But it is possible also to have the aura and not the pain that follows, particularly in older people. Migraine is diagnosed by doctors based on the patient's symptoms. Since you will probably see the doctor for diagnosis when you are headache-free, it is important to be clear when describing the symptoms of your attack. The symptoms may be moderate or severe and still be migraine. Attacks last 4 to 72 hours if not treated or if unsuccessfully treated.
Many people also experience more subtle symptoms with their migraine attacks.
These may be experienced prior to as well as during an attack. There are a variety of more rare forms of migraine. It is possible to have the stomach discomfort of migraine without having a headache. This is known as abdominal migraine, and is more common in children with migraine. Others can suffer from forms of migraine that mimic the symptoms of temporary stroke or confusion.