Migraines

[Virdell1]

If you suffer from migraines then you know they are excruciatingly painful, frustrating and expensive. Migraines affect each person a bit differently although the overall symptoms are the same. Some of the symptoms are deceiving and the migraine sufferer won’t realize they are in the onset of a migraine.
One symptom mimics sinusitis. Usually only one side of the head will ache and the sinus will become stuffed up. There will be pain behind the eye of that same side of the head as the stuffy nose and the pain will migrate into the jaw, and upper teeth on that side. The usual OTC sinus medication won’t have any affect in reducing the pain or clearing up the sinus.
Another deceiving symptom is neck pain on one side. It’s not an ache, but a sharp constant pain that starts in the neck and runs up the backside of the head. If this kind of pain isn’t nipped in the bud right away it will end up behind the eye on the same side as the neck pain. This pain gets mistakenly treated as a pulled muscle in the neck.
There’s a bounty of information about migraines on the internet. A lot of it is good reading with great information. Educating yourself on this subject is very important and having a regular family doctor that understands migraines and is willing to treat them aggressively is even more important.
Chronic migraines wear a person down and can lead to depression. When the sufferer has one good day without pain he/she will push to get work done that has been put off for awhile. The woman of the house will vacuum, sweep, mop, cook, and shop knowing that they may not have a pain-free day tomorrow when in reality the exertion and stress of wanting to get all of the chores accomplished usually brings on another migraine.
A few suggestions for being as pain free as possible are;
• Keep your doctor informed of any changes in the severity or frequency of your migraines.
• Take your medications as directed. If you notice a migraine starting, take the Maxalt, Amerge, or other similar medication right away.
• If you are taking a daily medication such as Topamax don’t stop taking it without discussing it with your doctor first.
• Use a icepack on the back of your neck to help alleviate the pain.
• Stay hydrated. Ice water will be easier to tolerate than room temperature and some sports drinks could be beneficial also.
• Try not to worry about what you “should” be doing. Instead take care of yourself. The quicker you focus on relaxing and calming the pain, the quicker you can get back to living your life.
• Make sure someone knows you have a migraine and don’t be afraid to ask for help. People with migraines feel like a burden to their family at times, but loved ones do understand.
• Do you have strange cravings when you are getting a migraine or at the end of one? Keep some of that specific food around. If nothing else, it’s comforting.
• Try something like Bio-Feedback, acupuncture or meditation. See what works for you.
• If you are going to be in a stressful situation that may cause a migraine, prepare yourself ahead of time. Visualize being calm and positive and make sure you have your meds with you.

The above suggestions are helpful to a degree. There is no cure for migraines yet. For now it’s up to the migraine sufferer to be aware of their own body and what the migraine triggers are. Triggers could be things like the weather changing or smells and odors. It’s easy to avoid food triggers, but if you work in an office there’s always the chance of someone wearing perfume or cologne that will trigger a migraine. Some sufferers have been able to inform their co-workers of the problem and the co-workers have refrained from wearing perfumes and colognes. Some offices are “odor/scent” free. It’s worth talking to the human resource dept. if it means you can be productive at work. If you talk to your doctor, he may be able to write a letter regarding your
Need for an odor free work environment.

Make your home a safe haven and stay positive, stay informed and stay healthy.

For more information regarding migraines:
http://www.bing.com/health/article/m...qpvt=migraines

[bittersweetfitness]

That is some great advice. I have migraines maybe once or twice a year, however, they are usually debilitating. I get them so bad I can't really do anything. Nothing helps. I've tried all different types of medications. Migraines is something that doctors are still unsure about! Ahhhhhhhh!!!

www.bittersweetfitness.com

[Uncle Lex]

I suffered from migraines for several years until I read a book by Andrew Weil. He stated that many migraines were triggered by food alergies that the sufferer was unaware of. By keeping a detailed food journal, I was able to determine that my migraines were the result of dairy alergies. After eating certain dairy products, I would come down with a migraine about 18 hours later. Once I discovered what was causing it, I have significantly reduced the amount of migraines. (I haven't eliminated them entirely, because sometimes that cheesecake looks soooo good.)

It's not the cure for everyone who suffers from migraines, but it's worth a look.

[BananaRama48]

My mom suffered frequent excruciating migraines that would sometime leave her bed ridden for days on end, and like the article stated above when she would feel better she would push herself to get more things done around the house which would stress her out again. Excedrin has helped me a bit when I feel migraines coming on, but if it gets full blown I have to just rest in a dark room. I found some herbal remedies that will assist with migraines in their own way.
-Lavender: works as a natural relaxant and sedative analgesic with anti-spasmodic action, it's cooling action is beneficial for "hot" migraines.
-Jamaican Dogwood: Another sedative and anodyne, helps with pain associated with nervous tension
-Feverfew: Is an anti-inflammatory herb which dilates the cerebral blood vessels, easing "hot" migranes that are associated with constricted blood vessels.

As for tension headaches, good remedies are Skullcap and Wood Betony.
For your intolerance to dairy Uncle Lex look into Goldenseal which stimulates the liver, eases gastric sensitivity, acts as an astringent and healing for mucous membranes, this could help clear the dairy out of your system faster when you just can't say not to that Cheesecake (I cannot blame you, I am a sucker for cheesecake too).