Talking to Your Doctor about Headaches

We all get occasional headaches – but if you have severe headaches that affect your ability to function, you might have a migraine. The best way to find out if you are experiencing migraine is to talk to your doctor.

Migraine headaches are part of a larger condition known as "migraine," which is much more than a tension headache or a simple headache. A migraine attack typically involves a headache, but often has other symptoms, and can last from 4 hours to 3 days.1

What makes migraine different from a simple headache is the high level of pain and a variety of other symptoms that may include:2

• Sensitivity to light and sound• Nausea and/or vomiting• Pain that limits you from performing your daily activities.

If You Think You May Have Migraines, Get Help from a Healthcare Professional

Find a healthcare professional who understands that your migraine is a serious, chronic condition, not just a "headache." Several different types of healthcare professionals can help you treat your migraines.

• Your primary care physician knows your medical history and can determine the best treatment approach for you, including whether or not you should consider seeing a specialist.

• A neurologist specializes in the brain and will know the latest migraine treatment and prevention options.

• A headache specialist is usually a neurologist but may also be a healthcare professional of internal medicine or another type of specialist.

Please remember that the more prepared you are to discuss your condition, the better your healthcare professional will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and help you. The following questionnaire may be useful in preparing for your initial meeting.

Six Key Facts That Could Help Your Healthcare Professional Help You

Fill out “Six Key Facts” and share it with your healthcare professional. Answer a few questions about the history of your headaches. Then write down all the medicines you currently take for your headaches, how often you take these medicines, and how long you’ve been taking them. Include both over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Let your healthcare professional know about the impact migraine has on your life (lost work, skipped social events, missed family activities, etc.).

Fact 1: Your Headache History• How long have you had headaches? _____________________________________________

• Have you ever talked with a healthcare professional about your headaches?□ Yes □ No

• How frequently do you have headaches? (Check one.)□ Less than 2 a month □ 2 to 4 a month □ More than 4 a month

• How long do your headaches generally last? _______________________________________

• How severe are your headaches? (Circle one; 1=mild, 5=most severe)1 2 3 4 5

• Is your pain located in a particular area, for example, on one side of your head or over your eye? (Check all that apply.)

□ Side of head □ Front of head□ Both sides □ Behind eye

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• How would you describe the quality of pain associated with your headache?(Check all that apply.)

□ Throbbing □ Pounding □ Stabbing□ Sharp □ Dull □ Achy □ Other

• Do you feel sick to your stomach when you have a headache?□ Yes □ No

• Are you sensitive to light, sound, smells, and/or touch during your headache? (Check all that apply.)

□ Light □ Sound □ Smells □ Touch

• What other symptoms do you generally experience with your headaches?

____________________________________________________________________________

• If you think your migraine headaches may be triggered by something, please describe what you think that may be. (If you don’t know what might be triggering your headaches, please leave blank.)

____________________________________________________________________________

Fact 2: Family Headache History• It’s also helpful for your healthcare professional to know about any family history of headaches. List

family members who suffer from headaches or who have a history of headaches. (Check all that apply.)□ Mother □ Father □ Sister□ Brother □ Grandmother □ Grandfather

Fact 3: Your Medicine Profile for Headaches• Make sure you include all of the medicines you currently take for headaches, both over the counter and

prescription.

Name Form (pills, liquid, capsules) Dosage Starting date (mm/dd/yy) _____/_____/______How long have you been taking the medicine?

Name Form (pills, liquid, capsules) Dosage Starting date (mm/dd/yy) _____/_____/______How long have you been taking the medicine?

Name Form (pills, liquid, capsules) Dosage Starting date (mm/dd/yy) _____/_____/______How long have you been taking the medicine?

Name Form (pills, liquid, capsules) Dosage Starting date (mm/dd/yy) _____/_____/______How long have you been taking the medicine?

Fact 4: Your Medicine Profile for Any Other Medical Conditions• List the names and dosages of all medicines you take for other conditions.

Include both over-the-counter and prescription medicines.

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Medical condition (if known) Medicine name Form (pills, liquid, capsules) _______________________________ Dosage _______________________________________________ Starting date (mm/dd/yy) _____/_____/______

Medical condition (if known) Medicine name Form (pills, liquid, capsules) _______________________________ Dosage _______________________________________________ Starting date (mm/dd/yy) _____/_____/______

Medical condition (if known) Medicine name Form (pills, liquid, capsules) _______________________________ Dosage _______________________________________________ Starting date (mm/dd/yy) _____/_____/______

Medical condition (if known) Medicine name Form (pills, liquid, capsules) _______________________________ Dosage _______________________________________________ Starting date (mm/dd/yy) _____/_____/______

Fact 5: Satisfaction With Current Medication• List any medications you would like alternative options for.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fact 6: Impact of Headache• Do your headaches interfere with your daily activities?

□ Yes □ No

• Check off all the ways that headaches have had an impact on your life. Describe briefly what happened:

□ Missed work or school – If yes, how often? ______________________________________________________

□ Less productive at work ______________________________________________________________________

□ Skipped family activities______________________________________________________________________

□ Avoided social events______________________________________________________________________

□ Didn’t enjoy a good meal______________________________________________________________________

□ Other

References:1. National Headache Foundation. Migraine topic sheet. Available at: http://www.headaches.org/consumer/topicsheets/migraine.html. Accessed December 29, 2005.2. National Headache Foundation. American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study Fact Sheet. Available at www.headaches.org/consumer/AMPP/AMPPFactSheet.pdf. Accessed February 6, 2006.

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