it could be something more serious. Although migraines are serious enough.

Surely treatment for migraines is an option? I know nothing about migraines, other than what I witnessed with my daughter. Frightening. But headaches can originate from many things and it's good to know. Even if nothing can be done, I believe it is good to know.

Hello, my friend Meon. Hope you are well today. Got you on my list girlfriend.

Laurie

I had my first typical migraine when I was 20 and pregnant with my 1st child. I remember it clearly. I was sitting in an Elmer's eating and all of a sudden I could see little sparkles all around my peripheral vision. I'd heard my mom talk about her migraines for years so I got outta there. I'd black out the room, make sure no smells came to make me nauseous and try to sleep through it. Occasionally I'd take Tylenol.

As the years went on, I learned caffeine helped so I'd drink coffee or most recently chocolate Cokes! Then something new began to happen.

A few months ago I had a headache, on the left side of my head for 2 weeks straight. It was accompanied by zapping or what I consider lightening sensations going down through my face into my eye to jaw. I get those lightening bolts elsewhere too, and it's being investigated. This was a headache unlike any other. Now it will come for as little as 12 hours or hang out for days. I had an MRI that showed something odd with the 5th cranial nerve. I had an additional MRI ordered from a neurologist that again showed some malformation in the 5th cranial nerve. I go back on the 30th to get results. None of my usual tactics even touched it. Not caffeine, not even the hydro I take for my fibromyalgia. I'm eager to learn what's going on, though my Dr said I should be put on a daily migraine medication. But these are unlike any migraine I've ever had. Oh, and my vision sometimes goes blurry in that eye. I'm seeing a neuro-opthamologist next month.

I went to an opthamologist last month regarding the visual disturbance in my left. I was suspecting MS and figured since it took so long to get into a specialist, I'd see if a opthamologist could diagnose me. He said my lens and optic nerve looked fine but my sclera was swollen. He sent me the next day to a retinologist. That doctor said my sclera was fine but my optic nerve was swollen!

Tiades,

From my headache experience that started before 5 years old and the study I have done, I would guess you have more than one thing going on right now.

I'll try and look up some info tonight or tomorrow and post the links for you.

Sometimes we have to take info in for our docs to look at, they are human afterall and make mistakes. I wish my GYN would treat my headaches, she completely believes that women know they bodies better than anyone and if something isn't right they know it.

Let me do some research and get you some links and maybe some of it will be exactly what you are going through and then you'll have an idea of where to look for something to stop the pain.

One thing about caffeine.....while it can help and does, you have to be careful. Too much caffeine can make headaches WORSE.

Tell us something else.....what meds do you take a week and approximately how often.

anyone get shots of botox in their head to control migraines? my gf been doing this for years. i dont know how effective it is, since she still has headaches, but she had to stop for about a year - insurance decided all of a sudden that it was experimental and she had to sue to get her treatment reinstated - and she definately had worse headaches.

I tried that years ago back when it was experimental. Didn't help me. I can see how it would help tension headaches, but don't understand how it helps migraines.

I suspect trigeminal neuralgia along with atypical migraines.

I have migraines which are brought on by PMS every month. It is convenient for me because I roughly know they will occur, but it doesn't make them any easier to live with. I usually take a pain killer with a high dose of codeine, and put a cold damp compress on my forehead, then I just lay down and don't move until it passes, usually within 24 hours.

Don't you just hate having to count those days and figure out when you should not make plans. And doesn't it always fall on your bday or when you want to go on trip or have an important presentation at work?

I don't get migraines (Thank God) but have had to count days for other reasons. And then stuff got less reliable and now counting days does not even really work.

I am gonna call my cleaning lady's asst today and check on her. Was reluctant to call her this weekend.

Stacy, I am so sorry that your bosses are driving you out and causing you stress and headaches. I have a lot of experience w/slow workers as my clients were Federal employees. They would take forever to do nothing and then expect me to turn around work quickly over a holiday.

Anyway, Stacy you should look into consulting firms. You would like that I think, as often one can rise to the level of which one is capable. Less beaurocracy. Plus the pay is usually pretty good.

I have a big med list, mostly supplements: Claritin, Vitamin d 10,000 iu/day (yes per day, I was way low and this is temporary), Vitamin C, Omega 3, PNV(prenatal vitamins), hydrocodone 7.5/325 (this is new), alprazolam as needed, trazadone (this too is newer than headaches), IB, Valium prn for bad back spasm/pain. There's all my laundry blowing in the breeze.