Migraine Sufferers

of.the.girl

Long story short....I have migraines (ocular, intractable, cluster)...I also have a rare brain disorder called Chiari Malformation. (Had surgery to get my brainstem out of my spinal column and put my brain back up in my skull)

How and what do you do to help alleviate your migraines now? I'm on my last class of drug therapy to help alleviate and manage my migraines. I've cut out processed foods, msg, caffeine, gluten, and alcohol. Excpet for the occassional glass or two of wine (which is organic and white)

I've done acupunture, kinesiology, biofeedback, chiropractic, massage therapy, diet change, excercise. You name it, I've done it.

Looking to see if something you have tried has helped you and what that something may be.

If you don't feel comfy posting on here, please PM me. Thanks all.

twisted thoughts

I have migraines too. Its hard to always pinpoint the cause, because for me, I usually wake up with it. So its not like it comes on slowly or comes on as a result of doing or eating something. I go to bed fine, wake up however many hours later with a raging headache. I can say that most of the time, but not all, it is within a week of my "cycle"...usually the week before. But I have had many of migraines that just come on and I cant seem to pinpoint why. I am careful with deli meat...if its not fresh, I try and stay away. Ive read about nitrates in the meats and other items to help keep it fresh being a migraine causing culprit. But I've eaten my fair share of subway with no consequences, so its hard to tell.

Anyways, Ive found that prevention is the best bet. Because for me, once one starts, nothing short of a handful of vicoden is going to ease my pain... Most of the medications any doctor or neurologist wants to give you, require you take it at the first signs of getting a migraine...and in my case, being that i wake up with it in full force, that is just not possible. I have had a few that had caused nausea/vomiting too. Not fun!!

So, laugh at me if you want, but Ive recently started following Dr. Oz. You can find a plethora of great information on his website and message boards and his shows too. So in terms of prevention, I take magnesium and feverfew daily. feverfew is an herb which supports blood vessel function. If I happen to get a headache, or migraine, I'll take 4 advil as soon as it starts, 1 more magnesium and 1 more feverfew (it says 1-2 daily for each so I usually only take one, unless I need to take the extra). Keep a little "migraine" kit with you at all times for if and when it happens...

The worst thing anyone can do is take something like Excedrin Migraine. Even if it does work, odds are you'll likely suffer a nasty rebound headache. I find this funny now, because with a name like that, it was always the first thing I reached for.

Anyways, good luck to you OP. After doing research of my own on the topic, I realize that I have it easy when it comes to this problem. I may have 1, maybe two a month max, while others have many a month, or even many a week :shock: I simply cannot imagine life like that. How would you function? When I've got a bad one, im rendered pretty much useless, curl up and lay in bed till its over. Lights out and STFU!!

of.the.girl

twisted thoughts wrote:

I have migraines too. Its hard to always pinpoint the cause, because for me, I usually wake up with it. So its not like it comes on slowly or comes on as a result of doing or eating something. I go to bed fine, wake up however many hours later with a raging headache. I can say that most of the time, but not all, it is within a week of my "cycle"...usually the week before. But I have had many of migraines that just come on and I cant seem to pinpoint why. I am careful with deli meat...if its not fresh, I try and stay away. Ive read about nitrates in the meats and other items to help keep it fresh being a migraine causing culprit. But I've eaten my fair share of subway with no consequences, so its hard to tell.

Anyways, Ive found that prevention is the best bet. Because for me, once one starts, nothing short of a handful of vicoden is going to ease my pain... Most of the medications any doctor or neurologist wants to give you, require you take it at the first signs of getting a migraine...and in my case, being that i wake up with it in full force, that is just not possible. I have had a few that had caused nausea/vomiting too. Not fun!!

So, laugh at me if you want, but Ive recently started following Dr. Oz. You can find a plethora of great information on his website and message boards and his shows too. So in terms of prevention, I take magnesium and feverfew daily. feverfew is an herb which supports blood vessel function. If I happen to get a headache, or migraine, I'll take 4 advil as soon as it starts, 1 more magnesium and 1 more feverfew (it says 1-2 daily for each so I usually only take one, unless I need to take the extra). Keep a little "migraine" kit with you at all times for if and when it happens...

The worst thing anyone can do is take something like Excedrin Migraine. Even if it does work, odds are you'll likely suffer a nasty rebound headache. I find this funny now, because with a name like that, it was always the first thing I reached for.

Anyways, good luck to you OP. After doing research of my own on the topic, I realize that I have it easy when it comes to this problem. I may have 1, maybe two a month max, while others have many a month, or even many a week :shock: I simply cannot imagine life like that. How would you function? When I've got a bad one, im rendered pretty much useless, curl up and lay in bed till its over. Lights out and STFU!!

I'm on day 8 of mine currently and I want to curl up and die. But I keep plugging away.

I like you, stay away from nitrates, nitrates, and all that crap. There's a brand here that I can get that is nitrate, nitrite, preservative, gluten free. So when I do get an itch for a good old sandwich or hoagie...I splurge on the good stuff here.

Thanks for your thoughts.

veddertown

http://www.migraines.org/about/

I have found this website really informative and helpful. Explore the Myth & Reality and Treatments sections and there's a very helpful Where To Turn one too. I have migraines that aren't always triggered by the same thing and can last for days. Lookout for unstable outdoor and indoor temperatures as a common trigger for longer lasting migraines as well as rapid changes in barometric pressure. I only suffer a headache maybe once in every four migraines and find the other symptoms equally unbearable, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and general heavy run down feelings. If you feel lethargic and suspect you are in the beginning stages a single aspirin with a cup of ginger tea can cut it off at the pass and if it fails repeat it an hour later. I avoid all the things my doctor tells me to and also find dairy products are a main culprit so give them a wide berth if you can during weather/temperature changes. Hope you find some help on the site...

low lighter

I too get them, mostly with my "cycle" about every 3rd month or so, and then randomly inbetween, I have been tested, watched, written down everything ive eaten, smelled, and nothing comes up as a cause, I usually end up hospital for shots of morphine abot 80% of time, imagrain gives me wicked side effects, as does the nasal spray, specialists put it down to family history. However the last 2 months ive gone migraine free, I have also been on the new fad "the 17 day diet" so perhaps its having a positive effect on more that just weight! I can only hope, thete is certainly no other pain ive ever experienced like a migraine with vomiting....i should say that the food im currently onto is no wheat, carbs or sugar, while not satisifying it certainly is filling, perhaps my issues stem from processed foods and all added and natural sugar which u need to aviod, it will be interesting when I go to next stage or maybe im just having a good run!

of.the.girl

never heard of the 17 day diet. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for that.

marcos

Since it sounds like you tried everything as did I at one point, I would recommend a pain management doctor. They sometimes use Botox, etc., but in general think outside the box of neurologists. There was a medication that I eventually used that knocked them out completely but can't recall the name right now and not sure if it's still on the market.

dcfaithful

Migraines suck. I get them (occasionally) and they're brutal. I experience aura, nausea, etc.

The amount of migraines I get has significantly decreased since getting my eyes looked at and being prescribed glasses. Since then, I've realized how long I was squinting because I wasn't noticing that my vision had blurred. The squinting and constant trying to focus was a real strain on my eyes and it sparked my migraines. This isn't much help to you I'm sure, but I just wanted to say that I know what you go through with migraines and it's not easy. I hope you can find a solution to yours.