Migraines?! - Lake Wales,FL

Thanks for asking this! I just had a terrible migraine yesterday, came home from work and went straight to bed in my clothes, the pain was so bad @ 3:30 this morning that it woke me up. I was able to take an excedrin @ 3am because my stomach wasn't as whacked as when I came home, but I still have some headache pain now @9am and am feeling migraine-ish, so after dropping my daughter at school I am headed back to the excedrin bottle and bed for a bit with my stomach full of McDonalds oatmeal! I will definitely try some of the tips below!

I have a friend who would get migraines from MSG. Whenever it was in something he ate he would get one. He found out that if he takes Benedryl when he feels it coming, it stopped it in its tracks! I hope this helps.

I have been suffering from migraines for many years. A few years ago someone suggested as soon as a migraine starts... drink gatoraide. So I went ahead and tried it. I had no idea that so many of my migraines were being caused by dehydration. I didn't FEEL dehydrated. But it works! Now when I feel one just starting, I immediately drink a BIG glass of gatoraide. I am actually NOT a fan of the stuff, but I look at it like medicine. Before I go to bed I also drink a lot of water and that has helped too. I now get headaches every once in awhile, but no longer near the frequency of the past. HTH

Hormones are a major factor for me. Being on the pill was HORRIBLE for me. Going off of hormonal birth control was a huge help. Then I started having more frequent migraines in the past year. It turned out that I have a hypothyroid condition. Once I was on medication for that, and they finally got me on the right dose, my headaches stopped.

Other things that may be contributing could be a spine alignment issue (chiropractic adjustments may help), or nerve inflammation (acupuncture would help). Or, who knows, some combination of all of that.

But definitely, if you're having frequent migraines, there IS an underlying cause. A lot of doctors love to medicate, but I've noticed that many of them don't really want to solve the root cause - rather, they just want to medicate the symptoms. Good for you for looking for the root cause and advocating for yourself!

Hi,

So sorry to hear about your migraines, how awful! Anyway, I am a certified Homeopath and there are many wonderful remedies to help with migraines, look homeopathy up on Google. First thing I would do is a Hormone Saliva test, sounds like your hormones are out of balance and that can be fixed and most likely your headaches will disappear. Good luck

I have a couple of migraines each year, I do not know what triggers them.
I will say that a while back I started getting daily headaches as well and as soon as I increased the amount of water I was drinking the daily headaches ceased. I think as silly as it sounds that I was simply dehydrated!
I would make the appointment. Hoping all goes well for you and they get to the root of your problem.

I am on beta blockers. It has saved my life.. When you see the Neurologist he will be able to help you.

My triggers were my menstrual cycle, hunger, stress, exhaustion, perfumes, scented candles. .

Things that helped were caffeine, naps, and my beta blockers..
If I was not so high strung, I could get rid of the stress, but that is just my personality..

You will find the help you need at the Neurologist.

Try seeing a Naturopath Doctor.

All I know is, when I was pregnant with each of my kids, I had bad migraines. And per my OB/GYN, I got Acupuncture. And it made it go away.
Period.

So sorry you are suffering.
I started getting migraines at age 18 and had them for over 30 years. I know now that birth control pills that started because of erratic periods first triggered them. I also had an undiagnosed hole in my heart that caused me to have a stroke at age 48.
I was on several medications, some helped a little and others not at all. Supplements helped tremendously. When I had the hole in my heart they greatly diminished.
My friend's daughter had a migraine that lasted for 3 years. They tried everything to help her. Finally, acupuncture cured it.
You do need to see the neurologist to rule out any underlying problem as well as seeing a cardiologist to make sure you don't have a murmur.
Medicines will only treat symptoms, not cure the migraines.

You might ask to be checked for a hypercoagulation disorder (Leiden mutation) - it's genetic (thanks M&D) & can cause stroke. Families don't usually know they have the disorder until the deceased has an autopsy. Things can get better even with just a baby aspirin at night, though sometimes an anticoagulant med is needed for a short time. Good luck - I hope it's nothing serious -

Hi G.,

I have battled migraines since I was 5 years old! I am now 33. I get them so bad that when I was a child I would slam my head into walls or the toilet (because I was throwing up) and scream! I of coarse had several scans that all showed nothing!

As I grew older I would get a severe migraine sometimes once a month and I would always go to the ER- the pain is extreme and I loose my vision and throw up.

I also have tried to figure out what the triggers are! My doctor said they can definitely be triggered by hormones (so I am my worse @ that time of the month) BUT, I have found that my migraines are due to my atlas ( a bone in your neck) needing adjustment, which can be pulled out of place by strain, hormones, or stress.

I was recommended to chiropractor, Dr. Peter Alongi, who uses an activator to gently manipulate individual bones and I have been going to him for 10 years now! In 10 years I have had 4 migraines! I used to get 10 a year before!! And when I have gotten a migraine- I when to his office and walked away migraine free in 20 minutes.

If you live anywhere near Fort Lauderdale I would call him at ###-###-#### or find a chiropractor that uses an Activator and can adjust your atlas manually.

Good luck!

This is from an earlier post I made about potassium, see below. It goes along with what Tonya H. said. Potassium, magnesium and calcium are all electrolites that your body needs, thus the reason that Gatorade helps though it contains a very low amount of potassium.

Has your son been checked for potassium deficiency? The RDA for an ADULT is 3500mg and you can only buy supplements in 100mg doses. Potassium is required for every muscle function in your body. Potassium deficiency also contributes to migraines. The best and easiest source is "No Salt", a salt substitute readily available in the grocery stores. It is potassium chloride. My husband was experiencing muscle and joint aches and pains (going on 12 years), including his intestinal tract, migraines, no stamina, the list goes on and on. The doctors ran every kind of test imaginable and couldn't find anything other than low potassium. He was told to increase his potassium consumption but not how to go about that. The doctors don't even know what to do other than write another prescription. He ran into our friend a veterinarian at the store, and she is the one who told him about the "No Salt". Incredibly, within about 12 hours of starting to use "No Salt", all the pain he had been experiencing was almost completely gone. He says that he now feels like a 30 year old instead of an 80 year old and he is only 49 years old. I have switched all of our salt shakers over to "No Salt" and do all of my cooking and baking with it. It may be psychological, but he is 100% better, and has had no migraines since he started supplementing with "No Salt" 6 weeks ago. A side note...Leslie Fischbein of Kacey Fine Furniture in Denver died recently from low potassium. Hope that this gives you another avenue to look into. Listen to your body that there is something wrong, and continue seeking help. even if that means changing doctors. God Bless.

I get migraines, sometimes, as part of my PMS.
I also get stress related migraines.
Years ago I tried out several migraine medicines, under the care of a doctor, until I found one that worked well, and quickly, for me.

You really do need to go to doctor and start trying different meds until you find the one that works for you. Also, keep a journal that includes menstrual cycle, foods that you eat, and emotions/stress triggers. All of these things can contribute to migraines. A journal will help you figure out your migraine triggers and you, and your physician, can help you find ways to lessen the triggers.

I always found Excedrine migraine to be not very effective - if you read the ingredients, and compare it to extra strength Excerine - if I remember correctly, they are the same drug. It is very harsh on the tummy.

I have been prescription migraine medicine free for the past two years. I watch my menstrual cycle and begin taking ibuprofen a few days before hand, and work very hard with watching my stress triggers. While I do still get one or two migraines a year, it is down from one every month, and the ones I get are not nearly as severe. I manage them with a combination of ibuprofen, tylenol and caffeine, which serves as an accelerator to get the meds into my system faster.

there are a few good websites that will help you -
http://migraine.com
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS0012...

It becomes a matter of trail and error to find the right medication and eliminate any environmental/food triggers.

Don't give up.
Do some research, eliminate common triggers, and see a doctor.

Migraines can be managed - you don't have to suffer.

Good Luck
God Bless

I suffer from migraines and I am treated by a neurologist. We are unsure what actually triggers them though. I started off on a daily med (topamax) and also a rescue med (I only take at the onset of a migraine) called Maxalt (this is due to my nausea from the migraines and this one dissolves quickly). As I hate taking a lot of prescription meds, my neurologist switched me to natural remedies that have helped TREMENDOUSLY! I take magnesium ( you should take 500-800 mg daily) and B2 (called riboflavin) which you should take about 400 mg daily. I notice a huge difference on these and always get a headache or migraine if I miss a day. The supplements have even helped with daily headaches. I still have my rescue prescription but have only needed it twice in the past year. Of course, talk to your neurologist first to make sure these supplements are safe for you to take. I hope you find some relief!

Better Health USA offers a blood test for delayed food sensitivities. My husband was having 1-2 migraines per week & pretty much doesn't have them at all anymore. If you can't get the test, try cutting out all yeast, wheat, and dairy from your diet. It's really tough, but well worth it. It could take 3 weeks or longer to work though, so dont give up too quickly. Every time my husband eats wheat (usually that is what he 'cheats' with) he gets a migraine within 4 days of eating it. Hope you feel better!

Hi G.,
I suffered from migraines for years. I also noticed that many, not all, were centered around my cycle. I decided to cut out most processed foods from my diet and I don't get them anymore. I do get headaches from time to time but not migraines.....and there's a big difference between a migraine and a headache! When I did have the migraines, I got my doctor to prescribe a self injection medication. It cost about $180 for 2 shots but that was much less expensive than the $5000 I spent to go to the ER. I don't have insurance and I couldn't keep anything down as I was throwing up every 10 mins with every migraine. The self injection woked great!!
Hope this helps.
L.

- Flat light
- Neck muscle tension
- Sinus Infections

((The neck & sinus triggers have to do with either my facial or trigeminal nerve -I forget which. Either the never gets pressed on from the inflamation in my sinuses, triggering a migraine, or it gets squashed in the ganglia originating from my spine up in my neck.))

Easy fix (to 1 or less per month)?
- Bimonthly massage and
- sunglasses when it's cloudy out and
- PseudoephedrineHCl (real sudafed, behind the counter these days, but no Rx required) whenever my sinuses start wigging.

If my current insurance doesn't pay for massage I get 2-3 migraines a week. If I don't have my sunglasses AND am not getting my neck and shoulders down where they belong I get 4-5 per week.

Since Imatrex (in the US) is between $30 & $50 per pill... I always think the insurance co that would rather pay $500-$1000 a month for imatrex, versus $150 a month for massage is being short sighted, since massage keeps so many of us with migraines away from imatrex altogether.

Hello. I have just started to get my migraines under control after years of them controlling my life. I decided this year I would do whatever it took, since they were taking me away from my family so much! I saw so many doctors and it took forever to find the right one. it's been a long road, but I finally made it through my first cycle without having to go to the hospital (I was having 48 hour migraines every time my hormones shifted after ovulation; usually requiring an ER visit until I found this doc, and then a milder migraine right when I started my period. There is a book called something like the ABC Migraine Relief. If you message me, I will look up the name for you and answer any questions. I am following a SEVERE diet and it has eliminated the everyday headaches. It is really hard. I have learned a lot, though, and feel like I am making great progress. Excedrine Migraine used to be the only thing that worked for me, too...until I learned that the caffeine in it was triggering rebound headaches, which was causing the everyday deal. Sigh. I had to relearn a lot of ways of thinking, but there is hope. Good luck. I had to go through several awful doctors before finding the right one.

I just watched a documentary on Netflix called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. It was about juicing. One of the ladies in it was actually very thin, but she had migraines. She did a 10 day juice fast, and her headaches went away. She now eats more micronutrients (mostly raw fruit/vegies), and she doesn't get migraines anymore. It was a fascinating documentary. The main guy did a 60 day juicing fast, and lost about 90 pounds, I think it was. Amazing. He had all sorts of ailments when he started, and he is now all healthy, no meds, etc. Anyway, you might look into that to see if it helps you at all. Here's a trailer to the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv3vEXy_EwU

My 2 major triggers are my period and a major shift in the weather.
Most of mine I get the day before my period starts, sometimes 2 days before. It rarely lasts past the first day of my period though.
If we have a high humidity it can trigger one in me, especially if it comes with heat as well. If there is a drastic drop or rise in humidity it's almost a given that I'll end up with a migraine.
I can't take ibuprofen at all, ironically it gives me migraines. I can only take Tylenol.
I will drink an extra cup of cafinated coffee and a Gatorade and keep my ice pack on my head. I only take Tylenol when I have to.
I find I crave lots of cheese and ice cream before I start my period. If I eat a lot of dairy foods (not straight milk..hate that stuff! yuck!!) I will often not get migraines or they're not as bad. I vaguely remember reading once that extra calcium can help migraines but I don't remember any details anymore as it's been so long since I read it.

Magnesium helped me. I take 400 mg of magnesium every night before bed. Not only does it help with sleep but many people who get migraines have low magnesium levels. I used to get 3-4 migraines a week. Now I might get one a month. I didn't change anything else. Also this should be safe for almost anyone to take it's just a mineral supplement.

Mine are hormonal, unfrotunately.
I changed BC, and it helped with duration (they went from 7 days to 3), and then after my son, I stopped having them.
I got my first one in 3 years yesterday. :(

My husband has had a vasectomy, so I'm just going off the pill all together.
Nothing is worth that pain.

I suffer from migraines as well. Yes, they can be triggered by hormones. They can also be triggered by allergies, do you have allergies? I went to a neurologist and the first thing she told me was to keep a journal / log of the things I ate, drank, was exposed to on the days I have migraines. Also to note on the log is how much sleep you had, did you go to bed late and wake up early, was it a stressful day, did you consume caffeine and how much? Finding the triggers can take a long time but once you find them you know to stay away from those things that trigger a headache. For me, I get migraines when I'm tired, hungry, and strong smells (perfume, chemical smells, etc.) . If you see a neurologist, he/she will most likely ask you keep a log for several months. Start keeping one today so that when you do see the neurologist, you'll have something for the Dr. to work with. I do not take prescription meds for my migraines because the side effects are not in my best interest. I have taken the Excedrin Migraine (which by the way, is the exact same thing as regular Excedrin~same exact ingredients) and I, too, have noticed how upset my stomach gets when I take the full amount (2 pills). Try taking only 1 pill but with food, never on an empty stomach and notice, at least try to, pay attention to the tell-tale sign when a migraine is coming on. For me, I know I'm getting a migraine when I feel a twinge of pain at the base of my head. Once full blown, the pain travels up to one side of my head but if I catch it early enough, I can stop it from becoming a full blown migraine. If I catch it in time, I can get by with Tylenol (acetaminophen, 2 tablets).

Two tips
1. NAET treatment to eliminate food allergies
2. Cranial Sacral Therapy

Drs cannot get rid of your migraines. It's a waste of time trying. If you have had MRI and you know there is no tumor than move on. Medications ALWAYS have side effects and most people do not like side effects.

I also suffer from migraines, but a magnetic bracelet has helped me tremendously.

I've also just recently been introduced to a line of products designed for better lifestyle and weight loss. Lots of women have had their severe migraines cured in the process, completely going off of their prescription meds. The main product that we believe has helped with the migraines is a juice containing 22 super fruits, and another is a supplement containing all natural energy boosters. I personally have noticed more energy and less stress, which could help some deter the migraines. If you like to check it out for yourself, click the link below. I hope you get relief, whichever rememdy you choose!

www.xyngular.com/kngo

My migraines are mainly triggered by hormones and the weather. Other things like stress, lack of sleep, and not eating regularly can prolong them.

Go see the neurologist because he can help you. You should talk to him about preventative medicines and if they might be a solution for you. I tried Topomax (an anti-seizure medication) first. It helped cut down on the number of migraines I had, but I had too many side effects. My neurologist switched me to a beta blocker (propranalol) and it's made a world of difference. I have even fewer migraines than I did with the Topomax but none of the side effects.

I realized something when I started the preventative medicine. My head had been hurting almost all the time but I apparently just got used it. I didn't even realize that it was hurting until it stopped. I still have occasional migraines, and take Imitrex for them, but far fewer than before and they generally aren't quite as bad as before.

And there is a generic version of Imitrex now.

I have had migraines for 11 years now. I have to drink a ton of water daily... and take ibuprofen and tylenol and drink a can of soda with caffeine (a mt. dew) and that seems to help within about an hour. I haven't figured out a food that triggers them...just the monthly cycle and stress seem to be the biggest triggers. Good luck.

Hi, migraines SUCK. Migraines can also be alleviated through dietary changes. Processed foods, sugar and dairy and HUGE. If you want to get rid of your migraines, stop eating those completely for a minimum of 3 months to notice a change in how you feel. If you still eat it 'a bit' you won't get better.