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How to Talk to Your Doctor About Headaches: Are They Migraines?

Whether you’re seeing your doctor about headaches for the first time or you’ve been dealing with migraine disease for years, good communication is important. Yet often we get anxious about an appointment and forget to give enough information about our symptoms or ask all our questions. And we may leave without understanding everything the doctor said.1

Make the most of your next visit with a little planning.

Keep a headache diary. Log each headache noting the following.3 You can use a notebook or a headache tracking app.

  • Timing—When did it start and how long did it last?
  • Intensity—How bad was the pain and did it interfere with your daily activities or work?
  • Patterns–Was it related to a particular trigger such as stress, menstrual period, certain foods, weather changes, lack of sleep or any other triggers?4
  • Signals—Did you have any indication or have any symptoms that the headache was coming such as a visual disturbance (flash of light or bright spot)?
  • Associated symptoms—Did you have any sensitivity to light, sound or odor? Did you experience nausea or vomiting?
  • Treatment—What medication did you take for your headache? How much did you take? Do not forget to include any over-the-counter products like Tylenol or Advil, and note the times that you took medication for the headache.

Summarize your treatment history. Write down the medications you’ve taken or are currently taking to treat headaches—prescription or over the counter. Also include non-drug treatments you’ve tried. Note what has worked and what hasn’t. If you’ve had any previous tests such as a brain CT or MRI, bring those results too.2

Find out about your family history. Headaches are often genetic. Ask your family members if there’s a history of headaches or migraines.2

Write down your questions. Don’t worry if they aren’t all answered in your first visit. Figure out before you go what’s most important, and start there.1

While you’re at your appointment, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to explain something you don’t understand. Rephrasing what you heard in your own words and repeating it back is a good way to double-check.1

Keep in mind that identifying triggers and finding treatment that works can take time. But if you feel like you’re not communicating well with your doctor or getting the care you deserve, you can always get a second opinion.

* Please note that some headaches require immediate evaluation such as a headache of sudden, abrupt onset and excruciating pain, a headache associated with any neurological symptoms such as weakness, visual changes, changes in speech or level of consciousness, or a headache with fever and stiff neck.

1. National Headache Foundation. Talking to Your Headache Care Provider. Available at: https://headaches.org/resources/talking-to-your-headache-care-provider/. Accessed October 23, 2019.

2. American Migraine Foundation. How to Talk to Your Practitioner About Your Headaches. Available at: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/how-to-talk-to-your-practitioner-about-your-headaches/. Accessed October 23, 2019.