Is it normal to have a migraine 3-6 days out of the week?

Answer 1

Yes, it can be normal. In fact, one single instance of migraine can last up to three days. Migraines generally last from 4 - 72 hours. The average length is 22 hours. If you have a single instance of migraine, with no breaks, that lasts longer than 72 hours, you are in Status Migrainosus. At this point you need medical intervention to break the migraine cycle, whether from your primary care physician, getting IVs at a short-stay facility, or in the ER. If you are consistently having more than two migraines a month, you should speak with your primary care physican or a neurologist, about beginning to take preventative medications.

Answer 2

No, it is not normal to have a migraine 3-6 days out of the week.

Migraines usually last from 4 hours to 3 days. Once you pass the 72 hour mark of having a migraine uninterrupted, you need to seek medical care promptly to try and break the cycle.

Some people end up having frequent and long lasting migraines that incapacitate them and leave them unable to function normally. If you are one of these people, you need to be under the care of a neurologist. There are medications you can take to try and prevent migraines from occurring so often and make them less severe and long-lasting when they do occur.

If you are having more than two migraines a month, you should be seeking preventative treatment. It takes trial and error to find the correct medications, because everyone is different. However, once you find the right combination, you can get your life back.

Answer 3

People who suffer from migraines have hypersensitive brains that overreact to certain stimuli that we call triggers. Triggers can be chemical, food or environmental. A migraine headache takes on a life of its own once it has been triggered. It can rage on for days because the sufferer becomes more sensitive to other triggers while under the influence of a migraine. The triggers pile up and make your life miserable. You need some medication help but you also need to make some significant lifestyle changes which can cut way down on the need for migraine meds.

You need to start paying close attention to what triggers your migraines. Triggers can result from bright lights, irregular bedtimes, sleeping late, drinking, too much computer, tobacco smoke, flourescent lighting, paint and perfume fumes, car exhaust, extreme temperatures, chemicals, foods, medications, etc. The list is endless and only you can determine what your particular triggers are. The most common culprit is food although it is one of the least understood by doctors. In fact, most doctors have very little understanding of migraine triggers. Legumes, Oranges, chocolate, msg, wine, aged cheese, soy sauce and certain medications can all trigger migraines.

For certain people some very common foods can set the stage for a migraine to occur. Soy and corn are two common triggers for migraine yet are virtually ignored by doctors. If you check food labels, those two foods are in every processed food in the grocery store. Think high fructose corn syrup that's used in almost everything sweet. Soy is at the base of most foods and is a big problem for many people. Cutting out ALL processed foods for three months may make a difference in your life. You may find that you can only visit the dairy and produce aisles at your local supermarket and forget the rest. You are fortunate if you have a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in your area. They sell less processed, more nutritious foods.

It's not as bad as it sounds. Just eat unprocessed foods like fresh veggies, fruits, whole wheat pasta, marinara with olive oil only, plain meats like steak, hamburger, turkey, chicken, and fish. Cook with olive oil only. No deli meats. No mayonnaise. Find a whole grain bread without corn or soy in it and stick to it for the trial period. Find a good buckwheat pancake mix with no soy or corn. It is hard work to switch off processed foods but you may be rewarded with a lot less migraine pain and better health. Without the constant trigger of foods your migraines will decrease and you will be less susceptible to other triggers. Once you experience some pain relief you will also be in a condition to better recognize your triggers.

Book suggestions:

Headache Relief by Alan M. Rappaport, MD & Fred D. Sheftell, MD

Headache Free by Roger Cady, MD & Kathleen Farmer, PsyD

Was It Something You Ate? by John Emsley & Peter Fell

Answer 4

No. It is not normal.

Migraines are considered "frequent" and in need of preventative medication when you reach the point of having more than two a month.

Migraines are considered chronic when you have them for more than 15 days out of a month.

Either way, it is very necessary to seek the help of a neurologist or headache specialist to talk about how to break the migraine cycle.