First migraine, now crying constantly - why?
November 22, 2023 4:32 PM Subscribe
A few days ago I had my first migraine. It was awful, I've never been in so much pain. The emergency doctor was sure it wasn't a bleed or stroke, and prescribed painkillers which helped. I have a follow-up with my GP next week. But two days later, while I'm no longer in pain I feel fragile and tired and I want to cry All. The. Time. I see lots of info about crying causing migraines, but not the other way around. Is this crying after migraines normal? What can I do anything about it?
I don't feel particularly upset, I just keep crying, and I would like to stop so I can get on with things. Most of the migraine support info I have found online is for people who are long-term sufferers, not for newbies like me. I feel like I need a "So You've Had A Migraine: Here's What's Normal, Here's What You Should Do" type of help sheet.
If it has a bearing, I am perimenopausal and have high blood pressure and depression which are both well-managed with medication.
I don't feel particularly upset, I just keep crying, and I would like to stop so I can get on with things. Most of the migraine support info I have found online is for people who are long-term sufferers, not for newbies like me. I feel like I need a "So You've Had A Migraine: Here's What's Normal, Here's What You Should Do" type of help sheet.
If it has a bearing, I am perimenopausal and have high blood pressure and depression which are both well-managed with medication.
Not had the crying but I typically feel fragile the day after an attack. If I push myself I can put myself at risk of another attack or just make myself sick. I take it easy for most of the next day, comfort food, hydrate, no caffeine.
posted by biffa at 4:47 PM on November 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 4:47 PM on November 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: If only I had a penguin... yes, it was codeine. How strange! It's so long since I've had it, it wouldn't surprise me if that was it.
posted by andraste at 4:54 PM on November 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by andraste at 4:54 PM on November 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Normal: Migraine Postdrome
Your system is still recovering from the experience, the same way that the day after an endurance race you will be shaky and fatigued. This is a signal that you need more time to recover. I recommend sleep, if possible and if it won't screw up a healthy sleep pattern, good nutrition and self care.
Don't try to tough it out, but don't take it seriously either. Just as being shaky and weak after an endurance race doesn't mean you've damaged your body, being weepy and emotionally volatile during or after a migraine only means your brain hasn't had time to return to homeostasis. If you think that it is all hopeless today, that's because your brain is recovering, not because it is all hopeless. That much pain is mildly traumatizing. Crying is not a bad way to release stress hormones, and your body is probably doing that instinctively.
It is important to take care of yourself to help prevent the migraine from coming back. Until the migraine postdrome has completely passed and you feel normal, don't go any rock concerts, or airports or anywhere noisy like that, and don't stare into flood lights or go sunbathing, don't hang upside down (because the blood vessels in your head do NOT need to get hugely dilated right now), and don't do any hugely strenuous activity. Light exercise is good, reduced light is good.
You may find that you can both giggle happily and cry simultaneously. Migraines are weird.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:09 PM on November 22, 2023 [13 favorites]
Your system is still recovering from the experience, the same way that the day after an endurance race you will be shaky and fatigued. This is a signal that you need more time to recover. I recommend sleep, if possible and if it won't screw up a healthy sleep pattern, good nutrition and self care.
Don't try to tough it out, but don't take it seriously either. Just as being shaky and weak after an endurance race doesn't mean you've damaged your body, being weepy and emotionally volatile during or after a migraine only means your brain hasn't had time to return to homeostasis. If you think that it is all hopeless today, that's because your brain is recovering, not because it is all hopeless. That much pain is mildly traumatizing. Crying is not a bad way to release stress hormones, and your body is probably doing that instinctively.
It is important to take care of yourself to help prevent the migraine from coming back. Until the migraine postdrome has completely passed and you feel normal, don't go any rock concerts, or airports or anywhere noisy like that, and don't stare into flood lights or go sunbathing, don't hang upside down (because the blood vessels in your head do NOT need to get hugely dilated right now), and don't do any hugely strenuous activity. Light exercise is good, reduced light is good.
You may find that you can both giggle happily and cry simultaneously. Migraines are weird.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:09 PM on November 22, 2023 [13 favorites]
Best answer: I've had (temporary) personality changes before and after migraines so I'd say it's normal enough? The American Migraine Foundation has a helpful graphic explaining the general flow.
posted by fiercekitten at 5:32 PM on November 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by fiercekitten at 5:32 PM on November 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Migraine hangovers are absolutely a thing! Even when I didn't have a (bad) headache, I'd still feel pain when I coughed or such. I also would feel super sensitive to stimuli for the next couple of days.
I don't wish migraines on anyone. I'm glad mine are just mainly auras and little else at this point but that's also no fun. Just be kind to yourself.
(Both my mom and I have found that miso soup and garlic bread is comforting. That could be genetic, though, so I hope you find your own thing. Migraines are scary until you know what they are. Good luck to you )
posted by edencosmic at 5:36 PM on November 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
I don't wish migraines on anyone. I'm glad mine are just mainly auras and little else at this point but that's also no fun. Just be kind to yourself.
(Both my mom and I have found that miso soup and garlic bread is comforting. That could be genetic, though, so I hope you find your own thing. Migraines are scary until you know what they are. Good luck to you )
posted by edencosmic at 5:36 PM on November 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
Best answer: This is within the range of normal migraine postdrome, as others have mentioned. I tend to feel more euphoric after a migraine (no more pain! fuck yeah!!!), but I've also had dips in mood/weird moodiness like this. I've also had just plain leaky eyes afterwards, especially if my sinuses were involved in the migraine in any way. I wouldn't call it crying, just, like, extra eye sensitivity that leads to more teariness. Wait it out and maybe try resting your eyes with dim lighting, no screen time, etc.
Also, make sure you eat plenty of food! It'll really help you even out, especially if migraine nausea had you vomiting or not eating much before. (My personal post-migraine food is always either something fatty like a cheeseburger or something spicy like a spicy tuna poke bowl. The spicy food is admittedly a high risk-high reward proposition, if there's any lingering nausea. YMMV.)
posted by yasaman at 5:51 PM on November 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also, make sure you eat plenty of food! It'll really help you even out, especially if migraine nausea had you vomiting or not eating much before. (My personal post-migraine food is always either something fatty like a cheeseburger or something spicy like a spicy tuna poke bowl. The spicy food is admittedly a high risk-high reward proposition, if there's any lingering nausea. YMMV.)
posted by yasaman at 5:51 PM on November 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
It’s also possible that perimenopausal hormonal changes are the cause of both the migraine and the mood change (rather than or in addition the mood change being the postdrome of the migraine.)
posted by vunder at 6:24 PM on November 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by vunder at 6:24 PM on November 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Hi there! I just came off a 32 hour migraine and yes, it is common to either feel emotional and fragile, or in my case, euphoric. Migraines are weird and terrible. You mentioned you are perimenopausal (me too!) and unfortunately, migraines can get nastier as we get older. If you have access to a GP, see if you are able to get an Rx for future migraines that might help. (I'm on Cambia, which isn't great but plays well with my anxiety meds; triptans, alas, do not.)
posted by Kitteh at 3:28 AM on November 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 3:28 AM on November 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have chronic migraine (basically, I have low key migraine symptoms all the time, punctuated by flares of more severe symptoms), and, yes, mood changes are common throughout the migraine process.
In fact, a majority of chronic migraineurs meet the diagnostic criteria for mood disorders, both because it sucks to be in pain, and because the disease process itself affects mood.
There's predrome, which is before the attack. I might have auras (like changes to vision). However, anxiety, skittishness, and irritability are the common symptoms. In fact, if I feel myself getting super irritable out of nowhere, that's my cue to pop medication.
Then there's the attack.
That's followed by postdrome, also known as a hangover. I tend to feel lethargic, low, and weepy. I'm fatigued by the attack itself, and my brain is putting itself back together.
During postdrome, I focus on easy-to-digest foods and I boost my fluid intake. Electrolytes seem to help.
Perimenopause can definitely trigger or alter migraine (I didn't get aura until my 40s, for example). That's worth bringing up with your GP.
Sometimes lifestyle changes can help, particularly understanding your triggers (hormones, florescent lights, weather changes, certain foods, alcohol, stress, etc).
I take medications, however, it's very important to make sure side effects are managed carefully and no dangerous interactions occur.
For example, triptans (which are used to abort the migraine process) can interact with some medications for mood disorders, creating a reaction known as serotonin syndrome.
posted by champers at 4:18 AM on November 23, 2023 [5 favorites]
In fact, a majority of chronic migraineurs meet the diagnostic criteria for mood disorders, both because it sucks to be in pain, and because the disease process itself affects mood.
There's predrome, which is before the attack. I might have auras (like changes to vision). However, anxiety, skittishness, and irritability are the common symptoms. In fact, if I feel myself getting super irritable out of nowhere, that's my cue to pop medication.
Then there's the attack.
That's followed by postdrome, also known as a hangover. I tend to feel lethargic, low, and weepy. I'm fatigued by the attack itself, and my brain is putting itself back together.
During postdrome, I focus on easy-to-digest foods and I boost my fluid intake. Electrolytes seem to help.
Perimenopause can definitely trigger or alter migraine (I didn't get aura until my 40s, for example). That's worth bringing up with your GP.
Sometimes lifestyle changes can help, particularly understanding your triggers (hormones, florescent lights, weather changes, certain foods, alcohol, stress, etc).
I take medications, however, it's very important to make sure side effects are managed carefully and no dangerous interactions occur.
For example, triptans (which are used to abort the migraine process) can interact with some medications for mood disorders, creating a reaction known as serotonin syndrome.
posted by champers at 4:18 AM on November 23, 2023 [5 favorites]
I used to get migraines, and while I never was to the point of crying after, I very much remember feeling fragile/vulnerable emotionally for a couple of days after one. So what you describe sounds very normal to me.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:45 AM on November 23, 2023
posted by Dip Flash at 5:45 AM on November 23, 2023
Best answer: I had a migraine yesterday and just was swept by an unexpected crying fit today. It's a Thing that happens.
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 11:09 AM on November 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 11:09 AM on November 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
+1 on electrolytes!!
posted by Jacen at 3:39 AM on November 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Jacen at 3:39 AM on November 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
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You might also be emotionally exhausted.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:47 PM on November 22, 2023 [6 favorites]