It's All In Your Head

Long time readers will know that I suffer from migraines. Suffer being the operative word - if you have them, you know of what I speak. I would not wish migraines on my worst enemy, for the pain is intolerable. I'm creating a category for these headaches, in order to track them effectively, to try to root out the cause. I had one on Saturday - let's see how many of my triggers I can match.

I don't take birth control pills because the hormones give me migraines. BUT. In preparation for the surgery I'm having on Wednesday, I'm taking Prometrium. CAUSE 1.  

I didn't sleep well. CAUSE 2.

I typically get migraines if I skip meals. Or avoid breakfast, my least favorite meal ever. No cause there.

I often come down with a migraine if I'm in the company of someone with very strong or overpowering perfume. Nope. No cause there.

I always come down with migraines if I allow myself to become dehydrated, or if I drink too much the nightbefore. Nope, no cause there.

I have often wondered if aspartame causes me to have migraines, and so I took all diet soda - pretty much my only source of the stuff - out of my diet New Year's day. I cannot TELL you how tired I am without the caffeine boost - but I still had a headache.  

So the cause of Saturday's migraine was probably hormone related. A fact I can do nothing about. But I can track it and see how often they happen. When they do, I have medication to take, but it's a fine line, because I don't like how loopy and disconnected the meds make me feel. It's a toss up - do I deal with the pain, or take the medicine, have no pain and feel like crap for about, oh, six hours?

Do you get migraines? How do you deal with them?

Comments

[Annie]

Most of mine were hormone-related, but I'd also get killer head-aches when I had just completed a huge-tension/anxiety filled project or effort of some sort (like being in charge of an event at school.) And, yes, it was always when it was over. Imitrex did wonders for me for years ... also standing in a shower as hot as I could stand ... and, for some reason, tuna-fish sandwiches (go figure.)

If it's any consolation, I hit menopause at age 50 and the incidence of migraine dropped to about 3 or 4 a year!

[Dawn]

Oh Carmen, I am so sorry, I only get about four or so migraines a year and I can't imagine dealing with them anymore often than that. They literally knock me down with the pain, nausea, and (in my case) reverse tunnel vision, plus I always have one-sided numbness and tingling in my upper body, and confusion that lasts a day or two afterwards. I have been told that I may never, ever take hormones of any kind because the headaches mean I have a high stroke risk, so I am interested in how you all can take the pill? NOT looking forward to menopause cold turkey!! I have been through several neuro workups, EEGs, CT scans, thyroid tests, all kinds of crazy stuff but no cause, or effective treatment has ever been found. I usually take Ativan and 1200mg Ibuprofen at the first sign and sleep it off, but sometimes it doesn't work.

[kandic]

Migraines are a force to be reckoned with, there is no doubt. And the sad thing is that I've read studies that say 77 percent of people who suffer from chronic pain also deal with depression. But they are doing more research into migraine headaches, and have proven that light truly does affect them. You can always turn to a professional pain consultant like those at http://www.thepaincenter.com for some effective relief.

[Rodger Funderberk]

I also have problems with migraine. I've been treating myself to some things that might help me relax like acupuncture. Luckily, I've had good results. J I think the best thing to do is to avoid the things that trigger it. ;)