Anyone suffer from chronic migraines?

azzacca

1. See a neurologist if you haven't already.
2. The greatest help to me was regulating my sleep. If you work retail hours or shift work, you might want to consider finding another job, because that's what I had to do. I feel tons better now that I go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.
3. Keep a diary about your symptoms... What time of month is it? What did you eat last? Sometimes learning what your triggers are can help.

So... to answer your question, the only exercise you're going to get if you're feeling like crap is probably going to be yoga. I wouldn't worry about eating less or working out. I'd eat whatever I wanted, because I'd probably barf up half of it anyway, and then I'd hide under a blanket and eat pills. Ugh...

Luckily, I haven't had migraines in awhile, so whatever hell you're in will probably end some day.

All this helped me... and then, getting off birth control pills. I had non-TOM related headaches, but just the constant hormone activity gave me some major issues. The only ones regular exercise, proper sleep, limited caffeine and no bc's haven't helped with are the weather headaches. I get light to moderate headaches almost every day for spring and fall, especially, due to barametric pressure changes. I pretty much refuse to let them interrupt anything, but I also have a high pain tolerance (other people might call these moderate to severe migraines). That's when I am reminded that I love Excedrin.

NikkiRios

I finally saw a doctor about mine and was told lots of different things can set them off... sensitivities to lights or smells (I get them around cherry scents), weather (I get them before it rains), and even eating too many processed foods. I tried prescription medication but hated it. What works best is 3-4 advil when I start to get one. Also sometimes I drink half of a Coke, because caffeine can help. Of course, both of those are bad for you too if you do it too much. Best to identify the factors that cause the migraines and try to change your lifestyle.

Elizabeth_C34

I had chronic migraines (3-4 times per week) until I started taking meds for my heart condition. Turns out, MVP/MVR causes chronic headaches in some people, apparently me included.

My suggestion is to talk to your primary care doc and see if there's something that could be causing it. Those migraines can be absolutely debilitating so I wish you all the best.

tambamis

I have been to the doctor several times, it's just migraines, no underlying cause. They run in my family. My mom has them pretty much everyday so it's not really something I can avoid. I do know that certain foods trigger them so I avoid them as much as possible. I had been prescribed some pills but they didn't really work. I don't want to be taking pills forever either, they are bad for the body. I just deal with the migraine unless it gets too bad to function.

I am so sorry you have these, I have them too - hereditary, pills don't work, stress & hormones definitely aggravate them, mine have been fewer and far between since I've been on the weight loss track, but I have spent a great deal of time and effort trying to get a more "organic" diet in our home.
I've eliminated most of the "low fat" processed foods from our diet. We use real butter, whole milk, whole wheat breads, real sugar (no more sweet & low) those are just a few of the changes we made, and it hasn't affected our weight loss at all - maybe it's worth a try for you.
Other than that...I'll be praying for you, it's so hard to function when your in pain.

Elizabeth_C34

I've eliminated most of the "low fat" processed foods from our diet. We use real butter, whole milk, whole wheat breads, real sugar (no more sweet & low) those are just a few of the changes we made, and it hasn't affected our weight loss at all - maybe it's worth a try for you.

This works well for me also. My body does not tolerate artificial sweetners well at all, and before I started taking meds to hel with the underlying heart condition causing my migraines, eliminating "diet" foods did a lot to help alleviate the occurence of the migraines.

Cacopeland

The problem with Diet foods is most likely a sensitivity to aspartame (a known neurotoxin)

JULIUSKITTY

If you havnt already.. try eliminating nitrates (hotdogs, lunchmeat) also any substitue sugars such as aspartame are known to trigger them.

jenready

I have had issues with migraines since I was about 14 so I have had problems for about 14 years. I have tried multiple preventative medications through the years and have found some that work well for me. It just took time working with my doctor and figuring out what meds and what doses worked for me. I have actually been off of daily meds for the past 4 years. I do have pain meds that I take when I get one and if I don't catch it soon enough or it gets too bad, I have to go in and get a shot of a higher power med.
Some things that have helped me are figuring out some of my triggers. Some people are affected by certain foods, smells or lighting. When I start to feel one increasing my fluid intake helps a little. I would not suggest exercising if you have a migraine. I'm not sure that it would be possible even if you tried. I think it is best to try and get the migraine to go away before doing exerting yourself just to make sure that it will not get worse.

savage22hp

I forgot to mention MSG which is a big no - no for me also. You would be surprised all the places this can be.

TxAngel79

I get them regularly! Some days are better then others. Sadly when they get too bad, I can't work out! However I watch what I eat! The drs have still yet to pinpoint a reason why I get mine. All they know is I have numerous brain lesions....whether they are from the migraines, or causing the migraines is a question still yet to be answered! I feel your pain!

sheclimbsrocks

I have been to the doctor several times, it's just migraines, no underlying cause. They run in my family. My mom has them pretty much everyday so it's not really something I can avoid. I do know that certain foods trigger them so I avoid them as much as possible. I had been prescribed some pills but they didn't really work. I don't want to be taking pills forever either, they are bad for the body. I just deal with the migraine unless it gets too bad to function.

You poor thing! They run in my family, too, but I have managed to mostly escape them these days. I've had them so bad that my pupils have turned different sizes and my doctor made me have a catscan! Now I get them a few times a year, thank god.

I kept a food diary for years and figured out MSG is my trigger. I make most of my own food and am limited in what I can eat when we go out, and am a super paranoid dinner guest. Managing my diet used to seem like a pain in the butt, but necessity is the mother of invention and now this has become my lifestyle. MSG seems to be in everything processed and sometimes my best friends accidentally dose me and I lose days of my life.

I am also with you on not liking the drugs. I have bad reactions to them. Meditation and an ice pack work best for me, as well as sleep and caffeine. A Red Bull is my day after cure. They also say that vitamin B deficiency may contribute to migraines. Since I'm a vegetarian, I take a B complex supplement anyway.

I can't do any exercises during my migraines. Rest helps my body recover. I hope that you do find a way to prevent them. It is really living hell when you are in chronic excruciating pain with no prediction or explanation. It's like being a prisoner I really do hope that you feel better and can find the root of the cause. Maybe the solution is to exercise like hell on the days that you feel best.

Feel better, sister!

divediva2

Many great suggestions here already. I must second the suggestion to read the book, The Migraine Brain. It is bang on. I have suffered migraines for many years and was lucky enough to be referred to a neurologist who specializes in treating headache and migraines. Much of the advice she gave me was in the book so get it.

I am also on a daily preventative medication and I also take OTC supplements, Vitamin B2, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Omega Complex, and use Melatonin for sleep. I have two rescue meds for migraines. I have gone from daily migraines to approximately 5-8 migraines a month. Still too many but in comparison it is an improvement.

One thing I remember from my first visit was the doctor saying how I had actually caused rebound migraine/headaches by taking Advil or Tylenol for Migraine to try and control the pain. I had to stop taking it and she put me on a medication daily for about two weeks to help control the rebound headaches at the time. I have not had an Advil or Tylenol since.

Visit your primary care physician and see if you can get a referral to a specialist would be my advice. Definitely pick up the book, it is a great reference, I still pick it up and read to this day.

Samanthasteinagle26

Omg I had one so bad at the gym. I was almost crying. Somehow running made it a lil better.

kschr201

One thing I remember from my first visit was the doctor saying how I had actually caused rebound migraine/headaches by taking Advil or Tylenol for Migraine to try and control the pain. I had to stop taking it and she put me on a medication daily for about two weeks to help control the rebound headaches at the time. I have not had an Advil or Tylenol since.

I wonder if that used to be my issue. I can't drink too much caffeine because of migraines, but some of the pain medications that I would take if I had one contain caffeine. it's a cycle...