Migraines & Adults' Headaches
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Migraines - At the end of my rope
Oct 2008
I am 36 and have suffered with migraines since 11. I am going through a particularly stressful time (divorce) and am a single mother so I would 'expect' to have more migraines than usual; however, I am having them nearly everyday - 9 days out of the past 14. They used to be triggered by menstruation but now are pretty much constant. I am losing my mind.
I have tried massasge, acupuntcture, chiropractic. I have eliminated alcohol, dairy, chocolate, dried fruits. I am now on a ''raw until dinner'' food plan. I take preventative medication as well as medication for when I get the migraine.
I am hoping that someone out there has a new idea, advice - something. I lose SO much time to feeling terrible. I feel desperate and overwhelmed. Anon.
Neil Raskin, migraine guru at UCSF, (415) 353-2273. He will change your life. I suffered from what you've got -- chronic daily migraines -- tried everything you did plus a few more, nearly went bankrupt + crazy -- I didn't need a new lifestyle or diet or mindset, I just needed a better neurologist. One who knew migraine disease inside and out, got that it WAS a disease and didn't judge, wasn't afraid to scrap what didn't work and keep trying, wasn't afraid to medicate for pain....Don't worry about his manner, which some find gruff. I find him tremendously compassionate, but that doesn't matter -- he stuck with me till he found what worked, took several tries, and I'm no longer in pain. I'd come to believe that was impossible. tried everything else first
I feel for you -- I started having migraines about 4 years back after I developed a brain tumor (suggest you check with neurologist!) and the best doctors could do was to heavily medicate me, which doesn't spply since I need to be mentally sharp to deal with 5-year old and 7-year old girls that are always into trouble (my wife works 12 hour days since I am on permanent disability after surgery/complications). My migraines may be very different from yours (very different from the triggers for my wife also), so no sure thing that this will work. The only thing I found that worked was something called ''Cafergot'' which is an ergotamine that is used for Alzheimers, migraines and tinnitus. It's an old medicine, so it should be available as a generic by prescription. Suggest you look up ''Hyderzine'' which is the uncaffeinated version extolled in ''Life Extension'' magazine as used extensively in Europe. I have not been able to get the uncaffeinated version yet myself. I prefer this to Imitrex, since I hate needles and I'm not wild about something that works by (I hear) giving your brain little hemmorages to relieve pressure. steve
''I have tried massasge, acupuntcture, chiropractic. I have eliminated alcohol, dairy, chocolate, dried fruits. I am now on a ''raw until dinner'' food plan. I take preventative medication as well as medication for when I get the migraine.''
You don't mention exercise, so I thought to mention Seth Roberts, a self-experimenter, who wrote a post on this topic: http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/10/10/a-new-way-to-prevent-migraines/ It may give you some new ideas. I hope it makes a difference. Amy
Have you tried homeopathy? the confluence of migraines and the stress of divorce present a versy stessful situation that often triggers physical and emotional symptoms. There are several homeopaths in the East Bay, including myself. I'd be happy to discuss and help recommend someone. joel kreisberg joelk5635 [at] sbcglobal.net
My mom was a huge migraine sufferer and I have gotten them. In addition to what you listed you avoid, my mom would also avoid: aged or smoked meats and cheeses and hydrocarbon smells (gas, permanent markers, nail polish, some cleaning supplies, etc).
For me there is only 1 thing to avoid - dehydration. If you have a tea, coffee, or soda (diuretics), make sure you have a gatorade and/or OJ (high in potassium) and salt. Or skip caffeine. If not on caffeine, your urine should be pretty clear. If yellow, you're dehydrated. You could also get one of those body composition bathroom scales - it'll give you an est. body water. If you're 54% water, take salt (causes you to retain water) and drink liquids. Be extra sensitive to this when you're about to menstruate, 'cause your body retains water and you'll need more. Remember, if you've taken diuretics, you've washed away your salts and drinking water alone won't be sufficient to get hydrated. Large amounts of water will even dehydrate your further (rinses more salt out of you, and salt is what keeps the water). Good luck and I hope this helps you!
One note - your body can get ''addicted'' to ergotomine. If so used to getting ergotomine, you'll get a migraine if you haven't had ergotomine for a few days. I don't know if you take this or not, but something to check out. Anon.
I too have severe migraines that morphed into daily migraines about 5 years ago, even without overdoing medications. I know a lot about this due to extensive reading and I have a background as MD (not working due to other chronic illness). What really helped me were a combo of the following: 1. David Buccholz's book, Heal your Headache --my neurologist agrees it is very good. Read reviews on amazon for inspiration. 2. Two years of migraine prevention meds, until I hit one that helped. I failed 5 meds and went thru awful side effects, then ran into Keppra, which in combo with other measures, has helped. 3. Find a great neurologist who is familiar with Botox injections for migraine. I get Botox injection into scalp, occiput and neck every three months. 4. Sleep as regularly as you can, and exercise regularly, even if you have a migraine. Swimming, especially in cool water, seems to be good.
I still have headaches every day, but average 1-2 bad days per week. I usually treat them with a triptan, now that I did my ''triptan withdrawal'' a la Buccholz' book. I use triptans no more than once a week. Best wishes, I hope you get better soon! s
I feel for you-- I am 38 and have had migraines since I was a teenager. Nothing really worked for me until I went to the doctor for an unrelated problem (anxiety) and she prescribed citalopram. Amazingly, my migraines almost completely disappeared, and when I did get the occasional one it was much more bearable. I'm not on it anymore, since I'm pregnant, but so far so good-- still no migraines. I hope you find a solution that works for you! Finally found something that worked
I've heard of Botox being used to treat migraines. I haven't tried it myself since I stopped getting migraines once I quit work to stay home with my kids, but I know someone who it has worked for.
There is someone at UCSF who does this treatment. Sorry I don't have any more details, but it would be worth a call to UCSF. Neurology maybe? anon
I know some studies have shown that migraines can be triggered by hormonal changes and that going on a birth control pill really helps some women. Be sure to take the real medication every day - do not take the placebo pills in the packet. I read this in the Dr. Weil newsletter but I can't find it anymore otherwise I would give you the study info. I also read that taking butterbur extract 150mg daily can be preventative, as well as vitamin B-2 400mg daily (this requires a prescription from your doctor). Other things you can do are saliva tests to check your hormone levels and try to get them balanced. I don't know where to go for this but have seen recommendations in the past on BPN - so you could look there. My migraines are very infrequent so I've never tried any of these things, but I hope something works for you. Wishing you relief.
Neurofeedback, also known as eeg-biofeedback, has been very helpful with migraines. Check out brainbalancer.com and eeginfo.com. Carl
That really sounds horrendous. I feel for you hugely. I experienced migraines for only a little over 2 years and felt at the end of my rope... you are going on 25 yrs! Mine were related to my cycle and started out happening just at my period time, then added in at ovulation, then added in at the end of my period, and then added just past ovulation. Then a fifth one arose. They were rather predictable and would last for approximately 48 hours (give or take a few hours).
I tried elimination diets, too. And was doing acupuncture. What helped me was finding out that my hormone levels were seriously out of whack. Regular bloodwork showed nothing. It was through saliva testing that this was determined. Once I was able to work on balancing out the hormones, things started to improve dramatically. Dietary changes, adding in more exercise and some plant-based hormone supplementation seemed to do the trick. This may not be appropriate to your situation, but I'm throwing it out there as a possibility.
Best of luck to you in your endeavor to find freedom from migraines. the_missus
Avoid triggers such as bright lights and perfume. More info here: http://www.neurologychannel.com/migraine/index.shtml anon
First, I am sorry that you are having such a problem! I have been there. I started having migraines at the age of 4, and they have waxed and waned throughout the years (I am 51). My recent issue seemed to be triggered by ending breastfeeding with my last child at (!) 47. I was having the migraines almost daily. What helped for me was to finally get the right neurologist and the correct meds. I had been through several docs and had tried many, many preventative meds to no avail. I had literally NEVER had any medicine work for me. I don't know if it was the skill neurologist or some luck thrown in, but after my dr. put me on Effexor, my symptoms all but stopped within a month and have pretty much never returned. I can highly recommend Dr. Allen Bott in Oakland. Good luck! fellow migraine sufferer
Have you seen a neurologist recently? I too have had migraines since 1st grade and they used to get triggered by menstruation. Holistic stuff has never worked except for running my head under ice cold water in the tub--it restricts the blood vessels and provides some relief from the shooting pain.I know there are new drugs, both preventive and palliative. There is Stadol, a pain killer used by nose spray if you get nausea. And sometimes medical marijuana can help and is probably less dangerous than any of the prescribed stuff.
Other things may be food triggers. It is completely frustrating I understand. The final thing if none of this works is to see a pain management consultant. Feel free to email me. Lori
I suffered from frequent migraine headaches for years, but haven't had a migraine or even a faint headache for 6 months. One big change I made was to make sure I was adequately hydrated. I now drink a liter of sugarless electrolyte water every morning and a total of about 3 liters (12 cups) of water each day. There is a solution out there for you. Good luck! Kathryn
I am so sorry you are having this problem. I have had migraines for about the past 13 years (I am 43 now). And they had gotten worse in the past 2-3 years. About a year ago, when they were at their worst, I started acupuncture and went on the elimination diet that you talked about AND and stopped taking all pain meds ( Immatrex and Maxalt) for 3 months. And they did start to get better in that I had fewer and they were not as intense. And it was HARD not to take an immatrex when I started to get one. I have 2 small kids to take care of and to do it with a migraine is just too much sometimes. But I really felt like a lot of the headaches I was getting were rebound headaches from the Immatrex. (I was sometimes taking 3 to 4 in a week). And i know mine are mostly hormonally related. I almost always get one with my period and mid-cycle. What else has helped me is yoga and meditation. It is sometimes hard to find the time for these, but getting your headache threshold higher is what is so important now. Good luck and feel free to email if you want more advice. Andrea
Have you tried sustained-release niacin as a preventive measure? Try 375 mg. twice a day to start. Here's a report from the Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/pdf%2F7806%2F7806cr2.pdf
Have you already eliminated alcohol, chocolate, cheese, preserved meats, and tropical oils from your diet? (That's a good idea even if you don't have headaches.)
I assume you've already had an MRI of your brain and had your heart checked to eliminate other more serious causes of migraines. Headache free
Read in the New York Times today about ''Brain Drain,'' describing a case study of a woman with debilitating migraines. She deteriorated mentally and physically, eventually lapsed into a coma, after several weeks, many tests and doctors could not figure out her problem. Turned out to be a teratoma, basically a congenital benign tumor that can have stem cells that cause antibodies to attack the brain. This article was incredibly interesting. Google ''New York Times Brain Drain'' if this url doesn't work: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/magazine/09wwln-diagnosis-t.html?partner=rssnyt=rss anon
Hi BPNers,
I just wanted to say that I am so grateful to all of you who responded to my migraine post. I feel better just reading that I am not alone in this! Many of the recommendations I have tried in the past but there were also several new ideas that I am going to follow-up with.Again, thank you. I feel fortunate to be part of this compassionate, creative and honest forum. Take care, Karena
Sinus headache or migraine?
May 2008
I have had migraines for years and have figured out how to control them pretty well. But in the last few months I have had what I think are sinus headaches several times. These are new to me and I don't now how to deal with them. I will see my doctor about the situation, but I am wondering what others have done to find relief from sinus headaches? aching
I get both migraines and sinus headaches. I swear by the neti pot. I use it in the morning and at night EVERY day. It has helped with allergies and I haven't gotten a sinus infection in over a year. I find that if I am getting a sinus headache I can also take some sudafed (the real deal- behind the pharmacist's counter) and 400-600mg of Ibuprofen gelcaps and it tends to nock it out. good luck neti all the way
Make an appt with your eye doctor. I had horrible headaches that I thought were sinus headaches that turned out to be due to eye strain. (What a relief to discover this after months of horrible headaches that didn't go away with ibuprofen or sinus medicine.) It turns out my eyes were tired from all my reading in grad school and one eye was stronger than the other and that really gave me headaches. Tell your eye doctor you are having head aches and they can check to see if your vision is causing them. It's worth a shot! Andi
I suffer from both migraines and sinus headaches. The migraines I have under control and get maybe 2 per year. But the sinus headaches are frequent depending upon the weather. The best way I treat mine is with a decongestant (sudafed) and motrin (or alleve). My doctor also prescribed a sinus spray which helps alleviate the pressure as well. Sinus headaches are caused by buildup in the sinus cavities so that is way decongenstants work well. I used to try benedryl but my doctor told me that benedryl doesn't drain the sinuses. Sudafed (I use a generic version) works great and doesn't make me sleepy or hyper. Laurie
You might behaving hormone headaches. Are you in your mid-late thirties, or 40s? Do the headaches occur at the same general part of your cycle each month (in my case it is always the 3 and 4 week of my cycle). You may need to really pay attention to the calendar to be sure....
I began to have what I thought were terrible sinus headaches at 35. I went to a doc at Kaiser and explained the sx to him (sinuses ''popping'', stuffiness, pain which seemed deep in my head behind my nose) and he thought it sounded like a migraine. We did x rays and found no infection, but I was incredulous and he ended uo giving me Flonase. The headaches continued until I accidentally discovered that progesterone cream made them go away. (Was using it to aid fertility). Turns out, I had perimenopausal headaches. You might want to look into it. feeling better
I occasionally get sinus headaches, and I take the generic versions of 3 Advil, 2 Tylenol, a Sudafed, and a big cup of coffee or caffeinated soda. It relieves a lot of the pain, but I'm usually still sensitive to light and it hurts when I sneeze. The thing that has been PREVENTING them quite well, though, is a prescription steroid nasal spray, that I use every morning. It's called Nasonex. There are several others to try too, and if you're lucky, your doctor will give you free samples so you can try different kinds. They all seem to work for me. Good luck; I feel your pain! heidi
I too have been suffering from both migraines and sinus headaches for quite some time now. So I'm really interested to read what other people have to say on this subject. However, one possible suggestion I can offer is acupuncture. I've been seeing an acupuncturist in Emeryville for a few years now for sinus issues, migraines, allergies, etc. and the needle treatments, the back ''cupping,'' and the herbs have helped a lot. (Her name is Kirstin Lindquist and I highly recommend her specifically, but I\x92ve heard great things about other acupuncturists in the area as well.) Perhaps you could try acupuncture for a few months and see if you get positive results. It's well worth the time and money! PS The needles don't hurt, believe it or not! :) Mailisha
I am definitely not an expert, but I do get sinus headaches a lot and usually can keep them from getting really bad. (I was looking forward to other responses for more ideas!) I've mostly learned to identify sinus headaches early on, before they get too bad, and then try to help my sinuses drain as much as possible. For me, early signs are: headache that gets worse, not better, from lying down, or that is there right when I wake up in the morning, headache that does not respond to ibuprofen which usually works for my tension headaches, or headache with postnasal drip. As soon as I think a sinus headache is coming on, I use a nasal spray called NasalCrom (over-the-counter). Although all I want to do is lie down, I make myself sit upright as much as possible because otherwise the pressure gets worse. Steam from a hot shower, or a mug of either ginger or mint tea is good. Not sure why but even a carbonated drink seems to help a little. And some basic pain relief, too - ibuprofen or tylenol take the edge off for me. I've also heard that some exercise can help to open the sinus passages, so again I try to resist my curl-up-and-moan-in-pain urges and I think it does help. Good luck! sinus sufferer
Just a few more words on this, after reading the other responses: sinus headaches, for me, are often the result of allergies, and often just taking an antihistamine will do the trick for me. (Holding a warm cup of tea up to my forehead ain't bad either.) CAUTION on decongestants: I also get sinus headaches in really dry weather or when I've been in buildings with processed heat, so a decongestant will only dry me out more and worsen the problem if this is what sets it off. Thus, lots and lots of water or herbal tea, a warm wet washcloth across the face (looks so attractive!) and a humidifier can really help. I also get migraines, and I find that a sinus headache can trigger a migraine, so taking ibuprofen or whatever pain reliever you like before it really gets going is a good idea so you don't get the double whammy. elza
Migraines--Nortryptalene
Oct 2007
I suffer from debilitating headaches when I'm on my period and once or twice at other times of the month. I have not discovered an ingested trigger (e.g. hormones, alcohol, caffiene, wheat, etc.). My family practitioner has suggested nortryptalene as a daily preventative drug to reduce the frequency and the duration of the headaches. I take triptans to abort the headaches. Anyone out there have experience taking nortryptalene as a migraine prevention treatment or for depression? I'm curious about side-effects and general effectiveness. thanks so much. m
Hi - I can certainly sympathize. I've suffered from Cluster Headaches all of my life (I'm 60) and the symptoms have now morphed into the Migraine headache category. Having been on many different preventatives over the years, my neurologist put me on Nortriptyline about 6 years ago. I started with two 10 mg pills per day and have been prescribed as high as 5 pills per day. I'm now on 40 mg a day. Do they help? Probably. The frequency and severity have lessened somewhat - the pills don't completely rid me of the headaches but, when I accidentally ran out, the headaches returned with a vengeance. I will say that, when I do get a headache, MAXALT-MLT will get rid of it within 15 minutes. It is truly a miracle drug. One side affect of Nortriptyline is that it's helped my depression. No question. But it also increases your appetite and, with 4 pills a day, I can't stop eating. Now, THAT'S depressing! LOL If you only get headaches during your period, maybe you only need a quick-shot drug like Maxalt MLT? I'd bring that up with your doctor. Good luck! Carole
For yrs & yrs, about 25, I had frequently recurring bouts of severe headaches, & pretty much constant low-grade ones- headaches were a daily part of my life.
Some of them were identifiable migraines, some of them probably atypical migraines, & some were other types. I eventually saw a headache specialist who told me that once you've had migraines it sets you up for all the varieties of headaches.
My headache bouts have lessened a great deal in the last few years, both in frequency & intensity, & I when I do get a headache, tylenol's usually enough to chase it away (if not, the only thing that works for me is vicodin). I can't say (with one exception, see below) exactly what to ascribe the improvement to, as I have bipolar II disorder & Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, have to take several different daily meds, the meds & dosages have gotten tweaked pretty often over the years, & it's impossible to say exactly which is doing what.
But here's a little med info for you anyway, I can't tie any of it to the headache changes for certain, but maybe something will be useful:
I took Nortriptyline for several yrs for depression in a very low dose & it helped some. When I switched psychiatrists my new one changed me to Surmontil (which is a rather obscure older tri-cyclic AD) at a higher dose, & it's helped more w/the depression.
I've taken Neurontin for a good number of yrs in varying dosages, & that helps some people with headaches- don't know if it's been a factor for me, can only say that it has a calming effect.
I also take Lamictal (mood stabilizer), Levothroid (thyroid), Adderall (as an anti-dep, not for ADHA), & hormone replacement (including methyltestosterone). Also 6000mg of fish oil.
The one thing I can say for absolute certain is that after seeing the headache specialist and beginning to pay really close attention to possible triggers, I realized that any time I ingested ANY aspartimane, even the amount in a tiny mint, I got a horrible blinding headache within a few minutes. Now I never go near the stuff, & haven't had even one of that particular type of headache since. Anon
I have what my doctor calls ''Menstrual Migraines'' - I got a migraine usually just before my period and then again midcycle. I recently started using an estrogen patch for just a few days a month - my timing isn't perfected yet but I have had 2 months with no migraines! I don't know anything about the drug you mentioned, but thought I'd mention what has so far worked pretty well for me. migraine free - I hope
I just started Nortriptyline for my premenstrual migraines about 6 mos ago. It has been working very well to decrease the intensity and frequency of my headaches. But, yes, I have had some side effects. One of them I love - I sleep much better! But it also makes me a little groggy sometimes in the morning, and I have had one episode of constipation, which is really unusual for me. I only take them the week before my period, or for a couple days before I know I will be up all night, since sleep deprivation is a trigger for my headaches. Overall, I think it has been a big help though, and plan to stay on it.
I have had friends try Topamax for migraine prophylaxis with good results too. My neurologist said that sometimes people feel a little less ''mentally clear'' when on Topamax, and I just couldn't risk that because my job requires all my mental clarity and then some! Good luck! I'm with ya
Frova worked well for me former sufferer--thank G for menopause!
Several years ago I was having frequent migraines (2-3 per week) as well as some other migraine-aura-like symptoms (I felt fuzzyheaded and out of it quite frequently), and a neurologist suggested Nortryptaline. It did not work well for me at all. Not only did the migraines and fuzzyheaded-ness not go away, but I was tired, dizzy, constipated, and gaining weight. Not a winning combination. I stuck with the Nortryptaline for 5 weeks and then tried Gabapentin (the generic for Neurontin), which didn't do much for the headaches but at least didn't have the bothersome side effects. Ultimately the headaches resolved on their own. It turned out that the underlying cause was stress, and what ultimately made the difference was leaving an unhappy relationship. Don't miss the headaches or the Nortryptaline
I have taken Nortryptalene for anxiety for about 10 years, and for me it's been a great option. I used to have regular headaches, though not at all debilitating, and I have a lot fewer now. I mostly like it as it's great for managing anxiety (my primary issue) and great for helping with sleeping. My doc has also mentioned it's reputation for helping with headaches, so I think it must be a common use. The only downside is that like a lot of antidepressents, it can make orgasms more challenging though not impossible. It's a drug that's been around a very long time, so doctors know a lot about it..I even stayed on a low dose during my pregnancy. Anyway, I'd say it's worth a try. Hope it helps. Jenn
Alternative migraine treatments
Sept 2007
I'm looking for recommendations for either chiropractors or acupuncturists who specialize in migraine treatment. I've used traditional treatments for 8 years now, and while they generally assuage the pain, I'd like to reduce the frequency of the migraines (something which traditional preventative treatments have been unsuccessful at doing). I've looked at the archives and only see two recommendations, one for a practitioner about whom I've heard very mixed reviews. Thanks in advance for your recommendations. Frequent migraine sufferer
I used to get regular migraines fifteen years ago. After a particularly stressful year marked by many migraines, I became interested in Buddhism. I sat a ten-day meditation retreat where I learned a technique called Vipassana -- a very simple method of observation of breath & bodily sensation. After this one course, my migraines didn't come back for over five years. (I did meditate from time to time, but I've never been good at being a regular meditator.) The migraines returned again after another particularly stressful time in my life, and I started meditating again -- again, the migraines disappeared. You can check out vipassana meditation at www.dhamma.org. There are a couple of places you can sit a course in California. wishing you a migraine free life!
Migraines, menopause, and motherhood
May 2007
I am a 46 year-old mother who is also on the verge of menopause (my mother and grandmother had theirs at 45). I've been experiencing an increase in monthly emotional moodswings, along with angry outbursts, anxiety, and uncontrollable crying. I've even experienced what I think are occasional hot flashes. I feel especially irritable and very depressed right before a migraine, and then when the migraine is over I'm happy again, and am able to be calm and level headed. I feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde. The worse part of all of this is that I have a 6 year old daughter. I hate it when my emotions get out of control, especially infront of her. And during these mood swings, and especially when a migraine is coming on, I have no patience at all with my duaghter. She is incredibly strong willed and loves to challenge me. I sometimes honestly believe that she enjoys driving me crazy. Little things drive me crazy, like when she is jumping up and down like a jumping bean that just won't quite. Or when she keeps hanging on me, bumping up against me or just touching me. I feel like I'm being suffocated. I'm not like this all the time. It comes and goes. But when a migraine comes, that's the worse. I just want to die. Sometimes I feel like I should have never had a child because I can't handle it when I'm in pain. I have no family here or super close friends that I can count on when I get a migraine. And I can't keep asking my husband to come home from work early so he can take care of our duaghter. I feel terribly guilty for all the times I've yelled at my daughter. I even slapped her in the face a few times and I feel especially horrible about that. I just can't take the hormone fluctuations anymore. I honestly look forward to old age just so I don't have to deal with it.
How do you mothers who waited 'til late in life to have kids deal with the intense hormonal stuff and raising your children? How do you keep from damaging your child? And what about you migraine sufferers who have kids? What do you all do with your children when you are sick in terrible pain? How do you cope?
Also, is there a therapist or group that I can join that deals with mothers entering the menopausal years? And is there an alternative healer that can help me with all my mood disorders? Herbs, accupuncture, what ever. I am willing to try anything that is sensible and proven to work. Even a good book to read. I just need some relief, guidance, and a way to cope.
I could have written your post about 5 months ago (except I would have also moaned about the heavy horrible periods and I have 2 young kids who I wasn't being fair too). At 47, my periods stopped coming - I thought I was pregnant....but surprise...it was menopause with all the symptoms you too described. My doctor put me on the Vivelle Dot, it is an estrogen patch, and I am now a new person -- or back to my old before menopause person. Headaches, hormonal moodiness, irritation, depression, night sweats, hot flashes... all GONE!!! Try it! over it!
I've had migraines since my early 20s (when there were few effective medications available) and for years just suffered through them by zoning out at work and then going to bed when I got home. I have also suffered from depression which recently worsened as a result of some hormonal changes. So, between my chronic/serious pain and my irritability, I was losing it a lot at home. Having kids convinced me that I needed to finally do something to manage my migraines and to treat whatever biological abnormalities were contributing to my depression. I tried multiple migraine medications and THANK GOD I found one that works most of the time. My doctor prescribed 3 ''back-up'' narcotics for me (darvoset, vicodin, and codeine) for when the migraine meds don't work. Fortunately, I take these very infrequently (although the vicodin definitely takes the edge off - which I like!). I am also on an antidepressant. My pain and my moods still impact my life and my parenting, but to a pretty small degree. So the bottom line is: I think you should talk to your doctor and get some meds. Relief is possible! Good luck. anon
I'm 53 and still going through menopause, but not experiencing the extreme mood swings you are. I have, however, suffered from migraines for at least 25 years. I started taking beta blockers (inderal) a month ago and it is the only medication that has ever worked for my migraines. Inderal works unbelievably well and I've only had three mild headaches this month. By the way, I have a 12 year old son and a 6 year old great-niece. My best wishes to you. MLAMVL of N. Berkeley
I strongly urge you to go see your doctor and explain the situation . It's clear that this situation is having an impact on your health and happiness and also your family life. A good doctor could help you understand and review options. You could approach this as a migraine sufferer, or as a woman entering menopause. There are several medical options. Because of your migraines, you and your doctor will need to take into account the effect of hormones on your system. My mother's migraines got much worse when she went on HRT to control other symptoms. However, it's not one-size-fits-all. There are other options. When my migraines and anxiety started getting worse as I entered peri-menopause (I think real menopause is still 10 years away), my doctor helped me find a medication that helps to cut the severity of both. When it comes to dealing with your daughter, try to remember that you are being overwhelmed by your own hormonal system, and that is an added stress to parenting. You are not a bad mom because of that. But you do need to somehow take a step back from the edge when the fear, pain, and anxiety of a migraine comes on. Let your daughter know what is going on. be honest. She is only 6, but knowing that sometimes mom gets a headache so bad it makes her do things she wishes she didn't is very different from not knowing what causes mom to change so drastically. Fellow Migraine Suffering Mom
I, too an a single mother, and my menopause symptoms started around age 46. My daughter was 11 years old at the time, and dealing with her own hormonal issues! It can be overwhelming... the mood swings, the physical discomfort, and no relief- parent in sight. Fortunately we were both under the care of a homeopath during those years, and the remedies she prescribed were very, very helpful. The consultation process itself is theraputic, as homepaths are trained to be excellent listeners! There are many great homeopaths here in the Bay Area. You can visit the National Center for Homeopathy's website (http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/) where you'll find information about homeopathy, locating a practitioner, etc. anon
Migraine Equivalence
Feb 2004
Has anyone on this network ever suffered from what is called ''migraine equivalence,'' which is migraine-related symptoms, such as extreme vertigo, light-sensitivity and nauseau, with no headache? I had never even heard of this condition until I had it for the first time last year. When I had it before it lasted for about a month, gradually lessening in intensity, and then mysteriously went away.
I just started suffering from this again recently and this past week has been awful. I have barely been able to get out of bed in the morning and the medicine my doctor prescribed for me is a combo of one motion sickness pill (mecclazine) and one valium, which is almost as bad as just being dizzy all the time. Does anyone know of natural remedies or any types of alternative treatments?
I am fairly desperate at this point, so I am open to suggestions. Thanks, Dizzy and Don't Like It
could it be meniere's or some other inner/middle ear problem? suzie
I too suffer from migraine equivalents. As a child, I had horrible ''classic'' migraines which lasted for days or weeks. In my twenties, they tapered off, and turned into more frequent, though less debilitating migraine equivalents. I occasionally get the vertigo. The episodes usually involve nausea, light, movement and sound sensitivity, are almost exclusively a morning thing, and can be quite miserable or barely noticable. They seem to happen for no particular reason, and I have periods where the episodes happen very little, or almost daily. I have never been sucessful with drugs which are supposed to prevent the attacks, but have had some relief from small amounts of drugs like fiornal,! which take the edge off. I think that migraine equivalents are a fairly uncommon version of migraines, and I have even been seen by neurologists who had never heard of it, and clearly thought that I was a nut. I was told by my current neurologist that some of them are ''headache guys'' and some aren't, so hopefully your neurologist is one of those. If not, I highly recommend my dr. in Berkeley, neurologist John Friedberg 644-2282. Feel free to contact me if you want further information. mac
I have always been quite light sensitive and used to have a recurring problem with vertigo- maybe the same thing that you're describing. It was really miserable. My doctor at the time told me that it wasn't uncommon, was mostly in women, and that the suspected cause was an otherwise benign virus. He prescribed Meclazine, no Valium. I found that if I took a whole 25mg. tablet of Meclazine it was as good as a sleeping pill, but that 1/4 to 1/2 tablet worked for the vertigo and I was still awake. I can't imagine what good Valium would do- it puts me to sleep anyway, and I don't think that the vertigo was from stress/anxiety. For whatever reason, the vertigo became less and less frequent, finally stopped. Then later I developed Migraines (luckily not frequent). I have wondered what the connection might be between the two- was the vertigo really a type of migraine? Meclizine is a safe medication and you might just want to try using less, and if you want to keep up the Valium try less of that also. anon
Hi, I've had both migraines & vertigo, but not at the same time. For me, migraines are brief but intense episodes that may or may not involve a headache, but for me always involve vision disturbances (bright zig-zaggy lines & blind spots) and sometimes some numbness on one side of my body, and sometimes difficulty finding the right words when speaking. Never, ever have these episodes lasted longer than a few hours. I had a case of vertigo once. I was dizzy and queasy and felt like I was about to topple over whenever I walked, though I never did actually fall. I never associated this with migraine. It lasted a few weeks. I tried the meclazine & didn't notice much improvement, so I just waited it out. My doc never suggested valium. I continued to go to work, but I suspended my habit of taking long hikes for a while!
SO, having stated my ''qualifications'' to give you advice, here it is: go to a neurologist. It sounds weird to me that your doc is describing what you're going through as migraine. I like Dr. Starkey in Oakland, near Pill Hill. He is down to earth and can explain to you in plain English what is going on. I will warn you that a migraine to a neurologist seems to be about as exciting as a common cold is to an internist. But at least you'll feel better with a little more knowledge. fellow migraineur (sounds glamourous, doesn't it??)
I know the feeling. I had it for a while when I was sixteen and then again in my mid-thirties. During my teenage years, a lack of calcium was diagnosed and as soon as I supplemented I was okay within 2 days. As an adult, when I woke up in the morning with the room moving around me infinitively and the darkness of closed eyes kept circling! (where is the off- switch???), I remembered the old diagnosis and found out that the calcium in Multi-Vitamins is not enough and may not be absorbed well in that combination. It requires an extra pill. Again it was the instant magic solution. But I also double- checked that my ears were fine (could be a cause of imbalance, so I cleaned them with ear-wax removal drops)and that I didn't have too much going on in my life that would lead to scattered thinking - that itself can make you dizzy, but not as deeply as you describe. I knew something was definitely out of order and I was relieved that it was a lack of calcium again. (The second time I did not even go to a doctor). Anonymous
Get to a chiropractor quick! I've seen tremendous success in reducing and/or eliminating the symptoms you describe using chiropractic care. Good Luck
Worried about working and chronic migraines
Dec 2003
Hi. I'm hoping someone on the network can help me. I've had migraines since I was a teenager and I'm now in my mid thirties. I'm seeing a neurologist and we're working on managing the migraines.
I'm going into my second semester of graduate school, and I'm on the fast track for graduation. In other words, I have enough experience to get my master's degree in my department in 3 semesters instead of 2-3 years.
I'm making it through school, but I'm getting nervous about the work world and my migraines. They aren't considered a ''disability '' under the Americans with disabilites act.
Is there anyone in the network that has chronic migraines and works? I'd like to know how to balance the two, especially when the migraines still seem so unmanageable to me. Beth
I started having migraines after my son was born, and have been working full time throughout. For years I had them and didn't know what they were -- thought I had horrible cases of food poisoning on a regular basis. Eventually I was correctly diagnosed, tried a number of different drugs which did not work, and finally landed on a ''cocktail'' that works for me: Zomig + Alleve. It doesn't always get rid of the migraine but if I take it early enough it will at least reduce its length and severity.I have learned to travel with the medication, and since then I have rarely had to miss time from work. Been there too
I assume you are already keeping a migraine log of incidents. Doing this helped me become more aware that my triggers include barometric pressure (weird) so I am more mentally prepared and able to jump on the preventative med I also have from Kaiser.
Hello! This is a long shot, but- I work in the dental field and have seen a handful of patients find varying levels of relief from migraines after starting to wear a night guard. If you don’t wear a night guard already, it may be worth looking into with your dentist. Some people clench more than grind and may not show evidence of wear on their teeth, and may not have heard complaints from partner about grinding. Good luck, migraines are miserable.
I used to get awful migraines--started when I was 9 years old. They'd stop for a month, even a whole year & then return. The last 3 years of my migraine history were tough. But now maybe once every 4-6 months do I get a migraine, usually they're manageable, no medication required, not even advil, etc. Learning about (& then responding to) the needs of my digestive system, aka "gut health"-- lots of free info online-- definitely I needed more fiber in my diet...yet I also have learned other things about my gut. Learning what are some of my migraine-triggering foods-- and then eliminating them from my diet- helped. Check out youtube, there are some helpful suggestions (i.e. one suggestion is to stop using Canola oil, corn oil, etc. --any oil based on linoleic acid) Getting checked for allergies & then undergoing the series of injections helped. Unfortunately, I did acupuncture for a year--without any important lessening of my migraines, but reportedly, acupuncture can help. Massages also help. Also, have you considered talking with a homepathic doctor? I zoom with Gina Inez, in Marin...she has truly been the most helpful health practitioner in my migraine life! She has quite a waiting list--but DEFINITELY, at least for me, worth the wait. --- Sure hope that soon you feel less oppressed by migraines.
My friend’s migraine situation improved dramatically when she changed her diet. I’m not sure details but alcohol and processed foods for sure she quit, possibly also gluten and she cut way way back on sugar. I know she thought of cutting out nightshades too but I don’t think she ended up doing that? It wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be and it made a big difference. Maybe research dietary approaches if you haven’t already? Wishing you the best, migraines are a terrible thing to live with!
I'm so sorry you are suffering. I, too, had chronic migraines. After years of testing with no results or help, I finally connected it to eating certain foods. I now avoid all artificial sugars and processed foods and have been migraine-free for years! I encourage you to do a two or three week trial using no pre-prepared foods including beverages, pre-made sauces/seasonings, artificial sugars/sweeteners, dyes, processed foods/meats, etc. Keep a food journal and limit your diet to only whole, organic proteins and fruits/vegetables. Hoping this works for you, too!
So sorry to hear you are struggling and suffering from migraines. I had my first migraine when I was in kindergarten and they peaked at their worst when I was in my late 20s. I’m going on ten years of averaging 1 migraine every 6 months or so vs. the 1-3 a month I was previously getting.
As for acupuncture, I find that I have relief while at the appointment but the effects wear off quickly after I’m home. That was booking/attending an appointment while I had a migraine. A set of appointments to manage the migraines might be worth taking a look at. I could see weekly visits really helping to manage them. Additionally, my acupuncturist suggested Chinese herbs that I took for about a year that really seemed to help. They were a pill form that helped with stagnation amongst other things. 10 out of 10 recommend.
The other thing I noticed to really help is cutting out sugar and processed foods. I went through a period where I was addicted to Diet Coke, relying on processed or prepackaged foods to get by, and eating an insane amount of sugar. I decided to cut as much of those things out as I could. I felt worse for about two weeks then I felt like a new human. I eat sweets from time to time now and indulge in processed treats from time to time but mostly stick to eating things from the outside aisles at the store. It’s made a huge difference.
Lastly, exercise. I don’t get nearly as much as I used to with two kids BUT when I decided to make a change to see if I could get my migraines under control this was one thing I saw an immediate change with. Getting 30 minutes to an hour of exercise, if done everyday, really helped keep my migraines at bay. My acupuncturist said that tracked, that it was helping with the stagnation within my body.
Overall I’ve never had success with prescriptions for my migraines. They either worked to fix the headache then I felt like a zombie for 24 hrs or so OR they worked for about an hour then my headache got worse. If you need a recommendation for an acupuncturist there are two in the Bay Area that I love. Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Good luck and I hope you find relief soon!
I used to get them weekly, even with taking propranolol daily as a preventative. Last year my primary care doc told me that the UCSF migraine center recommended 400mgs of B2 daily plus an omega 3 supplement. I started that and now I get them less than monthly. It's been a game changer for me, startlingly so. I have found it is important for me to be completely consistent with it and I take the supplements with me when I am out of town, etc. I don't know that this works for everyone, but evidently there are possible connections between B2 deficiencies and migraine. Good luck.
Hello! I had some success with accupuncture and Botox ended up being quite helpful. There’s also a new class of medications out that are apparently quite effective with minimal side effects called CGRP inhibitors- I’ve yet to try them. Good luck!
I have a friend who has suffered debilitating migraine for years. At this point she's taking monthly injections of a preventative medication, which has been life-changing for her. I'm not sure what medication she's on, but a web-search brought up four that fit the description: Aimovig, Vypeti, Ajovy, and Emgality. (I think she's using Emgality.)
Before the injectable became an option, she got a lot of relief from CBD oil. She also followed the advice in Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Headaches by David Buchholz, which also helped a lot but entails, for her, a lot of restrictions, particularly dietary ones. With the injectable, she's been able relax a bit on the restrictions.
One thing she's found is that with very frequent migraine, a lot of meds that reduce symptoms have rebound effects. That is, relief today means a worse headache in the very near future. Buchholz's approach entails identifying migraine triggers and reducing exposure to them.
I'm going to be honest, no alternative treatment ever worked for me and I tried many of them. Like another poster answered, you are really going to need to keep a headache diary. Things you should track - for at least a couple of months - are your daily pain levels, ALL food intake, sleep quality, exercise, your menstrual cycle days and whether you did or didn't take any meds. I used a spreadsheet for years for this. Depending on the severity of the pain, you will absolutely forget if you took excedrin twice this week or 4 times this week. It all blends together and a written update is easier. Most doctors/neurologists will expect you have been doing this.
There are common triggers and less common triggers and you need a diary to help figure this out. For me, dried fruits, cheeses, chocolate were nearly a guarantee for a migraine (those are common triggers), but what I came to learn is that I was highly sensitive to soy (all forms of the bean, the oil, and to a lesser extent soy lecithin which doctors said no way, but it did). Soy is in so many things, your head will spin. Guaranteed migraine in 30 minutes.
There is also such a thing as a rebound headache which happens if you take too many pain meds in a short period of time and then stop them. You have to switch things up.
Turned out mine were multi-triggered - including hormonal - and the menopause transition knocked them mostly out.
But I doubt an alternative treatment will work if you don't do the legwork ahead of time and remove as many triggers as possible. At best an alternative treatment will work to ease a single trigger, but if there are layers there, it won't help.
FYI, for pain meds, the fancy ones you see advertised now with Serena Williams, are not first line meds. At least not with Kaiser - they have rules about trying and failing at least 3 other meds first before they'll cover that one. Too many hoops to jump thru for me!
I've been there! My migraines got to the point where I ended up in a dark, quiet room for several days a month—truly debilitating.
Eventually I was able to identify that my migraines were triggered by chronic sinus congestion due to allergies and exacerbated by stress. My doctor prescribed sumatriptan, but I did not tolerate it well and I learned that it can affect the heart. I changed doctors. The new doctor suggested I take an over-the-counter Excedrin Migraine at the first indication of onset, while getting the congestion and stress under control. The alternative treatments that work for me are a net-pot, herbal remedy, reduced allergen exposures, and acupuncture for the congestion and yoga, meditation, and lifestyle changes for the stress. The acupuncture did an amazing job at draining my sinuses, although I originally sought out acupuncture to address post-concussive symptoms.
I wish you well. Migraines are not for the faint of heart.
The only thing that has worked for me is a preventative dose of Nortriptyline at night. I think I'm on a pretty low dose (I forget exactly what), but I have noticed a huge difference. I almost never get migraines anymore and I had started to get them A LOT after getting pregnant and then raising the kids. It had become debilitating. I think that Nortriptyline was originally developed for depression, but now is used for other things - I think that's just because better, more effective medications for depression came along. Good luck!
~Mailisha
I've also suffered from chronic yet unpredictable migraines, ever since I was a teenager. After decades of dealing with them only through medication, I found one source of relief last year by visiting a chiropractor who focused on Network Spinal Analysis. She worked on the various tensions in my body that were likely triggering some of my migraines (mostly my neck and shoulder area where I carry a lot of tension). I found that my sessions with helped me immensely with staving off migraines. Unfortunately, she has closed off her practice to pursue her personal goals, so I've been searching for a similar chiropractor as my migraines have returned. I'll be following this thread to see what others suggest!
When our daughter was a teenager she had some very bad migraines to the point where she occasionally did not know where she was and sometimes "talked in tongues." We tried a bunch of medications but they were not effective. As a result we took her to a doctor who was well trained in hypnotism and he helped her in several sessions then taught her how to self-hypnotize and she become cured shortly after that.
Here's my-- hope it will help as if there's one thing true about migraine, it's that it is so personal. I was diagnosed with migraine 20 years ago when I was in college. My headaches became chronic in my mid 20s (12-24 hour episodes of intense pain/vomiting). I tracked triggers, saw an acupuncturist, added fish oil supplements, started a gluten free diet and stopped drinking (I never was a big drinker). Alas, none of it really helped. I liked acupuncture, but it only provided mild relief and was impossible to schedule in a meaningful way for my headaches. It didn't seem to actually prevent them. Also, there was always a trigger slightly beyond my control (the fog rolled in! my period started! my co-worker wore cologne!) that would spiral into a headache. While Imitrex diminished some headaches, they often came back significantly stronger a day later.
When I was around 30 I read a New Yorker article...something about the health care industry. It had an aside about beta blockers for migraine prophylaxis rarely being prescribed despite their affordability and documented pharmaceutical history. I read up a bit more and asked my doctor about them. She prescribed me 20mg of Propranolol twice daily. With the exception of when I was pregnant, I've taken it for the last ten years. It has been a game changer for me-- honestly it gave me my life back. On the Propranolol, I occasionally get a headache (every two or three months?) in which case I follow my current ritual:
1) take Aleve, 2) take Ondansetron (anti nausea...because as soon as I start vomiting, I can't stop and then am dealing with dehydration and migraine), 3) drink some electrolytes, 4) eat something, and, if it's close to bedtime, 5) take a melatonin and go to sleep.
This works for me and the side affects of Propranolol don't bother me. (To be clear, I do not take Imitrex any longer-- it was never an effective treatment for me.) I've read about newer therapies recently and am somewhat curious, but I'm so satisfied with my current migraine management, I'm not motivated to change. I wish you the best and hope you find a path that works for you.
My main recommendation is to figure out your triggers and avoid them. They can be things you eat like chocolate, cheese or onions. Things you smell like natural gas, perfume, or car exhaust. Something internal like hormones. Even bright lights or loud sounds can cause migraines. I know it can be hard to figure this out while you are in pain. But try some small change every day try to find your triggers.