Help for Migraines!

Dear A.,
My husband had migrenes for over 35 years. Seven years ago he started to take OPC3. He has never had a miraine since then. If you are interested I can help you get it from my friend, who distribute it. THank you,
C.

I have sufered with migraines my whole life...beeen on many Px and nothing works. finally when I was pregnant with my first son my OB told me to take magnesium. I had to take it every day and still do but man did it work for me...especially when pregnant and not being able to take meds. Since I was not a cafffine drinker I would also drink a coke when I got one per my OB and it helped. You will probably have to start taking them for a while but I promise it worked for me.

I also recommend going to a chiropractor. Mine has done wonders for me and I rarely get migraines anymore. Since I still get them occasionally I am also seeing a great orthodontist for TMJ disorder to fix my bite alignment which was the root cause for most of my symptoms.

A.,

If you know for sure that the migraines are from stress, then maybe you should try to meditate a couple times a day or many short times a day. There are many books out there that train you on meditation. Also, have your eyes checked. You are reading more now and you may find that you are in need of glasses. Eye strain can be very painfull!

Hi A. -
I am so sorry to hear about your headaches. I have gone through a very similar the combination approach of chiropractor and natural relaxation/stress reduction (like the suggestion from another response -we often breathe wrong) has been like a whole new world for me. It is very rare now that I experience a mini or full force migraine - but when I feel something coming on I get to the chiropractor that same day and it's gone (without any weird side effects) by the time I arrive home. I also agree with having your eyes checked, monitoring your diet to see if something could be a trigger for you and watching your posture when sitting/driving - all things that helped me. I wish you luck and it wouldn't hurt to talk to your doctor about the list of ideas you have gotten. I have found that a good doctor would not dismiss the chiropractor (they typically don't recommend the other's services) but can see the benefit and relief available instead of taking a bunch of perscriptions every day with weird side effects.
I wish you luck and relief, good luck at your appointment.

My husband, had really good luck with Magnesium for his migraines. It's a natural muscle relaxer, and a mineral.

A.,

I am sorry to hear about your migraines. I have suffered with them for years. I understand your concern with going to the dr/er because of the cost and you are right, there is a 98% chance thatthey won't be able to give you a cause. It sounds like you know they are stressed induced anyway.

That said, There are a whole line of migraine 'pain pills' that the dr can give you and it may take a lot of trial and error before you find the one that works for you. I would take one kind and after a while they would quit working. The one that works the best for me right now is called Relpax.

However, like all the other pills you can only take 2 within a 24 hr period or they can cause 'rebound' headaches, which from what you are saying it sounds to me like you are getting rebound headaches. If they are rebound, what I had to do was quit cold turkey with all pain meds (perscription & OTC) for a month to get all of it out of my system.

A final thought for you to talk to your dr about is a perscription called Topamax. It is actually a seizure/epilipsy medication but has been proved to work as a migraine preventative. I have taken it daily for over 3 years and my migraines have dropped from several a month to maybe 1 or 2 a year. You do have to take it daily and it is expensive if you don't have perscription insurance, but you could ask your dr about it.

Good Luck,
L.

A lady at work uses Excedrin Migraine and she says it works great. She also drinks caffeine during her migraine headaches (coffee) and that seems to help some. Also, make sure you are drinking lots of water as dehydration can contribute to headaches. I'm not sure if you know this or not but some people say that certain smells trigger migraines for them. An ex-boyfriend of mine used to get migraines from the smell of baked ham. Weird, huh? Good luck and I really hope you start to feel better soon. :)

I started getting migranes about your same age and I have 3 children 5 years apart. First try to document what you ate, how much you slept, what you did, your periods everything to see if you can find a "trigger". I know the current weather patterns are causing my head to throb. I also have stress triggers and I'm a caffeine "addict". Find what works for you, so you can anticipate the onset of a headache.

I found that if you get them really early it's easier to keep them at bay. I have been told that aspirin and caffine are the best to true migranes. Generic Excedrin is available as well. If I don't have any Excedrin (which is Tylenol, caffeine and aspirn), try to compensate with a tylenol, coffee or soda and maybe aspirin. They all thin your blood and lower your blood pressure, so that you can function.

I have tried severl perscription drugs, but that takes a long time to find what works for you. I like the Maxalt melt tabs since I travel a lot for my job. Good luck and be sure to heed the warnings given about your eyes, chiropractor (if your back or next is tense) etc. In the mean time find a quiet, dark room and try some OTC meds.

I am a former full-time student and every year would get a major headache the first day of classes. Have you had your eye's checked recently? You are probably doing a whole lot more reading than usual and if sitting in a classroom perhaps straining to read what is being written on the board. And yes stress can most definitely cause headaches.

My company, Watkins, has a lot of old fashioned more natural remedies and prepared some PDFs on ailments and which of our products might help as well as other tips. My website contains quite a bit of information about our products, including ingredients, so you could compare Watkins to similar products nearby. I have Watkins listed in my home businesses.

This is what it said about Headaches/Migrances.

Peppermint Foot Cream applied to forehead and temples may help ease headache pain. It says to rub in a circular motion onto temples, forehead and back of neck and to repeat at least 2 times at 15 minute intervals. We have a couple of other products that they say might help Icy Blue Ointment and Menthol Camphor Ointment. Icy blue is like a cooling ointment for injuries/aches/pains and the other is similar to vicks. The only one I have tried is menthol camphor on back ache pain and it did relieve the pain. Others have said the peppermint foot cream works. I would check out our website though for the list of ingredients and compare to other brands before rubbing on forehead and temples.

It also says that using the foot cream with socks nightly could help....even if that doesn't work you will have nice soft feet in the morning. :)

This is what they said about supplements, again it talks about our brands but explains why they would help migranes.

What May Help: Watkins Superfood Multiple (Super Multi), Female Formula and Osteogen
Why: Contain magnesium and calcium. Daily supplements of calcium and magnesium are recommended for those who suffer from Migraines. These minerals help to maintain healthy blood vessels, and low levels of magnesium are common in people who suffer from migraines. Superfood Multiple (Super Multi) also
contains riboflavin (B-2) which may help to reduce the frequency of migraines.

And it also gives food tips.
What May Help: Foods high in omega 3 fatty acids, such as salmon, may help prevent migraines.
Why: They may help to reduce blood vessel spasms.

Helpful Hint: Certain foods and beverages are known to trigger migraines. If you suffer from migraines, try to avoid the following: Aged cheeses, onions, pickles, cured meats, chocolate,red wine, beer, sour cream, nuts, freshly baked yeast products, eggs, tomatoes, citrus fruits and caffeinated beverages.

Anyway, hope you find some relief.

I completely understand as I go through this also. Women experience migraines the most in the population. The problem is, it is so hard to really zero in to see what is the cause: stress, hormones or diet. These are the biggest. Mine is also triggered by weather changes, so you take into consideration sinus issues.

I found that when I had Massage / Reflexology done, this helped me greatly. My pain was less severe as was the attacks. You can use homeopathy, but you really need to research what works for your body. Herbs are rather touchy. Also, limit your caffeine and up your water. Dehydration plays a big role in migraines as does magnesium and potasium.

Now that I am no longer in classes for Massage/ Reflexology, my migraines are coming back so my in-laws are pushing Botox, but I refuse. I will not put anything of that sort into my body. I go for the massage once a month if not more as I need it and it helps. I also work my own feet and or have hubby help out.

But I recommend watching your diet and keeping track of when these occur to see if this is hormone related. (Massage can help even if it is hormone-related or diet.) You can deal with migraines naturally and without the side effects of imetrex or other nasty drugs and I can vouch for it from personal experience!

Best of luck! :)

i would see a chriropractor, it really has worked for me.

I would also suggest a chiropractor. Mike Halliday on the corner of 44th and Byron Center has a program where you can go three times a week for a month for only $99.00. He really helps me.

L. DK

A. first stop stressing out. you deserve some time to yourself even if it's going to school full time. massaging the back of your neck helps. my daughter had migraines and i've seen how painful it can be. i took her to a specialist and the meds he prescribed worked. of course it was a one time thing back then i couldn't afford further treatment.but what i noticed was how the dr. massaged the lower back of the neck and head and my daughter felt relieved. check your blood pressure and think of how happy your children make you.

feel better soon, marie

You have had some great rsponses and I hope you find so relief soon. Just wondered if besides the school if there was any change to you diet. I had a friend who after years figured out his headaches were being triggered by a food allergy. My son who is only 4 has started having sever migraine like headaches which sometimes cause him to vomit and the Dr. recomended keeping a head ache journal listing time, day, sleep patterns, and foods he had recently eaten. To see if we can find a cause or trigger. Good luck!

Hi A.! I'm so sorry that you have been suffering with migraines, and I know how you may be feeling because I used to get them myself quite a bit. I don't know if you have considered chiropractic care or not, but it is a miracle worker! Myself and husband go along with our 2 1/2 year old daughter and we couldn't have noticed better results without all of the medications that are being prescribed today. We have also noticed an incredible decrease in sickness in all of us as well. With your body in alignment, it has better ability to fight off things like infection or illness more quickly. I think if you haven't given it a try...do so with an open mind. The results that you will experience will be well worth it for you and your body. At least find a chiropracter in your area and go for a visit to have him/her explain the benefits to you. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Take care of yourself and good luck healing!

HI A.,
I have had migrains since I was in the 6th grade. Mine start with a glare in my eyes and goes on from there. In recent years I have noticed that I mostly only get the eye thing and no headache. And usually only around the time I ovulate and at the end of my period. Anyway a couple of things I have picked up along the way. I stay away from caffine. Absolutely no nuts of any kind including peanut butter. Bananas seem to be a trigger for me. I have also heard that gluten is a huge trigger. Good luck with that one it's in everything. Also MSG.
Now a couple of things I have tried are a supplement called Migrelief. I'm not even sure if it is still available but I use to order it thru Kmarts pharmacy. It worked for a while.
Another method I have tried was taking 1 excedrin a day when I was having several attacks in a row. This contrdicts the no caffine but it did seem to help. I also had terrible stomach aches but migraine suffers will sacrifice these things. I know if I could have brain sugery to fix it so I would never experience these again I would be first in line.
One more thing to try is a headache clinic. I went to one in Farmington Hills quite a few years ago. The problem is that mine wern't really severe enough for them to do anything for me. But with all the new products out you may get results. I have talked to severl people who take Topomax and all are pleased. Good Luck

Hi A.! My son also has experienced severe migraines causing him to miss several days of school. After having gone to the DR. & trying several perscriptions most of them making him feel like a zombie we tried going to a chiropractor. The 1st. one helped a little the second one we tried helped a lot! My son used to get migraines an average of 4 times a week, he now gets small ones about once every 6 weeks that he can take care of with otc. pain relievers. I don't know where you live but this chiropractor is in Holland just off us 31 by 32nd st. The cost is $42.00 every 6 weeks. We don't have insurance either but I believe this is a small price to pay for the relief my son now has. Best of luck to you. Judy.

For me, an OTC (Excedrin Migraine) and a nap work best. Also, if I'm not a home, something caffinated. Mine tend to pop up when I don't eat enough, so I have to keep my blood sugar up.

If you are on birth control, then you might want to see about switching your method because different hormones/devices work differently on every woman.

Like everyone says, keep a diary and learn what your triggers are. That is the best way you can help yourself.

I went through the whole thing with Dr's about a year and a half ago. I went to an allergist and then a neurologist. I found out I had sinusitis...and the neurologist did an MRI and found that. The other thing he did was provide me with Maxalt for the really bad ones. I had to chart them for a month and we found that I had more days a month that I had headaches than not. The MRI showed that I had almost no curve in the bones of my neck so I went to physical therapy for 2 months and while it did help, I notice now that I could use more of it.

The thing I found that did the most for me was a heating pad when I feel my neck starting to act up and this:
http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Migrelief-60-tablets/dp/B00...

That stuff really works. I still get headaches but they aren't nearly as severe. I can still get out of bed and take care of my kids without losing my stomach every 15 minutes.
My husband also bought me this (after much massage research)
http://www.amazon.com/Shoulder-Flex-Massager-Grey-28/dp/B...
and sometimes it helps too.

I hope everything works out for you, it's so awful to have to deal with those kinds of headaches.

A., you must be miserable! I am a massage therapist and highly recommend massage therapy and chiropractic care. It is true some migraines are caused by a food allergy or hormones, but many times the cause is due to problems in the neck. My husband used to suffer from migraines as a child and into adult years. He had every test done including an MRI. They were never able to tell him what caused the migraines, only that they are called optic migraines. For six years now he's been seeing a chiropractor and getting massages. Very rarely does he get a migraine. Maybe one a year. Please feel free to email me, ____@____.com, if you would like more information or have other questions.

L. D
(Mom of a 3 yr old girl and a 1 yr old boy.)

I do not suffer from migranes (Thank God) but I was watching the show Drs. on channel 7 last week and they did say that they had really good results with botox for migranes. The bonus is you get the benefits of botox and help with the migranes. Best of luck with this.

I feel your pain--literally!!! Keep a record of your migraines on a calendar along with the severity of them. I did the same with mine and found them to be related to my monthly cycle--terrible ones right before my period and nuisance ones during ovulation. By keeping track, I could get a jump start on them and take Excedrin beforehand. I also watched my diet during my peak hormone times and that made a difference as well. My doctor said that birth control pills were my next option to help regulate my hormones and I really didn't want to follow that path. Additional stress can certainly aggravate the headaches and I learned to take one day at a time--Rome wasn't built in a day and the Good Lord took several days to create the earth as well. Concentrate on the important things in life.

Good Luck!

this may be a dumb question, but have you tried excedrin. I've learned that ibprofen doesn't work on mine unless it's 800 mg. But don't take four 200 mg because their are so many additives. My mom has really bad migraines and she takes aspirin! I also drink a ton of water and forget about ponytails. It makes my head hurt worse.

i'm a migraine sufferer...
when my prescription meds don't work I try several things.
the first thing...don't alternate those over the counter meds...you can take them together...my doctor had me take the max single dose (which i think is 2 caplets each, check the bottle, depends on milligrams) of both Tylenol (or any acetominophin) and Motrin (Ibuprofin). Take these at the same time with plenty of water. If you can...lay down in a dark room...light is your enemy.
a few other little things that have worked rather than rack up a giant ER bill....medical massage therapy. my sister in law is a massage therapist (not relaxational massage...has to be medical massage) and she's been able to work it out, so that within a few hours i have some relief.
She has also had me lay with ice behind my neck and heat on either my stomach or behind my knees...she says that the ice helps to relieve the pressure on the vessels and the heat draws the blood away from the already irritated vessels. (it has helped believe it or not)
i hate the chiropractor...but it's cheaper and has worked once or twice also.
hope it helps....

I'd suggest a chiropractic adjustment (regular ones) and/or Cranial sacral therapy.

Is there something in your diet that might be triggering them?

I know of a natural remedy in a dietary supplement called head-rest. If you want to know about it, check www.marketamerica.com/thevoiceoftruth. Or, send me your e-mail address and I can forward an article to you that I have.

Hang in there!

S.
____@____.com

I've used that head on stick, and it's worked every time. Don't like the commercial, but the product works. I'd also love the products this co. puts out http://www.hylands.com/products/headache.php
I've used a lot of them the children's remades are great too. I've also used Calms Forté™ again by hylands for stress relief.
Or rescue remedy is really good as well.
I's also suggest finding ways to reduce stress naturally/consciously. Here's one I found on breath work.
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/healthy-living/relationsh...#

It could also be a food allergy, my family discovered a wide range of reactions to wheat. It took years to figure it out.

Good luck, A. H

Hi A. ~
I also take the generic Fioricet. It's basically tylenol, caffeine and a muscle relaxant. Try moist heat on your neck - you can buy those rice things you can microwave. I've had headaches all my life, pretty much on a daily basis. I've tried alot of things, too, and nothing else really helps. I've been to the neurologist, and they tried different kinds of meds, but no help either. Caffeine can be a trigger for migraines, but also a cure. Sometimes when mine is really bad, I'll make a cup of tea, maybe with 2 tea bags. Or if I'm out and about, a pepsi and a chocolate bar. But usually with the fioricet. When I don't have any fioricet, the only other thing that helps is excedrine (regular and for migraines are the same ingredients, and I get generic). Excedrine is tylenol, aspirin and caffeine. I also see my chiropractor a couple times a month, which helps. I've never gone to the er with a migraine, even when I'm sick with one. When that happens, I take my meds, go back to bed, sometimes throw up, sleep awhile, then take another dose of meds (after about 4 hours since the 1st dose).
Good luck!
D.

I uses to get migraines. Over time they got more frequent. Then I started going to the chiropractor regularly. Knock on wood, I haven't had a migraine since. It's been 3 or 4 years now. So, I suggest finding a good Chiro in your area.

I would also take a look at the expectations you are setting for yourself in all areas. You've added on a big extra commitment. Some other things may need to give. AND, you'll need to be okay with it. So, if you decide to have a less clean house, have a less clean house but no guilt! That will add stress too!

Good luck! I hope that you get some relief soon!

K.

Hi A.,

I take the generic form of Fioricet and it works great. No side affects. It is a RX not an OTC, so you do need a script, but it's well worth it!! I also get optical migraines and take it for them also if I need to be driving a car!!

Good Luck,
J. in Macomb

Acupuncture or a chiropractor could be very helpful. Migraines can be caused by so many things...stress, hormone change, something new you are eating, out of line discs. My brother-in-law suffered from migraines and a bad back for 25 years. Nothing helped until he went to a chiropractor and found out he had two discs in his neck that were out of line and rubbing on whatever it is that surrounds them. After a series of adjustments to his neck and back, he has been fine...great in fact. He actually called it a miracle that he could get it fixed and feel like new....and he is way older than you. I hope you feel better soon!

Hi A., I have been diagnosed w/ "Sever Migranes". YUCK..
The Dr. gave me Imatrex, it didn't work. My mother in law gave me some MIDRIN it helps. The way that I used to deal w/ it when I was in my teens, was I would lay down, have on music very low in vol. I would take some tylonol and cover my eyes w/ a black towel or something like that. I would lay there for aprox. 1/2 hr and usually it would be gone. Have you tried the magnets? If not get 2 of your strongest fridge mags, put one on each temple, and cover your eyes w/ something dark and relax. See if that helps.. You may just need to go see a chiropractor.. Good luck and I hope that I've been of some help.. P.S. Try Naproxin you can get the Equate version of Naproxin at walmart. It has the same ingredients of Midol, only cheaper. Or try Tylonol Arthritis. Both the Nap. and tyl. have helped me immensley w/ my migranes.

Besides seeking treatment for the headaches, possibly you could take a step back and see what it is your body is telling you. Maybe its too much stress. I am not saying you can't go to school and be a mom, but are you a perfectionist? (be honest!) If so, maybe you need to be a little easier on yourself. Either the cooking or cleaning, or skip some homework. Sit down on the floor with your kids and try to relax and let some stress go.

Hi A.,

I can relate to your pain, as I suffered with migraines for years and years. I went from doctor to doctor and got many different diagnoses depending on their profession. I finally got the name of a headache clinic from my pharmacist, who was concerned about all the drugs I was prescribed. I went for a full workup at MHNI (Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute) in Ann Arbor and it changed my life! They are amazing, and world renowned for their work. My point is, make sure you are diagnosed by a doc who specializes in head pain. Most family doctors don't know a lot about headaches.They don't receive training in it, and because so many women complain of headaches, they tend to diagnose you too quickly, calling it a "migraine". There are MANY different types of migraines. They don't all respond to one treatment. In my case, I don't have "classic" migraines, but a variant form. I had some other underlying causes, which would never have been found by my regular doc. They don't know what to look for. Medicines and chiropractic are helpful, yes, but make sure you have a definitive diagnosis and can rule out heart, hormonal, and neurological factors. I know you don't have health ins., but you might better spend one time and get it done right, rather than be tossed around as I was, spending money on treatments that didn't cure me and left me frustrated. I wasted a lot of time, missed a ton of work, had to drop out of college, and almost postponed my wedding because of headaches. That was 14 years ago. Knowing my diagnosis helps me to direct my current doctor as to how to treat me. It has been very successful so far. I wish you the best with your treatment. I know how debilitating this can be, especially with kids. Let us know how it turns out. God Bless You!
J.

A., I am so sorry, Migraines are another form of hell on earth! First and formost, a Migraine diary, really a daily diary, YOU NEED to find your trigger/triggers. it isn't easy. It could be a "food/drink" you eat on a reg basis, a cleaning solution... I KNOW you are busy, but it is worth it! add 2 colums, one for stress level, one for Migraine intensity.
Research, find out everything you can. put yourself on a schedule, lack of or irregular sleep can be a trigger. It may take a couple of month, But WELL worth the effort! If you do end up seeing a specialist, they will need this info, and it will save you $ if you are prepared.
Next, options.. 2 aspirins and coke/coffee/mt. dew... works for some people, a warm pack, try it on your neck, head...
If you need a good drug, most of the "pre drugs don't work for me, and I hate the ones that knock me out, there is a drug called Toradol, it takes most of the pain away, and doesn't put you out, reality is with Migraines there is a cycle, get a migraine, they give you drugs that make you sleep, puts you behind, school work, family, home, play the make up game, get stressed, more migraines. the NASTY cycle!
A Dr. will not give you more than a few pills at a time, they can be highly addictive, (DUH!) they are also hard on your liver. Cost very little compared to everything else. Coke syrup helps with the vomiting, and increases the bloodflow. Diet soda's, diet anything can be a major trigger!
I don't know where you live but I know of a free clinic. Accupressure, loosen your jaw, press on your temples till you can't stand it, increases the blood flow to the head, will take some of the pain and pressure away. Have someone also press/pinch the vein, soft tissue between your thumb and first finger, till it hurts. slowly release. see if it helps. Good luck hon. E me back if you have questions.
K. 25 year sufferer of migraines, know most of my triggers, no ins (sucks)