Migraines in mid life

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imogenerun
imogenerun Posts: 10 Member
in Motivation and Support
Please help! I’ve recently been diagnosed with a migraine variant. I mostly get a persistent visual aura, and sometimes it’s accompanied by a headache. I’ve been under chronic stress for several years and have put on weight. I don’t want to take a prescription migraine pill if there are other alternatives. I’d love to hear how others have had success in kicking migraines to the curb. Thanks!

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  • JMcGee2018
    JMcGee2018 Posts: 275 Member
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    I developed migraine in my early 20s. Like yours, mine was a variant called a silent migraine, which was painless but somewhat distorted my vision and would give me a sort of "out of body" feeling for hours. With the help of a fellow migraine sufferer, I found out that I really only get them when my electrolytes are out of balance.

    To check (and fix) this, next time you get a migraine, buy a bottle of Gatorade and drink about half. If you can't taste the salt in it, your electrolytes aren't balanced, which might be causing the migraine. Mine always go away less than half an hour after I drink some Gatorade now, so I just keep a bottle in the house incase I need it.
  • imogenerun
    imogenerun Posts: 10 Member
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    I will try that. Thank you. My visual scotoma seems to stick around though.
  • meggiesroad
    meggiesroad Posts: 11 Member
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    02twkr7yzon0.jpg
    This helps my migraines. It was $18 the first time I bought it. $50 last time but very effective for me
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
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    I get silent migraines (visual feeling of eyes darting around, nausea and feeling like I am slurring my words with a sort of ‘disconnect’ between brain and speech). I occasionally get a headache with them. They can last three days or so. Mine seem triggered by dehydration and also recently strength training. And if I eat a banana when dehydrated I’m screwed. Mine actually start in my gut with IBS type symptoms and I can stop them in their tracks by taking an anti-spasmodic.

    The Gatorade thing is worth a try for sure.
  • imogenerun
    imogenerun Posts: 10 Member
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    moosmum1972 wrote: »
    I'm assuming you've had tests to rule out anything else?

    Do you mean a brain tumor? I've not had an MRI, but I've seen the top Retinal specialists and Neuro ophthalmologist and Migraine Variant is what they've diagnosed me with.
  • imogenerun
    imogenerun Posts: 10 Member
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    girlinahat wrote: »
    I get silent migraines (visual feeling of eyes darting around, nausea and feeling like I am slurring my words with a sort of ‘disconnect’ between brain and speech). I occasionally get a headache with them. They can last three days or so. Mine seem triggered by dehydration and also recently strength training. And if I eat a banana when dehydrated I’m screwed. Mine actually start in my gut with IBS type symptoms and I can stop them in their tracks by taking an anti-spasmodic.

    The Gatorade thing is worth a try for sure.

    That's so great you've found your triggers. I'm envious! I do feel better when I drink a LOT of water. I just need to continue to do that, along with finding other triggers. Thank you for your reply.
  • imogenerun
    imogenerun Posts: 10 Member
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    meggiesroad wrote: »
    02twkr7yzon0.jpg
    This helps my migraines. It was $18 the first time I bought it. $50 last time but very effective for me

    I will look in to this - thank you! I'll search on Amazon!

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
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    I got that (not persistent) when peri-menopause began. I hope you find what works for you. For me, menopause did the trick!
  • tempamatic
    tempamatic Posts: 10 Member
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    I went through a tremendously stressful time and developed exactly the same problem with visual auras, occasional headache pain and nausea. My doctor prescribed a low dose of beta blocker (propranolol 80mg) that worked beautifully. All my symptoms went away overnight. I took the propranolol for a year and then my doctor helped me ease away from them over six weeks. I now take no drugs and experience no migraine symptoms at all, and haven't for more than two years. It seemed miraculous.
  • kathleennf
    kathleennf Posts: 606 Member
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    There's an app called iHeadache that has helped me a lot to identify triggers. I second the Gatorade suggestion and be careful to avoid dehydration. I also have gone out of my way with my doc to avoid prescription meds. I started taking magnesium supplements after two friends (one physician and my veterinarian) recommended them. I am currently taking magnesium CITRATE 800 mg per day (400mg tablet at breakfast and lunch). It seems to help a lot, and I have read some new articles in pharmacy publications saying that there is accumulating evidence that it does help. Magnesium oxide is the cheaper version but it is not absorbed as well and if you try to increase the dose very much it causes, umm, GI side effects.
  • imogenerun
    imogenerun Posts: 10 Member
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    That is great news, Tempamatic! Thank you for that!
  • imogenerun
    imogenerun Posts: 10 Member
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    kathleennf wrote: »
    There's an app called iHeadache that has helped me a lot to identify triggers. I second the Gatorade suggestion and be careful to avoid dehydration. I also have gone out of my way with my doc to avoid prescription meds. I started taking magnesium supplements after two friends (one physician and my veterinarian) recommended them. I am currently taking magnesium CITRATE 800 mg per day (400mg tablet at breakfast and lunch). It seems to help a lot, and I have read some new articles in pharmacy publications saying that there is accumulating evidence that it does help. Magnesium oxide is the cheaper version but it is not absorbed as well and if you try to increase the dose very much it causes, umm, GI side effects.

    I didn't even think about using an app to find my triggers - thank you!!!

  • andielyn
    andielyn Posts: 233 Member
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    A top migraine specialist recommended 500 mg magnesium oxide daily, and it's been a game changer.
  • sissyspace93
    sissyspace93 Posts: 11 Member
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    Looks like you've gotten some good responses, but I'll chime in with what I've learned over the past 3 years of frequent migraines. If you go to the ER for a migraine they'll give you fluids. The closest drink you can find to those fluids is Pedialyte not Gatorade (Gatorade is easier to access though sometimes). I always keep one on hand and drink the whole thing at the first sign. I also drink 2 cups of coffee, take 2 benadryl (also something they give you in the ER for migraines), and 2 Tylenol (per my dr.). I do this all very quickly. This has worked better for me than the prescriptions I have tried. As a nurse, I'm commited to staying off the prescription hamster wheel as much as possible. If you ask your dr about this, they will most likely suggest a similar routines. Many doctors just recommend prescriptions initially because nobody will try anything else.
  • flipflop4499
    flipflop4499 Posts: 7 Member
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    Ask your doctor about adding magnesium, CoQ10, and vitamin B2 (riboflavin). There have been some clinical studies on the benefits of this combo. Definitely worth a shot!

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