Migraine is a common neurological disorder, especially among women. But only about half of people who have it seek medical care for these intense headaches, and most wait before seeking help from a doctor. Fewer than that leave the doctor’s office with the right diagnosis and a treatment plan that works well.
While lack of access to care is a big a hurdle to managing migraine and one that affects people of color and other underserved groups more often, some experts think gender bias plays a big role in why migraine is so often misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.
“It’s unfortunately another example of good old misogyny,” says Christopher Gottschalk, MD, a neurologist and director of Yale Medicine’s Head & Facial Pain Center. “It must be that women complaining of pain in their head and can’t function must be lazy, neurotic, or trying to get away with something. It can’t possibly be that they have this (medical) problem.”
No matter your race, ethnicity, or gender identity, it’s key that a medical professional take your head pain seriously. That’s because you might need a prescription for migraine-specific treatments.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About Migraine
Headaches are never a walk in the park. But the disabling nature of migraine sets these attacks apart from other kinds of head pain. Experts agree you should stress this life-altering aspect to your doctor.
“Don’t even use the word headache,” Gottschalk says. “Talk about, ‘These episodes that I have make me unable to function for some number of hours or days on a regular basis. And I can’t live like this.’”
Here are some ways migraine episodes can impact your life beyond head pain:
- You may feel sick to your stomach or throw up.
- Light and sound may bother you.
- You may get fatigued or have trouble thinking clearly.
- Your skin may hurt.
If left untreated, these symptoms can last for several hours or up to a few days. Experiences of brain fog, skin pain, or light sensitivity may linger between attacks, especially if you get headaches a lot.
During a migraine episode, you may not feel well enough to do everyday things. And you’ll want to share with your doctor all the ways in which this impairs your life.
Here are some questions to ask yourself. Share the answers with your doctor:
- Are you often leaving work early or calling in sick a lot?
- Do symptoms affect school or studying?
- Are you unable to care for your family during an attack?
- Do you have trouble being in a bright office?
- Does light from your computer screen or phone bother you?
- Are you also having symptoms of depression or anxiety?
Advocate for Yourself and Educate Your Doctor
Most medical providers know about migraine, but not every doctor specializes in headache medicine. The good news is there are lots of online resources that’ll help you zero in on your head pain and get you closer to the right treatment.
“There’s something called ID Migraine, which is a three-question screen that’s been validated a gazillion times,” Gottschalk says. “That’s the kind of thing where you can find that screen, answer it, and show it to your doctor.”
According to ID Migraine, there’s a very strong chance you have migraine if you answer yes to at least two of the following three questions:
- Has a headache stopped you from doing daily things for at least a day in the last 3 months?
- Do you get nauseated when you have a headache?
- Does light or sound bother you when you have a headache?
You can also go over the POUND mnemonic, or memory aid, with your doctor. Tell them if you have at least four of the following during an attack:
- Pulsating head pain
- One-day duration of headache (4 to 72 hours if untreated or treatment doesn’t work)
- Unilateral (one-sided) headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Disabling headache
Visit trusted websites to learn more about how to identify migraine symptoms. Some examples are:
- American Headache Society
- National Headache Foundation
- American Migraine Foundation
You’ll also find headache quizzes and info on how to talk to your doctor through groups such as Miles for Migraine, Migraine Again, or the Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP).
Ask to Try New Treatments
There are a number of medications that target and treat the acute