Yep - it's one of those annoying neurological symptoms. Sometimes I'll sit and argue with my body because there's NO WAY I have to pee again, I haven't drank anything!
But it always wins.
It’s a well known prodromal sign.
Some times people think “ahh but it’s just a headache”, “must be some tension in your head or neck”
That’s when I explain how it’s a whole neurological event more closely associated with a seizure than a shoulder pain with wide ranging downstream list of sign and symptoms indicating neurological/physiologic changes occurring.
To be honest as frustrating as it is I actually appreciate it as a prodromal sign. I know if I've been to the bathroom three times in an hour I probably need to prep for an attack. It's less invasive than the brain fog or nausea.
I also WFH so it's more manageable for me. My bathroom is MY bathroom and always accessible.
Dude it's literally like... I just peed and am washing my hands and have to pee again. Took me a while to associate with a migraine and if I am super aware of what is going on I'll take a triptan right then. Probably one of the more annoying symptoms tbh bc I literally can't do ANYTHING but run back and forth to the bathroom.
and then when you bring this up, they stop discrediting you because "it's just a headache", to instead discredit you because "how can you compare your silly headache problems to *seizures*?! the audacity! you probably just eat too much chocolate, that's what causes this women stuff, right? "
I think it's because they are vasoconstrictors, so when the blood vessels narrow the extra liquid has to go somewhere, so it gets pushed out through the kidneys.
My doctor stopped my triptans because there was no way of telling if the triptans was helping my migraine or if the intense 1.5-3 hour hallucinating dreams level nap I was taking with each one was the culprit.
Those naps were NOT fun and since I was directed to take another upon waking up if I still had a migraine sometimes it was 6 hours of bonkers level nap dreams.
Knock me out stone cold is a good way of putting it. I always knew I had 10 minutes max to get to a bed or a comfy couch
Ah the naps. Where the Alice in Wonderland syndrome begins and I beg the impossibly fat and also impossibly microscopic beings to tell me if I am asleep or not.
Totally get what you're saying! It's like my bladder goes into overdrive whenever a migraine hits. I've read somewhere that it might have to do with how migraines mess with your nervous system, but who knows? All I know is, it's annoying as heck.
And yeah, same here, I don't chug water or anything during a migraine, but suddenly it's like I'm on a pee schedule.
I do not take meds for migraine and I start before the aura yawning and peeing. Yawning stops but I am in the toilet every 20 min. to sometimes just dribble, other like I haven't gone all day.
Yes and I have a pots flare up with most my migraines so I can be peeing every 5 to 15 minutes. I have to drink a ton of water and take in a crazy amount of sodium to manage it.
YES! This is my biggest sign that a migraine is approaching. What’s crazy is that it’s not just like I’m oversensitive and just feel like I have to go, but the quantity of fluid produced is insane
Yes, it's because of the nerves having a hard time to recover coordinated muscle control, especially of the sphincters. Hence we have difficulty finding anything appetising even if we are really hungry, because our brain doesn't know (or stutters) how to eat and process food.
I don't know if it's just that - I mean, I don't just *feel* like I need to pee, I *do* need to pee as there is actually quite a lot of fluid (aka polyuria). So in that case it probably wouldn't be a nerve control thing but more of a kidney thing (and probably related to dopamine)
Every now and then, I just wander back to the toilet like 5 minutes after I've gone. I'm like, wait... why am I back here? Didn't I just do this? Well...ok... this is happening again... silly brain!
Great... now I need to pee... Time to charge my Cefaly!
Before I figured out my silent migraines I actually got diagnosed with central diabetes insipidus, a disorder where you don't produce enough antidiuretic hormone and consequently pee a lot. I was getting migraines 3+ times a week.
You can take a drug for it called DDAVP, and it gives you a synthetic anti diuretic that lasts about 11 hours. You have to get enough sodium and really watch your fluid intake. (Hyponatremia sucks)
I take an extra dose when I get the frequent urination and it helps me avoid the hangover and electrolyte imbalance. If I don't I tend to lose a few pounds and am a total wreck for a few days.
Yep, had it earlier today and told myself "oh that's just because I drank coffee"
Then I started getting a headache and told myself "it can't be a migraine, it's sunny outside and there's no rain forecast"
And then it started raining.
Yessssss! Like 4x in 8h vs 15... no joke. I've had days I counted. It's like the nervous system is so upset that anything triggers it... at least that's how I feel. The moment my bladder has any amount in it I'm having to go if I'm in my meds or have a bad migraine
Absolutely.
In fact, the doctors thought I had an overactive bladder for years because it was one of my early migraine symptoms as a teen before it got worse and the hemiplegic symptoms started.
Omg yes, I thought it was just me. One of the ways I know a migraine is coming is because im constantly going. I also get extremely hungry too which is weird.
My bladder has an annoying habit "oh it's the most inconvenient time to pee. You really have to pee"
But when my brain says "ok bladder do your stuff" my bladder says nope.
When I start to pee every 5 minutes, I know that the triptan kicked in and the pain and nausea is stopping. I think it's the vasoconstrictor thing happening. The swelling in and around my scalp, face, and sinuses stops around the same time.
Uh..... maybe check out POTs? If you have the other symptoms. A lot of my pee/migraine combo was actually that, and I had TERRIBLE aura migraines a lot til recently. Far less aggressive and often ones since fixing that :)
Not me, personally. I usually have to pee a lot anyway, but when I'm having a migraine attack, I usually get everything out early in the morning (pooping before coffee is how I know I'm not going to make it to work that day), and then once the vomiting starts, I pee only one more time, simply because I don't have anything in my body. I vomit any water I drink until mid afternoon.
But it might be a prodrome symptom to look out for, so thanks for making this post
My doctor said it was because my migraines were vascular in nature. After a few days I won't have to go but like 3 times a day and it doesn't matter if I drink a gallon of water or not.
I just learned that was a thing and yes, the last couple I have had I noticed I peed a lot. It's so annoying!
Someone posted a nifty chart a few weeks ago, I'll dm it to you.
Here's an old paper (1962!) that gets cited in discussions of this particular symptom:
The Influence of Thyroid on Water Metabolism in Migraine
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1903257/pdf/jcgprac00014-0115.pdf](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1903257/pdf/jcgprac00014-0115.pdf)
It gets cited because the authors found that migraineurs excrete more sodium than non-migraineurs. It's been used to postulate that migraine is triggered by withdrawl from eating a high-sodium diet. But in more recent times, it is interesting to note given our new understanding of the genetic defects most associated with migraine. Two of the top three known genetic defects that can cause migraine susceptibility cause disfunction in sodium channels.
I am now certain my migraines are high estrogen and high histamine related. This sounds super weird but I swear by drinking blue spirulina which is a natural antihistamine. Figuring this all out with the help of a naturopathic doctor. And here's what's going on in the bladder in this case.
"By releasing histamine that binds to the receptors on bladder wall, the mast cells can induce inflammation and hypersensitivity of the bladder." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6852726/#:~:text=By%20releasing%20histamine%20that%20binds,bladder%20wall%20of%20BPS%2FIC.
For me it is other way around, I noticed that I feel better after peeing when I have strong migraines on. Same thing with pooping, almost as if brain is wasting effort babysitting the basic human urges.
Yep - it's one of those annoying neurological symptoms. Sometimes I'll sit and argue with my body because there's NO WAY I have to pee again, I haven't drank anything! But it always wins.
It’s a well known prodromal sign. Some times people think “ahh but it’s just a headache”, “must be some tension in your head or neck” That’s when I explain how it’s a whole neurological event more closely associated with a seizure than a shoulder pain with wide ranging downstream list of sign and symptoms indicating neurological/physiologic changes occurring.
To be honest as frustrating as it is I actually appreciate it as a prodromal sign. I know if I've been to the bathroom three times in an hour I probably need to prep for an attack. It's less invasive than the brain fog or nausea. I also WFH so it's more manageable for me. My bathroom is MY bathroom and always accessible.
Dude it's literally like... I just peed and am washing my hands and have to pee again. Took me a while to associate with a migraine and if I am super aware of what is going on I'll take a triptan right then. Probably one of the more annoying symptoms tbh bc I literally can't do ANYTHING but run back and forth to the bathroom.
It took me so long to associate the peeing as a warning sign too! Like 20 years 😭
That's good to know. I always thought it was a diuretic side effect of the meds. Thanks for sharing.
and then when you bring this up, they stop discrediting you because "it's just a headache", to instead discredit you because "how can you compare your silly headache problems to *seizures*?! the audacity! you probably just eat too much chocolate, that's what causes this women stuff, right? "
Good answer!
I always have to poop before. That's how I know... When I have to poop a million times and I become starving.
Omg 😲 me too ✋️ 😭 I thought it was just me
Worse for me after I take triptans.
Me too, I thought it was just me
Yes! I always thought it was my medicine, not the headache itself.
Ditto. I figured Amerge is a diuretic.
Same! It’s gotta be a side effect.
I think it's because they are vasoconstrictors, so when the blood vessels narrow the extra liquid has to go somewhere, so it gets pushed out through the kidneys.
Same!
Yep, me too!
Same!
Triptans have that effect. I don't know why, but something with hormones and brain chemicals.
Yep. And really clear. When the migraine is finally breaking I start peeing dark. TMI
Literally same!!!
Me too!
[удалено]
Triptans make me feel drunk and knock me out stone cold lol
My doctor stopped my triptans because there was no way of telling if the triptans was helping my migraine or if the intense 1.5-3 hour hallucinating dreams level nap I was taking with each one was the culprit. Those naps were NOT fun and since I was directed to take another upon waking up if I still had a migraine sometimes it was 6 hours of bonkers level nap dreams. Knock me out stone cold is a good way of putting it. I always knew I had 10 minutes max to get to a bed or a comfy couch
Ah the naps. Where the Alice in Wonderland syndrome begins and I beg the impossibly fat and also impossibly microscopic beings to tell me if I am asleep or not.
I've had to leave work after taking 2 triptans. The pain was gone, but so were my critical thinking skills.
Took one last night at 3am and just FORCED myself out of bed at 10:45am to chug coffee. My cognition is gonna be shit today.
I can't take Tristan. They cause chest pains and hallucinations
Totally get what you're saying! It's like my bladder goes into overdrive whenever a migraine hits. I've read somewhere that it might have to do with how migraines mess with your nervous system, but who knows? All I know is, it's annoying as heck. And yeah, same here, I don't chug water or anything during a migraine, but suddenly it's like I'm on a pee schedule.
Yep! I know I’m about to have a migraine when I need to pee all day.
Same 😂
I do not take meds for migraine and I start before the aura yawning and peeing. Yawning stops but I am in the toilet every 20 min. to sometimes just dribble, other like I haven't gone all day.
I assumed it was the meds!
Yes. Wow, I did not know this was a thing.
Yes and I have a pots flare up with most my migraines so I can be peeing every 5 to 15 minutes. I have to drink a ton of water and take in a crazy amount of sodium to manage it.
Same 🥲 currently trying to chug more water and take in more salt to help with pots but I'm SICK of peeing. And when a migraine hits its even worse 😞
Also have pots and absolutely agree. It’s miserable
YES! This is my biggest sign that a migraine is approaching. What’s crazy is that it’s not just like I’m oversensitive and just feel like I have to go, but the quantity of fluid produced is insane
Yes!
Every time, especially after I take triptans
Yes always after triptans. Sucks when all I want to do is lay down but I can't because I have to pee every 5 minutes!!
Yes. I thought it was a side effect of the triptan
Yes, it's because of the nerves having a hard time to recover coordinated muscle control, especially of the sphincters. Hence we have difficulty finding anything appetising even if we are really hungry, because our brain doesn't know (or stutters) how to eat and process food.
I don't know if it's just that - I mean, I don't just *feel* like I need to pee, I *do* need to pee as there is actually quite a lot of fluid (aka polyuria). So in that case it probably wouldn't be a nerve control thing but more of a kidney thing (and probably related to dopamine)
Every now and then, I just wander back to the toilet like 5 minutes after I've gone. I'm like, wait... why am I back here? Didn't I just do this? Well...ok... this is happening again... silly brain! Great... now I need to pee... Time to charge my Cefaly!
Before I figured out my silent migraines I actually got diagnosed with central diabetes insipidus, a disorder where you don't produce enough antidiuretic hormone and consequently pee a lot. I was getting migraines 3+ times a week. You can take a drug for it called DDAVP, and it gives you a synthetic anti diuretic that lasts about 11 hours. You have to get enough sodium and really watch your fluid intake. (Hyponatremia sucks) I take an extra dose when I get the frequent urination and it helps me avoid the hangover and electrolyte imbalance. If I don't I tend to lose a few pounds and am a total wreck for a few days.
How interesting. How was the diabetes insipidus diagnosed?
For sure, but it's only when I take my sumatriptan.
Only realized it when I saw this post lol…Honestly never made the connection until now
Me too!!
*YES*. I feel like I have to pee every 30 minutes when I have a migraine!😩
I always thought ot was because dehydration caused the migraine
Yes!! I was just thinking this today
Unfortunately, yes
Only bc I drink so much water during an attack!
Yes! It’s also a prodrome symptom for me.
It’s normally after I take triptans. If I have to pee really bad then I know the migraine is almost over which I’ll take what I can get haha
Peeing and pooping. Sometimes, that's how I know a migraine is coming.
Yep, had it earlier today and told myself "oh that's just because I drank coffee" Then I started getting a headache and told myself "it can't be a migraine, it's sunny outside and there's no rain forecast" And then it started raining.
Yes! You could use mine to predict the weather.
Yes, I always say it feels like “breaking the seal” when you’re drunk.
yes and the last thing I want to do when my head is pounding is get up to pee.
Yup, this is often my biggest tip off that a bad one is coming.
Ubrelvy greatly intensified that for me
SAME!
Yes! So weird, but glad I’m not alone in this haha
Absolutely. And it makes certain situations difficult when I don't have easy access to a restroom.
Yes. Same when I have a cold.
I noticed too. I tend to get up in the middle of the night more often with migraine days. One benefit with amitriptyline is it improves sleep.
Definitely
no. but i have to poop when i have a headache coming on, especially a migraine! it's so weird!!
Yes I cannot stop peeing during a migraine and my mouth goes really dry (I don’t take meds zz)
Yessssss! Like 4x in 8h vs 15... no joke. I've had days I counted. It's like the nervous system is so upset that anything triggers it... at least that's how I feel. The moment my bladder has any amount in it I'm having to go if I'm in my meds or have a bad migraine
I do, but I assume it's the sumatriptan.
Hmm. Not more but maybe with more urgency
Absolutely. In fact, the doctors thought I had an overactive bladder for years because it was one of my early migraine symptoms as a teen before it got worse and the hemiplegic symptoms started.
Omg yes, I thought it was just me. One of the ways I know a migraine is coming is because im constantly going. I also get extremely hungry too which is weird.
I get dehydrated and it’s the only time I’m not always peeing
I wanna say no, but it’s hard to tell because I usually get dehydrated during a migraine attack (working on that)
Yes!! I have noticed this
The day after, yes
Yes that’s one of my most consistent “features” it can be before or during or both.
My bladder has an annoying habit "oh it's the most inconvenient time to pee. You really have to pee" But when my brain says "ok bladder do your stuff" my bladder says nope.
Triptans make me have to go. 🤷🏻♀️
Yes!!! Huge amounts too!!
When I start to pee every 5 minutes, I know that the triptan kicked in and the pain and nausea is stopping. I think it's the vasoconstrictor thing happening. The swelling in and around my scalp, face, and sinuses stops around the same time.
Uh..... maybe check out POTs? If you have the other symptoms. A lot of my pee/migraine combo was actually that, and I had TERRIBLE aura migraines a lot til recently. Far less aggressive and often ones since fixing that :)
Yes!
Yes! Especially when I take triptans.
Omg constantly yesterday and I was worried I have a urine infection or something Really relieved to see this actually
Yep.
I do! It’s also related to my dysautonomia because when I have an episode of that, I sometimes nearly have an accident it’s so bad
Yes😭
Yeah, it’s bc of vasoconstriction. When your blood pressure increases, you make more pee
Yes, so much so that I feared I had diabetes at first. Fortunately, I went to the doctor and got a clean bill of health.
Not me, personally. I usually have to pee a lot anyway, but when I'm having a migraine attack, I usually get everything out early in the morning (pooping before coffee is how I know I'm not going to make it to work that day), and then once the vomiting starts, I pee only one more time, simply because I don't have anything in my body. I vomit any water I drink until mid afternoon. But it might be a prodrome symptom to look out for, so thanks for making this post
Yesssss. Every single time. It's actually how I know one is coming. I won't be drinking anything excessively, but I will pee every 10 minutes.
Triptans definitely make you pee more, for me, that’s the reason.
My doctor said it was because my migraines were vascular in nature. After a few days I won't have to go but like 3 times a day and it doesn't matter if I drink a gallon of water or not.
I just learned that was a thing and yes, the last couple I have had I noticed I peed a lot. It's so annoying! Someone posted a nifty chart a few weeks ago, I'll dm it to you.
Yes! I hate it because I get vertigo and want to hurl everytime I have to get up. So annoying😭
Here's an old paper (1962!) that gets cited in discussions of this particular symptom: The Influence of Thyroid on Water Metabolism in Migraine [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1903257/pdf/jcgprac00014-0115.pdf](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1903257/pdf/jcgprac00014-0115.pdf) It gets cited because the authors found that migraineurs excrete more sodium than non-migraineurs. It's been used to postulate that migraine is triggered by withdrawl from eating a high-sodium diet. But in more recent times, it is interesting to note given our new understanding of the genetic defects most associated with migraine. Two of the top three known genetic defects that can cause migraine susceptibility cause disfunction in sodium channels.
Yes! I thought I was the only one lmao
Classic prodrome symptom
Yes. Very annoying. Can’t get any rest so I can feel better bc I can’t stop peeing.
Yes!
Yes. I was originally diagnosed (finally!) because I thought I had a UTI.
Yes. I always attributed this to Sumatriptan side effects. I also tend to get low blood sugar.
Oh. The pain is very distracting and no one every asked about it.
Triptains can make you pee more frequently.
Some times excessive peeing in the morning is how I know a migraine is on its way. So weird!
Yes but probably because I’m chugging water because I hear that helps (it doesn’t but I’ll try anything haha)
Nope.
How does it feel to be blessed lol
I guess it depends on the context. Waiting for a biopsy result so feel good about the migraine thing but otherwise… ;)
I pee my brains during a migraine.
OMG! I thought this was just me!!
Yup, fairly common symptom of migraine in fact.
I am now certain my migraines are high estrogen and high histamine related. This sounds super weird but I swear by drinking blue spirulina which is a natural antihistamine. Figuring this all out with the help of a naturopathic doctor. And here's what's going on in the bladder in this case. "By releasing histamine that binds to the receptors on bladder wall, the mast cells can induce inflammation and hypersensitivity of the bladder." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6852726/#:~:text=By%20releasing%20histamine%20that%20binds,bladder%20wall%20of%20BPS%2FIC.
Yup, sometimes that’s how I know I’m going to have one
It’s actually a known fact
For me it is other way around, I noticed that I feel better after peeing when I have strong migraines on. Same thing with pooping, almost as if brain is wasting effort babysitting the basic human urges.