Anyone Else Suffer from Migraines?

Leigh2778 · February 2012

I've had migraines for several years, been to different doctors, tried different meds, etc. My current med (taken daily) has been working pretty well, but they're starting back up again. I've never really found a major trigger, other than sleep deprivation, for my migraines, but I really wonder sometimes whether my diet plays a part in all of this. Actually, I'm pretty sure it does play a part, I just don't know how much of a part and where to go from here. The doctors haven't been that helpful on that front.
So, I'm just wondering if anyone else has had experience with this and if eliminating/cutting down on certain foods helped or didn't help? I know it's not a one-size-fits-all sort of deal, but just looking for some ideas. Thanks!

stylistchik · February 2012

you could try an elimination diet to find trigger foods. Just do a google search for elimination diet, it basically limits your diet to very mild foods and then you add foods back in to see what triggers your migraines. For me it was dairy, so far since avoiding dairy I haven't had a problem but if I consume a small hidden amount like in cookies I wake up the next morning with a headache.

JustBreathe418 · February 2012

I was on the same boat as you for a while. My doctor finally found a medication that works for me that I take daily, but if that hadn't worked, the next step would have been an elimination diet, as the poster above mentioned. You should do some research on that and also talk to your doctor about starting an elimination diet.

Hope you feel better! I know how painful and frustrating these things can be

ruggedBear · February 2012

I was diagnosed with migraines at the age of 9 (I had the visual precursors which prompted a whole lot of neuro testing when I was young). They disappear for years, then come back for a couple of years. The last round was a 40-day long cluster migraine. Yup - every day for over a month, these things would not stop. Doc wanted me to take statins as a preventative, but I didn't want to depend on them forever so we agreed on a short course of one med to try to break the cycle, which finally worked. Since then, I've only had a few and just try to sleep them off. I have noticed that I have not had one in the past 3 months of very clean eating and daily exercise - not sure if I'm in an 'off' cycle and they'll come back or whether it's the clean eating or exercise that is helping.

By switching to mostly whole, organic foods, I avoid chocolate, dairy, wine and lots of other common triggers (not specifically to prevent the headaches, but because they're bad bad bad for weight loss!) - but I haven't given up my caffeine (2-3 cups of black coffee each morning). I do have 'normal' meals from time to time if I eat out or go to a party, but have not had anything trigger a migraine during that time. If you're interested in seeing my food diary, send me a friend request.

Hope this helps!

PlanetVelma · February 2012

you could try an elimination diet to find trigger foods. Just do a google search for elimination diet, it basically limits your diet to very mild foods and then you add foods back in to see what triggers your migraines. For me it was dairy, so far since avoiding dairy I haven't had a problem but if I consume a small hidden amount like in cookies I wake up the next morning with a headache.

This! I did the elimination diet and found that too much sodium or caffeine triggers my migraines or if I'm not drinking enough water. They are also triggered (for me) by a drastic change in the barometric pressure. yes, I'm a human barometer (lame!).

Talk to your dr and see what they have to say about doing an elimination diet.

cmriverside · February 2012

I tracked my migraines for three years.

I eliminated known trigger foods:

Caffeine
Chocolate
Cheese
Peanuts
Citrus

I was eating a lot of these. I did cut down my migraines by eliminating these. But my migraines were also caused by barometric "lows" and by hormones.

Once I passed through menopause, they went away. But for the ten years prior to menopause I was on several prophylactic drugs and had a prescription for triptans.

Sux. I feel (felt) your pain.

GibsonDarlin · February 2012

I had migraines for a long time, mine where hormonal. My daughter now has them and the correlate with her cycle.
Mine have improved 10 fold.

Good luck, and remember its your body and you know it better than anyone. You can figure this out!

bhalter · February 2012

Have you been tested for allergies? My sister suffered horrible migraines and after several years, they discovered she had a milk allergy (not lactose intolerant), but literally allergic to milk. It would cause sore throats, sinus infections, and migraines. She's gotten a lot better now that she doesn't drink milk anymore.

peachprl · February 2012

I know that there are some specialists that can help work with you on elimination diets to. I actually was referred to one that works at a local vitamin shop, believe it or not! I ended up not going to them because we found a migraine medication that works for me. But I have kept the information in mind. I have even heard that eliminating dairy works for some people, as well as some of the other foods that other posters already mentioned. Hang in there. Migraines can really be a pain in the neck! Have they just tried meds to get rid of them once they start, or have they tried preventative meds? There are different kinds of preventative meds, too, that work in different ways. Topamax works for me...but I know some people do great with beta blockers, etc.

RTricia · February 2012

I hear at the onset of a migraine to talk Alka Seltzer and an Exedrin at the same time, whilst still bubbling. It supposedly opens up the constricted vessels.

Hellbent_Heidi · February 2012

I get them, but mine are not as bad as yours....

Excedrin and a dark room usually works, and mine tend to be hormonal and come during my 'cycle' more than any other time. I have noticed that when I eat a LOT of sugar and/or alcohol they are more frequent. Also, if I have a tension type headache before I got to sleep, I'll often wake up with one in the middle of the night, so I try to pay attention and take Excedrin before bed when that happens.

Elimination diet seems like a great place to start with identifying your triggers. Lighting is a big issue for me as well...like in certain stores where there's special lighting (the old record stores used to do me in all the time). Since you're probably tracking your food here anyway, use this site to pay close attention to what you've eaten before one occurs, and start there.

Good luck!

Shanaedunn · February 2012

Oh yesssss! My life...

I am on Topamax everyday as well and it is working and honestly seems to work better as my weight comes off. There are periods where stress and fatigue cause them to kick in and if I have one longer then a three day period I am in the hospital. I too have been through the food triggers and I have eliminated a few however I have two cups of coffee in the morning. I fuss sometimes and say they took my food for dieting the least they can leave me is coffee. LOL But when it gets bad I shift to tea for a while. I also am attempting a different eating lifestyle so I went from regular milk to soy and that also has assisted me.

I know how it can hurt and I hope that you are able to work through this. I also hope you have support where and when you need it.

Good luck to you and all the hugs I can send!

Shanae`

KrystalLight03 · February 2012

I was diagnosed with Chronic Migraine Syndrome when I was 13, and it's been a long road to figuring out what's wrong with me. My dentist thought it was my jaw alignment, so I spent 2 years going to jaw therapy (it helped some). My pediatrician thought it was hormonal, so I have been on birth control ever since (they later found ovarian cysts, so that's a whole other problem...). When I was 14 they got so bad at one point that I was hospitalized for a week and half, and the best they could come up with after that was "We don't know what's wrong, she'll just have to deal with this the rest of her life." I've lived with a mild migraine EVERY SINGLE DAY for the last 7 or 8 years. On my worst days I lose my peripheral vision, black out, or can't walk because my legs give out. I've tried changing my diet and doing the elimination methods, and I've found a subtle difference in symptoms once I completely cut caffeine and orange juice. Other than that, I'm just waiting for the miracle cure to magically come knocking on my door one day.

cam_l20 · February 2012

I've suffered from them for as long as I can remember. I find that if I get really stressed about something and then relax, that's when they hit me. They can also be triggered by bright lights/the sun shining into the corners of my eyes. I've never noticed any food triggers. I basically try and avoid stress where possible (easier said than done!) and make sure I position myself away from bright lights.

I've never taken any prescription medication - I usually only get about 3-5 migraines per year, and I get the type where you get the aura before the pain hits, so as soon as I realise that I can't see properly, I take a couple of Migralieve and go straight to bed/find somewhere quiet and put my head down for a bit (depending on where I am) until I can bear to move again. If I take the tablets quickly enough, I can quite often avoid the headache completely. I still feel drained afterwards, and sneezing and nodding/shaking my head etc. are quite painful for a day or so afterwards, but I'm usually back to normal by the end of the next day.

veganbaum · February 2012

If no one has mentioned it, try finding the book The Migraine Brain. Absolutely excellent source for helping you to identify triggers and to search for other ways to try to reduce your migraines

PlanetVelma · February 2012

I hear at the onset of a migraine to talk Alka Seltzer and an Exedrin at the same time, whilst still bubbling. It supposedly opens up the constricted vessels.

That just sounds awful! LOL I get really nauseous when I have a migraine so I would be scared to try that. Eek!

For me, Exedrin makes my migraines worse. I have some prescription medication that does help, but I have to take it right when i start seeing the "halos" or having spotty vision otherwise I'm puking on the side of the road on the way home. Yay! lolol

tatertotfishstick · February 2012

I've tried most of the daily meds and also the ones you use at the first sign of attack. None seemed to do much good for me. Had a hysterectomy (thought it would help with the hormonal aspect but had it for unrelated issue). Found out the weather is the major trigger for me. And dietary wise, it is soy. Once I elimated soy, it cut out about 25% of my headaches. I love the book "the headche book" and "Migraine Brain". And since I had my son, avocadoes are a trigger. Good luck, migraines SUCK

Leigh2778 · February 2012

Thanks so much for all of the advice and support! I will definitely check out "The Migraine Brain"--sounds like a good place to start. Or continue, as it were.
I take Neurontin every day, and that's worked for awhile now, but things are starting to go downhill again. I've tried Topamax, beta blockers and anti-depressants on a daily basis, and just about every PRN migraine med available. I've also had Botox, which didn't work for me. (hurts like hell, though). They don't think it has anything to do with my cycle, per se, as my cycle is super irregular (PCOS) and the migraines, at their worst, were coming 3-4 times per week and lasting for at least a day. So a continuous migraine, basically. Stress IS a trigger, but how do you handle stress? lol And sleep, like I said. I also think food, so I am gonna take all your ideas and brew them together and see what I come up with. :laugh:

Thanks so much for sharing and good luck to all of you!!

ILiftHeavyAcrylics · February 2012

my migraines are hormonal, but I hope you find an answer soon because I know how crippling they can be. I have them often (at least 10-12 per month). A heating pad will sometimes work for the minor ones.

jenny95662 · February 2012

I get them a lot but less now that on daily meds and when i do get them I have to take zomig prescribed med and Ecedrin together to ease them its def hard. But mine are hereditary my mom sister brother get them so did my nana and great nana.

trijoe · February 2012

Not sure if it's migraines - have no earthly clue what it is, or why. One of my daughters has had a headache of varying severity for a little over 2 months now. We've taken her to a neurologist with no luck so far. If we can get her to take advil that helps, but only for a few hours. Sometimes sinus medicine helps. She has stomach issues too, so we've tried lots of different diets for her over the last year. I want to get her to an allergy doctor to see if it's an allergy trigger.

It's so hard when it's a kid, and you just don't know how to help.

Anyone Else Suffer from Migraines?

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