Migraines

**Pembroke_Corgi** · 11-01-2006, 05:48 PM

Does anyone else have these? I get them every so often, they are horrible! I had one last night, fortunately it wasn't a really bad one.

Does anyone have any good homeopathic remedies, or just tricks to stop them from coming on? Thanks.

**RedHedd** · 11-01-2006, 05:50 PM

Feverfew is supposed to work but I've never had any luck with it. Good old Excedrin Migraine formula is what works for me. I do empathize as migraines suck big time!

**Suki Wingy** · 11-01-2006, 05:52 PM

I get them all the time but I don't know how to stop them. I have chronic sinus infections too.

**catnapper** · 11-01-2006, 06:00 PM

Oh boy do I get migraines! I finally figured out my main triggers and avoid them. Do you know what your triggers are? Once you kow what triggers them you can control them a bit better.

My triggers are many, but here are the big ones:
~lack of sleep
~alcohol
~chocloate (doesn't stop me from eating it, I just have to be smart about it

)
~raisins
~pickles
~blue cheese
You'll notice I have lots of food triggers.... basically a lot of food that is aged. There's a huge list online somewhere that lists everything and you'll have to figure out by trial and error what are your big triggers. Alcohol is my biggest food based trigger. I can't even eat food marinated in alcohol -- it does NOT all burn off like they try to tell you. My body recognises it and sends me into migraine misery. There's been many nights where I neglected to ask how a restaurant prepared its food.... then a few hours later was in pure agony.

The best protection I can say is avoiding my triggers and a combination of a HOT shower quickly followed by a headband of ice. I can't sing the praises of this headband enough:Headache icepack

**Rie Rie** · 11-01-2006, 06:02 PM

I've suffered with migraines for the past 5 years. At first I would just get them whenever or if I drank too much alcohol, then they starting coming right before my periods. Now they ccome right after my periods or even still if I drink too much. I've been seeing a neurologist since they started and had many tests, but never found the source. I take Maxalt, which is a migraine medicine and it will get rid of it if I don't wait too long to take it and sometimes I have to take them a couple of days. They aren't cheap , even with my co-pay I still pay $50.00 and there's only 9 in a pack and youcan only get it once a month.

**Suki Wingy** · 11-01-2006, 06:02 PM

I can't avoid my triggers, they're basically all my pets and all the stuff at the barn. I am on meds though.

**areias** · 11-01-2006, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Rie Rie

I've suffered with migraines for the past 5 years. At first I would just get them whenever or if I drank too much alcohol, then they starting coming right before my periods. Now they ccome right after my periods or even still if I drink too much. I've been seeing a neurologist since they started and had many tests, but never found the source. I take Maxalt, which is a migraine medicine and it will get rid of it if I don't wait too long to take it and sometimes I have to take them a couple of days. They aren't cheap , even with my co-pay I still pay $50.00 and there's only 9 in a pack and youcan only get it once a month.

ALL through my mid-teen years, I dealt with debilitating headaches, especially when I got my period. I would miss school, work etc because of them. When I was 17 (I am 19 now) I sat down and talk to a guy who was supposed to specialize in headaches-I was prescribed maxalt-a day later I got one, and tried the maxalt, and I thought I was going die. I came really close to either calling an ambulance or trying to drive to the nearest hospital. It felt like my neck and where my skull meets my vertebrae was being hit with a sledgehammer. Maxalt I think is specifically for migraines, I don't think that's what I have, I think I get what they call cluster headaches. So much for that doctor! If you were to go to a doctor about them, I would keep a log of when you get your migraines/headaches, the food you ate that day, etc. I failed to do this and feel I was improperly diagnosed. Be very specific.

I've somewhat grown out of them now. If I feel one coming on, or if I get one, I can usually take 4 aspirin (no less) and feel better. Not the healthiest thing but it helps me. I've thought about going back and seeing if I can get a less health deteriorating pain reliever, instead of having to take all those aspirin, especially if I have a headache for 2-3 days in a row. I also learned to avoid citrus juice...orange juice, lemon juice, tangerine juice, grapefruit juice, as it is one of my triggers (the fruit itself dosen't bother me, though). Too much chocolate is a trigger, and sometimes I think that dairy foods are a trigger too, although I haven't decided on that one yet. Triggers are a big part of it.

**Pembroke_Corgi** · 11-01-2006, 06:18 PM

Thanks for the ideas. I will have to try the Excedrin Migraine formula and taking a hot shower. I think my main trigger is stress. When things have been bothering me the tension just builds up and I usually end up getting a major migraine.

Last year I was very stressed out by a job I had and I was also coming down with the flu- I developed neck and head pain so severe that lasted so long I was sure I was coming down with meningitis! I didn't have any health insurance but I saw a doctor anyway. I ended up paying $120 for them to tell me to take a ton of Tylenol/Alieve. I tried the same combination a few months ago for a severe migraine and I ended up getting severely ill so I'm more careful now about not taking too much medication. I wonder if there is any kind of aromatherapy that helps?

**Argranade** · 11-01-2006, 06:27 PM

My god did I ever get them when I was in my other high school, I came home in tears a few times it was soo bad I could just not take the pain.

I had to lay down and rest right away, sleeping always helped it go away.

Advil is also my second option.

Good luck with them, dam they can realy suck.

**Russian Blue** · 11-01-2006, 06:53 PM

My migraine trigger is unforunately due to the weather. They are brought on by rapid changes in the weather - usually storm related and usually worse in the fall/winter.

I usually know when a bad storm is coming before the weather person reports it. I start getting a migraine the day before the storm/weather change and will keep Advil with me at work/home. For me, the only thing that works is to sleep it off.

**RedHedd** · 11-01-2006, 07:53 PM

Hormones can be migraine triggers. When going through the worst part of menopause I regularly got vicious migraines. Now that I've "paused" they have lessened, however lately they were starting up again and voila! Yes, I had a sinus infection! Taking a Z-pack (Azythromycin) for the sinus infection made the headaches go away - there IS a connection.

Some people get relief from heat; others from ice - everyone is different! My doctor used to prescribe Fiorinal, but now that they have more advanced drugs, I don't think they give that anymore. It worked extremely well for me at the time; now I rely on the Excedrin - I should own stock in the company!

**Soapets** · 11-01-2006, 08:36 PM

I get migraines, and my son gets them, too. He can usually take care of his by taking Ibuprofen as soon as he senses it coming on. He takes anywhere from two to four of them, depending on the severity of the headache by the time he takes them.

Most of my migraines are caused by caffeine withdrawal. I can't drink caffeinated beverages or eat chocolate without getting a migraine headache when the caffeine wears off. Caffeine dilates the blood vessels, and when the caffeine wears off the blood vessels constrict (or vice-versa!), and that's what causes the migraines. I also get migraines when I get really over-tired and sleep-deprived.

I used to get migraines really badly, associated with hormones, and Birth Control pills. I used to have to go to the hospital Emergency Room for a shot of Toradol for the pain, and Vistaril for the nausea if I let it get to that point. I have had a hysterectomy so don't have that problem anymore though, thank goodness!

I now take oral Toradol whenever I get a migraine headache. It works fairly well. If I wait too long before taking it though, I get nauseous and have to go get a shot of Vistaril. If I take it too soon, the headache comes back after the Toradol wears off and I have to take another dose of it.

Migraines can also be triggered by nuts, cheeses, liver, wines, and high-protein meats such as liver. Sleep schedules can cause migraines if they are disrupted. Lots of people get migraines on weekends because they sleep in longer than on week days when they have to get earlier to go to work or school. Regimenting your lifestyle and diet can do a lot to help avoid migraines, if you can figure out what your triggers are.

Good Luck!

Deb

**shais_mom** · 11-02-2006, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by Soapets

Most of my migraines are caused by caffeine withdrawal. I can't drink caffeinated beverages or eat chocolate without getting a migraine headache when the caffeine wears off. Caffeine dilates the blood vessels, and when the caffeine wears off the blood vessels constrict (or vice-versa!), and that's what causes the migraines. I also get migraines when I get really over-tired and sleep-deprived.

Deb

Also important to note- that if this is the case for you. (obviously not Deb b/c she didn't mention it and she seems to have her's "figgered" out) that taking Excederin Migraine or a lot of OTC meds won't help b/c they contain caffeine. It is SUPPOSED to help with pain relief.
I get tension headaches frequently - those are mostly an annoyance but on occasion I will get full blown migraines. Photophobia, nausea the whole 9 yards. On occasion I have missed work b/c of them. My triggers are usually lack of sleep, and stress. I haven't really paid attention to if eating something bothers it, but I am going to have to start. One of my coworkers son's gets debilitating migraines and they have found a couple of his triggers are caffeine and MSG. He can't eat Chinese food unless it says no MSG. There are also a lot of food you wouldn't think has it in it - like bbq potato chips. He also had a CT Brain b/c of it and they did find a benign tumor that they keep an eye on.
What helps me is ice - sleep- if I am nauseated - honestly to throw up! It relieves the pressure somehow. I found an eye mask that I keep in the freezer that ROCKS. Zippy cat sent me something similiar for my birthday - it is lavender scented. Also I swear by a headache pillow - links to follow -
Lavender helps sometimes. Scalp massage also (put husband to work!

)
links to follow.....

**shais_mom** · 11-02-2006, 12:09 AM

headache pillow -

http://www.become.com/shop?q=headach...che+ice+pillow

IMAK eye mask -
http://www.drugstore.com/products/pr...llow_sinus_and

warm whiskers -
www.warmwhiskers.com
---- http://www.warmwhiskers.com/Merchant...roduct_Code=ep she got me the kitty

I have also bought several of these products - they are holistic and specific for which symptoms..
http://www.heelusa.com/about_story_of_heel.html

**K9karen** · 11-02-2006, 01:07 AM

I definitely know that any red wine, champagne triggers a devastating migrane, with nausea, flashing lights, no feeling on one side of my face. So natch, I don't touch them,not even a sip. (goes from tongue to head almost instantly).

My last one was the day after my wrist surgery, most likely from the anesthesia. Even the morphine drip didn't touch it. You'd think being in a hospital, they'd give me something, but they only gave me a shot to keep me from continuing upchucking.
Nerves can do it for me. But they've deminished since I went into menopause (YIPPEE!).

I pity anyone who gets a migraine. Only major narcotics work for me. Tylenol, Alleve, Motrin might as well be candy. Shut the blinds and lights, bring the ice and for heaven's sake, don't try to talk to me! Honestly, I can't think of anything worse.