|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2010 12:20:08 GMT
I have only been afflicted by what I believe to have been a migraine headache as opposed to the garden variety headache,twice in my life, and remember every single specific about them, except what brought them on. I know a number of chronic migraine sufferers. Bless them. This piece,interesting,however,did not shed much light on what I believed I already knew instinctively. Seems a no brainer to me. www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122406376
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 22, 2010 9:24:03 GMT
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on May 21, 2010 11:27:11 GMT
There is a migraine thread but not one for headaches in general. I was really headachey this morning, with no apparent cause - did not have too much to drink or rich food to eat, was nowhere noisy, was not working long into the night or from too-small, badly-printed paper copy.
Feel a bit better after a coffee and a bit of breakfast. What triggers headaches for you?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 21, 2010 12:31:59 GMT
I almost never get a headache, except when I get the flu. If I am not already deathly ill, generally one aspirin tablet will make it go away.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 21, 2010 13:02:36 GMT
I rarely get headaches either. I can almost count the bad ones I've had,and are usually associated with an illness.The worst was when I had food poisoning. One aspirin also does the trick for me on those rare occasions I get one.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on May 23, 2010 3:00:48 GMT
Every once in a while I'll wake up with a headache that seems to have no cause. I finally figured out it happened when I'd skipped my afternoon coffee the day before. I'd gone too long without my fix!
|
|
|
Post by cristina on May 23, 2010 3:20:08 GMT
I rarely get headaches, however my oldest daughter has suffered from sporadic migraines since she was about 14, seemingly hormone related. But they generally ended up in an emergency room visit as she would lose parts of her vision temporarily, as well as the feeling on one side of her face - not to mention losing her lunch. Fortunately, they occurred rarely and seem to be less of an issue as she has grown into adulthood.
The first one scared the sh*t out of me, though, to be honest.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on May 23, 2010 8:23:14 GMT
Every once in a while I'll wake up with a headache that seems to have no cause. I finally figured out it happened when I'd skipped my afternoon coffee the day before. I'd gone too long without my fix! When we go backpacking, we don't light the stove or a fire in the morning, so no hot water for coffee. By mid-afternoon I would have a headache. Until I started carrying Anacin or Excedrin tablets with me (combination of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine in each tablet). No headache, and I hike better, too! I am not a heavy coffee drinker (I nurse maybe 2 cups during the morning and none the rest of the day), but I suffer withdrawal symptoms without it.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on May 23, 2010 15:01:53 GMT
I'm no longer a heavy coffee drinker - I cut down to usually 2 cups in the morning, will only have afternoon coffee (one) if I'm out with a friend at a café - but I still get headaches if I have none.
cristina, that episode was scary - it almost sounded like epilepsy symptoms. Glad this has subsided.
Mine are mostly vision-related. I probably need new glasses. Once again, I don't wear glasses all the time - just for some kinds of reading - but I may need some minor tinkering with the prescription.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 23, 2010 15:15:01 GMT
I'm a fairly heavy caffeine drinker (average 3-4 cups a day ,which does include iced tea in the summer). I have gone several well,at the most 2 days without, and have never gotten a headache from.
|
|
|
Post by cristina on May 24, 2010 5:19:50 GMT
I cut way back on caffeine a few years ago after experiencing blood pressure issues. I had long ago given up caffeinated sodas but retained coffee as the last caffeine hold out. When my BP suddenly went up, I lost all desire for caffeine, although I did not lose the desire for morning coffee. At this point, I drink one or 1 1/2 cups of half-caf in the morning. I still need the taste and the smell of coffee, even if if it isn't all that authentic. No tea, no soda, no other hidden caffeine indulgences (ok, sometimes a wee bit of chocolate). Lots of water. And lemonade is my splurge. p.s I know this isn't the migraine thread (which I haven't yet read), but apparently caffeine is good for migraine sufferers...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2014 1:41:16 GMT
Migraine thread. Couldn't find it under Free Clinic, wonder where it is? I'm suffering today because the weather has been so changeable and that's a trigger. Rain/sun/rain/sun ad infinitum will do it. And sugar. And alcohol. And just about anything else.
I had a scintillating scotoma last week after a long absence. I just sat in a chair and watched the light show, becuase I wasn't good for much else.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Oct 30, 2014 1:50:20 GMT
Phew! That's got to be really miserable.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2014 2:36:34 GMT
You know, since the invention of triptans things are much better. When I don't have them I'm fine, not like someone with a bad knee who is always in pain. Just wish they weren't so expensive.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Oct 30, 2014 8:24:19 GMT
About 6 or 7 years ago, I started getting headaches quite often and which were painful enough to wake me up at night and lasted a couple of days. I had all kinds of tests (teeth, eyes, scan of my face for sinus problems), last December I was finally diagnosed with migraines. It seems it's a kind of catchall phrase when there is no other explanation, since I had none of the standard symptoms like nausea or sensitivity to light. I have never been able to identify a trigger either.
The neurologist prescribed some really strong pills, plus other ones as prevention, but in fact, when I stopped using a hormone-based medicine for my osteoporosis, the headaches are less frequent, less painful and pretty much go away after a day if I just use some ibuprofen. I never used any of the medicine prescribed by the neurologist because reading the papers in the box, I discovered all kinds of side effects I didn't want to risk having. I learned my lesson by not reading the small print in the paper included in the osteoporosis medicine, where headaches are mentioned at the very bottom. The big book (Vidal) issued to doctors mentions headaches as the very first undesirable side effect.
Although a friend of mine who also developed migraines after menopause was told not to drink coffee, she finds it helps. And a nurse friend told me that caffeine dilates veins and arteries and relieves pressure and pain.
Now I just have to do something about the osteoporosis, other than the occasional Vitamin D and being active.
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Oct 30, 2014 11:47:33 GMT
My headaches lead to a diagnosis of an inoperable AVM (arterial vascular malformation) in my brain. From the time I was a young child, I had severe headaches that would often make me faint. After years of pressure by my mother, our family doctor sent me to specialists when I was 16. Abnormalities in a CT scan lead to an angiogram and it was confirmed. It is rare for an AVM to be diagnosed before a bleed but my mother was insistent something was not right and she was correct. The diagnosis changed my life, but probably saved my life by giving me the chance to make adjustments and choices to protect it.
Lizzy and bjd, I understand your frustration with headaches/migraines and hope you find ways to alleviate the pain caused by them. It is very difficult to find what works individually as the source is unique to each person.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2014 14:09:36 GMT
Many headaches are attributable to dehydration. Most people don't drink enough water (myself included). It apparently worsens as one gets older. My mother used to keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator and refill it daily. During the course of the day she would eventually consume the whole thing.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Oct 30, 2014 15:00:07 GMT
We have to think to drink water, especially after "a certain age" (menopause the signal for women, but this holds just as much for men). I often forget to, unless I'm cycling in the heat and of course take a water bottle and fill it regularly.
There is also the fear of having to pee in bitterly cold weather...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2014 16:18:37 GMT
I probably drink far too much water, if anything. I always have a glass on the go. I probably go through 3-4 litres a day. Partly because of other medications I'm on, partly because it just feels good.
I've suffered migraines since I was around 10 or so. The was a sudden exacerbation after the age of 40, so I'm not one of those women who suddenly improves with age. I tried ergotamines (in the 80s), massive painkillers, exercise, yoga, fasting, dieting, massage, chiropractic, acupuncture (once!), vitamin therapy, herbal remedies, anticonvulsives, but now I stick mostly to 1) plenty of sleep, 2) avoiding stress (ha!), 3) avoiding sugar as much as possible, 4) only drinking wine with food, avoiding beer (except for a lager on a really hot day, and even then...), and sumatriptan aka Imitrex. The only thing that works. The weather is always a factor. Rapid cycling of sun/clear or hot, hot weather will always guarantee pain.
I'm writing a play about a modern woman neurologist who has migraines and Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th c saint who was probably one of history's most famous migraineurs. I'm trying to work out what it all means.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2016 0:21:03 GMT
OK, this is fun. I have a day off today, mostly working on my computer, and I've had two migraine auras today, about 4 hours apart. No headache has hit, but I've never had two auras in one day. I've had to take breaks from the screen simply because I can't see. Hope my brain doesn't explode....
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Mar 20, 2016 7:16:28 GMT
Maybe it's spring coming on, Lizzy? I have had a bit of a headache since Friday evening. Nothing incapacitating like you, but annoying because I can feel it's there.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2016 13:03:30 GMT
Well, since writing, bjd, I've been hit with some sort of virus: lots of green mucus in my sinuses, throat pain, headache. All week I though I had spring allergies, but it turns out to be this. It might have contributed to the migraine aura.
The only thing that really bothers me about migraines is that I'm at a much higher risk of aneurysms and stroke and it seems the bloody things run in my family. My grandfather, aunt and great-aunt all died of aneurysms.
|
|
|
Headaches
Mar 20, 2016 13:44:54 GMT
via mobile
Post by Kimby on Mar 20, 2016 13:44:54 GMT
Lizzy, get your head examined if you haven't already! A CTA (cat scan angiogram) will show any potential time bomb greater than 3mm. With your family history you NEED this exam.
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Mar 20, 2016 17:38:11 GMT
I agree with Kimby Lizzy. With your family history I am sure your doctor can have a CT scan ordered.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 9, 2016 6:42:10 GMT
I just looked up this thread because a headache woke me early this morning. I had one yesterday too. I finally got up before 6 to take an ibuprofen. And I shouldn't be looking at a screen!
Not long ago, a friend talked to me about essential oils. I had a look and learned that lavender+peppermint are supposed to be good for headaches. I bought a little bottle with a roll-on top to massage the temples, but it doesn't seem to do much good. Perhaps for normal headaches, but it doesn't help for migraines.
Lizzy, did you ever go and have the CTA?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2016 6:55:37 GMT
No, I've been too busy to get to the doctor, but I have an appointment in a couple of weeks.
|
|
|
Post by chexbres on Nov 9, 2016 9:50:19 GMT
Having a whale of a migraine this morning - wonder why? If you can put some of the essential oils in or near your nostrils, it will help much better than massaging your temples. Lavender will also help a lot. You have to apply them about every two hours to be effective. I've had classic migraines since my mid-teens, when I was also diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy. If you can identify your triggers - like many of those everyone mentioned above - and stay away from them, then take medicine when you feel "impending doom" approach, this seems to be the only solution. A dentist can be a great help in diagnosing and correcting TMJ, which sometimes contributes to migraines. Sumatripan (Imitrex) is only slightly less expensive in France, unfortunately. But things like codeine/Tylenol are really cheap. The late Oliver Saks wrote a great book that might help explain what "migraineurs" go through www.oliversacks.com/books-by-oliver-sacks/migraine/
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 9, 2016 10:03:09 GMT
Having a whale of a migraine this morning - wonder why?
I had the headache before I learned that Trump had won.
I actually don't have most of the classic migraine symptoms, it's just the neurologist I finally went to see who told me that's what I have, all other possibilities having been discarded.
I'll go and sniff some lavender.
|
|