Migraines & Headaches

Catter_05

Withuot Maxalt, I would not be able to function. The Maxalt takes care of the pain. I can manage with the blurred vision, nausea, light sensitivity, shortness of breath, etc. The pain? No way! Puts me down...

Maxalt really works for me too! I used to take the kind that dissolved under my tongue but it started making me more nauseous, just the association i think. (even now I feel sick thinking about it!)
I tried going on amitriptyline as a preventative but I had weird side effects so my neurologist has me on trokendi xr. this seems to be working although it took some time to start and at first I felt sleepy.
It is so hard to get up and make a healthy dinner, exercise etc. when you have a migraine.

thin4me59

Just going to weigh in on my own experience with migraines. I am 59 and have had them most of my life. I have been unable to take the prescription meds (Imatrex etc. due to being allergic) They have been debilitating many days until 2 years ago! At that stage I had a friend who was reading about wheat and the problems it can cause for some. I gave it a try and low and behold I HAVE NOT had a migraine in 2 YEARS! Again, this is my own experience, but thought I would let you know as I know how bad migraines can be!

maryanne2000

So many stories that sound like mine!

My triggers are: not enough sleep, being out in the sun for too long, neck pain caused by terrible posture, certain smells (especially AXE cologne) and often I get a headache after exercise. I'm currently trying to narrow down which types of exercise or what time of day I exercise is more likely to cause the headaches. Sometimes, I wake up with a terrible migraine...can't quite figure that one out.

I also found amitiptyline (taken as a daily preventive) to have bothersome side effects (especially dry mouth-yuck! ) I currently use Imitrex to abort the migraine, which usually works, but I am concerned about how frequently I take it. I also have this gel ice pack that is designed to be wrapped around an injury. It has a cover with Velcro on it. I wrap this around my head! It looks pretty stupid, but who cares?

Thanks to the poster who made the suggestion about the iron deficiency. My periods are so heavy that I recently was prescribed a birth control pill to limit my periods to three per year. As it happens, I just went for blood work and an ECG on Friday, so when I see my doc next week to discuss the findings, I'll be sure to ask about this.

My boss called me in for a meeting at work due to missing too many days
I really want this to stop, but my mother's did not stop until she got menopause ( at age 62! ). I sure hope it happens younger for me!

shaumom

Going under the assumption that doctors have likely tested for the most likely possibilities, there's a couple I know of that are not so common and less likely to be tested for or recognized.

This answer is for the original question, but also in response for any of all of you who answered and mentioned triggering to things like exercise, stress, sun, or weather, or smells on top of triggering to food. Oh, and waking up, too.

It might be worth exploring something called MCAD or MCAS, short for mast cell activation disorder/disease and/or mast cell activation syndrome. The disorder can make people have a reaction to, among other things, food, smells, stress, sun, weather changes, getting startled (like being woken by an alarm), and even exercise (so you can see why I think it might be worth mentioning, eh?). Some of the symptoms can include severe headaches or migraines. It's currently considered a rare disorder, but experts studying it are finding signs that suggest it's more a case of 'rarely recognized and diagnosed' rather than actually 'rare.'

Basically, this sucker causes the mast cells, which the body uses for numerous processes, to trigger abnormally. When they trigger, there are 60 different substances the cell can release, including histamine, and abnormal cells can release some or all of these when they trigger. They can release this all at once - which results in anaphylaxis and is more likely to be diagnosed - or they can release only a few substances, or release it slowly throughout the day, and can cause more chronic issues, like repeated migraines every time the cells are triggering, or itching, extreme fatigue, difficulty with cold or heat, pain in the muscles or bones, all sorts of things that can be minor and irritating or more severe. Because there are so many substances, the symptoms can be varied in type and severity.

Internationally, this disorder was only agreed to even exist about 2 years ago. Odds are quite good your doctor doesn't even actually know what it is, let alone how to test for it. There is a related but much worse disorder called mastocytosis that many doctors DO know how to test for, but many of these tests are negative in MCAD, so it's important to find a doctor who knows what they are doing, if you do decide to explore this.


This is the most up to date information on this out there right now. Symptoms and how to diagnose, that just came out this February.
http://www.wjgnet.com/2218-6204/pdf/v3/i1/1.pdf



Another thing one could explore for headaches that can also be affected by things like stress and exercise is something called histamine intolerance. Mast cells release histamine as part of normal processes as well as for allergic reactions, especially for things that need to increase your heart rate, like exercise and stress. Histamine intolerance seems to be where the body has a hard time breaking down the histamine, so it builds up and can cause symptoms. Headaches are one symptom I've heard for some who have this at a lower level.

A low histamine diet is one I've heard recommended that can help folks with this, so if headaches were caused by this, that might be worth looking at. There is a website run by a gal who has this condition (and MCAD, too, actually). The website looks a bit flashy at first, but she has diet information and on her blog posts are lots of information about symptoms, treatment, and getting a diagnosis. The low histamine diet can be helpful for people with MCAD, too, actually, because they can break down histamine, but they produce too much of it because their mast cells trigger too often.

http://lowhistaminechef.com


Don't know that this is all that likely, really, but again, might be worth looking at.

Good luck - and hugs for dealing with the migraines. SO hard to deal with. Much sympathy.

mdcnwolf

I find if I have too much salt that I get them in droves and hard. I use sea salt instead if I need salt. But prefer no salt. My hubby does cook a lot here and he uses salt in a huge way. But he has changed that to the sea salt which helps. Stress and dehydration is another of my triggers.

Lemongrab13

I had migraines everyday for years. Some lasted as long as 3 days.
What stopped them was not eating sliced white bread.
Not bread altogether, just the sliced kind.
I don't even know why XD
I haven't had a migraine in about...4 months.

rml_16

Just going to weigh in on my own experience with migraines. I am 59 and have had them most of my life. I have been unable to take the prescription meds (Imatrex etc. due to being allergic) They have been debilitating many days until 2 years ago! At that stage I had a friend who was reading about wheat and the problems it can cause for some. I gave it a try and low and behold I HAVE NOT had a migraine in 2 YEARS! Again, this is my own experience, but thought I would let you know as I know how bad migraines can be!

Have you been tested for celiac? Headaches are a side effect and if you've given up gluten and it's cured your headaches, that might be the case for you.

So, I want y'all to know I hadn't had a particularly bad migraine in a very long time until yesterday and I blame this thread! lol

FatFreeFrolicking

Did anyone else get a migraine just by reading this thread? Oddly, that's one of the triggers for me - just talking about headaches gives me one! I also get headaches from not getting enough sleep, being in front of the computer for too long, hunger, stress, and being out in the sun. I get them so often that I feel like my supervisors at work don't believe me anymore about having to leave early or not come in at all, and I pretty much always run out of PTO by the end of the year because of it!

I'm interested to know what kinds of meds everyone else is taking? I've been prescribed Imitrex for mine, but I don't often take it because it makes me really dizzy (which only makes the headache worse).

I took Topamax for my vestibular migraines but had to come off of it because it made me extremely nauseous to a point where I was only eating a couple hundred calories a day.

Not everyone experiences that side effect, but many do because it is used as an appetite suppressant as well.

marisap2010

I had migraines several times per week for YEARS. I went through 3 neurologists, CT scans, food diaries, etc. until we finally figured out that I had a vitamin deficiency (magnesium in my case). You may want to follow up with a doctor and see if a nutritional deficiency may be part of it.

JacqueJo

I have struggled with migraines for 22 years....ugh. Just over the past YEAR, I have figured out my triggers: barometric pressure change (I am more accurate than the weather man) and allergies. Sometimes, when I start to get a headache/migraine, I take Benadryl (which unfortunately knocks me out) but then my headache is gone. I also get two allergy injections/shots per week.

However, as others have said, everyone is different and has their own triggers. It is a pain in the rear, but a headache diary is really the best way to determine your triggers, therefore identifying the solutions/preventative measures.

Good luck!

sshintaku

I don't get migraines per say, but I do get frequent killer headaches. Yoga is what really helps me. I typically go 3-4x a week, and if I get hit with a headache, I usually try to figure out why and then realize it's been awhile since I've been to yoga.

FeraFilia

I get migraines semi-regularly. I take Maxalt for mine.

I've found that I haven't had them nearly as frequently lately, though. Over the last several months, they've gone from 2-3x per week, to less than once a month... Currently I haven't had one in more than 3 months (not a single migraine since I restarted trying to lose weight).

Mine are generally triggered by PMS, obscene amounts of stress, lack of sleep, and occasionally allergies. I most often get them when I've gone 3-4 days with less than 5 hours of sleep per night. When I get the warning signs of a migraine coming on (my warning signs are the shooting stars on the edges of my vision and a pain behind my left eye), I get myself to a dark, quiet room and put an ice pack on the back of my neck for a little while (and take a Maxalt, if it's getting bad). Nothing else seems to help.

I think the fact that I've been expending more energy and possibly because I've been eating less sugar, my migraines have subsided for the most part (knock on ALL the wood) due to sleeping better and having better nutrition.

Hopefully you can find something that works for you!

RllyGudTweetr

Did anyone else get a migraine just by reading this thread? Oddly, that's one of the triggers for me - just talking about headaches gives me one! I also get headaches from not getting enough sleep, being in front of the computer for too long, hunger, stress, and being out in the sun. I get them so often that I feel like my supervisors at work don't believe me anymore about having to leave early or not come in at all, and I pretty much always run out of PTO by the end of the year because of it!

I'm interested to know what kinds of meds everyone else is taking? I've been prescribed Imitrex for mine, but I don't often take it because it makes me really dizzy (which only makes the headache worse).

I get them roughly once a month, more if I am not adequately caffeinated or if I sugar-binge. I take 2 ketoprofen at onset, and another 1 roughly 90 minutes in, in order to limit the duration to 3 hours rather than 3 days.

bluejeans56

I suffered with migraines for many years and many factors can be involved. Keeping track of your fox here may help some, just remember to look at what you have eaten the day before as well, if not 2. Barometric pressure came into play but usually some cold and sinus med Wil take care of that, especially if caught right away. Exceďrin migraine or generic works nicely too. I have very few now that I am going thru hormone changes but one MAJOR help for me is my chiropractor, once a month and I have been migraine free for a couple years. So.....journal everything from stress level, weather, food, hormones etc....good luck to you and I sincerely hope you improve.

marieamethyst

I'm interested to know what kinds of meds everyone else is taking? I've been prescribed Imitrex for mine, but I don't often take it because it makes me really dizzy (which only makes the headache worse).

I didn't see anyone else mention it, but I take Midrin. I don't have any dizziness with it, and it kills the pain right away. I took Imitrex before, and Midrin works a bazillion times better for me!

norsworthyc

I get Botox for Migraines every 3 months and it helps along with my preventative meds (flexeril, nadalol, topamax) and I keep relpax and fioricet on me always since one of my triggers is barometric pressure changes and the Botox doesn't knock that out for me. And I still have to have my daily Coke...empty calories but worth it

SamLD88

Sometimes, it's genetics. For me, it's genetics and stress. I focus on getting enough sleep with the JawboneUP, which tracks my sleep. I find that my sweet spot is about 7.5 hours. Too little or too much, and I've got a headache.

I found that staying away from caffeine -- including Excedrin Migraine - has reduce my rebound headaches. I saw a headache specialist back in December and he gave me 550 mg Aleve w/ Rhizatriptan for onset of pain, and the Aleve alone as a preventative. It's helped. I was down ~1-2 days a week before, and I have had a total of 3 uncontrollable ones this year. Some, I still needed to sleep off, but for the most part, my migraines are under control.

A big thing with weight loss and migraine is to be careful when you introduce new food, and always have a safety food -- something you can eat if you get a migraine. For me, I need easy energy when I can eat, like peanut butter. I also used to binge a lot when I had my migraines, because the food would help the pain. Seriously.

Best of luck. My major dietary triggers are artificial sweeteners and raw onion. Living with this neurological illness can suck, but we're all here for you. You can always friend request me (that goes for anyone) and we can chat about the neurological monster that is migraine.

needingsleep

I can agree with most of the above triggers. Stress,lack of sleep, low blood sugar, sunlight, chocolate, cheese, wine, etc etc. funnily enough starting tracking in mfp in the past has regularly caused a migraine - so calorie restriction. I also have had some that I can never work out what the trigger was despite suffering from migraines for 26 years. After a really tough patch last year I have had an amazing turn around and not had one in over 6 months. The only thing I have done differently is concentrated on healing my gut. I am not sure how many migraine sufferers have sensitive stomachs but I would think it would be common. Anyway, apparently there is a strong link between the gut and the brain so I concentrated on having a lot of probiotics in different forms eg. Kombucha, kefir and fermented foods like Kim chi. I also try to avoid wheat - but not religiously. Maybe 80% of the time. Would be interested if anyone else has tried this.

LesliemarieAZ

I also used to binge a lot when I had my migraines, because the food would help the pain. Seriously.

Eating also helps minimize my migraines sometimes, but I always figured that the migraine was brought on by hunger and that's why eating helps.

knittnponder

Me and two of my kids get migraines from eating gluten. We cut gluten out and haven't had one since so it might help to take a look at your diet and see if something there is triggering them.