I have migraine headaches. They were misdiagnosed for about 10 years, as I had been told I was suffering from reoccuring sinus infections which had a side effect of searing, throbbing pain above and behind my left eye. It wasn't until I met my wife, who also suffers from migraines, that I went to a neurologist who told me that I was definitly suffering from migraines. Less than 6% of men have migraines, but almost 18% of women have them. Just my luck that both of us get them, funny how life is sometimes.
It frustrates me when I hear people say "Oh, I had a headache the other day, it was a migraine." Well, guess what. Most likely it wasn't. Migraines are some of the worst pain you can experience. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst pain you have ever been in, migraines usually rate in the 7-10 range. The other thing that really frustrates me is people who don't believe that migraines are a real medical condition. I've had people tell me "Men don't get migraines" or "Migraines are just an excuse". Sorry, but wrong on both counts. Believe me, if I could get rid of them, I would.
I get a migraine about once every week or so, but thankfully I can usually knock them out with medication and an hour or two of quiet and darkness. But on occasion, maybe 3 or 4 times a year, I'll have a migraine so bad that I need heavy narcotics to put me to sleep so I can get away from the pain. Vomiting, dizzyness, and extreme sensitivity to sounds and smells also come with these.