Extreme Migraines

Hi A.,

Last summer, I started getting migraines all the time (every 2-3 days) after getting them "occasionally" for years. It was awful. Since starting chiropractic care in December, I've had 4 migraines. Two were triggered by subluxations and the other two were triggered by outside influences. I went through several prescriptions that only worked for a while and then stopped working, but having my spine where it was designed to be seems to have really made all the difference in the world.

Sweetie - get to a Chiropractor. They are the only doctors trained to manipulate the vetebrae in the neck and it will help - guaranteed. It is the vertebrae that are out of alignment that cause migraines in the first place. If you want a recommendation, I will pass on my doctor's names. They are fabulous!!

Let me know -

+B.+

So I don't personally get them, but I did work with a mom of a 3 yr old who suffered from them terribly for a long time and no amount of meds would help. Her solution: Botox. She's looked into it and when she started receiving the injections, gone were the migraines.

Good Luck

A.,
My hubby has bad migraines too. Sometimes it is so bad that he throws up. He has done the following and the frequency has reduced tremendously.

- Avoid dehydration (he drinks Gatorade whenever he is exercising or out in the sun for a long time)
- Avoid greasy/fried food (one of the NBA player's migraine issue was reduced after he did this)
- Avoid alcohol. (seems like he gets migraine whenever he drinks)

When migraines attack, we do this to help:
- We use a Chinese herbal oil (called 'White Flower' oil) whenever he has an 'attack'. Ingredients is just lavender, mint and menthol. He rubes it under his nose and it helps him relax and manage the pain. I used that when I was pregnant too. You can get this at most Asian grocery like Ranch 99 in Foster City. It is only $3 bucks for a small one. Worth a try! Here is what it looks like - http://www.amazon.com/Hong-Kong-Traditional-White-Flower/...
- He does take prescribed migraines pain.

Hope this help.
A.

I too used to have horrible migraines. I would have a headache every day and a migraine every other day for years. I tried everything under the sun. Chriopractic, eliminating sugar, pulling wisdom teeth, herbs, cranial sacral therapy, accupunture, all the medications (major rebound headaches- what's the point?). Then I heard about botox for migraines. Turns out Kaiser will cover it with a referal but you must have a very severe case. You get injections every 3 months and every time I noticed less and less pain. A year and a half into it I was SO much better. I just had a dull headache every other day or so. I was thrilled with that. Finally, I could have a life again. Then I started drinking Raw milk from Organic Pastures and the dull headaches are totally gone! I am even considering stopping the botox. I am pretty much always headache free now. Good luck to you. I know how cronic pain can make you feel so helpless.

Hi A.,
I have suffered from migranes since my 20s (now almost 40)and I finally discovered (after 3 kids) that mine are completely hormone related. I would talk to your OB/GYN about it and see if they can offer some solutions. My OB/GYN put me on a low dose (15 mg. a day) of Lexapro which eliminated them completely. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Hi A.,
I'm casting another vote for hormones. When I get migraines (which I've gotten since I was a teen), it is often right before my period. Foods, etc., can absolutely trigger migraines, too, but for me hormones were a bigger trigger. I take Imitrix when one hits, and it works really well. It comes in both a pill and an injection form. I take the pills, as does my mom, but sometimes she takes the shots because her migraines are worse than mine. Acupuncture can help. As someone else mentioned, Botox can help with severe cases. You should let your doctor know that you are getting migraines more frequently now. I don't know if there's any importance to that, but your doc probably would. I hope you find something to help.
K.

Hi A.,

When I was 20, I had a migrane that lasted two weeks...unending, terrible, non-stop migrane. After many tests and being told that my asthma medication was making the migrane worse (no choice but to take at that time since I was being hospitalized regularly even with it) and migrane meds would make my asthma worse, I got acupuncture. My migrane was gone by the end of the session, and did not return.

Years later, having completed the first year of studying Oriental Medicine and also working in a acupuncture college clinic in addition to being treated with great success for the asthma, I have met some of the best acupuncturists in the Bay Area. One of the best I've found in 30 years is Rachel Tan in San Rafael, across from the Safeway on B Street. Her number is ###-###-####.

She's brilliant (after working in a hospital as a Doctor of Chinese medicine in China, she moved to the U.S., learned English, became licensed in CA and earned a Ph.D), incredibly nice and also gentle in her technique.

Traditionally, migranes are one of the conditions that acupuncture is quite successful with.

If you're afraid of needles, acupuncture needles are so small in diameter that they are flexible and easily pass through the smallest western needles. Most of the time, you'll never feel the needle with Rachel Tan since she has such a gentle technique.

Best of luck with your migranes.
E.

Dear A.:

I, too, was a migraine sufferer and now (blessedly) rarely experience them. Things that helped me:

1. Seeing an osteopath to identify and correct some issues with cervical and thoracic vertebrae from early teen injuries.

2. Sleeping with a cervical pillow (mine is actually a dog toy that's shaped like a bone ... nice and firm and just the right size for my neck) instead of a traditional pillow.

3. Using an essential oil blend that I make, which is specifically designed to calm the major veins in the head (applied topically to temples, bones behind the ears and the soft tissue on either side of the spine at the base of the skull). This is great as I can put it on at the first sign of a headache and usually prevent it from becoming a full-blown migraine.

4. The last thing I do is use my essential sleep salts (inhaled at bedtime) to help me get restful sleep. Migraines really affect the sleep cycle ... if you are able to get to sleep it's not restful. The sleep salts are very effective in combating that and augment the work of the topical migraine oil.

Note: Lavender is commonly used for headaches, but pregnant and lactating women (and young children) should not use lavender. There are some effective alternatives out there!

Let me know if you want more info on the therapeutic products I make. My website, www.mccluckfarms.com, is still under construction, but there will soon be comprehensive info on all my products there.

Good luck!

V.

Have you thought about acupuncture? I know it can do wonders for migraines. Also, chiropractors (sp?) can also work well with headaches. Maybe a combination of the two would help.
D. T.

I used to get extreme migraines that would last 2 to 3 weeks.
I did a ton of research and learned a lot! I'm not a doctor, but this is what I do to get rid of my migraines (And I havn't had one in over a year!)
I take:
500 mg of 5HTP (Seratonin is a neurotransmitter that the brain naturally produces, that aids in vein dilation, mood, and digestion among other things. Stress and fluctuating hormones affect seratonin levels)
Calcium/ Magnesium 2 times a day at the same time as the 5HTP (Calcium helps the Magnesium absorb, and Magnesium helps prevent muscle spasms and cramps)
Multivitamin with iron and high levels of vitamins b6 and b12 once a day, six hours after last 5htp ( b6 and b12 block Seratonin absorption and calcium inhibits iron absorption so it's essential to time it right. )

Avoid all medicine that causes a rebound effect including Advil, Aspirin, antihistamines, Decongestants, Triptans, Ergotamines, Caffeine containing pain killers, Butalbital compounds, Isomethptene compounds, Opioids and similar drugs (Over expansion or contraction of veins and arteries is the main source of what is perceived as muscle pain. Medicines and food can cause an effect that makes veins temporarily expand or contract, temporarily blocking pain. When it wears off the effect reverses dramatically (this is the rebound effect), causing the veins to contract or expand more than before when the food / medicine was ingested and causing the pain to return more intensely that it was initially.)

Avoid all foods that cause a rebound effect including:
Caffeine
Decaf tea and coffee (contains 1/3 the caffeine of regular)
Chocolate
Bananas
Onions
Nuts
Legumes
Beans (including pea pods, lima beans and lentils)
Nightshade roots (potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes)
Raspberries
Blueberries
Fresh yeast bread (day old is okay)
Alcohol
Hard cheese
Acidic food (tomatoes, lemons, oranges, pineapples, etc…)
Vinegar
MSG (including veggi burgers, bouillon and ready to eat meals. MSG can be called “Natural Flavoring”)
Processed meat and fish
Yogurt
Sour Cream
Buttermilk
NutraSweet
Sweet’n Low
Soy products
Mushrooms

Do get:
Regular meals
Plenty of sleep
Chamomile tea (I use “Traditional Medicinals” brand but not every day. 6 months drinking Chamomile tea every day can cause hay fever as a side effect)
Plenty of water (during a migraine the meningel sheath that surrounds the brain and spinal column becomes inflamed. Inflammation is caused by an excess of histamines [white blood cells] in the body. Drinking water flushes out the excess histamines, reducing inflammation)
Get light exercise, (like taking a walk or Stretching) but avoid strenuous exercise.
Be aware of posture
Tylenol for pain, as it won’t cause a rebound. Try to stop any headaches with it when they start and they are still small and haven’t gotten established yet.
Try not to get stressed
Garlic, green onions and shallots are OK to substitute onion with.

The first 2 or 3 weeks are the hardest, as the rebound effect kicks in when you quit taking the pain killers. I toughed it out with only extra strength Tylenol, hot Epsom salt baths (Epsom salt is a source of Magnesium) and sleeping as much as I could. After that I noticed an improvement that grew more and more every week! It’s now been more than a year since my last migraine. I’ve had a few headaches, and a couple of times of extremely high stress I thought I might be getting close to one, but I took Tylenol right away and ate, drank lots of water and slept and felt fine in a few hours.

I hope this helps!

Hi A.

My name is R.. Has a doctor ran a CAT scan on you?
The reason I ask, is I thought I was having "migraines", and treating them as such with over the counter meds, until one of my friends told me to have a doctor check me out. I was not real concerned, but I went ahead and asked. Thank God for good friends! I ended up having a cyst on my brain! The doctor had me go to the hospital that night, and in for surgery the next day. Everything turned out fine, it's been almost 1 year. Please if a doctor hasn't looked into it and you have just been treating them as a migraine, ask your doctor about it. It can only help.

I hope everything is ok.

R.

Dear A.,

I have read all the advise from other readers and there is some great advise, some I haven't tried but intend to. I have suffered since pre teen years and I am now 53 today infact. My trigger's are stress, lack of sleep, unreagular sleep, and who knows why. I wake up with migraines. I took a seal- a - meal bag put 1/4cup alchol and 2/3cup water in it sealed it then put it in a heavy duty freezer zip lock bag. I put it in an old sock and I leave it in the freezer and when I first feel the headache comming on I lay down and put it at the base of my neck, if it feels like it will be bad I take some pain medication along with this. Try it it doesn't cost a whole lot. I sure hope you get some relief, they have gotten better for me as I have gotten older,a divorce, kids all grown, and just plan trail and era.

Will be praying for you,
R.

Yeah I get them all the time like 3 or 4 times a month they are really bad I have been trying to find ways to get rid of them like I used to get them probly like 6 or 7 times a month but then my mom had me try some glasses and now I get them not as often. Like I think the main thing that triggers them are light for me at least whenever I get them it's light out and it's mainly when the sun is vary bright. Somtimes I wounder if there's somthing wrong with me. Cuz ever since the age of 11 thru now 17 I've always had really bad ones like most the time they get so bad that I throw up. I hate them so much I wish I could find some way they rid of them. Anybody that has any info or has anything that might help them get better plz email me at ____@____.com. Thank you so much I'll tale any info you can give me

Hi A.,

I have had migraines for several years now and here are the things that help me.

1. When you are symptomatic, take a can of Coca-Cola and put two 500 mg. liquid advil gel caps actually in the soda and drink it. 9/10 I can either drastically decrease my level of a migraine or stop it.

2. Keep a food journal- certain foods affect me more and so I pay attention to everything.

3. I know its hard, but try NOT TO STRESS!!! Get some "me" time with out your baby or your husband daily and do whatever you love.

Also, I don't know if you have tried Midrin or not, but it helped me.

Good luck to you!

Molly

Hi A., I suffered from chronic and horrible migraines for years. I'd heard about feverfew, an herb, and had begun taking it and the migraines got fewer and less severe, and then I found a product, I think called Migrelief, but instead of paying so much for it, I bought it's ingredients.
I already had the feverfew, so only had to buy, Magnesium Citrate, I take 600mg of that (3 caps) and Riboflavin (Vit.B2) 100 mg. (1 cap)daily. The Feverfew is 380 mg. in one cap. I take these 3 caps daily and it's been like a miracle, I get no more migraines and don't even get headaches any more.
Since you're pregnant, you might want to run these ingredients by your doctor to make sure they won't interfere with your pregancy, but like I said it's been a miraculous CURE for migraines for me. I had told others about the feverfew and they had had the same wonderful results, but the feverfew alone did not end them, it just made them much easier to deal with. Now with the others they are gone, for good. Good luck. Migraines are so dibilitating and I wish you well.
L. J.

Hi A.
my husband suffers from migraines to and what we do is
when he feels one coming on he takes a power aspirins
there called Goodies or BC depending on where you go
now it does taste gross but its worth the pain and all you do is put it under your tongue and let it melt then drink some water and lay down for 10 minutes
and your headache soon to be migraines is gone and yes I also do this with my son who is 12
Good luck and God Bless Danielle
mother of 4

HORMONES, HORMONES, HORMONES!!! Find a great OBGYN that specializes in Bio-Idential Hormone Therapy. Have them take a simple blood test to check your hormone level. Then ask to be placed on Estrogen & Progestrone for a 8 wks trail. Every two weeks you are either ovualating or starting your period which means your estrogen & progestrone levels are rising & falling and you body isn't reacting well to it.
I USE to suffer from migraines too. It took morphine shots in ER to relieve the pain everytime I had one. Because my symptoms were so simular to that of a stroke, 3 male doctors REFUSED to believe it was my hormones. After two years of useless test such as CAT scans, MRI's, nerve test, brain wave activity test, and so on, I went to a female OBGYN and within 30 seconds into the appointment she ask me if I would be willing to take a blood test. I did and although my level were "OK", she still recommended Hormone Replacement Therapy for 8 weeks. That was November 2006 and I'm still on Hormone Therapy today. My last migraine was October 2006. It worked for me & my family! If your in the Bakersfield area let me know and I will give you her name. GOOD LUCK!
PS- Don't let anyone tell you you're too young to treat your hormones, because you're not.

I have a customer that suffers from migranes as well as high cholestoral. She has been drinking the MonaVie Active for over 6 months and she said she hasn't had one migrane since she started drinking. If you'd like her phone number to call and ask her about her experience I'd be more than happy to give it to you. She says there's nothing like a pain of migranes and the relief she feels from not experiencing them anymore. My phone number is ###-###-####. I am a distributor located in Milpitas, CA but also have contacts in the Oakland area if you'd like more information. My business and links to the product are listed in my Mamasource listing. Hope this helps.

F. D.
MonaVie Independent Distributor

I have suffered from migraines from late teen on. Hormones are very intertwined with my migraines. Before it was found out that I had hypothyroidism, I had an increasing number of headaches and migraines. Some women who don't normally have a slow thyroid development this condition while pregnant, so it is worth having it tested. Synthroid is safe during pregnancy, but the way. My headache and migraine frequency are way down since controlling my thyroid. But ... I am more likely to get a migraine while I am pre-menstual,and my pregnancy was very, very difficult partly due to the headaches and migraines. I had a continual headache going, that would pass in and out of migraine stage, for the first 6 months of my pregnancy. When I couldn't stand it, I used tylenol, but was careful. There is not a well-tested migraine medicine out there proven to be okay during pregnancy, and I would like to respectfully warn you away from advice to take any. Do the non-medicine things: keep rooms darker, baths, etc. Keep your diet and exercise balanced. But I wanted you to also know that it turned out I had undetected pre-eclampsia, and that the headaches can be a signal that you could have it, so please watch for it. I was undetected for a long time since I didn't have high blood pressure. The extremity of my headaches eased around 6 and a half months, though,so maybe it will happen for you too.
Take care of yourself!

I get them and have been getting them since about age 24 or so. I have had to go to the ER to get shots because nothing else has worked. The only thing I can think mine could be is lack of sleep. After my first ER visit, I had a cat scan too and it came up normal. I would talk to your doctor and see what they say. A friend of mine at work just changed to a new birth control because he doctor thinks her has to do with her hormones. Good luck!

Hi A.,

I don't know if this will work for you but it did for me. I used to get migraines atleast every two weeks, I couldn't even raise my head off the bed or take the pillow or blanket off from over my eyes without screaming because they were so severe. Finally someone told me that when I felt one coming on to run a really warm bath and then to plug my nose and lay back and submerge my head completly under water and to blow out my nose as hard as I could while keeping my nose plugged. They said that it acts kind of like a pressure chamber??? I hold my breath for as long as I can and I repeat it several times, but for me it really works!!! I can honestly say that it really helped me. I don't like taking the meds!!! Just some advice that worked for me. If you try it I hope it works. Let me know...L.

A.,

** I must preface this by saying that I am NOT a doctor, but I did suffer from migranes due to a very rare condition ** It very well could be Migranes, but the root of migranes can vary greatly. There is a condition called Chiari Malformation that is considered to be congenital, however, there are cases - like mine where symptoms can be brought on after a trauma like a car accident. Chiari patients have a low lying, or herniated cerabellam - meaning the brain is falling out of your skull through the hole at the bottom. Typically though, symptoms that are not appearant as a child can come on in early adulthood... yes, you qualify.

One of the main symptoms of Chiari is migrane type headache. There is a great medication for migranes, Topomax. You have to start at a low dose, but it works wonders!! There are several others, but that one seems to be more popular.

If you have had an MRI of your brain, I would ask the doctor to rule out Chiari. The lack of Cerebral Spinal Fluid around the brain can be a cause of the headache.

For now, caffine can be your friend :) in that it does restrict the blood flow to the brain.

It is rare, and may not be the answer, but I don't want someone else going 4 years without knowing just to find out that the wait caused permanent damage.

Good luck!!

T.

PS: you can log onto www.chiarichamps.com to learn more about Chiari and you can read my story as well.

I really feel for you. I thankfully have never had migraines, but a very close friend of mine did. She started taking ginger and hasn't had one since, over 6 years now. She buys the ginger in pill form from Walmart, and swears by it. Good luck

I dont know how severe your migraines are, but with mine no over the counter medicine, massage, or even pain killer would help. The only thing that helps me is a daily preventative that I take called Doxepin. If you look it up, its an antidepressant. I dont think I had the symptoms of depression, but the doctor prescribed it and it does really work. The only problem is I have to take them forever. You should definitely see a doctor.

That must be awful pain. I would look into getting tested for allergies.

I too suffer from Migraines. I got my first when I was 19, my second while pregnant with my son, then it just got worse. I see a chiropractor fairly regularly and this keeps them at bay along with restricting dairy (mostly). My husband learned a technique from a physical therapist where he applies pressure at specific points on my neck, and for the most part it helps me avoid having really horrible ones most of the time. If he is really effective and does it right I merely skip to the migraine hangover for the next 24 hours.

Hormones play a big role in migraines too. I highly recommend that you see a physical therapist, and a chiropractor at minimum. Then really look into the whole nutrition thing it makes a difference. I notice that when I limit dairy, and take a liquid multi vitmin, my migraines and my pms are vastly improved. I use a suppliment called Sea Aloe.

Good Luck, I feel your pain!

T.
Founder
www.theparentpack.org

Hi A.-
My uncle is a chiropractor and believes everything that happens within your body is based upon what you put into your body. Diet is important. Plenty of water, etc. Do you do dairy? We are the only species to eat/drink/ingest the milk of others. The body has a hard time breaking milk down. I know it's pushed by the FDA and doctors for it's calcium, but go a few months without it. I always got stomach aches and headaches. I still eat a very small amount of yogurt here and there, and heaven knows I love cheese. But if you think about it (and I LOVE pizza, too) what was created for people to eat and what they are now eating are so different. Fruits, veggies, water, a little bit of grain, a little bit of meat, more water... ALl the preservatives and artificial ingredients are so bad for our body's chemistry. If you drink diet soda, take that out. Sometimes, and I know this is the hard part, but it's trial and error. But I firmly believe that dairy is a large part of it.
For some people, a large dose of caffeine can stave it off. For others, gatorade- something about the immediate need for your body to hydrate. For my husband, an elbow in the shoulder blade muscle area and one of those herbal packs you heat up and put on your face works, too. I like to meditate in the dark, take some aspirin, and then take a nap. I always feel like my face has been run over by a freight train afterwards, though. I definitely feel your pain.
I hope you find relief! And it sounds like your family has got you fully supported!
-E.

A.,
I soooo understand your pain. Unfortunately for me, migraines are hereditary in my family. So I am bound to get them, I get a migraine about 2 times a month, and the things I MUST avoid are as follows, my doc told me these could be possible triggers.....PORK, MSG especially in Chinese food, PEANUTS, Preservatives, Not enough water in your diet, fatigue can also be a huge factor towards migraines, stress, and a poor diet.
Try to stay away from these things, or make a diary of your diet to see what may be possible triggers, everyone IS different! Good Luck! Oh and EXCEDRIN MIGRAINE works wonders!

I would check with your physician first and foremost to rule out anything unusual. It sounds like they may be hormonally related though. If that's the case then the doctor can help you figure out the best way to get those hormones back on an even keel.

I used to take midrin for my migraines (I've had them since I was a child) but recently started taking Imitrex for them. Both work WONDERFULLY.

A., your situation sounds almost exactly like mine. They increased with age however once I had the boys (twins) I got them regularly, one a month, usually with my cycle. They increased in January to once a day! I saw someone at UCSF who (after a battery of tests) prescribed medication I take daily. It has helped tremendously. I did ask whether this was something I had to take forever but my Dr. assured me that we can wean me off in a few months. I guess we'll see what happens then. Good luck!

Hi A.,

Are you open to natural remedies? If so, you might try Xango, a mangosteen juice that is full of anti inflammatories, antioxidants, etc. It took care of my friends' migraines and my daughter's asthma. It's tastes great and you only drink a couple of ounces in the am and in the evening.

The other thing you may consider is acupuncture. It really does help. Let me know if you want some names of some good ones. I know a couple in the south bay area and i'm sure they know others....

Good luck to you,

G. RN

Hi A.,
I feel for you. I'm a migraine sufferer too, and my husband has cluster headaches (which are like migraines that come in waves and last several days to several weeks... fun times). Both of us have used Zomig with success.

But also I recently discovered, when I mistakenly ran out of birth control pills while away from home, that I feel SO much better when I am not on them! So for me there was definitely a hormonal trigger.

One other thing I noticed was that I tend to get more migraines when I skip meals. For me there has never been any food trigger, but rather I seem to react strongly when my blood sugar gets too low. I don't know if you have been skipping any meals as a new mom (I know I did), but that may be having some effect on you.

I hope you find something that works for you! I know how miserable it can be with little ones and a baaaaaad headache!

Hi A.,

I've been a migraine sufferer since I was a child. There are so many causes and so many types of migraines it's hard to know where to begin.

The frequency of your headaches might be from hormone changes. I found that I was able to track this from being on the birth control pill. When I take my week off my hormone levels change and I get the migraines, often 4-5 from about 3 days after I stop until about 3 days after I begin again. Now I'm on the pill non-stop and that has helped enormously.

Of course, I do get other migraines on occasion. The trick to dealing with them is to recognize the pre-headache aura and deal with the headache immediately and NOT to wait to see if it will turn into a migraine. My auras include vertigo and/or a super-natural exhaustion. Sometimes I get tunnel vision or "infra-red" vision where colors look strange and super saturated.

As for medications, I've tried many types but I feel the best (for me) is 800mg of Ibuprofen as soon as I get an aura. If I let the headache take hold then nothing seems to work.

Good luck!

K.

A.,
My sister in law was exactly like you! Her migraines were unbearable during pregnancy. She was in southern california and she saw an acuscope practitioner. She had a huge amount of relief after one treatment! I think she did a total of 2 and was migraine free. The site is
www.acuscopetreatmentcenters.com check it out. For her it was a much better alternative than the drugs the MD's were offering her
Best of luck

I've had them for several years. I actually get botox from my neurologist to help with them. I know it sounds strange but it's one of the treatments out there for migraines. And kaiser is our insurance and if it's to treat migraines it totally pays for it so who am i to argue. Plus it helps quite a bit. There's also preventative meds you can take like Inderal that lessons the chances of migraines. And avoiding things like chocolate, caffeine, food with msg like chinese foods quite often, and other things. My doctor gave me a list of food to avoid. When I get one generally i try to go to a dark quiet room and i usually put something cold on my head (I have a cute little homemade thing with rice all sewed up that I keep in the freezer that works great that someone gave me as a gift once).

It definitely sounds like you should consider preventative medicine.
Good luck!

Hi A.,

I think it's so important for you to reach out for advice and support because, unless someone's dealt with migraines, they have no idea what life is like with them. I've had them since I entered puberty at 12 years old and have dealt with them for the past 30 years. It's been quite a journey. I had the whole battery of neurological tests and nothing was found out of order.
What I have discovered personally during this journey is that hormones and stress are the two determining factors in my wellness. I have to work on awareness everyday to stay connected to my feelings because if I don't I can count on being sick in short order. This has been the most challenging aspect for me. To be clear, I'm not talking about minimizing or changing my feelings, I'm talking about FEELING my feelings - all of them. It takes courage and it takes will and it takes effort. One very helpful exercise is meditation. It helps you get in touch with yourself and can facilitate awareness, and peace. It kind of acts like a soother to your brain circuits.
The other factor has been hormonal shifts. I suffered greatly through puberty and my two pregnancies. Birth control pills were out of the question for me because they upset the balance within my body and made me sick right off the bat. I even got sick by using Horsechestnut Root, which is a natural herb that supports healthy vascular functioning. Anything that effects my natural balance of chemicals is a problem for me. This factor, however, has been far easier than the previous one because I can avoid these triggers, I can't avoid my feelings.
I think migraines are the result of an errant electrical impulse in our brain, much like epilepsy, that sends our vascular system into a seizure. The triggers for this are so unique to each individual so my advice is to concentrate on those things that are common precursors to your migraines, and explore ways to mediate those things.
I wish you all the healing energy in the world. I know your suffering and my heart goes out to you. You are not alone! If I can help in any way, please feel free to ask!
Very best to you!
T.

I had the exact same experience - for me it turned out to be caffeine (including chocolate), cheese, and alcohol. I stopped consuming any of it and the migraines stopped completely. I don't know if this is the same thing, but literally I could have written your post at this time last year.

Stressing out and not getting enough sleep also triggered mine, but again, it was really the food/drink that did it.

i lso suffer with migranies i have them from 3to 7 days i just let them wear off because medication don't work well with me

A.,

My guess is the the migraines are from stress, I use to get them once a week after my first two daughters were born. I was informed by my Dr. that I had cronic migraine syndrome. I was thinking "Great" You are stating that you have a great husband and I think that is fantacstic because I got rid of my migraines when I left my husband. Come to find out, he was the cause. I am now remarried and since my marriage, which is on it's 17th year, I think I suffer from migraines 4 times total. You need to consult your Dr. and figure out what the stress might be. Maybe you need a night out with the girls away from baby and husband to be stess free for an evening. It might just help.
Good luck and hope you feel better.

Wendy C.

PS is appears I have been logged in as my daughter. Sorry about the confusion.

Maybe its something else that is causing these headaches. Lack of sleep, depression, anxiety, or possible water on the brain. I met a lady that suffered from alot of headaches, and she had water on the brain. Maybe you should see a doctor as to why your getting them.
I know how they feel, they are awful. Google has information on migranes also. I hope this information helps.

My headaches are triggered by hormones too. I had my first migraine during my first pregnancy. Continued to have them for years after and they again recurred during each subsequent pregnancy.

When my headaches were frequent (1-3 times per month), I started keeping track and found that 80% of the time my headaches were in the 24-48 hours before my period started. The other 20% were either 24 hours after my period ended or the middle of my cycle (which I assume is when I was ovulating.) If you track your migraines and find they are related to your hormonal cycle, that will help you in your pursuit of treatment.

Hi A.,

I used to get headaches and now I sleep and wear a magnetic necklace and I do not get them. I also drink a lot of Pi water and drink barley grass.

All magnetics are not the same. I tried several of them and found Nikken's products work.

If you want to check out their site go to www.nikken.com/ninamarie

If you are keeping track of your diet, have you found a common trigger? It could be allergy related too, since the air is full of pollen right now. I have found that completely avoiding caffeine helps to keep mine in check. I don't take it anymore, but a few years back, I took a really low dose of Elavil every day and it almost completely eliminated mine. I went from having two a month which was completely interfering with my life, to having 2 a year. A drastic difference and I was so grateful. Since they got worse during and after pregnancy, your fluctuating hormones could also be to blame. I found that taking the mini-pill after the birth of my son caused my migraines to increase in frequency. When I stopped taking it, they lessened significantly. Since they have increased drastically since you first started getting them, I would go to the doctor to find out if there is a medical reason. Another reason for the increase could be lack of sleep. I know I am more prone to migraines when I don't get at least 6 hours a night, which is sometimes impossible with a new baby. As far as dealing with them once you have one, what works best for me is a cold compress on my head (I use a refridgerated gel eye mask that I put on the worst spot) while lying down in a completely dark room. Movement, light, noise and smell can all make things worse, so I try to limit all that I can. If you can feel one coming on, I can sometimes stop it by taking 2 sudafed (regular, not pe), 2 tylenol and 2 advil all at once and lying down for a little while. Not always possible with 2 kids, but when I can, it sometimes helps. Also, I have noticed I tend to get them when I don't drink enough throughout the day, so try to make sure you drink more than you think you need throughout the day to see if that helps. It is so frustrating getting them but to have them every two weeks has got to be so hard with an infant. I hope you find something that works for you.

I got severe migraines after my first son was born, several times a week for about three months. I tried everything I could think of, and couldn't figure out the problem then, but after my second son was born, and I started having the migraines again, I discovered that it was because I wasn't drinking enough. Make sure you stay hydrated, even more water than you think you need- that could be the problem.

Hello ladies. I read all of your stories & I feel so bad for each & every one of you.

My girlfriend found relief from her migraines - and hasn't had a single one since she started drinking MonaVie -- about 9 or 10 months now.

MonaVie is a nutritional beverage. It is comprised of 19 fruits and is based on the acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry from Brazil. The juice is pure fruit - no water, no sugar, no additives or stimulants of any kind. It is a whole food, not a medicine & though it does not claim to cure anything,I personally know many people who are feeling better and have such an improved quality of life.

Please call me and I will be happy to share this with you. My business is listed here on Mamasource, J.'s MonaVie of Campbell.

Sincerely,
J. Jackson
MonaVie Distributor
mymonavie.com/janetj

Hi A.! Well don't fret, because I've had migraines since I was in high school, well at least that's the earliest I can remember. I have found that the only over the counter medicine that helps me is Excedrin, especially extra strength for migraines. But I noticed that if I waited too long to take it, it would not be much help. Doctors in the past have also simply told me to keep track of what I eat or do prior to an onset of a migraine. But in the end that was not much help, as there didn't seem to be a trend.

Now in my second pregnancy, I have been told that pregnant women do tend to have more migraines. About almost three months into this pregnancy I hurt my back and had to see a chiropractor. She has been a tremendous help with my back and guess what, with my headaches too! She was able to pin-point the tension areas in the back of my head at the top of my neck. Be it that my headaches are not completely gone, at least they have decreased in frequency. Overall I've learned that if something is out of line in your body (anywhere) it can affect various other things and cause other symptoms. Plus, it's important that your body realigns itself correctly after a pregnancy since our tendens and joints become loose during a pregnancy. So perhaps seeing a chiropractor may help or at least is another option to look into.

Good luck with the migraines and congratulations on your bundle of joy!

This may have nothing to do with your migraines, but I can tell you what I noticed with mine. I started getting migraines after I had my first preiod. From that point forward I had them more and more frequently. When I was 23 I had my son, and after he was born I haven't had migrains (knock on wood) ever since. I'm absolutely convinced that my migrains were associated with my hormones. From your story it almost sounds like that may be the case for you as well. I would suggest speaking with your OBGYN and getting their opinion.

hi, i am also a mom who suffers migraines. i have had them since my pre-adolescent days and am almost 37 now! i was never taken to see a doctor as we grew up in a low income family. i still do not earn enough money to afford the medication which is available and actually work such as Maxalt. if you do have a doctor i would suggest firstly that you ask for a prescription for Maxalt...i have had the chance to try this out in clinical trials and found that more often than not, it actually works! But, if you do not have an insurance plan or some means of affording this pretty expensive medication (approx. $15-20 per pill!) such as i, here are some ways i get through it: i have also explored my diet yet to no avail...it is a tremendously tedious process!, but, i find that some people respond better to heat pads on the face, neck , forehead, while others prefer ice; i prefer heat. sometimes, a very hot shower followed by a cool rinse, plenty of water all day!, massage of the hands, and some yoga stretches. nothing really makes the migraine go away for me..these are ways i can get through an attack. also, sometimes if nausea sets in i find that chewing bit of ice is good for my stomach. ultimately, i stay in bed with the heat rotating about my face and head...remove light and smells and sounds. good luck to you!

With me it was MSG - Monosodium Gludimate (spelling?)
Almost everything has it. Soups, salad dressings, chips etc....Chinese food places have stopped using it for the most part. Look at ingredients-the closer to the first on the list, the more of that ingredient there is.

I take imitrex for my migraines, I have had them for many years, and that works the best. It seems to be hormonal for me now, right when I am starting my period and can last all week sometimes. My doctor has my skip my placebo pills on my birth control now to avoid a period. She says there is no medical reason for me to have a period, so it's ok to skip it. Ever since I started skipping my period, I haven't had a migraine. Oh, and drink gatorage when you have one too, it does help.
Another thing, my friend was getting horrible horrible migraines. After they finally did some testing on her (a spinal tap!) they found out she has MS.

I know what you mean, they are horrible. I go to the Chiropator or get a massage and adjust myself and they have gotten better. Maxsalt is the best medication I have taken. Try to get some rest, LOL its hard with a little one and drink lots of fluids. Anything with heat helps me, warm bath, warm/hot shower, neck towel, sounds weird being having my husband crack my toes relives my head and also a at home pedicure tub to soak with warm water and massage feet help.
Good luck.
T.

I know that you've read a lot of information of about headaches and migraines. Two things you should know.

Over the counter meds will give you rebound headaches if you are taking them to frequently.

There are some really good preventative medicines out there now. Topamax. (major side effect seems to be losing weight.)

Document your headaches. Severity, length, location, etc. and GET YOURSELF TO A DOCTOR. It's worth it...