Migraines

Have you tried Migrelief? (Feverfew, magnesium and B2) I use that and Butterbur extract and got really great results for about 3 months. If you have not tried it, it's worth a shot. You can order it on Amazon. The beginning of June was really rough for me, though (12 days straight of migraines) and now I'm on a beta blocker. Haven't gotten one since I started it. If after a few months it's not working, I'm going to get botox injections all over my head. It's supposed to have pretty good results, maybe you can look into that if you haven't already.

My migraines have died out a bit - but I still get the hormonal ones pretty regularly. Just to check - are you on birth control pills? They made my migraines worse... and you have a higher risk of stroke if you get migraines and are on the pill. My other triggers are not enough sleep, red wine (no, not a hangover!), extreme heat and dehydration as well.

As for medications, as soon as I get any kind of clue that one is coming on - I would take a couple extra strength dispirins (basically just high dose aspirins) or some kind of anti-inflammatory, sometimes they would help keep the migraine from coming on.

I also take Maxalt - have you tried that? I found it very effective as long as I took it early enough (which is sometimes hard to judge). Sorry I know you say you wake up with them - so preventative precautions may not be of much help.

Strangely enough coffee helps sometimes! But I know that might just be me.

I agree about the gluten, it might be worth a try. Don't they say dairy and chocolate can also be triggers?

To be honest, I have had on and off mirgraines since 2004. I know that computer screens, stress, extreme hormone and blood pressure changes will cause an immediate migraine. It normally starts at the base of my skull and travels upwards to my temples and finally my eyes. The best solution I have found to help decrease my migraines is more of a long term change, but hopefully it will help.

I walk about 3-4 times a week for at least 20-30 minutes, keeping my heart rate on the higher side (between 160-165). I noticed in the last 6 months that instead of having 5-6 migraines a week (sometimes longer without any relief in sight), I only have MAYBE 1-2 ever other week and it only last until I am able to go and workout. - I make a point to keep emergency workout clothes at work just in case I have to "cater" to a migraine. I will admit it was extremely hard to walk during a migraine (especially at my pace) but in the end, I feel better and the pain is actually manageable. If I still have the remains of the migraine, I will take my presciption migraine (or excederin migraine) and a cup of coffee. I don't know if this will help you but, it works for me.

GOOD LUCK and I hope it gets better.

My wife has suffered from migraines for her entire life. One thing that helps is if she consumes something with a lot of spice and a high fat content ie;mexican food.

I have chronic migraines and have tried everything! I'm currently trying Botox for migraine. Hoping it helps.

I suffer horribly from migraines and at the moment I am breastfeeding my youngest meaning no medicatuion. My best relief is from changing up my diet like a previous poster had said upping healthy fat content with spice ( chili works amazing), running cold water over my head (with a removable shower head over the tub) it hurts at first but brings on so much relief after. White noise or a nature sound cd is great, repetitive sounds can help you focus on your surroundings and push out the pain. I switch from coffee to green tea, continuing caffeine intake but it seems to effect better as well as not interfere with water intake as much.

Its hard to get into it but light excersise can sometimes be the best thing, yoga or light aerobic stretching helps blood flow and release hormones to naturally cover up pain.

My husband suffers horrible migraines. After missing six weeks of work last summer (he's our only income!) I finally convinced him to start seeing doctors. Eventually he wound up at an ENT and we found out he has horrible allergies. Avoiding the food triggers and taking daily OTC allergy meds for the environmental ones has gotten them under control. He still gets them sometimes; I can always tell when he's been eating or drinking something he shouldn't.

**** IMPORTANT****

Stop taking the Excedrin and all other over the counter headache medicine. They CAUSE chronic headaches if you take more than a few times.

Truth. My neurologist suggests I stay away from them. And caffeine as well. It seems like it helps, but a lot of times will cause the same kind of rebound migraine.

I've never heard this about applying heat to the lower body. I'll have to try that! Unfortunately I won't be able to do that at work.

I suffer from chronic headaches and low grade migraines. Yes, gluten could be an issue for you but you would have other issues if that was the case. I went to an allergist to get tested and I suggested the gluten thing and that is what he said. If I'm not having bathroom issues after ingesting breads etc then it's not gluten. I would highly recommend going to the allergist for testing. I found out I'm allergic to dust mites and cats and dogs. You may have allergies you never knew about and could be a trigger.

Last year I started going to an accupunturist for mine and it really helped. My triggers tend to be humidity/high pressure and obviously the dust thing and my cats may play a small part into it too. The everyday chronic sinus pressure went away with my treatments.

I seem to remember a doctor telling me about the bounce back headache thing with meds too. If you're talking them more then a couple times a week it can be a reason they come back.

I've had migraines since I was 6. I'm now 33. I've tried all medicines etc. right now I avoid anything with MSG (mono sodium glutamate), aspartame, sodium nitrite, and nitrates. I take maxalt for really bad ones. Usually naproxen and either a bath or ice on back of my neck. My doctor said never take excedrin. It will just make them worse in the long run.

My trigger is dairy. I used to get migraines consistently a few times a month from about 13 on. When I went vegan in college, they stopped immediately. Once I switched to vegetarian and binged on cheese, they came back with a vengeance. Now, I keep my lactose intake very low, and I again don't get them. Consider tracking your headaches against your diet and environment. If you can identify the trigger, you can take steps to mitigate or eliminate it. Food and environmental allergies are often a factor.

Well, I know this is an older thread but the not eating oranges thing is because some people get headaches from too much vitamin C.

Ha, my neurologist loves me. What do I do? Caffeine and vicoden. Works every time. After three years of trying various prescriptions and triptans I guess he gave up and wrote me a vicoden script. Seriously, though, the vicoden has been a quality-of-life change. I used to spend 3-5 days in bed and had lost jobs due to migraines. Now after two hours in bed I am up and about with just a small headache. My mother said it seemed like a miracle to her, and it does to me as well! Obviously this is not a solution that works for everyone and it does work for me because I only get 1-2 migraines a month, which is not enough to get addicted. My triggers are air pressure, period, and dehydration as well.