Tracking and appointment prep

Migraine tracking is useful when it answers clinical questions: How often are attacks happening? How disabling are they? Which treatments work? Are acute medications being used too often? Are there repeated patterns worth testing?

What to log

• Date and start time
• Duration and whether symptoms returned
• Pain location and severity
• Nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, smell sensitivity, dizziness, aura, neck stiffness, fatigue, mood changes, or brain fog
• Medication name, dose, timing, relief, side effects, and whether a second dose was needed
• Menstrual timing, pregnancy or postpartum context if relevant
• Sleep, meals, hydration, caffeine, alcohol, stress, weather changes, travel, and exercise
• Missed work, school, caregiving, social plans, or normal activities

What to summarize before a visit

Bring totals for the last 30 to 90 days: headache days, migraine days, acute medication days, days with nausea or vomiting, days with aura, missed-activity days, emergency or urgent-care visits, and the treatments that helped or failed.

Also bring a list of current medicines, supplements, allergies, major diagnoses, pregnancy plans if relevant, and previous migraine medicines with dose, length of trial, benefit, and side effects.

Questions to ask

• Does my pattern fit migraine, another headache disorder, or more than one condition?
• Which red flags should make me seek urgent care?
• What is my first-line acute treatment, and how soon should I take it?
• What is my maximum safe use per week and per month?
• What is the rescue plan if the first treatment fails or I vomit?
• Should I consider preventive treatment?
• Should I see a headache specialist?

Sources

• Mayo Clinic: Migraine diagnosis and treatment
• Mayo Clinic: Migraine symptoms and causes
• American Migraine Foundation: Understanding migraine medications