A headache and Migraine diary can be valuable to you and your doctor in spotting patterns, identifying triggers, and reviewing other information that will help diagnose your head pain.
There are many areas to log for investigation when diagnosing head pain. They include:
- The characteristics of the head pain
itself:
- Where is it located?
- Is it a steady ache or does it have a pulsing quality?
- Is it sharp pain or a dull ache?
- Is it unilateral or bilateral?
- How long does the pain last?
- The timing of the head pain:
- Does it tend to occur at the same time of day?
- Do you awaken with it?
- Does it wake you from sleep?
- Are there other symptoms present at or
around the time of the head pain?
- Food cravings
- Increased urination
- Moodiness
- Cognitive issues such as difficulty concentrating
- Speech issues such as difficulty finding the right words for what you want to say
- Nausea, vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to sound
- Nasal congestion or a runny nose
- Redness or tearing in one or both eyes
- Are there identifiable triggers?
- Foods
- Sleep patterns
- Places
- Odors, chemical fumes, fragrances
- Eating patterns -- regular meal times, etc.
- Decreased intake of fluids, possible dehydration. This can occur anytime, not just during the summer months.
- Activities
- Weather changes
- Hormonal changes, menstrual cycle
- Crying
- Fluorescent lighting
- Muscle tension in the neck, shoulders
- Extreme heat, humidity
- Too much sun
- What offers you relief?
- Food
- Caffeine
- Hot or cold packs
- Medications - prescription or over-the-counter, including herbal and other supplements
- Sleep
- Massage
A formatted diary can be extremely helpful as it organizes some of this information into an easy to read and follow format. You can print or download one for use on your own computer by clicking HERE. Many people find it helpful to use a printed copy then transfer the entries to the diary on their computers to print out for their doctor's appointments.
In addition to the formatted diary form, it's helpful to keep a daily journal in which you track:
- The day's activities
- Your sleep patterns:
- Time you got up
- If your sleep was interrupted
- If you felt refreshed when you got up
- Time you went to bed
- Meal and snack times and what you ate
- How much of what beverages you drank during the day
- Notes of anything else you think may have impacted your head pain
This journal should be kept daily, regardless of whether you experienced head pain or other symptoms. It's possible to encounter triggers prior to the day on which you have head pain.
* Note: If you child is having head pain, depending on age, you may need to do this for the child or at least supervise your child doing it.
