Migraine Diary to

Help Identify Your

Triggers

Seeing how each migraine episodes or attacks are so sudden and irregular it sometimes is hard to pin point what your triggers are. In studies different patients with migraines have different triggers. Being that triggers vary from a variety of many different categories. It is said for your best interest to keep a diary to log your attacks and the things surrounding the attack. Here are some of the ideas to help you keep your migraine dairy to help you with your triggers.

Details

First document the date and time of your migraine attack down to the minute

What is the severity of your attack: mild, moderate, sever, etc.

Where the pain is located: left, right, or both sides of the head

What type of pain is it: throbbing, Non-stop, on and off, dull, etc.

What are some of the symptoms: nausea, vomiting, sensitivities to light, sound or smell, etc.

Did you have any warning signs/auras and what were they?

Now this is the part of the diary that is most important in concerning triggers. This is the main focus of a migraine diary, therefore having the information documented before hand to help try to prevent future attacks.

Triggers

Now in this section of your diary you need make a list of everything that is classified as a trigger or that you may think that could have triggered your attack. It is best to just write every detail of that day down trigger or not just to better understand the attack, almost like a normal everyday diary. Also, if you have more attacks than usual. This diary and information could be useful when you see you physician. Here are some ideas of what should go in the triggers section of your diary.

Your environment: everything about it including weather, allergies from environment, strong smells, loud noises, lighting, etc.

What you ate or drank from when you woke up to the actual attack, and if you ate or drank anything during the attack and if it helped or made it worse.

Was there any stress or stress related thing from the day or days before that may have lead up to the attack? Also you may include if there was any depression and where it may have came from.

Also if you have been taking any medications document what kind or brand and the dosage. Write why you were taking the medication and the affect it had on you.

These are just a few things that may give you an idea of what may trigger your migraines. As the migraines continue you can look back in this diary if during every attack you have documented some of the same things you may have pin pointed on one or more triggers that may help you prevent future attacks. On a side note, a trigger that causes today’s attack may not cause tomorrows attack, but this still will help in the long run.

Recording details of your migraine attacks can be useful in:

helping the doctor make a firm diagnosis;

recognizing the warning signs of an attack;

identifying what triggers your attacks;

assessing if your acute or preventative medication is working.

The records may include information on:

when the head pains started;

how often they happen;

if there are other symptoms (such as being sick or having vision problems);

how long the attacks last;



where the pain is;



whether the pain is throbbing, piercing;

It is helpful to record as many aspects of daily life as possible, such as:

what and when you eat;

your medication;

vitamins or health products;

any exercise you take;



how much sleep you have;



other factors such as the weather;