Did you know there are 4 phases to migraine attacks? Did you know that each “phase” comes with its own sweet set of symptoms? It’s not just nausea, vomiting and head pain… as if that isn’t enough by itself! We’re going to look at vision distortion, cravings, emotional changes, energy levels, and much more! And, we’re going to look at when each of these MIGHT occur during a migraine attack. Then of course, there’s the sweet “interictal period.” That time in between attacks when theoretically you are symptom-free, but in reality… that is often far from the truth! That’s a topic for another blog, but in short —migraine attacks are complex, unpredictable and debilitating, but being armed with information can help!
The Prodrome Phase
This is your early warning sign that a full blown migraine attack is coming! Sometimes the warning is feelings of depression, excitability or even… more energy! Ever wondered why you have tons of energy one day and then the next are completely laid up with a migraine? It’s not necessarily that you did too much. It could simply be that the energy was part of your prodrome. Other possible symptoms are sleepiness, frequent urination, irritability, frequent yawning, being extra thirsty, or craving certain foods. While we’re on the topic of “food cravings”… one of the reasons it can be challenging to figure out food triggers is for this exact reason. Often an “attack” starts and is in the prodrome phase without pain, and we crave foods like chocolate! Then the next thing you know, wham! The pain hits and we blame the chocolate or anything else that we had been eating. But the food wasn’t necessarily the trigger; rather, it was part of the initial phase of the migraine and the trigger actually came WAY BEFORE that. The good thing about the prodrome is that once you are able to figure out your symptoms, that information can help you to prepare for what is coming next.
The Aura Phase
This phase is interesting because not everyone who has migraine has these symptoms—in fact, only about 1 in 4 people who have migraine experience aura. Read on to learn more! Symptoms can include feelings of tingling or pins and needles, flickering of lights, or a blind spot in vision. Some people even experience what is known as Alice in Wonderland syndrome with distorted perception where things appear bigger, smaller, closer, or further away that they really are, or sometimes just warped. Often doctors don’t ask patients about this type of aura, so if you experience anything like this, it’s important to let your doctor know! Other symptoms experienced by some during the aura phase are language dysfunction with trouble speaking or understanding oral or written language, confusion, brain fog, or just a feeling of being overwhelmingly unfocused. Remember, if you DON’T have one or more of these symptoms it doesn’t mean you do NOT have migraine attacks, because they happen in only 1 in 4 people with migraine.
The Acute or “Headache” Phase
This is when you are truly in the full blown “migraine zone”!! You know the PAIN that you experience here! Most healthcare providers will ask, “What’s your pain level from one to ten?” Are they kidding? Do they even understand what we are dealing with? Aside from pain being either on one side of your head, or stabbing behind your eye, it can also feel like someone is swinging a hammer at your head over and over again, a band strangling your brain, or continuous explosive throbbing. But wait… there’s more! As if the pain itself isn’t enough, there are many other symptoms that can occur! Symptoms such as visual impairment, confusion/brain fog, unstable motor skills, vertigo, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, slurred or muddled speech, IBS, extreme sensitivity to light, sound and smells, exhaustion, neck or body pains, sinus congestion, teary eyes, and the list goes on and on.
The Postdrome Phase
This is the last phase of a migraine attack. Unbelievably, while the pain, nausea, and other debilitating symptoms may be over, the attack is not yet through. You may not feel well for a day or more and there could be lingering symptoms. You may experience sluggishness, exhaustion, brain fog, muscle soreness, neck ache, low grade ongoing headache, and more.
Let Us Know
It can be frustrating because some of these symptoms overlap from one phase to the next or they could be all different. Did you realize that your migraine attacks could have FOUR PHASES? Did you realize that before you know you’re even having an attack the symptoms have started? Perhaps you thought that for instance, your stomach issues were disconnected from your invisible disease, or your visual distortion was a totally separate issue! Make sure to notate what’s happening to your whole body and to inform your headache specialist. We would love to hear from you in the comments so that we can learn together and help raise awareness!
Thanks for this article and the information it so concisely gives.
I have chronic, utterly debilitating migraines that have been incredibly difficult to both deal with and manage in any successful way.
I have been through more types of treatments, gone to so many neurologists that were referred to as “experts “ in the treatment and management of migraines without any success in treating the disorder and have spent such a great deal of my life in bed, unable to even get up because of the pain I appreciate being able to share this information with others. I hope it helps others have a better understanding of what many of us experience with our migraines.
And I strongly agree with your emphatic comment about rating the pain of a migraine. In my experience, if the scale went up higher- perhaps into infinity- I could in no way completely explain the pain of any specific attack.
Thank you again
Thanks for this article. I started getting migraines when I was about 10 years old. During the experiences I actually have suicidal ideations only because the pain is so grate and I wish to make it stop. After a migraine it takes several hours for my head to feel “normal” again. I have a dull electrical feeling or buzzing, slow thought process and depression. It’s frustrating to see people walking around functioning normally and claim they have a migraine. For me this would be impossible.
Great article! Thank you for providing a comprehensive, yet concise discussion about these phases. I only take one exception, and that is related to the comments about rating the pain, specifically: “Are they kidding? Do they even understand what we are dealing with?” I feel that encouraging that kind of attitude fosters an antagonistic approach that undermines the very necessary establishment of a sound, trusting, therapeutic relationship with the provider.
As I’m sure you’re well aware, migraine is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning there is, unfortunately, no diagnostic test that will determine the presence of migraine. In order to differentiate the type of headache, and to determine the best management, the healthcare provider needs to gather different types of information, including severity of pain.
As a healthcare provider who sees migraine sufferers on a nearly daily basis and also as a person who has been diagnosed with multiple headache syndrome, including migraine, cluster headache, and paroxismal hemicrania, among others, I can attest that there are distinct differences in pain severity from one headache type to another, and also that management differs markedly with each. If it were not for a close, non- antagonistic relationship with my neurologists, therapists, and family medicine providers, I would not have the control and ability to function that i currently enjoy.
Thank you for providing such a rich, informative resource for migraine sufferers. I appreciate the effort and professionalism that have gone into the creation of this website. I will definitely be adding this to the list of resources I provide to my patients.