Migraine is a very complex subject and highly individual to the sufferrer. For many, migraine passes with low level symptoms. Others are in bed for two or three days.
Essentially, they fall into two categories where the 'trigger' is an external substance (such as the well known chocco, cheese and red wine) or an 'internal' cause.
Also, migraine is often experienced in puberty. A friend of mine had this but has been free for many years and holds an ATPL. This is similar to epilepsy that emerges in puberty and then receeds by the late teens. Another friend of mine had this badly but has not had a fit in over 20 years. For myself, migraine only started in my early 30s but I must now have medication to hand at all time.
For some, avoiding the trigger substance is the main point with medication for the slip ups or when substances might be in meals prepared by others - such as air lines!!!
Onset is also individual. Many can sense this by what is called 'the aura', normally a disturbance to vision and often the appearance of 'dancing' spots of lights in the vision. Medication must then be taken. My ex-wife experienced some vision disturbance but the most marked was that her speech was disruppted. She would speak a sentance - but it would come out all mixed up. She could hear that it was mixed up and know what was happening. Truly frightening the first time it happened.
To give another example, my migraine is 'internal' and stress related. During a period of high work or stress, I am fine. Diamond. No problems. Keep going. Once that time is past - then I have a migraine! This is well known in men and is called a 'wind-down migraine' The most likely times for me to experience this are on a Saturday and during the first week of holiday.
Also, I get no warning, as the migraine wakes me up. Typically, at 06:00 on a Saturday morning. Since I normally sleep very late, there is no mistaking the sensations. I do not get 'aura' as I am asleep and awake with the migraine already fully established.
I become highly photo senstive and any light is unbearable. Hence I always have a set of sleep shades to hand. My set from VS Upper Class are the best!
A couple of times a year, I can get a migraine onset during the day but this is rarer - however, it happened last Tuesday evening! (it has been a VERY stressfull week).
I used to take over-the-counter Migralieve and still carry this for minor attacks. A friend suggested that I ask my doctor for 'Maxalt Melt'. This dissolves on the tongue and so is more rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. For those that experience nausea this is also helpful. The active ingriedient is 'Rizatriptan'. This family, called 'The Triptans' are new and very effective. I can take a maximum of two in 24 hours. For severe attacks, I have Mobic Meloxicam that dilates the blood vessels in the brain to help ease the blood flow. Both of these are prescription only but my doctor is fab and allows me repeats as required.
Side effects - of the condition, we have mentioned vision and other disturbances and nausea is a problem for many. I have experienced it occasionally, particularly in the early days before diagnosis. Following my change to Rizatriptan - never.
Side effects of the medication - are extreme drowsiness. Preferably sleep! Again, this is personal, if I wake with migraine, I can expect to be in bed for the next 5 to 9 hours, depending on severity of the attack. With OTC medication it was 12 to 15 hours.
I suggest you contact and join a UK charity
Migraine Trust. As Bird Strike suggests, keep a migraine diary for a while, noting symptoms and your activities immediately preceeding an attack. For myself, I gave them 'ratings' a Class 1 was low and I could keep going, just not doing things like driving or other visually intensive activities up to a Class 5 that meant I was out for the day and experienced the worst symptoms of the attack,
If this has been rather too much information, I apologise but as I said - it is a very complex subject and much research is being done. Here is a quote from the above site:
Migraine is a complex condition with a wide variety of symptoms which show that various metabolic, neurophysiological and biochemical changes take place during an attack. For many, the main feature is the headache but for children the headache may be milder, and it is the gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach ache which tend to be predominant. It is also a disorder which comes and goes, with complete freedom between attacks.