Migraine, Triggers, Stressors And Combatents - I Want Your Personal View.

kissthisangel

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2015
Messages
478
Purraise
361
I'll open this post by saying it's not going to be a particularly short one.

I've suffered from Migraine since I was 9, around the same time I started puberty. As much as the doctors tell me that it's not related to that I can't help but feel that there IS some correlation. I don't know. I'm not medically trained and I've heard many, many different opinions on the subject.

One thing that does stick in my mind is that a nurse said "It's unusual not to find a common trigger" ( I should note I'm 26 now, so that's 17 years of intermittent, yet debilitiating migraine symptoms). She's probably right, 17 years is a very long time to suffer from a condition without being able to pinpoint a certain trigger. As migraine sufferers will understand or may not, it's just not as simple as that. For some it will be.. Oh I get this every time I eat (e.g) cheese. Then you stop eating cheese Others can attribute the pain to red wine, or a particular smell, or stress or lack of, or another form of emotional or physical tension.

For me I've been through a whole ritual of cutting things out of my life. Caffiene is one of the main "recognised" triggers of migraine. I used to drink ALOT of diet coke. In fact I would pretty much solely drink diet coke. Twice now I've cut it out. Completeley. First time it didn't change anything I put this down to withdrawal. This time it's not changed anything in relation to my migraines either but I am feeling healthier overall so I'm pretty certain I'm going to stick to it. After about 6 weeks it's hard I do want it but if it's a possible trigger I won't go back. I've also cut out citrus, tannins (except for one weak tea in the mornings because I'm british it's the equivalent to morning coffee).

I just don't know where to go, I mentioned how stressed I am to the DR but the medication they'd put me on for stress I'm on 10X that for my migraine anyway.

I feel like the more I get worked up about trying not to be stressed, the more stressed I get. I've changed alot of things, diet, medication, contraception. I don't feel I'm getting anywehere. I was just hoping someone else on here had maybe a similar experience I guess.
 

arouetta

Slave of Bastet's acolytes
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 31, 2016
Messages
2,117
Purraise
2,891
Caffeine is a mixed bag, some people actually get migraine relief because it has a physical effect on the blood vessels in the head.

I was told my seborrheic dermatitis wasn't related to my menstrual cycles. Kinda hard to believe that when it waxes and wanes with my menstrual cycle, even the outbreak in my ears. Ears are kinda far away from one's vagina. So yeah, you know your body better than any doctor does, there could be a correlation.

But that does call into question something. What is the current correlation between your migraines and your menstrual cycle? Could the cause be your hormones rather than an external cause? If there is a correlation then maybe the cure would be birth control pills.
 

Ardina

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Apr 10, 2017
Messages
822
Purraise
1,168
I also get migraines, and it's absolutely miserable. I basically lose the entire afternoon/evening - I can't do anything once it hits besides lie down in a dark room and try to sleep through the worst of it. Thankfully, sumatriptan has worked incredibly well for me, as long as I recognize the beginning symptoms and take it early enough.

I'm kind of surprised that your doctors have told you it's unrelated to your menstrual cycle. Hormones are a well-known trigger of migraines, and many women get them right before their periods start. Yes, avoiding triggers is helpful, but this is clearly something you can't avoid, so you might want to try finding another doctor, preferably a neurologist to get reevaluated and prescribed the right medication. Migraine medications come in two types - preventative ones that you take daily and that reduce the frequency/intensity of migraines and abortive ones that you take only when you feel the migraine coming on. Hope you can find the right med and get some relief soon!
 

arouetta

Slave of Bastet's acolytes
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 31, 2016
Messages
2,117
Purraise
2,891
You know, a bit of memory kicked in. My daughter had a migraine as a child and I was told by a neurologist to watch her carefully during puberty because child migraines are rare, migraines usually start at puberty, and the one migraine made her chances of puberty triggering migraines much higher. So yeah, hugely big correlation between onset of puberty and migraines.
 

cassiopea

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 30, 2013
Messages
4,795
Purraise
5,676
Location
Ontario, Canada
My father had fairly debilitating migraines, same with my uncle.

The largest connection was a weather factor, particularly sudden change in air pressure (Other ones included stress and dehydration). The good news is about the weather being the issue is that it isn't your fault - no worrying about needing to constantly find things to cut out or balance. The bad news is you can't really control the weather, although if knowing ahead of time you can help prevent the suffering in any case. If a storm is coming, humidity etc

My friend found out that problems with her teeth caused her migraines. That might be something to consider too if not explored already.

Nowadays there are migraine apps that correlate specifically with local weather patterns, to give users a heads up of an possible upcoming migraine. Another app, while I haven't used it myself so can't confirm much, is Migraine Buddy, that helps track, record, manage and identify triggers. Another one apparently is Migraine Coach.

Migraines can also be caused by very strong smells, sounds etc.

"Feel like the more I get worked up about trying not to be stressed, the more stressed I get." Goodness I am totally guilty of this too :paranoid:


In any case, not sure if throwing more theories at you may help, so will throw in some floofy stuff now too....don't overthink, it can cause such needless unhappiness and creates problems that don't even exist. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself in other ways, whether a spa day, a girls night out or tea, kitties and a book. Remind yourself to take a deep breath, hand in there, keep calm and continue on, and things are going to be just fine.






You WILL get an answer someday. It is guaranteed. In the meantime, remember not to let the world evolve around searching for that answer, and let migraines take over your world. That will just fuel those darn things anyway.

All easier said than done of course, it takes a bit of inner training. But you got this! The less you focus on figuring things out the more likely things will get figured out on their own.


On a side note, have you tried searching and contacting a doctor that is specifically a migraine specialist? And/or a migraine clinic? You can also consider other types of doctors, such as a Ophthalmologist who can look into your eyesight, as they can spot other types of facial pain and headache associations. Or even a dentist, as mentioned already from my friend.

I really don't know much about UK organizations, and I am pretty sure you know them already, but there are some foundations you can tinker with. The Migraine Trust - a patient focused, research driven UK charity or Migraine Action | The UK's leading support and advisory charity for people affected by migraine For obvious things like info and to not feel so alone.


Pardon my long reply, and best of luck and well wishes! :hugs::hugs: Migraines are a huge pain, and definitely an understandable circumstance.
 

catlover73

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 3, 2006
Messages
2,627
Purraise
1,541
Location
Chicago area
I have suffered from migraines for years now. I know my migraines are not triggered by food or caffeine. Mine tend to be triggered by the weather the main issue being big changes in the barometric pressure. Also heat and high humidity levels are triggers. I am expecting tomorrow to be a bad migraine day for me due to weather. Hubby and I watched the weather forecast together tonight and he immediately told me tomorrow would be a lazy watch tv day. He made no plans for us to do anything tomorrow at all. We are supposed to go out with friends tomorrow night but hubby told me if I am sick he will call and cancel our plans. My friend's hubby gets migraines too so she understands if I have to change plans due to them. Hubby already told me he will go get Starbucks in the morning when we wake up if I have a migraine. Caffeine for me helps get rid of them. If I am not sick then we are planning to do some cleaning.
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,730
Purraise
28,024
Location
In the kitchen
I started with migraines, complete with the aura, at the age of 11. I missed most of my sixth grade of school because of migraines and the only thing that got me through was the fact that I managed to pass all my tests....don't ask me how. I did much of my school work at home. I was at the hospital with all kinds of tests being done and they just said, "Oh, she has migraines". And that was that. I had our son at 16 and, for the most part, the migraines went away. Oh, from time to time, I'd get one, but I could deal with them.

Then I hit 40. And the migraines came back with a vengeance, along with the aura. But the aura had changed. For me, the aura used to be that one side of my body would go numb; the migraine would hit the other side of my head. So if the right side of my body went numb, the headache would occur on the left side of my head. That stopped; now the aura is letters or words disappearing when I'm reading or on the computer. I'd be reading the word "lines" and the "i"" and the "n" disappear. Or I'd be driving and one of the 5's in the 55 mph speed limit signs would disappear. Then I'd see flashing jagged colored lines diagonally out of both eyes. And I knew I had to get to bed or lie down somewhere, even if it was in the back of my car. Nausea, sound, light....those are my symptoms. And the intense throbbing pain. It's not pretty.

I found Excedrin for Migraines and it actually worked fairly well. No, it didn't completely get rid of the pain, but it took the worst of the pain away. I could function, at least, I could go to work and do my job.

Then I developed an allergy to pretty much all OTC pain meds. My face started to swell when I even took a baby aspirin. So no more pain meds. Period. The prescription pain meds never did much for my migraines really, never even took the edge off. So now? I deal with the pain. When I get a really bad migraine, I go to bed. Sometimes an ice-cold Coke will help, probably because of the caffeine. But that's it. There's nothing I can take to help with the pain anymore. And I just deal. When they're really bad and I can't see, then I go to bed and the cats will snuggle up next to me. I also realized that I don't get a medal or anything if I go to work when I'm in pain....sometimes I really need that sick day. Wonder Woman, I am not.

I have found that red wine and Smirnoff Ice will trigger a migraine. Or if I eat a lot of junk food one day, I can usually figure the next day I'll be in trouble. I try to be careful what I eat for the most part for that very reason. Weather will also trigger a migraine for me....when there's a lot of humidity in the air and it's 90+ degrees outside, a migraine will often hit. And sometimes, the migraine just comes and I've no idea what happened to trigger it. If it hits at night, I've often said it's like somebody rammed an ice pick through either side of my temple. It wakes me up and then I'm done. Mine are usually on my left side, why that is I don't know.

Have you actually kept a food journal for a year or so? I know that's a real pain to do, but over time, it gives you an idea of what's going on. My doctor suggested it to me and I did it for several years. You can't just stop eating or drinking something if you don't really know what's going on. Yes, chances are caffeine is a trigger, but if you kept a journal, you would have a better idea of what your triggers might be.

Migraines can also be hereditary. My grandmother had horrible migraines and Mom told me that Grandma suffered with them for 2-3 days before they'd dissipate. FWIW, mine were not related to menstrual cycles. I had a total hysterectomy when I was 24 years old; I've never had a cycle since then.
 

neely

May the purr be with you
Veteran
Joined
Dec 22, 2005
Messages
19,635
Purraise
47,800
I have suffered from migraines for years now. I know my migraines are not triggered by food or caffeine. Mine tend to be triggered by the weather the main issue being big changes in the barometric pressure. Also heat and high humidity levels are triggers. I am expecting tomorrow to be a bad migraine day for me due to weather. Hubby and I watched the weather forecast together tonight and he immediately told me tomorrow would be a lazy watch tv day. Hubby already told me he will go get Starbucks in the morning when we wake up if I have a migraine. Caffeine for me helps get rid of them.
What a coincidence, I live in the Chicago area too and am home on the sofa with a whopper migraine today. It's supposed to pour all day with severe storms and the possibility of hail tonight. My trigger is also weather, especially humidity and change in barometric pressure. I never had a migraine in my life until I entered the lovely, or should I say not so lovely, stage of menopause. At first I had no idea what was wrong. It was definitely the hormonal change for me.

Caffeine likewise helps for me and, another coincidence, DH is going to Starbucks for me this afternoon. I made my favorite brand of coffee this morning. But I love the Americano's from Starbucks. :thumbsup: I do not take a daily preventative med. but rather one when I have a throbbing migraine from weather. On days I have to work it can be awful going in with a migraine especially since I work in special education and have to focus a great deal. I usually inform the other staff I have a migraine and they are very understanding. I turn off one set of lights in the class room and try to turn down the noise level as best I can. Another teacher who suffers from migraines and can commiserate told me her doctor recommended drinking a lot of water so I figured it can't hurt to try.

i agree with other members that you should get a referral for a knowledgeable neurologist. In the meantime, do not deprive yourself of sleep. Sleep is very important when suffering from migraines. My best wishes to you and please check back to update us. :hugs:
 
Last edited:

Mother Dragon

Cat slave
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
Messages
1,514
Purraise
7
Location
Suburban Houston, TX
I'm not a migraine sufferer, so I can't speak from experience. However, I've been told that chocolate can trigger them. What a horrible thought!

Several friends, plus some doctors, have found that brain freeze helps. An Icee or a Coke made into an icy slurry, or even hard ice cream held to the roof of the mouth long enough to induce really bad brain freeze and repeated several times is supposed to help the blood vessels relax and lessen or end the pain. You have to hold it a while, not gulp it down when you feel the first pain, as we usually reflexively do. It has to be a good dose of freeze.

If any of you have tired this, please let me know if it works.
 

neely

May the purr be with you
Veteran
Joined
Dec 22, 2005
Messages
19,635
Purraise
47,800
Speaking from personal experience, chocolate does not trigger a migraine for me, however, everyone is individual. Brain freeze will actually give me a headache. But thanks for the suggestions. ;)
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

kissthisangel

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2015
Messages
478
Purraise
361
Thank you all for your replies, I was not expecting such an overwhelmingly helpful response.

Mother Dragon Mother Dragon - thankfully I'm not a massive fan of chocolate anyway and so it doesn't matter to me that I don't eat it often. I can't say I've noticed any correlation between chocolate and my episodes of Migraine. I may well try to use the icee method next time and report back. thanks!

neely neely - I'm sorry your migraines are triggered by weather, as other posters touched on it's not something we can controll. I find it hard to do my job in a call centre when I have a migraine but it sure helps when people are understanding!

Winchester Winchester thank you for sharing your experiences, I can't say I've kept a journal for a whole year. We normally eat similar meals on rotation at one point I did think that spice was causing my migraines, but then I hardly ever eat a hot curry, and I get them far more frequently than that. Perhaps I'll re-visit the diary again at least for a couple of months to see if there is any pattern now thanks.


cassiopea cassiopea thank you so much for your thoughtful post. I had not really thought to look for an app to assist me in tracking the episodes and I will look for one tomorrow, thanks. I also really appreciate the picture you put up. Since I've been struggling with this more and more I seem to have lost alot of the confidence in myself too. I don't think I really realised until I wrote about it here.

arouetta arouetta and Ardina Ardina thank you both for your posts, I have both a preventative medication ( propanalol slow release) and a triptan (zolmitriptan this was since sumatriptan did not work for me) I'm also now on Cerazette which is a no-break and no bleed pill. I was previously on the implant, which my drs told me that couldn't be causing an increase in my migraine and that I shouldn't come off it, but I just really felt it wasn't right for me anymore. The nurse I spoke to was more of the opinion that going back to a natural cycle would be beneficial. I wanted to go back on microgynon30 since that's the pill I was on from about 14 to 20 and that seemed to work but when I spoke to the DR about this they said that pill was dangerous to people with migraine.


Again I'd like to thank everyone for replying, I feel like I'm not the only one floundering alone in this whole migraine storm and I will most definately utilise the suggestions that you all have made. Thank you so so much :thanks::rbheart:
 

arouetta

Slave of Bastet's acolytes
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 31, 2016
Messages
2,117
Purraise
2,891
Talk to your doctor about Depakote. Apparently it's supposed to be really, really good as a migraine preventative. The bad thing though is it makes you gain weight....a lot of weight.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

kissthisangel

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2015
Messages
478
Purraise
361
If anyone is still subb'd to this, I stayed on cerazette, I kept on with Propanolol 160 slow release and I now only experience Migraine about 1-2 times a month, I'm usually able to control it with an OTC med which is Ibuprofen + Lysene but stress increases the odds for migraine. None of my doctors will sign of "stress" as a cause so not really any further forward in an employment situation. Personally though it does help me manage it better which is a great step forward.
 

neely

May the purr be with you
Veteran
Joined
Dec 22, 2005
Messages
19,635
Purraise
47,800
I'm glad your migraines have lessened to 1-2 times p/month. I've always felt you know your own body best and how it reacts to different stimuli, stress definitely being one of them. Thanks for the update. :thumbsup:
 

MoonstoneWolf

Cat Food Bowl Referee
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
4,590
Purraise
4,140
Location
St. Louis MO
I suffered migraines for 55 years. And this may sound hocus pocus but the one thing that helped me get rid of them was Brain Massage CD by Kelly Howell. I will swear by that CD (binaural beats). Please do not substitute this for medical treatment though. You still want to find a migraine specialist to help with your headaches. Trust me Mine was non stop all 55 years. Some days were just better than others but it was still there.
 

MonaLyssa33

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 10, 2018
Messages
3,537
Purraise
9,420
Location
Minneapolis
In the last year, I actually learned that what I was experiencing was migraines. They are mild though and happen most often when I'm outside for long periods of time without sunglasses. Apparently people with lighter colored eyes are more prone to getting migraines from sun exposure. Since I have light-colored eyes, I've had to really make sure I am wearing sunglasses when I'm going to be outside for a long time.
 
Top