Learn / Patient Tools
Learn
Patient Tools
A headache diary, a migraine-day checklist and questions to bring to your visit.
Headache diary
Track every headache day for at least a month before your visit, then keep going to measure progress. Bring it to every appointment. Patterns in sleep, meals, your cycle and medication use often become clear within a few weeks. To print, use your browser’s print option.
| Date | Start time / duration | Pain 0 to 10 | Warning signs or aura | Possible factors (sleep, meals, stress, cycle) | Medication and dose | Relief? (none / some / full) | Missed work or activities? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tip: count your monthly headache days and acute medication days. Using acute medication on 10 to 15 or more days a month can lead to medication overuse headache.
My migraine-day checklist
Fill this in with your clinician and keep a copy where you can reach it quickly. Read the full migraine-day plan.
At the first warning sign
- Take my prescribed acute medication as directed
- Ice on the back and front of my neck
- Move to a dark, quiet, cool room
- Drink water and eat a small protein-rich snack if I can
- Use my prescribed device (if I have one)
Things to avoid
- Taking extra doses beyond my doctor’s limits
- Screens and bright light
- Strong fragrances
- Pushing through intense exercise
Call Harcourt Brain Center if
- This attack is not responding to my usual plan
- I would like in-clinic migraine-day care (established patients)
Call 911 if
- Sudden, explosive “worst ever” headache
- New weakness, numbness, facial droop or trouble speaking
- Headache with fever and stiff neck, confusion or seizure
- Severe headache after a head injury
My acute medication: ______________________ Max days per month: ______
Harcourt Brain Center: (717) 483-8734
Questions for your visit
Bring these to your appointment. Check off the ones that matter most to you.
- What type of migraine do you think I have?
- Which factors do you think are filling my bucket the most?
- Which of the four pillars should I focus on first?
- Should I have any blood tests (vitamin D, B12, folate, magnesium)?
- Would hormone testing be useful for me?
- Am I at risk of medication overuse headache with what I take now?
- Which supplements, if any, make sense for me, and do they interact with my medications?
- What should my migraine-day plan look like?
- What exercises should I do at home, and how often?
- How will we measure whether I am improving?
- When should I come back for re-evaluation?
- Which signs mean I should seek urgent care?
Mastering Migraine is an educational resource and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Always talk with your own doctor before changing medications, starting supplements, or beginning a new treatment.
