Migraines

[Hey Adrien!]

I don’t get them often, but today I’ve dealt with my worst as far as I can remember.

All the symptoms: splitting headache, nausea, disorientation, irritability, tingling arms…basically just want to crawl into a ball and wait it out.

Chicken or the egg…does stress make the migraine worse and/or do migraines make simple situations seem more stressful?

Any tips/pointers to help?

 

[temery]

I don’t get them often, but today I’ve dealt with my worst as far as I can remember.

All the symptoms: splitting headache, nausea, disorientation, irritability, tingling arms…basically just want to crawl into a ball and wait it out.

Chicken or the egg…does stress make the migraine worse and/or do migraines make simple situations seem more stressful?

Any tips/pointers to help?

Both

I get migraine auras and lose my sight for 1/2 hour or more. Happens every few weeks. The headache is minor, but the loss of sight was scary as hell until I was told it was nothing to worry about. This was just another heap piled onto existing eye problems.

 

[Travelman6]

I get them and think it could be a lack of sleep for me, or not eating enough in the morning.

Usually just those annoying auras for 30 minutes or so with some disorientation and sometimes a minor headache afterward.

The worst is wen you sense it coming but it hasn't come yet, ugh. Super annoying.

Tips? Try to get a good night's sleep and make sure you eat in the morning. A doctor from Switzerland once told me to eat (more) bananas.

 

[Edward Sargent]

I don’t get them often, but today I’ve dealt with my worst as far as I can remember.

All the symptoms: splitting headache, nausea, disorientation, irritability, tingling arms…basically just want to crawl into a ball and wait it out.

Chicken or the egg…does stress make the migraine worse and/or do migraines make simple situations seem more stressful?

Any tips/pointers to help?

Migraines can be stressful but it sounds like stress is your trigger. If you don't get them often try sumatriptan, rizatriptan or newer zolmitriptan or rimegepant. Stay away from topamax as its side effects like brain fog are troublesome. More importantly though is figuring out what triggers your migraine. Stress, not eating, dehydration, bright direct sun, red wine, red meat. Mine, and I get them very infrequently, is quick drop in barometric pressure (i know when the big storms are coming). Stress causes different hormonal changes in your body, as does menstruation and hormonal medications both of which can also trigger migraines. Migraines can be quite debilitating and unfortunately often downplayed especially by those who dont get them.

 

[Umami Zen]

I don’t get them often, but today I’ve dealt with my worst as far as I can remember.

All the symptoms: splitting headache, nausea, disorientation, irritability, tingling arms…basically just want to crawl into a ball and wait it out.

Chicken or the egg…does stress make the migraine worse and/or do migraines make simple situations seem more stressful?

Any tips/pointers to help?

If you're open-minded to pharmaceutical free solutions-- May want to research Transcendental Meditation as a meditation practice that minimizes stressors and reduces migraine frequency. It's more of a life style decision than use it when you need it type of strategy. Overtime-- You become much more relaxed and less impacted by previous stress triggers

Many studies have been done on this topic.

 

[uconndennis]

Sumatriptan . The only thing that has worked for me. Pop 2 when I feel it coming on and rest...usually does the trick

 

[UCSouth]

I don’t get them often, but today I’ve dealt with my worst as far as I can remember.

All the symptoms: splitting headache, nausea, disorientation, irritability, tingling arms…basically just want to crawl into a ball and wait it out.

Chicken or the egg…does stress make the migraine worse and/or do migraines make simple situations seem more stressful?

Any tips/pointers to help?

I can only speak to my experience, but I haven't had one in over 10 years. Mine were so debilitating that I would lose periods of time. 30 minutes, up to 2 hours at a time. Stress was the root of mine, therefore I eliminated the stress-related things. I sold everything and set myself up with no bills, nowhere to be, doing things that I want to do, not things that I had to do. It's a major lifestyle change, It's extreme and not for everyone, but it worked for me. I hope that you find what works for you.

 

[temery]

If you're open-minded to pharmaceutical free solutions-- May want to research Transcendental Meditation as a meditation practice that minimizes stressors and reduces migraine frequency. It's more of a life style decision than use it when you need it type of strategy. Overtime-- You become much more relaxed and less impacted by previous stress triggers

Many studies have been done on this topic.

username checks out

 

[Drumguy]

Sumatriptan . The only thing that has worked for me. Pop 2 when I feel it coming on and rest...usually does the trick

Me too. I started geting them a year ago, and it's the only thing that makes them better, although they're not as debilitating as many others here. I top Suma off with advil and coffee.

 

[Vancat]

Partner gets them quite often and goes with Sumatriptan & coffee.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

If you're open-minded to pharmaceutical free solutions-- May want to research Transcendental Meditation as a meditation practice that minimizes stressors and reduces migraine frequency. It's more of a life style decision than use it when you need it type of strategy. Overtime-- You become much more relaxed and less impacted by previous stress triggers

Many studies have been done on this topic.

You're speaking my language. I meditate every day and yes, I noticed yesterday and today that I've been harboring more stress than I usually do this time of the year.

Most of it is based on some new adjustments this year I am not used to and also trying to solve problems that I do not have the answer for, which I notice I ruminate a TON the last few weeks.

Powering through the day today just trying to be a little kinder to myself and taking things in stride.

I thought about taking off work today, but came in anyways with the notion that I can always leave once my classes are done.

Thanks for the help everyone! Much better today, but definitely battling that migraine hangover. Lots to reflect and learn from this to prevent this in the future!

 

[Umami Zen]

You're speaking my language. I meditate every day and yes, I noticed yesterday and today that I've been harboring more stress than I usually do this time of the year.

Most of it is based on some new adjustments this year I am not used to and also trying to solve problems that I do not have the answer for, which I notice I ruminate a TON the last few weeks.

Powering through the day today just trying to be a little kinder to myself and taking things in stride.

Be like water my friend

 

[husky429]

You're speaking my language. I meditate every day and yes, I noticed yesterday and today that I've been harboring more stress than I usually do this time of the year.

Most of it is based on some new adjustments this year I am not used to and also trying to solve problems that I do not have the answer for, which I notice I ruminate a TON the last few weeks.

Powering through the day today just trying to be a little kinder to myself and taking things in stride.

I thought about taking off work today, but came in anyways with the notion that I can always leave once my classes are done.

Thanks for the help everyone! Much better today, but definitely battling that migraine hangover. Lots to reflect and learn from this to prevent this in the future!

Are you exercising, eating well, sleeping 8 hours?

 

[huskiesouth]

There is a fairly new drug called Quilipta, my wife takes it, tolerates it well and it has been mostly a miracle.

 

[Stinger92860]

Do you consume diet drinks?

 

[OviedoFLHusky]

Thanks for the help everyone! Much better today, but definitely battling that migraine hangover. Lots to reflect and learn from this to prevent this in the future!

Glad to hear you're feeling better.

I get occasional migraines, as well as excruciating tension headaches. My migraines are mainly triggered by stress, barometric pressure changes (common in central Florida), and red wine; while my tension headaches are of course triggered by tension (stress).

This thread has some excellent suggestions for coping. I would add the use of ice packs (put ice in a plastic bag so it can mold itself to your head's shape -- but first make sure there's no holes in the bag!). Another suggestion is to make sure you recover in a room as dark as you can make it (use a mask on your eyes to block the light if you need to). Several here have suggested coffee; the key ingredient here is caffeine. A can of Coke, or anything else with caffeine, can also be used successfully.

 

[CL82]

Both

I get migraine auras and lose my sight for 1/2 hour or more. Happens every few weeks. The headache is minor, but the loss of sight was scary as hell until I was told it was nothing to worry about. This was just another heap piled onto existing eye problems.

Temery: Doc, I get these splitting headaches and then I go completely blind for a while.

Doctor: Yeah, that’s nothing to worry about.

Temery (if he were me): Are you out of your bleeping mind? I just told you I can’t bleeping see. I go completely bleeping blind! Nothing to worry about? What the bleep is wrong with you?

 

[CL82]

Be like water my friend

Post /handle

 

[UConNick]

I think it’s all about knowing your trigger and doing the best you can to alleviate the issue. For the last decade or so, since senior year of HS, I’ve gotten one roughly every 6-8 months, and I get them BAD. Unbelievable pounding, super sensitive to light, nauseous to the point of hurling a few times, etc. And this would last me for 4-6 hours. I remember vividly one during the night of the Marquette game in early 2021, when Polley went crazy in the second half.

I eventually found that they became slightly less excruciating if I took excedrin when I knew it was coming and just laid down preemptively in a dark room with a damp washcloth over my eyes/forehead.

However, after years of being petrified, knowing one was always around the corner, I now haven’t had one for well over a year (knocks on wood), because I realized that I always seemed to get them after intensely working out for weeks on end, and doing a very poor job of drinking water. Ergo, I postulated my trigger was dehydration, and since that inference, I’ve taken the obvious steps and have been OK.

That said, I still keep one bottle of Excedrin in my nightstand. Because you never know when it’s going to rear its head again.

Edit: also, the ABSOLUTE scariest feeling is when you realize it’s coming. For me, my vision can’t focus and I feel the pounding in the head start. Manageable, at first, but it grows exponentially. Usually, once I realize my eyes can’t focus, I know I’ve got 90 minutes tops before being immobile for a few hours. It’s a rush to make sure I eat something, chug as much water as I can, make sure all my work emails are replied to, etc.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Are you exercising, eating well, sleeping 8 hours?

Not at all the same time, that would be a mess, but I work out 3-4 day per week once school starts (heavier gym workouts 2x, home workouts 2x and yoga 1x) once school starts, eat a mostly vegetarian diet and sleep better during the school year compared to the summer.

Do you consume diet drinks?

Never, except for the occasionally Propel/Gatorade mixer things, which I drink more often in the summer and almost never during the school year.

 

[auror]

My wife's triggers are stress, lack of sleep, and bacon. Possibly also coffee/caffeine, which is strange, because that's in a lot of remedies.

 

[August_West]

Both

I get migraine auras and lose my sight for 1/2 hour or more. Happens every few weeks. The headache is minor, but the loss of sight was scary as hell until I was told it was nothing to worry about. This was just another heap piled onto existing eye problems.

Ocular Migraine. I've never had a painful actual conventional migraine headache in my life, but get Ocular migraines maybe about 10 times a year for a long time now. Spots in vision and when its really running hard its like looking through a kaleidoscope without, you know, the kaleidoscope. When they first started happening I attributed to flashbacks (sadly I kid you not) but they got frequent enough where I actually saw Dr.s. Fortunately, 30-60 minutes of a dark room with my eyes shut will clear them up. Unfortunately sometimes they happen when driving, even with prescription sunglasses. I know enough know to pull over and shut down until it passes if I don't have a co-pilot. Weird, scary stuff, but like you I was told not to worry about anything but the symptoms.

 

[Apollo]

I get 1-2 per year. Find that a couple Excedrin Migraine, lots of water and rest to be the remedy.

 

[Stinger92860]

Not at all the same time, that would be a mess, but I work out 3-4 day per week once school starts (heavier gym workouts 2x, home workouts 2x and yoga 1x) once school starts, eat a mostly vegetarian diet and sleep better during the school year compared to the summer.


Never, except for the occasionally Propel/Gatorade mixer things, which I drink more often in the summer and almost never during the school year.

Propel has Potassium sorbate and Splenda as ingredients. My daughter had frequent migraines and finally gave up diet drinks. Her migraine issues have almost completely subsided. This does not sound like your issue. I wish you luck.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Not at all the same time, that would be a mess, but I work out 3-4 day per week once school starts (heavier gym workouts 2x, home workouts 2x and yoga 1x) once school starts, eat a mostly vegetarian diet and sleep better during the school year compared to the summer.


Never, except for the occasionally Propel/Gatorade mixer things, which I drink more often in the summer and almost never during the school year.

gym workouts? home workouts? you're kidding, right?

replace three or four of those 'workouts' with a good walk instead. or a simple bicycle ride. they are artificial and non-sustainable tools for health and longevity. they mess, bigtime, with your metabolic demands.
except situps -they're the antidote to the number one ailment on earth, backpain. we used to walk on all fours. a few eons of time ain't enuf to erase all that muscle and bone memory from previous.
ok, yoga is fine. ur better off replacing some of those workouts with the yoga thing, tho even yoga fails in comparison to a simple stroll. even better if the yoga is done out-of-doors. fresh air an all that. a little rain won't kill you, but trying to lift ur weight will. we weren't evolutionarily designed to do that on a regular basis.

 

[Scoe]

Go to sleep.

 

[BuffaloHusky]

I had them on average 3 to 4 times a week with varying intensity until I started Botox. Botox definitely works but most insurance companies will only allow it quarterly and it does fade in the last month of the quarter.

 

[Kathy]

I have them once or twice a month - used to be more often. Nausea, vomiting and excruciating headache. 3 ibuprofen and sleep in a very dark very cold room.

Get them less - think part was hormonal, never had them till menopause. But dropping barometric pressure and lack of sleep seem to be my triggers now.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I've never had a migraine but I've definitely used it as an excuse to cancel plans.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I get about a half dozen a year and have since my senior year in high school. I remember the first once I ever got began with the aura. It looked like sparklers in the corners of my eyes. I usually take Rizatriptan. If I don't have it with me, then I will drinka pepsi. I try to avoid drinking pepsi in general because on of he causes wouldl be caffeine withdrawal for me.
The main cause or trigger for me is dehydration. I try to stay hydrated and that usually keeps them away but every once in a while I slip and sometimes end up with a migraine as the result.

 

[Fishy]

I get them and think it could be a lack of sleep for me, or not eating enough in the morning.

Usually just those annoying auras for 30 minutes or so with some disorientation and sometimes a minor headache afterward.

The worst is wen you sense it coming but it hasn't come yet, ugh. Super annoying.

Tips? Try to get a good night's sleep and make sure you eat in the morning. A doctor from Switzerland once told me to eat (more) bananas.

It’s hard to say what the trigger is, but I can generally tell one is coming for about a day or two.

Excedrin is really the best over the counter remedy.

 

[husky429]

I've never had a migraine but I've definitely used it as an excuse to cancel plans.

I prefer IBS. I've been cultivating the impression I have it for nearly a decade now. It's my greatest victory in life. No one is ever going to follow up when I call sick out of work and allude to annihilating my toilet for hours. I can call out whenever I want.

 

[UCSouth]

Is there anything on this site that you don’t have an opinion on? And why do you feel the need to share all those opinions with us? Generally very curious.

You should be grateful for the fact that @ClifSpliffy shares his knowledge with the Boneyard, as well as his humor. There are far worse posters on here. Some, in my opinion, don't seem to know their a** from a hole in the ground. But that would be a different conversation. This is in no way an attack on you because I appreciate all of your input here.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I prefer IBS. I've been cultivating the impression I have it for nearly a decade now. It's my greatest victory in life. No one is ever going to follow up when I call sick out of work and allude to annihilating my toilet for hours. I can call out whenever I want.

100% my go to as well. People have a ton of empathy for it and it's much easier to fake and then feel better quickly than any other common bug.

I don't like missing school in general, but each year I try to book one "mental health" day off.

 

[MJKI]

@temery Consider asking your local eye doctor for a prescription for Timolol for acute migraines/ocular migraines. Studies have shown it to help significantly with reducing migraine severity within half an hour of use. It’s a very common first line drop for glaucoma actually, and a different modality than most other migraine medications, as it is a topical beta blocker.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

​

'Did she suffer from Broken Heart Syndrome?​

Dr Deb Cohen-Jones told the Daily Mail that the syndrome is about not just about losing the will to live. It has real effects on one's health: "Physiologically, losing the Duke of Edinburgh would have caused severe stress, which would have caused her cortisol levels to rise."
in an article discussing possible causes for the queens death, this was offered as a potential reason. i've known a handfull of seemingly healthy elderly women that passed soon after (6 months to a year) they're husbands did, often with noticeable weightloss first. their emotions ate them up.

cortisol is a bear, cuz,
stress is a killer.

 

[BPT2Storrs]

I’m trying to determine what the cause of my headaches are. Most of the time it’s one side of the head, right above my eye. I thought it was sinus pressure related for the longest time, but I believe they are migraines. I believe mine might be related to stress or drop in barometric pressure (or both).

In fact, I had one so bad yesterday I came home from work and laid down the entire night and was in bed by 8:30 - couldn’t stand the thought of looking at light, a screen or anything. Just wanted my eyes closed. Took to extra strength Tylenol and even that didn’t seem to work.

They are debilitating. When I get them I can’t even focus - and They make me feel nauseous as well.

 

[temery]

I’m trying to determine what the cause of my headaches are. Most of the time it’s one side of the head, right above my eye. I thought it was sinus pressure related for the longest time, but I believe they are migraines. I believe mine might be related to stress or drop in barometric pressure (or both).

In fact, I had one so bad yesterday I came home from work and laid down the entire night and was in bed by 8:30 - couldn’t stand the thought of looking at light, a screen or anything. Just wanted my eyes closed. Took to extra strength Tylenol and even that didn’t seem to work.

They are debilitating. When I get them I can’t even focus - and They make me feel nauseous as well.

'Sounds like a brain cloud.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

max planc speaks!
Experiment reveals that a one-hour walk in nature reduces amygdala activity, which may protect mental health

mebbe they should do a study on the stress-reducing value of increasing 'reps' from 15 to 25, or increasing the angle on the stairmaster from 15 to 25?
naaahhhh, that's just silly. ol max never gets involved in nonsense.

Molecular Psychiatry, an all that.