Need Help with Migraines....

[polarfan]

I've suffered w, migraines for several years and usually can get thru them ok,but this past month I've had the worst multiple headaches ever. I had to leave work early and get an injection (leaving work early is a mortal sin right below murder around here ) and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions...a certain food they found has worked or avoidance of certain foods, vitamins anything?? I don't have any "triggers" so I don't know why they're so much worse all of a sudden. Dr just gave me new samples of pain meds and said to avoid caffeine (which usually helps me) any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated....thanks!!

[radioclash]

Hi polarfan - so sorry that you're suffering so badly. I also get migraines a whole lot. My triggers are almost always weather related - storm front or cold fronts moving in, etc. I don't know if you've ever thought of that.

As far as remedies, I take Imitrex. It helps, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend medication right off the bat.

[polarfan]

OMG! You know I always thought mine might be weather related but when I mentioned that to a DR (years ago) he looked at me like I was nuts...hmmm it's been unusually cold here (for So Cal) I bet that's a part of it. Unfortunately Imitrex didn't work for me, but maybe I shouldn't go around bare headed at 5am either. Thanks it's good to know I'm not the only one who is affected by the weather

[teakay]

Usually migraines are worse during this time of year do to changing temps. Coffee usually helps....decaf. You need to ask your doc about a sinus series as that seems obvious. You might also want to ask your dentist about the headaches. Good luck!

[jan]

my husband gets them quite abit but his is stress related.he is supposed to take imitrex but when he cant afford that he takes excedrin migraine tablets and lays down in a dark room for a couple hours he usually gets rid of it or sometimes it might let up but wont totally go way.good luck

[gutless]

Imitrex doesn't work for me either, but Zomig (prescription in Canada) has never failed. I can't figure out my triggers either, but I don't think it's the weather for me. It was hovering just below 0 centigrade today - cold but sunny and pleasant.

[radioclash]

The weatherman here always mentions that when the barometric pressure is rising that those who are sensitive will definitely be feeling it.

[Amy]

polarfan said:

OMG! You know I always thought mine might be weather related but when I mentioned that to a DR (years ago) he looked at me like I was nuts...hmmm it's been unusually cold here (for So Cal) I bet that's a part of it.

Instead of using the words "weather related" to your doctor, ask about barometic pressure. I learned this because of my foot handicap! My foot is more painful when the barometic pressure is up and going higher - which usually is a sign of rain. However, in your area you don't have as much rain, but there still could be rises in the barometic pressure.

There's truth in the so-called "old wives tale" about weather!

Good luck with the migraines. I sometimes get the auras, but never the headache - I hope to never, ever get the headache. I understand they're beyond misery.

[ingt]

hey Polar

Another migraine sufferer here. Mine started after I was involved in a pretty serious car accident and I was out of action with severe whiplash for months.

My triggers are stress (relief afterwards), PMT and alcohol - doesn't stop me though. I have been able to manage it really well by taking heed of the early signs. For me a back/neck ache. Take drugs immediately.

I have not had a full blown migraine for years now. Quitting smoking and yoga have definitely alleviated the frequency and severity of my headaches. Yoga breathing is exceptionally good for getting through the time it takes for drugs to work. And for getting rid of hangovers - joy!
I found acupuncture also very good for me.

I am also a jaw clencher/grinder and am working on stopping that too now.

I really hope you find your trigger and can stop them early. PM me if you have any questions.

Amy, the thought of death has seemed like bliss when in the throws of a migraine. I would not wish this pain on anyone.

[polarfan]

thanks everyone I really appreciate the help...I'm almost positive now it is weather related and probably stress...I'm taking the GMAT in one week and I think I'm more freaked out about it than I thought
I've also cut way down on processed foods, caffeine,and chocolate that one is hard...yes as sad as it sounds earlier this week the thoughts of sweet sweet death crossed my mind, I hope to never ever get it that bad again, or any of you for that matter.

[gutless]

Just remembered the cause of my migraines. They were hormone related. Once I stopped the bc pill, they didn't happen any where near as often.

[Stiletto]

polarfan said:

thanks everyone I really appreciate the help...I'm almost positive now it is weather related and probably stress...I'm taking the GMAT in one week and I think I'm more freaked out about it than I thought
I've also cut way down on processed foods, caffeine,and chocolate that one is hard...yes as sad as it sounds earlier this week the thoughts of sweet sweet death crossed my mind, I hope to never ever get it that bad again, or any of you for that matter.

For me.....(I get them too....)...it is a combination of things.....Weather (humidity).....Stress(Unbelievable at times).....Alcahol(dammit!).......a bad daily routine(lack of sleep, too much caffiene, not enough water, no breakfast....etc)........plus I did have a head injury......I have had eye surgery (almost blind in left eye)......

I have run the gambit of over the counter drugs.......not sure what's next.........lol

I feel for you........and relate very much so.......

[angie]

I hope that you find relief, Polarfan
I can relate, too...migraines are awful to experience. Mine are mostly stress and hormonal related. And perfume...and MSG. And the weather...okay, I guess there are quite a few triggers!


Yep, everyone has pretty much given the worst posssible ones. I am sure that the upcoming GMAT has put a lot of stress on you, even if you weren't aware of it.

I hope that you are able to find something that helps you stop the pain. I have had them since I was about 18. I don't currently take any prescription meds for them. I never really found one that did the job. Now, when I get that feeling( you know what I mean, when you KNOW that soon it will be taking ove) I take Extra Strength Excedrin (Or Excedrin Migraine--they are the exact same thing) and I try to find a dark, quiet spot.

I hope that you feel better!

[franny2]

For those of you who don't like alternative medicine, look away.
For those of you willing to experiment, here is a little someting you can try.

I came home one day from the Health Food Store with a tube of migraine cream. I don't remember picking it up and I have no idea how it got into my purchases. But there it was on my receipt, $16 (cdn) bought and paid for. My husband gets migraines so I asked him if he was interested. He felt the same as me (and I use a lot of alternative medicine) that it couldn't possibly work, so he told me to just bring it back.

Anyway, because I'm a bit of a procrastinator, I still had the cream the next time hubby got a migraine. He decided to try it . . . and it worked! Now he swears by the stuff. So I thought I'd share. I haven't used it myself, and I won't guarantee it will work for everyone, but there it is if you're interested.

It's called migracell and is made by DermaMed Natural Theraputic Products (www.dermamed.com). However, I just noticed they are located in British Columbia, Canada so I don't know if you can get it in the States (or Australia!).


ETA: I just looked at their website and saw that it's supposed to be a two-step process with tablets AND cream. We only have the cream so I can only imagine that both together would work even better.

[Trees]

franny2 said:

For those of you who don't like alternative medicine, look away.
For those of you willing to experiment, here is a little someting you can try.

I came home one day from the Health Food Store with a tube of migraine cream. I don't remember picking it up and I have no idea how it got into my purchases. But there it was on my receipt, $16 (cdn) bought and paid for. My husband gets migraines so I asked him if he was interested. He felt the same as me (and I use a lot of alternative medicine) that it couldn't possibly work, so he told me to just bring it back.

Anyway, because I'm a bit of a procrastinator, I still had the cream the next time hubby got a migraine. He decided to try it . . . and it worked! Now he swears by the stuff. So I thought I'd share. I haven't used it myself, and I won't guarantee it will work for everyone, but there it is if you're interested.

It's called migracell and is made by DermaMed Natural Theraputic Products (www.dermamed.com). However, I just noticed they are located in British Columbia, Canada so I don't know if you can get it in the States (or Australia!).


ETA: I just looked at their website and saw that it's supposed to be a two-step process with tablets AND cream. We only have the cream so I can only imagine that both together would work even better.

Thanks Franny2 I'll pass this info on to people I know. Don't get migraines and don't want them Hear lots of people talk about how painful this is.

I have enough with allergies at different times of the seasons. I personally use White willow bark shavings. I can only get it in Red Deer, Alberta and the medicine is made in Vancouver, go figure that one out I did find a tree though

This Woman is a full believer in the Alternative Medicine along with a medical person who knows about different herbs and Therapies

[franny2]

Trees, do you get Hayfever? Cause if you do I have a little secret I'd like to share . . .

[Trees]

franny2 said:

Trees, do you get Hayfever? Cause if you do I have a little secret I'd like to share . . .

I'm all ears Franny Anything to do around the Louise Hayes Book of aliments?

[polarfan]

trees said:

franny2 said:

Trees, do you get Hayfever? Cause if you do I have a little secret I'd like to share . . .

I'm all ears Franny Anything to do around the Louise Hayes Book of aliments?

HAHAHHAHA still makes me laugh, you think that works for hay fever too?? All I know is Louise Hays might be the healthiest woman in the world

I'm definitley keeping note on all these great ideas so I'll be prepared next time and I'm sure if I do poorly on my GMAT there will be a next time...but thanks again for all the help

[franny2]

Nope!

Ok here it is. I had hayfever from the time I was six years old. It was so bad we used to take the family vacation at the end of August to get me away from the Ragweed and near the ocean. I had all of the worst symptoms; sneezing, runny nose, leaky eyes, light sensitivity. I hated allergy meds because they made me dopey and drowsy, and when they came out with the non-drowsy I hated those even more because they dried up everything - including my personality. Some nights it was so bad I remember knocking my head against the wall . . . literally . . . out of sheer frustration. I developed insomnia from not being able to breathe. Allergies are horrible.

Anyway, that was just to illustrate how bad it was. At one point I worked with someone who sold Heel Homeopathic Pharmaceuticals as his day job. I had a bad allergy attack at work, and it was either find something to fix it or go home. He sent me out to buy one of the Heel remedies for Hayfever, called Luffa.

I took the "melt underneath your tongue tablets" once an hour for the first few hours until I felt relief, then reduced the frequency slowly to 3x/day. Together with this I also used the nasal spray, 3x/day. My symptoms got progressively better, and I ended up only using the remedy whenever I felt any "sneezy tingles". It went to once every 2-3 days until I finally stopped using it completely - and it was only the middle of hayfever season.

The next year I was fully prepared with my Luffa, but the Hayfever I got was only mild, and the year after that I had no symptoms AT ALL! That was about 10 years ago and since then, I have practically forgotten I ever had hayfever. Now I only use it about twice a season due to minor "itchiness" on a particularly bad hayfever day.

Oh the wonder of Homeopathic medicine. Teaches your body to heal itself by stimulating your own immune system (guess what the main ingredient in Luffa is . .. Ragweed!). I've been told by other doctors it couldn't possibly have worked, and that my hayfever just went away on it's own. Right . . . after 20+ years. . . miraculously at the same time I used that particular remedy. NOT. I don't need a medical license to make a pretty good judgement on what exactly cured my hayfever. And I've used homeopathic medicine many times since then .. . it has never let me down.

I agree with you trees, find a doctor that knows or is willing to learn about alternative medicine and work together with them and a licensed Naturopath. Then it becomes a study of health and not illness. And I think I should apologize, because I believe that's a soapbox I just stepped down from.

[gutless]

I had really bad allergies as well. I had to give a presentation one afternoon, and happened to have a chiropractor appointment at lunch. He noticed that I was stuffed up and pretty miserable. So he asked permission to massage my liver. I figured it wouldn't hurt, so he went ahead and massaged it. Within minutes, my nose cleared and I have not been bothered by allergies since. And that was about 20 years ago!