Migraines

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 7, 2007, 6:16 pm

Man, they suck. Anyone else get them anytime the weather is bad (or just before bad weather)? Any over-the-counter remedies work for anyone?

I'm suffering through one now.

Sabek · Post by **Sabek** » February 7, 2007, 6:22 pm

I get them on occasion. Normally if I go a few nights in a row staying up too late.

Normally a couple excedrine Migraine and 20-30 minute nap help for me.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » February 7, 2007, 6:24 pm

Sabek wrote:I get them on occasion. Normally if I go a few nights in a row staying up too late.

Normally a couple excedrine Migraine and 20-30 minute nap help for me.

I get them from time to time too.. And I take Excedrin as well which works great for me. However, do not buy anything besides the plain extra strength stuff, as all of the others (migraine, tension headache, etc) are all a scam. If you look at the active ingredients they are exactly the same doses of exactly the same things in each of them.

I will also put a cold damp rag on my face and lay down for a short nap, usually to wake up feeling better.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » February 7, 2007, 6:32 pm

Chop off your head

Im sorry I had to, But really go to your doctor he can perscribe you topamax it has helped mine.

http://www.topamax.com

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 7, 2007, 6:33 pm

Used to get them pretty bad over my right eye. I think it was food related as I rarely get them anymore but have also cut back on particular foods.

I get maybe one migraine a year now.

Possible foods that trigger migraines:

* Cheese
* Chocolate
* Citrus fruits
* Hot dogs
* Monosodium glutamate
* Aspartame
* Fatty foods
* Ice cream
* Caffeine withdrawal
* Alcoholic drinks, especially red wine and beer

For me, I think it's citrus, possibly caffeine withdrawal, and definately red wine.

Legenae · Post by **Legenae** » February 7, 2007, 7:00 pm

I've been suffering from migraines since I was 10. They are a result of a head injury I had and any number of things can trigger an attack (stress, sudden loud noise, hormones, even certain smells - I used to work in an analytical lab so there were lots of chemical smells/etc).

I get migraines quite often and they totally ruin your day. I don't wish them on anyone. The last one I had was 2 nights ago. A lot of the time they start off as just a normal headache and if I don't take care of it early enough it will turn into a migraine. If I take Excedrin or Ibuprofen early enough that can usually stop it. Otherwise I take Maxalt (prescription) along with some anti-nausea pills (nausea/vomiting is common with some migraines).

Here is some info on migraines for you:

http://www.migraines.org/

Hope you feel better.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 7, 2007, 7:14 pm

I get them very infrequently, and it's odd how I do.

On the odd occasion that I get one, I wake up with it. And I have never found anyway to get rid of it, other than to go back to sleep. Unfortunately, being that I just woke up...it's hard to go back to sleep as you're fully rested! Mine also cause pretty severe nausea, and I can't keep anything down until I can get rid of it.

My only guess as to possible cause is dehydration. I seem to dehydrate pretty severely in my sleep.

(If I got them more frequently, I would probably construct a special recovery room. Complete and total darkness, and soundproof, cause the tiniest sound or bit of light feels like a nuclear explosion)

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 7, 2007, 8:12 pm

I've had them for about 2 years and finally realized they are related to a decrease in barometric pressure. I found a website today that tracks barometic pressure in hour increments for the last 48 hours and sure enough, the barometic pressure in Houston has been on a decline for the last 24+ hours. Guess I could use that to predict when I might get one. The last couple months have been worse than normal.

Sometimes I'm nauseaus, sometimes not, but sensitivity to light is the worst.

I guess I need to just bite the bullet and get a prescription. I just hate doctors and taking prescription medicine of any kind.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 7, 2007, 8:14 pm

Thanks for the link Leg

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » February 7, 2007, 8:17 pm

Weed is great for headaches. So is water.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 7, 2007, 8:23 pm

If anyone is interested...

http://www.weatherforyou.com/

Once you are on the city page there is a link to view all conditions over the last 48 hours. Kinda neat.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 7, 2007, 8:27 pm

Leonaerd wrote:Weed is great for headaches. So is water.

Migraines are different from headaches. Water won't help a migraine unless maybe you are getting a migraine due to dehydration, and I seriously doubt smoking weed would have any effect either.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » February 7, 2007, 9:30 pm

Oh, I figured they were related illnesses. I've never had a migraine.

Kryshade · Post by **Kryshade** » February 8, 2007, 12:37 am

I think every kid should eat mud and play in dumpsters when they are young. That's what I did, and I kid you not, I have a super human immune system. I get a headache maybe once every 3-4 months, have never had a migraine. I've had the flu 3 times in my life (29 years old now).

My entire office is suffering with a cold right now, it hit everyone last week and they're all nothing but a big pile of mucus a week later. It hit me Sunday afternoon and was gone by Tuesday afternoon. I dunno what I did to get it this way, but I should try to market my antibodies or something!

Thanks for taking the time to allow me to gloat... sorry about your migraine.

Post by **Sylvus** » February 8, 2007, 1:13 am

Go to the emergency room and get a shot of Demerol. It does the trick, and it's not a terribly uncommon treatment. That's what they gave me, anyway.

Plus it gets you really high.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » February 8, 2007, 2:47 am

Sylvus wrote:Go to the emergency room and get a shot of Demerol. It does the trick, and it's not a terribly uncommon treatment. That's what they gave me, anyway.

Plus it gets you really high.

Sylvus soooo misses college.

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » February 8, 2007, 9:24 am

Migraines for women can sometimes be linked to hormones especially if you take the oral contraceptive pill.

Something worth checking up on, maybe?

Vaemas · Post by **Vaemas** » February 8, 2007, 9:53 am

My wife gets them fairly regularly. Cutting out flourescent overhead lighting can help.

Naproxin by perscription or Aleve OTC (which is the same crap, just half the strength).

rhyae · Post by **rhyae** » February 8, 2007, 10:34 am

Hormones always bring mine on, and pepperoni =*(
Sometimes migraines are brought on by toxins in your bowels. Though everyone has their own theories...
I used to take 4 otc Excedrin migraine, knocks them right out in less than 20 mins, but not so good for the liver because of the acetaminophen, and the caffeine in them won't let you sleep.
Imitrex works, but expensive as hell.
My doctor said there are no generic prescription migraine meds. Someone please make one.

Low barometric pressure can also bring on labor.

Post by **Sylvus** » February 8, 2007, 11:40 am

Leonaerd wrote:
Sylvus wrote:Go to the emergency room and get a shot of Demerol. It does the trick, and it's not a terribly uncommon treatment. That's what they gave me, anyway.

Plus it gets you really high.
Sylvus soooo misses college.

Your mom goes to college!

[Show]: My life is pretty much like college now, except I can't skip all the time and I can afford better booze and other recreational activities.

miir · Post by **miir** » February 8, 2007, 12:47 pm

Funkmasterr wrote:
Sabek wrote:I get them on occasion. Normally if I go a few nights in a row staying up too late.

Normally a couple excedrine Migraine and 20-30 minute nap help for me.
I get them from time to time too.. And I take Excedrin as well which works great for me. However, do not buy anything besides the plain extra strength stuff, as all of the others (migraine, tension headache, etc) are all a scam. If you look at the active ingredients they are exactly the same doses of exactly the same things in each of them.

I will also put a cold damp rag on my face and lay down for a short nap, usually to wake up feeling better.

If over-the-counter pain relievers work then it's probably not a real migraine.

I used to get them frequently but have not had one for the past 2 and a half years.
When I did get one it would be debilitating. It would be excruciating pain to even get out of bed. I couldn't fathom being able to look at a computer, let alone make a post on VV.

The only thing that ever worked for me was Fiorinal.
I'd take one, zonk out for 12-14 hours and feel slightly better when I woke up.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » February 8, 2007, 2:55 pm

I have a good friend that gets them so often, he can't work. Hell, he barely leaves his house for fear of getting one in public. He's even had all of his teeth pulled out at age 31, because that was thought to be one of the issues. It wasn't.

He has a regiment he does whenever he feels one coming on. He's been over at my house and out of nowhere he's like "I need to jump in your shower". He showers in icy water, then drinks scalding hot water when he gets out.

He also claims pot helps with them, but not very much.

I saw him get one at Toys R Us once when we were on the way back to the car. He doubled over like he had been shot in the stomach and huddled up in the fetal position for about 10 minutes. He cried. It was hard to watch.

Ever see the movie Pie? That's what his headaches are like. Pretty scary stuff,seeing as how all the docs and specialists still have no idea why he gets them.

miir · Post by **miir** » February 8, 2007, 3:47 pm

I saw him get one at Toys R Us once when we were on the way back to the car. He doubled over like he had been shot in the stomach and huddled up in the fetal position for about 10 minutes. He cried. It was hard to watch.

That's about as bad as mine would get.

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » February 8, 2007, 9:52 pm

I agree that if Excedrin really clears up migrane then that probably isn't what it is.

I used to get them once a month or so and I used imitrex. Now I only get 1 or 2 a year. Mine would tend to be blinding and sharp pain until the drugs kicked in and I was able to finally sleep for a while. Then they were a dull pounding garden variety headache for about 2 days after that. I never really determined what brought them on, I am just thankful they are gone...for the most part.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » February 9, 2007, 2:28 am

Migraines suck, and BC Powder usually takes care of them for me (along with a lot of water).

What's more annoying is how I get dizzy before an earthquake. Can hardly stand up straight. Yeah.. earthquakes in Florida. Go figure. Supposedly nothing you can really do about that either.

Legenae · Post by **Legenae** » February 9, 2007, 2:59 am

Hell, he barely leaves his house for fear of getting one in public.

I get them in public too. One I really remember was right in the middle of a movie at the theatre. Had to rummage through my purse for the medication then spent the rest of the movie trying not to lean over the seat in front of me to puke (I suppose I could have left but I didn't want to ruin the movie for the people I was with *sigh*) I always have some Maxalt with me at all times.

I haven't gone to the extremes that your friend has gone to. I have come to accept that this is a part of my life and will probably never go away.

The only thing that ever worked for me was Fiorinal.
I'd take one, zonk out for 12-14 hours and feel slightly better when I woke up.

I've asked my doctor about Fiorinal. From what I've read it can help you sleep as well. Would come in handy for the evening/nighttime migraines. My doc didn't want to prescribe it though. She just gave me more Maxalt. *sigh*

Go to the emergency room and get a shot of Demerol. It does the trick, and it's not a terribly uncommon treatment. That's what they gave me, anyway.

Plus it gets you really high.

I get them way too often to make trips to the hospital. Much

for demerol though.

Thanks for the link Leg

Sure thing Lala!

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » February 9, 2007, 5:08 am

Lalanae wrote:I've had them for about 2 years and finally realized they are related to a decrease in barometric pressure. I found a website today that tracks barometic pressure in hour increments for the last 48 hours and sure enough, the barometic pressure in Houston has been on a decline for the last 24+ hours. Guess I could use that to predict when I might get one. The last couple months have been worse than normal.

Sometimes I'm nauseaus, sometimes not, but sensitivity to light is the worst.

I guess I need to just bite the bullet and get a prescription. I just hate doctors and taking prescription medicine of any kind.

Yours sound exactly like what I get. Fast barometric pressure changes work me over pretty hard at times, mostly since I moved to Calgary, with the higher elevation and more tempermental weather patterns off the mtns. I've tried a couple different drugs with my Dr(s) over the past 5 years but in the end, I find they come in 2 classes:

- if its minor, a couple extra strength tylenols can help.
- if not, the only meds that have worked are the ones that knock me out for 6-8 hrs so the day is gone and my sleep pattern is all fucked over, so I tend to hide someplace cool and dark

miir · Post by **miir** » February 9, 2007, 12:36 pm

I've asked my doctor about Fiorinal. From what I've read it can help you sleep as well. Would come in handy for the evening/nighttime migraines. My doc didn't want to prescribe it though. She just gave me more Maxalt. *sigh*

Even a half fiorinal knocks me on my ass.

even certain smells

That's one of my triggers... not only for migraines, but for headaches as well.

I've not had a single migraine (and only one headache) since I moved into my new place... knock on wood

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 9, 2007, 4:33 pm

Siji wrote:Migraines suck, and BC Powder usually takes care of them for me (along with a lot of water).

What's more annoying is how I get dizzy before an earthquake. Can hardly stand up straight. Yeah.. earthquakes in Florida. Go figure. Supposedly nothing you can really do about that either.

I knew this guy when I was working construction that used to snort BC Powder when he felt a migraine coming on. He swore to me that it worked like a charm, but that's pretty hardcore.

The earthquake thing is completely unrelated, but not uncommon.

miir · Post by **miir** » February 9, 2007, 4:53 pm

I knew this guy when I was working construction that used to snort BC Powder when he felt a migraine coming on. He swore to me that it worked like a charm, but that's pretty hardcore.

Aspirin is not going to help a migraine.
A normal headche.. maybe.

Snorting it is really not all that strange or hardcore.
The membrane in your nose is very thin and filled with blood vessels. The uptake/absorption rate is much faster than taking it orally. However, taking any drug nasaly over a long period of time... especially ascorbic acid will result in some pretty serious damage to your nasal cavity.