Migraines with no family history?

[Mich_Bail]

Hi!  I am wondering if it is possible for a person to have a migraine that has no family history of migraines?

Thanks!

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? While migraines have tendency to run in families,it is possible to have them with no existing medical history. It is said that four out of five migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines. You may benefit from a neurological consult and imaging modalities such as Ct scan. Avoiding the possible triggers of your migraine may also help prevent attacks. Take care and regards.

[John987]

I share a similar experience.  No one one either side of my family had headaches the way I do, yet a couple of people on both sides had milder headaches for a shorter duration.  So, if both sides have it, even to a smaller, less noticeable degree, it can likely lead to it in you.  You obviously have migraines if this is going on a while.  A sudden onset of headache always needs to be checked out.  You can also take a beta blocker to help prevent them if your  Imitrex doesn't work well.  Watch out for Darvocet.  It is likely to cause a headache and very bad long term.  Medications (particularly for pain when they wear off), alcohol, chocolate are notorious triggers for a headache.

[Mich_Bail]

Thank you for your replies!  

I am half American Indian and the other half is mainly German.  My "family history" on both sides only goes back three generations before me as my great grandparents were removed from Nebraska and my German ancestors are immigrants (I believe). Nobody that I, or my mom, can think of has a history of migraines in these three generations - immediate AND extended family.  My dad, who died a few years ago, was adopted and his biological mom is uncooperative.

My docs (family, chiro and urgent care) all say, "I think they are migraines, BUT" because I don't always have all the migraine symptoms.  The headaches are beginning to worsen.  Nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity are now rearing their ugly heads during the headaches.  

I have a sensitivity to aspirin, so I believe Excedrin is out.  I was taking an Excedrin product for tension headaches, but that didn't seem to help at all.  My doc prescribed Imitrex and Darvocet.  Between these two meds, I am usually able to get the headache knocked out within a couple of hours without a major "migraine hangover".  

It just seemed that everything I read said that migraines were a hereditary condition.  Not having anyone in my family with migraines, I was curious.  I guess they have to start somewhere in the family tree, right?

[John987]

A couple of things:  sometimes there is a family history but it's far enough back that no one remembers the ancestor.  It's inherited usually and can remain in the genes.

Also, watch the Excedrin.  This and other analgesics are effective for occasional use, but taken frequently can cause rebound headaches.  If you have a headache every day over many days, suspect rebound headache caused by medication, and get a doctor to prescribe a triptan drug.

[Chrristinaa]

Yes its very likely, everyones different no matter the family history. it ***** and they hurt. If they get to bad take Excedrin, that stuff helps me. I NEVER had migraines and they don't run in my family but once I had my baby girl I get them almost daily. If they get to bad and you get them everyday go check with your doctor to make sure nothings wrong.