Migraine Prodrome

[youngamerican68]

Hello,
    I just suffered with what I believe was my second full blown migraine episode after years of tension type headaches.  My symptoms were primarily anxiety and restlessness with some OCD behavior as well as frequent urination and loss of appetite. This also corresponded with a change in the weather here in the Northeast which seems to be my biggest headache trigger.  What follows that is a very tired feeling along with intense head pressure. The head pressure this time was uniform throughout my head but last time it was primarily behind my left eye. The head pain does not debilitate me as I continue to work but at a very low capacity.  The wierd thing is that this pressure and fatigue doesn't pass like most migraine episodes I've read about but stays with me for quite awhile.  It feels like I have a hangover where I remain spacey and tired for days and get depressed as the days progress. The depression is not the "woe is me" kind but more of a feeling that my brain is tapped out of the feel good chemicals.  There is also genetic link in that my mother has had migraines for 30 years and took triptans since they first came out.  She has since stopped the triptan as she had a TIA last year.  My questions are as follows: 1) are these symptoms consistant with migraine, 2) I also have HSV2 and found a correlation between the same symptoms and an outbreak but have been told that the symptoms are not consistant with HSV, could there be an HSV link or is the migraine throwing my body out of whack to were I am susceptible to the virus, 3) should I be taking a triptan at the first sign of these symptoms, and 4) is my theory plausible that the migraine depletes my brain of serotonin which leads to the hangover effect and depression and if so is there something I could take short term for the depression? ie. 5 HTP? I am normally not depressed so hesitate to go on long term antidepressants.  

Thank you for you help

[youngamerican68]

thank you very much for your response

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Yes it is quite possible that these symptoms are due to migraine since you have a history of migraines and also migraines change in character and intensity over time.
Other possibility that needs to be excluded is sinusitis. A simple X ray will be able to do that.
There is no correlation between HSV and migraine except that stress due to HSV infection can trigger migraine since stress is a definite trigger.
It is best to take migraine medication like Triptan at the first sign of attack in order to prevent a full blown attack.
Studies have shown that serotonin levels drop during migraine attack. Medications which elevate serotonin levels in the brain like MAO inhibitors have been found to help with migraine headaches.
Yes by all means you can take a mild depressant for your current symptoms under medical supervision.

Regards

[youngamerican68]

I forgot to add that I have been fully checked out via 2 brain MRI's in the last 3 years.