Migraines

[Pembroke_Corgi]

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]

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]

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

[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.

[areias]

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.

[catnapper]

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

[Suki Wingy]

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

[Pembroke_Corgi]

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]

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]

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.