Migraines

Mrs Garth Brooks · 28-03-2014 9:31pm #1

Does anyone else suffer from these awful, debilitating headaches?

Could we share any advice together.

I get them at least once week where it can last a whole day and feels like a hangover. Sometimes over two days, the migraine one day and the hangover feeling the next.

Mostly my triggers are food, smells, bright lights, heat, stress, too much travel in the one day.

Have to carry sick bags with me on a trip, just in case. I was caught out one time. I was on a bus and lucky for me and whoever has to clean the bus, there was a toilet on board and it was free. But if anyone was in it, I would have been screwed. I dont think i'd like to take a chance. I've learnt after that time.

They're awful. The only thing I take is a tablet at the onset of a migraine. It works if I get it early enough.

Something else I find that helps with the nausea are those travel sickness bands you were on the wrists. Took them off one day after I thought I felt ok. I threw up straight away into a bin, so I believe they work after that.

Ordered myself the silliest looking cap, the migra cap, you freeze the whole cap and cover your entire head with it. It was over €40 on amazon but its a small price to pay when you have a migraine, I hope it works.

Lucozade is great after a migraine.

What do others do/take?

thegreatgonzo · 31-03-2014 8:01pm

I've been getting headaches for years which I put down to blocked sinuses until last year when I went to a different doctor and was told they were migraines. I get them around once a month and they last for 2 days. She prescribed Imigran and I found them good although they did make me feel nauseous. My regular doctor wouldn't give me a prescription for it though and the last few headaches I've had have been pretty sickening. I had to leave an exam because of one and failed because of it. I know I need to sort it out but everything's just a bit mental at the moment.

Graces7 · 01-04-2014 10:39am

ay me!

broke my wrist saturday and with the fasting before surgery sunday ahad developed a vicious migraine. scuse bad typing ...i get them but rarely now, only under severe conditions. in yuongrt dsys they were frequent and hormonally caused.. over 70 now

there was totally no understanding of the pain and i had to rrtbeg for any meds. could not believe the attitude and ignorance of the young drs. one actually offered me xanax for anxiety when ui was all but screaming with pain and all was bright and noisy

demanded home.. i have m.e. also.which most of them have ever heard of

50 miles away but had the pain and nausea in control by late evening
i use tylex ie codeine and dramamine a us anti nausea friends bring me in.

above all, darkness and quiet, fluids asoon as you can.. make rehydration fluid

so few have any idea how terrible these are

Pretzill · 01-04-2014 7:56pm

I have gotten them since I was 12 - they became very bad in my early 30's and I started a campaign of deduction to try and find the worst triggers at this stage I was losing power in my arm when I got them and they were really scary - I cut out most things I thought were triggers msg, wine, chocolate etc and then I remembered back to my first ever classic migraine when I was 12 it also coincided with my first cup of coffee! I had been a divil for coffee all through my twenties and loved nothing more than a fresh cup of perculated or 10!

So I stopped drinking coffee over a decade ago and (touches wood) I haven't had a scary migraine since. I still get bad headaches, hormone related or overdoing the wine related but nothing as bad as the sick tummy - blind in one eye - limp on one side migraines!

I have never had the joy of tasting all those new coffees on the market but it's worth not having to deal with the dreaded migraine.

the culture of deference · 02-04-2014 10:27am

I get terrible migranes, where the inside feels like someone is chiseling into brain matter. I get another type that feels like someone is using an old ice cream scoop in your head.

2 years ago I was diagnosed in the eye and ear clinic with Occular migranes too. Anyone else get these?

BaZmO* · 10-04-2014 9:17am

I’ve gotten two in the last week, last night being the second, albeit mild one.
It’s strange for me to get them so close together so I just hope this is an anomaly and not an indication of a developing pattern.

When I’ve had them before they’ve happened in a once in a blue moon manner, years apart. Apart from this week the last one I had was about 5 years ago and the one before that was about 15 years ago.

I’m lucky enough, in that I don’t tend to get the blinding headaches, I get the confusion and the auras followed by feeling hungover with a mild headache the next day. Still horrible though and sleep tends to be to only real cure. I'm guessing that the trigger each time has possibly been lack of sleep but I'm not sure.

Munstermad · 10-04-2014 8:17pm

My 13 year old daughter has gone from a 4-5 a year migraine to ones that last 6-8 weeks at a time, she's put down an awful year.. If this disability is really affecting your quality of life I'd try seeing a neurologist... and there are migraine specialist clinics too, although the wait is long..
From a mum who is a carer of a child who has been through hell with this condition, ye have my sympathy.. But there is some help out there..
This Link might help...
http://www.migraine.ie/migraine-specialist-clinics/

avalon68 · 11-04-2014 8:26pm

Pretzill wrote: »

I have gotten them since I was 12 - they became very bad in my early 30's and I started a campaign of deduction to try and find the worst triggers at this stage I was losing power in my arm when I got them and they were really scary - I cut out most things I thought were triggers msg, wine, chocolate etc and then I remembered back to my first ever classic migraine when I was 12 it also coincided with my first cup of coffee! I had been a divil for coffee all through my twenties and loved nothing more than a fresh cup of perculated or 10!

So I stopped drinking coffee over a decade ago and (touches wood) I haven't had a scary migraine since. I still get bad headaches, hormone related or overdoing the wine related but nothing as bad as the sick tummy - blind in one eye - limp on one side migraines!

I have never had the joy of tasting all those new coffees on the market but it's worth not having to deal with the dreaded migraine.

Very similar to me - I have always had headaches....nearly every day, and migraines at least once a month. The numbness and limp feeling in my arms was pretty scary. I even started having ocular migraines. I didnt drink a huge amount of tea/coffee so never made the link (and it wasnt like I drank a coffee and instantly had a migraine....). I cut out tea/coffee and coke&other fizzy drinks and the headaches and migraines stopped completely. As a consequence of cutting those out I also drink more water instead by default, which has been good. I now sleep better, dont wake up with a headache every day and have been migraine free for several months. It was hard at first to stop, especially at work as tea breaks are a social thing really. I now just have a fruit tea instead. Tea/coffee may not have been the only trigger, but perhaps they were pushing the other triggers over the edge/threshold.....if that makes sense...

solataire · 11-04-2014 10:34pm

great thread
6 + migraines a month ,
zomig when i got migraine and atecor as preventor through neurologist.
made health changes so now reduced to 1 a month ( none this month !)
1; buteyko breathing method..in a nutshell its ditching mouth breathing for nose breathing
2; reduced sugars swapped white read for brown . no cakes ,chocolates etc.
3; still have wine but not if pmt as that really reduces my treshold
4; now use nurofen at earliest onset, always have them , now off meds

AmberAmber · 13-04-2014 7:44pm

oh have been suffering since January ! can remember that one so clear, woke up as if I had been drinking the night before and I most defo' was not. So when people say the hangover feeling I know it , as the day went on i just could not function that was on a Wednesday, It did not leave me till Friday evening. I am unwell with whiplash and damage to my neck and back so I have been to the GP many times and its just part of it I am told.
the getting sick and reaction to sunlight or smells is so sudden its all just so new to me.
I am trying to manage it but its a two and 3 day event for me so far. the first one was the most scary and intense and some how I think did some help for me as my mind was clearer , I did not release I was in some sort of bubble since my car accident may months before that. The little bit of sunshine we have had this spring so far sets me off, the smell of coffee does it too and I think its some thing I just have to accept , my GP says it should be ok in time but the pain killers I am on for my other Injury's don't help with the migraines , and I have tried take enough to try help my self.
Drinking water does not help me when I get them but I have tried to drink more, careful to be away from sunlight , and wear my sunglasses. I dont have any tips , but hope some one has. glad to see there may be a tablet , may ask my GP about that this week. on so much now , whats one more tablet !!

username123 · 13-04-2014 8:58pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

2 years ago I was diagnosed in the eye and ear clinic with Occular migranes too. Anyone else get these?

Yes! I've been getting these since I was a child. Very infrequent, maybe once in a year. But no headache, just a hot high blood pressure and sicky feeling after.

I started getting them more frequently in my 30s and had no idea they were migraines at all until one day a locum GP asked me did I experience migraine or visual disturbances when I was there getting a pill prescription renewal. Turned out I should have been taken off the pill I was on when the frequency of the ocular migraines increased. I didn't even have a name for them, let alone connect them with the pill. It was never something I'd have thought to mention to a doctor!

I switched pill 18 months ago and have only had 1 since. Triggered by oversleep. Sunlight glinting on cars is another trigger. And msg.

BlueFairy · 15-04-2014 7:18pm

Dr Silver in the UK has put together guidelines for chronic migraine patients, some of you might find it interesting:

http://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/uploadedfiles/documents/Chronic%20Migraine%20Patient%20Information%20Sheet.pdf

Drinking enough water, regular sleeping & eating, and no caffeine are some of the basic things you can do to look after a migraine brain

Graces7 · 16-04-2014 2:22pm

BlueFairy wrote: »

Dr Silver in the UK has put together guidelines for chronic migraine patients, some of you might find it interesting:

http://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/uploadedfiles/documents/Chronic%20Migraine%20Patient%20Information%20Sheet.pdf

Drinking enough water, regular sleeping & eating, and no caffeine are some of the basic things you can do to look after a migraine brain

caffeine helps many migraine sufferers myself included and is in many pain meds..

Gambas · 16-04-2014 2:46pm

BlueFairy wrote: »

Drinking enough water, regular sleeping & eating, and no caffeine are some of the basic things you can do to look after a migraine brain

Regular sleep and drinking decaff coffee are the two biggest factors for me. I was diagnoised by my GP at about 12 - with chocolate being a trigger. I have managed to reduce the frequency to about one every 6 weeks now from about one every three, and they are not as debilitating either.

I really hate the lower intensity ones because they tend to last for at least an extra day. Once I get to the point where I need a pirate patch over one eye and to curl up in bed in the dark without moving at least I know that it is reaching a crescendo and I'll feel better once I wake.

I also feel that the weather is a factor, but I cannot pin it down. But I tend to notice it is days with very mixed weather, sun-showers, or a change in the weather bringing in rain that coincides with some episodes. And banana's too. I've cut out all bananas in the past couple of years. I have read that overripe bananas can be a trigger. For years I always associated them with my migraines because I tended to crave them. That and bread. Once I'm recovering I crave bread and butter.

My neck aches every time. I get very lethargic and get the piercing pain behind an eye most times. I usually start drinking water when I start sensing there is one on the way, but aside from noticing a more metallic taste from the water than usual, it doesn't change anything. I then seem to retain water until it is nearly over, when I notice that I have an extra big wizz. There is nothing like the feeling when I wake after a short intense migraine, when my brain feels like it has had a spring cleaning. Everything is sharp and energy levels are right back at max.

Exercise seems to help too. Running gives temporary relief and probably helps me sleep better. I found a migraine diary ( plenty of smartphone apps out there) was useful for narrowing down the triggers. And obviously booze is bad. I almost never have more than a couple of drinks and that has made a massive difference too.

Bit of a stream of consciousness post, but that's much of my experience with them.

BlueFairy · 17-04-2014 10:32am

Graces7 wrote: »

caffeine helps many migraine sufferers myself included and is in many pain meds..

I have read similar, about how it can be effective in relieving migraine for some because of its effects on the blood vessels. In general use caffeine is on the avoid list because of its effects on the nervous system and brain, particularly the migraine brain.

Migraine triggers can be a very personal thing, no sufferer will be the same as the next. Dr Nicholas Silver is an expert on migraine practising in the UK, I'd tend to lean towards guidelines from someone like him and mix it in with my own personal experience. Obviously no one treatment will fit all, but if your migraines are chronic then it would be good to look at caffeine use.

LynnGrace · 17-04-2014 10:39am

My sympathies OP. I suffer with them too, but nowhere near as frequently as you. My sight blurs, that is the first sign for me, then the pain kicks in. I've never been able to establish a trigger apart from being extremely tired seems to bring on a migraine. I've tried different remedies, I've often put an ice pack on my head just to numb the pain. Once I get even a short sleep, that relieves the pain a bit, although I still will have it, though not anywhere near as intense, and I will still feel sick, on waking up.

Graces7 · 18-04-2014 9:53am

BlueFairy wrote: »

I have read similar, about how it can be effective in relieving migraine for some because of its effects on the blood vessels. In general use caffeine is on the avoid list because of its effects on the nervous system and brain, particularly the migraine brain.

Migraine triggers can be a very personal thing, no sufferer will be the same as the next. Dr Nicholas Silver is an expert on migraine practising in the UK, I'd tend to lean towards guidelines from someone like him and mix it in with my own personal experience. Obviously no orene treatment will fit all, but if your migraines are chronic then it would be good to look at caffeine use.

mine are rare now thankfully and strong coffee can arrest them if i get in befoire the vomiting starts

i am over 70 now and triggers have changed. once was when i had, trading outdoors, got soaked and badly chilled. the last one was in hospital fasting before theatre.

i do not trust any one dr etc. just my own awareness now as my body ages and changes.

once the vomiting sets in i have to get medical help; dehydration and bringing up "coffee grounds" put me in hospital once last year

writer_lady170 · 18-04-2014 10:33pm

I suffer from those horrible things too. I have done since I was 12, they were very bad at first but don't get them too frequently now, maybe once or twice a month. My triggers are stress, lack of sleep/too much sleep and the weather ( if thunder is around I tend to get a migraine). I'm sometimes sick with them if i get a bad one, i usually try and lie down in a dark room and sleep it off. Very sensitive to noise, senses and movement. I also get the 'hangover' feeling the next day, it really does take it out of you!

Xenji · 28-04-2014 7:20pm

Has anyone ever had a stomach/abdominal migraine before, they are meant to be rare in adults, but I had a migraine last week that followed its usual pattern but did not last as long as usual, next day I wake with midline abdominal pain that lasts about 3 days and have the usual postdrome symptoms as well.

Greenmachine · 28-04-2014 7:27pm

Suffer regular migraines for at least a decade now. My GP wrote off a letter several years ago for a referral to a migraine clinic. An appointment arrived in the post only a few weeks ago.

writer_lady170 · 28-04-2014 9:00pm

Xenji wrote: »

Has anyone ever had a stomach/abdominal migraine before, they are meant to be rare in adults, but I had a migraine last week that followed its usual pattern but did not last as long as usual, next day I wake with midline abdominal pain that lasts about 3 days and have the usual postdrome symptoms as well.

yeah i seem to have that too. I usually get a upset tummy after a migraine, kind of annoying:(

Mrs Garth Brooks · 29-04-2014 8:22am

Greenmachine wrote: »

Suffer regular migraines for at least a decade now. My GP wrote off a letter several years ago for a referral to a migraine clinic. An appointment arrived in the post only a few weeks ago.

It took a few years for a referral to a migraine clinic? Thats crazy.

BaZmO* · 29-04-2014 8:31am

HardLuckWoman wrote: »

It took a few years for a referral to a migraine clinic? Thats crazy.

Welcome to Ireland!

Greenmachine · 29-04-2014 3:12pm

HardLuckWoman wrote: »

It took a few years for a referral to a migraine clinic? Thats crazy.

Yes absolutely if I was a private patient it might have been a year. The referral was made so long ago I can't say exactly when it was made. Somewhere between 3-5 and years anyway.

Munstermad · 29-04-2014 3:16pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

Yes absolutely if I was a private patient it might have been a year. The referral was made so long ago I can't say exactly when it was made. Somewhere between 3-5 and years anyway.

Not surprised, 13 year old daughter got referral 2 weeks ago, a year after referral was made...

Was yours for Cork by any chance?

BaZmO* · 29-04-2014 3:18pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

Yes absolutely if I was a private patient it might have been a year. The referral was made so long ago I can't say exactly when it was made. Somewhere between 3-5 and years anyway.

I was on a waiting list to get braces when I was about 12. My appointment came through when I was 22!

cnocbui · 29-04-2014 3:44pm

BlueFairy wrote: »

I have read similar, about how it can be effective in relieving migraine for some because of its effects on the blood vessels. In general use caffeine is on the avoid list because of its effects on the nervous system and brain, particularly the migraine brain.

Migraine triggers can be a very personal thing, no sufferer will be the same as the next. Dr Nicholas Silver is an expert on migraine practising in the UK, I'd tend to lean towards guidelines from someone like him and mix it in with my own personal experience. Obviously no one treatment will fit all, but if your migraines are chronic then it would be good to look at caffeine use.

As someone who suffered regular migraines for decades, I am quite certain there was certainly no negative link between caffeine and migraines. Caffeine is a key ingredient in many migraine medications:

http://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/natural-remedies/caffeine/

Caffeine is actually beneficial because it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, which is exactly what you want to counter a migraine.

The most beneficial medication I was ever prescribed was Ergotamine Tartrate in an inhaler form that goes under than name Medihaler. This was wonderful for me because I would as often as not be unable to keep orally ingested medications down for long enough for them to have a beneficial effect. Being inhaled and entering the blood stream through the lungs it's efficacy is much more rapid than is possible with oral medications.

Ergotamine Tartrate is like caffeine in that it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, except its effect is a lot stronger. Obviously it would be both necessary and advisable to consult a physician to determine if this would be suitable for you.

Greenmachine · 29-04-2014 8:44pm

BaZmO* wrote: »

I was on a waiting list to get braces when I was about 12. My appointment came through when I was 22!

The Braces one is all to common. Was referred when I was a little one and called when I was about 20.

Greenmachine · 29-04-2014 8:45pm

cnocbui wrote: »

As someone who suffered regular migraines for decades, I am quite certain there was certainly no negative link between caffeine and migraines. Caffeine is a key ingredient in many migraine medications:

http://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/natural-remedies/caffeine/

Caffeine is actually beneficial because it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, which is exactly what you want to counter a migraine.

The most beneficial medication I was ever prescribed was Ergotamine Tartrate in an inhaler form that goes under than name Medihaler. This was wonderful for me because I would as often as not be unable to keep orally ingested medications down for long enough for them to have a beneficial effect. Being inhaled and entering the blood stream through the lungs it's efficacy is much more rapid than is possible with oral medications.

Ergotamine Tartrate is like caffeine in that it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, except its effect is a lot stronger. Obviously it would be both necessary and advisable to consult a physician to determine if this would be suitable for you.

Wow nice post I had heard of the tablets but not the inhaler. A dose of caffeine in the morning is compulsary to enable me to move in the morning.

Pretzill · 29-04-2014 9:25pm

cnocbui wrote: »

As someone who suffered regular migraines for decades, I am quite certain there was certainly no negative link between caffeine and migraines. Caffeine is a key ingredient in many migraine medications:

http://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/natural-remedies/caffeine/

Caffeine is actually beneficial because it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, which is exactly what you want to counter a migraine.

The most beneficial medication I was ever prescribed was Ergotamine Tartrate in an inhaler form that goes under than name Medihaler. This was wonderful for me because I would as often as not be unable to keep orally ingested medications down for long enough for them to have a beneficial effect. Being inhaled and entering the blood stream through the lungs it's efficacy is much more rapid than is possible with oral medications.

Ergotamine Tartrate is like caffeine in that it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, except its effect is a lot stronger. Obviously it would be both necessary and advisable to consult a physician to determine if this would be suitable for you.

As I said in an earlier post my really bad, aura and loss of sensation migraines have stopped since I gave up coffee, however I still drink tea (too much) so it wasn't the caffeine in the coffee - but something else that was a massive trigger, certain types of chocolate give me a one sided headache too -

Interesting post there - because often times a cuppa tea helps a bad headache!

Also whilst I was going through the throes of a bad migraine spree I was referred to a consultant and when I recieved the letter of appointment all I saw was July thinking gosh I have to wait 2 whole months at the time until I saw the year was a further two years away!

I never took the appointment.

Xenji · 29-04-2014 9:35pm

I have always found drinking coffee helps me when I have a migraine, chocolate on the other hand is the worst thing to have .

Graces7 · 30-04-2014 7:26am

Xenji wrote: »

I have always found drinking coffee helps me when I have a migraine, chocolate on the other hand is the worst thing to have .

warding off a migraine today and eating chocolate as it eases the nausea.

aa well as strong coffee. i use dramamine a friend brings in from the us for me.

anything to avoid the throwing up...

trigger the same as when i did four days craft fairs in a row but this time it was long distance hospital attendance re the broken wrist.

BaZmO* · 30-04-2014 7:32am

Over the last couple of weeks I've been reminded of one of the factors/triggers of my migraines. Because I don't get them often I'd forgotten that I get built up tension in my shoulders/neck, and along with tiredness it seems to be a major trigger for me. The neck pain only seems to become noticeable after I've had the migraine.

Graces7 · 30-04-2014 7:35am

BaZmO* wrote: »

Over the last couple of weeks I've been reminded of one of the factors/triggers of my migraines. Because I don't get them often I'd forgotten that I get built up tension in my shoulders/neck and along with tiredness it seems to be a major trigger for me. The neck pain only seems to become noticeable after I've had the migraine.

as i get older it is overdoing because i am older, and have m.e. that does it and often as now when things are easier. your neck pain will be the result not the trigger.

Gambas · 30-04-2014 9:29am

cnocbui wrote: »

As someone who suffered regular migraines for decades, I am quite certain there was certainly no negative link between caffeine and migraines. Caffeine is a key ingredient in many migraine medications:

http://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/natural-remedies/caffeine/

Caffeine is actually beneficial because it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, which is exactly what you want to counter a migraine.

I think the problem is the caffeine dependency. Coffee doesn't give me a migraine, it is the caffeine withdrawl that triggers the migraine. This would tally with what you say regarding the blood vessels.

Zil2011 · 30-04-2014 9:40am

I get hormonal related migraines. Last 2-3 days at least once a month. Doc prescribed Migard for them, I found the smell of deep heat actually helps to ease the symptoms, weird I know! I have a spray bottle of deep heat in my handbag and another beside my bed just in case!

Munstermad · 02-05-2014 12:10pm

My daughter is on her 4th migraine this month, this time last year her migraines went completely out of control, apart from the hormonal related maigraines, do any sufferers find certain times of year worse... i.e. months, seasons etc... I'm just trying to see if there is any reason why April seems to be a significant month or is it purely coincidental? Thanks

Drumpot · 02-05-2014 2:55pm

Its been awhile since I can remember having my last migraine, but I have had migraines without the headaches.

Last night in the middle of a 5aside my eyesight started to go. I had loads of blindspots, poor peripheral vision and it gets difficult to focus (the football and players kept disappearing!). usually a headache ensues after, but I stayed playing cause I hate leaving the team a player down.

I noticed that I was exhausted during the game (unusually low fitness).

In hindsight I noticed some what I at least think are some of the symptoms had been there for a few days previous (numb arm - anxiety, bit nauseous).

I am not sure exactly what the cause is but haven't been sleeping great recently (new baby) and have been under a lot of pressure.

I felt ok this morning, but in the last 2 hours have started to feel off again. I had a fry at lunch (not sure if that's the cause). I have one strong cup of coffee a day (in the morning) and while I usually drink decaff tea I had a caffeinated one around 11. Then a club orange (think there is caffeine in that) at 2. I am trying to get some work done now but just feel sick and exhausted. Also getting small blind spots from time to time when trying to focus . .

Couldn't get a dr appointment today so will try Neurofen (somebody on this thread said it is good for them!) as I took some solpadol that doesn't seem to help much!

Xenji · 02-05-2014 3:52pm

Ibuprofen is actually better than paracetamol when it comes to migraines, most migraine pain is down to inflamed blood vessels which Ibuprofen is best at counteracting, well over the counter anyway, I find Buplex is the best to take and diclofenacs such as Difene work quite well too but are quite harsh.

username123 · 02-05-2014 4:11pm

Xenji wrote: »

Ibuprofen is actually better than paracetamol when it comes to migraines, most migraine pain is down to inflamed blood vessels which Ibuprofen is best at counteracting, well over the counter anyway, I find Buplex is the best to take and diclofenacs such as Difene work quite well too but are quite harsh.

I cant take ibuprofen

Graces7 · 05-05-2014 7:18am

Munstermad wrote: »

My daughter is on her 4th migraine this month, this time last year her migraines went completely out of control, apart from the hormonal related maigraines, do any sufferers find certain times of year worse... i.e. months, seasons etc... I'm just trying to see if there is any reason why April seems to be a significant month or is it purely coincidental? Thanks

could be eg pollens adding sinus problems. my hay fever has been very bad this year. pain and stress in the same areas.

username123 · 05-05-2014 9:57am

Graces7 wrote: »

could be eg pollens adding sinus problems. my hay fever has been very bad this year. pain and stress in the same areas.

+1
My sinuses have been in revolt for the past 3 or 4 weeks. I'm rinsing more often, helps a lot.

Graces7 · 05-05-2014 10:25am

username123 wrote: »

+1
My sinuses have been in revolt for the past 3 or 4 weeks. I'm rinsing more often, helps a lot.

thanks; met a few folk thought they had colds or flu. getting bad neuralgia from the sinus issues.

BlueFairy · 07-05-2014 2:27pm

cnocbui wrote: »

As someone who suffered regular migraines for decades, I am quite certain there was certainly no negative link between caffeine and migraines. Caffeine is a key ingredient in many migraine medications:

Caffeine is actually beneficial because it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, which is exactly what you want to counter a migraine.

The most beneficial medication I was ever prescribed was Ergotamine Tartrate in an inhaler form that goes under than name Medihaler. This was wonderful for me because I would as often as not be unable to keep orally ingested medications down for long enough for them to have a beneficial effect. Being inhaled and entering the blood stream through the lungs it's efficacy is much more rapid than is possible with oral medications.

Ergotamine Tartrate is like caffeine in that it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, except its effect is a lot stronger. Obviously it would be both necessary and advisable to consult a physician to determine if this would be suitable for you.

I think with migraine that it can be personal from case to case. Caffeine is definitely a trigger for my own symptoms, so I stay well away from it. As someone else pointed out, it's regular use of it where it becomes a problem, but often when given at the onset of migraine it can be beneficial.

The advice to chronic migraine sufferers to try giving it up is well researched, there's lots of information on the same website you posted from if you search "caffeine" - apologies that I can't post links as I'm a new user.

Remember that migraine is a disturbance of the nervous system, and any kind of stimulant like caffeine that can have a negative effect on the nervous system is worth looking at, especially if migraines are at a regular or chronic level. It's about keeping the migraine brain calm and happy.

Pumpkinseeds · 08-05-2014 4:37pm

I used to get some very bad migraines, but since I became a veggie 5 years ago I've hardly had any. I'm not suggesting everyone should give up meat, just try to reduce the red meat intake a bit. Even small changes like buying cheese without animal rennet(cheese was a big trigger for me).

There is so much gelatine hidden in foods that you wouldn't expect to find it in, like sweets and marshmallow

Munstermad · 08-05-2014 6:30pm

Off to cork to migraine clinic tomorrow with daughter... hoping to get some more advice.....

ash23 · 14-05-2014 3:32pm

My eleven year old daughter recently began suffering from migraine. The first incident resulted in her walking into walls and seeing things moving in front of her. The GP sent her to A&E mainly because I have a neurological condition.
She was diagnosed with migraine and told to come back in a few weeks.

In the meantime she was getting a migraine two to three times a week. She'd get what she described as a "tingling, buzzing" feeling in her scalp and sure enough, a while later the headache and blurred vision would arrive. We had her eyes tested also.

When we went back to the hospital she was prescribed a preventative drug to take every day and we were told to use a process of elimination on chocolate, cheese and caffeine. The drugs made her drowsy and cranky.

After a few weeks we found that cheese was her migraine trigger. Once we'd cut cheese out of her diet, I decided to stop the medication also (with her agreement) as they were making her feel groggy all the time. Thankfully she hasn't had one since and we're coming up on three months now.

the culture of deference · 18-05-2014 1:22pm

Drumpot wrote: »

Last night in the middle of a 5aside my eyesight started to go. I had loads of blindspots, poor peripheral vision and it gets difficult to focus (the football and players kept disappearing!).

This is Occular migraine. I have them and its like you can see but the images are jumbled like a jigsaw, I get them with sharp stabbing pains. I am trying to organise a PET Scan, it has taken about 6 months.

BaZmO* · 18-05-2014 1:27pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

This is Occular migraine. I have them and its like you can see but the images are jumbled like a jigsaw, I get them with sharp stabbing pains. I am trying to organise a PET Scan, it has taken about 6 months.

I had another migraine since I last posted here so I went to the Doctor last Thursday and he has arranged for me to go and get a CT Scan. He suggested going private because it would take so long going through the normal channels. Should be going for the scan sometime during the week.

username123 · 18-05-2014 1:33pm

I came across this animation online of a migraine aura, it's pretty close to what I have experienced with occular migraine except usually my blind spot is C shaped and tends to flicker more. Also the whole thing takes about 20 minutes from beginning to end in real life, and it tends to start with a "flashbulb" sensation for me.

BaZmO* · 18-05-2014 1:38pm

username123 wrote: »

I came across this animation online of a migraine aura, it's pretty close to what I have experienced with occular migraine except usually my blind spot is C shaped and tends to flicker more. Also the whole thing takes about 20 minutes from beginning to end in real life, and it tends to start with a "flashbulb" sensation for me.

Yeah that's exactly what I get. Starts off as if I was staring at a bright light for too long. I was watching a football match on tv a few weeks ago and I thought it was strange that I could only see the first 3/4 of any billboards I was staring at.

Migraines

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