1. Head Pain

There are differences between headaches and migraine attacks. Headaches are just one symptom of migraine, which is a more complex neurological condition.

Head pain from a migraine can vary from mild to severe, and sensory input like bright lights, loud sounds, or potent smells can make the pain worse. These headaches happen during the headache or attack phase of the migraine, which can last for up to 72 hours for some people. Pulsing or throbbing pain can occur on one or both sides of your head.

Members of MyMigraineTeam have shared their experiences with the often debilitating head pain they get during migraine attacks. One member said, “There are many times when it feels like a sharp knife is trying to poke a hole in my head.”

2. Fatigue

Extreme fatigue is a common migraine symptom and one of the reasons why it might feel impossible to get anything done when you’re experiencing a migraine attack. Around 60 percent of people with migraine experience fatigue as a main symptom. Fatigue can appear across multiple migraine phases, including the initial prodrome phase and the postdrome phase after the attack.

Fatigue goes beyond general sleepiness. It involves severe exhaustion that doesn’t improve with sleep or rest. While fatigue is difficult to diagnose because it’s subjective, migraine-related fatigue can be debilitating and cause you to spend days in bed.

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck for two days after a migraine attack, then another migraine starts and it’s all a big loop.”

— A MyMigraineTeam member describes the fatigue caused by migraine.

Research suggests a link between migraine and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), or fatigue that lasts for six months or longer. You’re about 1.5 times more likely to experience CFS if you have migraine. The relationship between migraine and CFS isn’t surprising, because the two conditions affect similar areas of the brain.

Studies also show that migraine fatigue indicates a higher risk for more frequent, intense, and chronic migraine.

MyMigraineTeam members often discuss how migraine-related fatigue affects their lives. One member asked, “Does anyone have any go-to remedies for the fatigue? I feel like I've been run over by a truck for two days after [a migraine attack], then another migraine starts and it’s all a big loop.”

In response, another member suggested, “I just lie down in a dark room and sleep, as I cannot fight it. Keep hydrated as much as possible in a cool room with blackout curtains and quietness.”

3. Weakness

Muscle weakness might appear during a migraine aura phase, which many people experience leading up to a migraine attack.

When you experience muscle weakness with a migraine, your limbs might feel heavier than usual. You might also experience numbness or tingling in the same areas.

Weakness is a common sign of hemiplegic migraine, a rare type of migraine that can appear and feel similar to a stroke. One of the main symptoms of hemiplegic migraine is muscle weakness on one side of your body.

Several members of MyMigraineTeam have shared their experiences with muscle weakness, which affected them alongside other hidden migraine symptoms: “Woke up today, sore and achy all over. My fingers were numb and tingly and very little muscle strength. Struggled to grab things. The muscle weakness used to happen a lot more in my teens,” one member shared.

4. Nausea

From the prodrome to postdrome phases, nausea is possible during all phases of a migraine attack. Osmophobia (sensitivity to smells) is strongly associated with migraine and can make nausea and vomiting worse.

Nausea is an overall feeling of queasiness, which might involve an upset stomach or an uncomfortable sensation in your throat. You might feel like you’re going to vomit even if you don’t end up doing so. You might find it difficult to eat anything other than bland foods when you have nausea during a migraine.

MyMigraineTeam members describe their experiences with nausea during migraine attacks. One member said, “I have a slight headache, but nausea is really bad.”

Around 25 percent to 30 percent of people with migraine experience visual disturbances, or distortions in what they see during a migraine attack.

Members have also suggested taking anti-nausea medications to reduce nausea during or around migraine attacks. One member shared, “I used to vomit with my migraine attacks, but no more. Have you tried an anti-nausea medication?”

5. Visual Disturbances

Around 25 percent to 30 percent of people with migraine experience visual disturbances, or distortions in what they see during a migraine attack. Most visual disturbances last less than an hour, with many lasting just a few seconds or minutes.

Migraine-related visual disturbances are most typical during the aura phase, but they might occur during the headache phase too. Examples of visual disturbances during or before migraine attacks include:

• Visible lines or squiggles
• Flashing lights
• Blurry vision
• Blind spots
• Dark spots
• Tunnel vision
• Kaleidoscope effect
• Loss of vision

Visual disturbances might involve seeing shapes or effects that aren’t there or a decline in your eyesight. They can affect vision in one or both eyes.

MyMigraineTeam members describe their experiences with visual disturbances during and before migraine attacks. “I’m in an empty house and thought someone was standing behind me. I screamed! Darn visual disturbances!” one said.

Another talked about having a range of visual disturbances from migraine, saying “Any visual disturbance throws me off, from tunneling to spots to ‘sparklers’ to ‘kaleidoscoping.’”

6. Speech Issues

Transient aphasia (difficulty speaking) can be a sign that a migraine is coming during the aura phase. This symptom is rare during migraine attacks, but because it’s also a sign of more serious conditions like stroke, you should seek immediate medical care if you suddenly can’t put your words together.

Before or during a migraine attack, transient aphasia can cause you to twist your words and have trouble concentrating and forming sentences. You may have similar trouble with reading, writing, and understanding.

A MyMigraineTeam member shared, “The last couple of migraine attacks, I've noticed that it takes two or three times to say something. It’s not slurred speech, it just seems like my brain can’t put two and two together to make what it wants.”

Another member added, “I sometimes slur my words or stutter when I usually do not. I have trouble with word retrieval too.”

7. Gastrointestinal Problems

When you think about migraine attacks, you probably think of symptoms affecting your head or brain function first. However, some hidden migraine symptoms are related to your gastrointestinal (GI) system. Beyond nausea and vomiting, evidence suggests a link between migraine and GI issues like gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis involves paralysis or weakness of the nerves in your GI system, including your stomach and intestines. It may be linked to migraine because of the nerve connections between your brain and your gut.

Some common symptoms of GI problems are:

• Diarrhea
• Acid reflux
• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting

Some people experience a stomachache during a migraine instead of (or in addition to) a headache. This is called an abdominal migraine.

A member of MyMigraineTeam asked if others had similar experiences with migraine-related GI problems. “Does anyone else get sick with their migraine attacks? Like stomach pain, hot and cold sweats, and diarrhea?”

One member related, saying “Yes, I get like a nervous stomach.” Another member suggested over-the-counter medications to help calm migraine-related diarrhea.

8. Depression, Anxiety, and Mood Swings

Chronic migraine is linked to both depression and anxiety, two common mental health disorders. People who experience migraine are five times more likely to develop depression than those without migraine. You might experience major mood changes around or during migraine attacks.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes an ongoing low mood, which might include hopelessness, guilt, or a disinterest in the things you usually enjoy. Anxiety commonly occurs with depression and causes worry or fear.

People who experience migraine are five times more likely to develop depression than those without migraine.

Experts aren’t certain of the exact connection between migraine and mental health disorders. Some people experience a migraine attack for the first time years after being diagnosed with depression or anxiety, while for others, it’s exactly the opposite. Simply living and coping with a chronic illness like chronic migraine might impact your mental health.

One member said, “I think it’s a catch-22 situation. You get anxious because you don’t know when the next migraine might happen, then depression sets in because the migraine destroys your days, so it’s just a vicious cycle.” Another added, “How can we NOT have depression and anxiety with constant migraine pain?”

9. Light Sensitivity

For many people, light sensitivity is an obvious symptom during the attack phase of a migraine. It’s also one of the criteria for diagnosing migraine.

Light sensitivity, or photophobia, causes you to perceive lights as extremely intense. Your eyes may hurt or feel uncomfortable because of the light around you. For most people with photophobia, brighter or cooler-toned light means more discomfort.

Members of MyMigraineTeam have discussed ways they deal with light sensitivity during migraine attacks, including using specialized light-filtering glasses. “I've been wearing a pair of light-filtering glasses for about six months now and they make a huge difference,” shared one member.

10. Jaw Pain

Head pain from a migraine can spread from side to side or into your face and jaw. You might also experience neck pain.

Some experts speculate that some migraine headaches originate in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), the joints that control your jaw. TMJ pain may worsen migraine attacks, and migraine attacks might intensify TMJ pain. TMJ pain usually starts because of repeated jaw clenching or teeth grinding.

One MyMigraineTeam member shared, “When my TMJ is acting up, I definitely get more migraine attacks. A muscle relaxant has helped.”

Talk to your doctor before starting any new medications or treatments to manage individual migraine symptoms or migraine as a whole.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyMigraineTeam is the social network for people with migraine and their loved ones. On MyMigraineTeam, more than 84,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with migraine.

Do you have unexpected or hidden migraine symptoms? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.