Migraines - At the end of my rope

I am 36 and have suffered with migraines since 11. I am going through a particularly stressful time (divorce) and am a single mother so I would 'expect' to have more migraines than usual; however, I am having them nearly everyday - 9 days out of the past 14. They used to be triggered by menstruation but now are pretty much constant. I am losing my mind.

I have tried massasge, acupuntcture, chiropractic. I have eliminated alcohol, dairy, chocolate, dried fruits. I am now on a ''raw until dinner'' food plan. I take preventative medication as well as medication for when I get the migraine.

I am hoping that someone out there has a new idea, advice - something. I lose SO much time to feeling terrible. I feel desperate and overwhelmed. Anon.

You don't mention exercise, so I thought to mention Seth Roberts, a self-experimenter, who wrote a post on this topic: http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/10/10/a-new-way-to-prevent-migraines/ It may give you some new ideas. I hope it makes a difference. Amy

For me there is only 1 thing to avoid - dehydration. If you have a tea, coffee, or soda (diuretics), make sure you have a gatorade and/or OJ (high in potassium) and salt. Or skip caffeine. If not on caffeine, your urine should be pretty clear. If yellow, you're dehydrated. You could also get one of those body composition bathroom scales - it'll give you an est. body water. If you're 54% water, take salt (causes you to retain water) and drink liquids. Be extra sensitive to this when you're about to menstruate, 'cause your body retains water and you'll need more. Remember, if you've taken diuretics, you've washed away your salts and drinking water alone won't be sufficient to get hydrated. Large amounts of water will even dehydrate your further (rinses more salt out of you, and salt is what keeps the water). Good luck and I hope this helps you!

I still have headaches every day, but average 1-2 bad days per week. I usually treat them with a triptan, now that I did my ''triptan withdrawal'' a la Buccholz' book. I use triptans no more than once a week. Best wishes, I hope you get better soon! s

There is someone at UCSF who does this treatment. Sorry I don't have any more details, but it would be worth a call to UCSF. Neurology maybe? anon

I tried elimination diets, too. And was doing acupuncture. What helped me was finding out that my hormone levels were seriously out of whack. Regular bloodwork showed nothing. It was through saliva testing that this was determined. Once I was able to work on balancing out the hormones, things started to improve dramatically. Dietary changes, adding in more exercise and some plant-based hormone supplementation seemed to do the trick. This may not be appropriate to your situation, but I'm throwing it out there as a possibility.

Best of luck to you in your endeavor to find freedom from migraines. the_missus

Other things may be food triggers. It is completely frustrating I understand. The final thing if none of this works is to see a pain management consultant. Feel free to email me. Lori

Have you already eliminated alcohol, chocolate, cheese, preserved meats, and tropical oils from your diet? (That's a good idea even if you don't have headaches.)

I assume you've already had an MRI of your brain and had your heart checked to eliminate other more serious causes of migraines. Headache free

I just wanted to say that I am so grateful to all of you who responded to my migraine post. I feel better just reading that I am not alone in this! Many of the recommendations I have tried in the past but there were also several new ideas that I am going to follow-up with.

Again, thank you. I feel fortunate to be part of this compassionate, creative and honest forum. Take care, Karena

Post-pregnancy vision/possible migraine problems?

It's a stretch, almost, to say that I am ''post-pregnancy'' as my child is now 8 months, but I am saying it partly because my cycle has still not returned (I weaned at 5 months).

But here's the thing - I find that I am having trouble seeing clearly, with glasses more than contacts, and I think that twice in the last month or so I have had SLIGHT migraines (is that even possible? I was mostly sensitive to light and felt ''out of sorts'').

I went to my eye doctor and she said my prescription is fine (she wouldn't even look at the glasses though, which irritated me) and said my eye health is fine. She said I should go to my primary care physician because the brain processes images. I said, ''Do I have a tumor?'' And she said, ''probably not.'' Then she added that dry eyes can affect you this way. I said ''well, my eyes HAVE been really dry and drops do clear it up sometimes.'' She said, ''well you didn't come here complaining about dry eyes, so I doubt it's that.'' But I didn't really KNOW I had dry eyes until I put 2 and 2 together and figured out that when I wake up in the morning and can't keep my eyes open because they hurt, it's because they're dry.

Anyway, so I did some research on dry eyes and migraines and it seems both can be caused by hormonal imbalances and I'd say that I must be unbalanced because my period is not yet back.

So I guess I'm just wondering - has this happened to anyone else after pregnancy? Did your vision even in glasses (usually I see GREAT in glasses and the prescrip is new and correct) get a bit wonky? I have never had migraines before either - and now I think I have had two. Help? --Just want everything back to normal.

What my doc said is that while migraines can be hormonally related, migraines also tend to start in women around 30-35 yrs which coincides with childbearing so we often attribute it to childbearing when it really can just be that you're at the age that they come on (for whatever non-pregnancy related reason).

Sounds to me like you're starting to get migraines and if you are not breastfeeding there's no reason for you not to get a prescription to help deal with it.

And lighten up on your eye doctor. R

1) Use a very goopy artificial tear at bedtime--using an ointment would be even better. Some ''goopy'' tears are: Genteal Gel, Celluvisc, Refresh Liquigel. If this makes you feel more comfy in the AM, then continue to use.

2) During the day, use artificial tears at regular intervals regardless of whether you feel you need them or not. Some good ones to try are: Systane, Theratears, or Blink. I'd say use every couple of hours to start.

Very dry eyes can cause light sensitivity, and tear chemistry definitely related to hormonal changes. I'm sorry your eye doctor did not work with you well to determine your problem. However, one reason they probably didn't pursue your problem at the end of the exam is that you can't test for tear film once the drops used to dilate your eyes has already happened. That's probably why you were blown off a bit once you realized dryness might be your problem.

Will this improve? Well, maybe yes and maybe no. Everyone's eyes get drier as function of age, so we all have that to look forward to. And, pregnancy can cause temporary or more permanent changes. Plus, if you have a little one, you are probably getting less sleep--and that doesn't help dry eyes. Plus, your level of hydration, the weather, pollution--there are many things that affect dry eyes.

I suggest you do both suggestions at top religiously for 2 weeks, then reassess. If it hasn't helped--you should get another opinion from another doc. If it has--then keep going! Start to reduce the number of drops to see how few you can do without being symptomatic! Optometrist

I agree-you should see your primary care doctor. He or she might send you to a headache specialist or neurologist. Probably, things will settle down within the next year. But check it out anyway. Headaches are no fun

Sinus headache or migraine?

I have had migraines for years and have figured out how to control them pretty well. But in the last few months I have had what I think are sinus headaches several times. These are new to me and I don't now how to deal with them. I will see my doctor about the situation, but I am wondering what others have done to find relief from sinus headaches? aching

I began to have what I thought were terrible sinus headaches at 35. I went to a doc at Kaiser and explained the sx to him (sinuses ''popping'', stuffiness, pain which seemed deep in my head behind my nose) and he thought it sounded like a migraine. We did x rays and found no infection, but I was incredulous and he ended uo giving me Flonase. The headaches continued until I accidentally discovered that progesterone cream made them go away. (Was using it to aid fertility). Turns out, I had perimenopausal headaches. You might want to look into it. feeling better

Pounding headaches during pregnancy

Hi all: I'm 15 weeks pregnant with my 2nd and having the worst ''spot'' headaches... hoping someone out there might be able to help! I had these with my first baby, but only at the very end of my pregnancy (the last 6 or so weeks). They went away after my daughter was born.

The headache is a dull, painful throbbing directly behind/below my right ear. No where else. I've tried to look for triggers but can't seem to find any consistent pattern - they don't seem to be stress induced, I'm getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water, etc. I've also tried Tylenol in desperation but it does nothing...

Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, is there anything that helps? I can get them to go away if I lie down and sleep for a while, but with a 2 year old and a full time job, that is not exactly a reality for me! Some massaging of the spot helps, but not enough to make them go away. They last for a day or so.

Thanks for any advice!! Mama with a pounding head

My suggestion: Talk to your OB about it! I will tell you what mine did, but you should talk to your own doc about it and s/he will likely follow a similar course. First of all, I was maxing out on over-the-counter Tylenol and that's not healthy. So she put me on Vicadin instead. It worked a bit better but importantly isn't bad on the liver or whatever. Second, she told me to take caffeine when it was bothering me! Of course that's what we're all told not to take so I'd been off caffeine since my first pregnancy. But it really has helped SO much. If I get a headache, I get a cup of regular coffee in me and it makes a world of difference. The reason is this: the headaches are caused by your increased blood flow from the pregnancy. The blood is trying to flow through the same size vessels. Caffeine dilates the vessels giving that blood more room to move. Note that this also should primarily be early in your second trimester when the blood flow is increasing rapidly. So the end is likely in sight.

Anyways, I assume it's the same cause for you and these solutions will work for you, too. But it really is something to run by your doc first. S/he might have other suggestions as well.

Good luck - literally, I feel your pain but it gets better but it's worth taking something to get through it. Head Ache Mom

Migraines--Nortryptalene

I suffer from debilitating headaches when I'm on my period and once or twice at other times of the month. I have not discovered an ingested trigger (e.g. hormones, alcohol, caffiene, wheat, etc.). My family practitioner has suggested nortryptalene as a daily preventative drug to reduce the frequency and the duration of the headaches. I take triptans to abort the headaches. Anyone out there have experience taking nortryptalene as a migraine prevention treatment or for depression? I'm curious about side-effects and general effectiveness. thanks so much. m

Some of them were identifiable migraines, some of them probably atypical migraines, & some were other types. I eventually saw a headache specialist who told me that once you've had migraines it sets you up for all the varieties of headaches.

My headache bouts have lessened a great deal in the last few years, both in frequency & intensity, & I when I do get a headache, tylenol's usually enough to chase it away (if not, the only thing that works for me is vicodin). I can't say (with one exception, see below) exactly what to ascribe the improvement to, as I have bipolar II disorder & Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, have to take several different daily meds, the meds & dosages have gotten tweaked pretty often over the years, & it's impossible to say exactly which is doing what.

But here's a little med info for you anyway, I can't tie any of it to the headache changes for certain, but maybe something will be useful:

I took Nortriptyline for several yrs for depression in a very low dose & it helped some. When I switched psychiatrists my new one changed me to Surmontil (which is a rather obscure older tri-cyclic AD) at a higher dose, & it's helped more w/the depression.

I've taken Neurontin for a good number of yrs in varying dosages, & that helps some people with headaches- don't know if it's been a factor for me, can only say that it has a calming effect.

I also take Lamictal (mood stabilizer), Levothroid (thyroid), Adderall (as an anti-dep, not for ADHA), & hormone replacement (including methyltestosterone). Also 6000mg of fish oil.

The one thing I can say for absolute certain is that after seeing the headache specialist and beginning to pay really close attention to possible triggers, I realized that any time I ingested ANY aspartimane, even the amount in a tiny mint, I got a horrible blinding headache within a few minutes. Now I never go near the stuff, & haven't had even one of that particular type of headache since. Anon

I have had friends try Topamax for migraine prophylaxis with good results too. My neurologist said that sometimes people feel a little less ''mentally clear'' when on Topamax, and I just couldn't risk that because my job requires all my mental clarity and then some! Good luck! I'm with ya

Alternative migraine treatments

I'm looking for recommendations for either chiropractors or acupuncturists who specialize in migraine treatment. I've used traditional treatments for 8 years now, and while they generally assuage the pain, I'd like to reduce the frequency of the migraines (something which traditional preventative treatments have been unsuccessful at doing). I've looked at the archives and only see two recommendations, one for a practitioner about whom I've heard very mixed reviews. Thanks in advance for your recommendations. Frequent migraine sufferer

Migraines, menopause, and motherhood

I am a 46 year-old mother who is also on the verge of menopause (my mother and garandmother had theirs at 45). I've been experiencing an increase in monthly emotional moodswings, along with angry outbursts, anxiety, and uncontrollable crying. I've even experienced what I think are occasional hot flashes. I feel especially irritable and very depressed right before a migraine, and then when the migraine is over I'm happy again, and am able to be calm and level headed. I feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde. The worse part of all of this is that I have a 6 year old daughter. I hate it when my emotions get out of control, especially infront of her. And during these mood swings, and especially when a migraine is coming on, I have no patience at all with my duaghter. She is incredibly strong willed and loves to challenge me. I sometimes honestly believe that she enjoys driving me crazy. Little things drive me crazy, like when she is jumping up and down like a jumping bean that just won't quite. Or when she keeps hanging on me, bumping up against me or just touching me. I feel like I'm being suffocated. I'm not like this all the time. It comes and goes. But when a migraine comes, that's the worse. I just want to die. Sometimes I feel like I should have never had a child because I can't handle it when I'm in pain. I have no family here or super close friends that I can count on when I get a migraine. And I can't keep asking my husband to come home from work early so he can take care of our duaghter. I feel terribly guilty for all the times I've yelled at my daughter. I even slapped her in the face a few times and I feel especially horrible about that. I just can't take the hormone fluctuations anymore. I honestly look forward to old age just so I don't have to deal with it.

How do you mothers who waited 'til late in life to have kids deal with the intense hormonal stuff and raising your children? How do you keep from damaging your child? And what about you migraine sufferers who have kids? What do you all do with your children when you are sick in terrible pain? How do you cope?

Also, is there a therapist or group that I can join that deals with mothers entering the menopausal years? And is there an alternative healer that can help me with all my mood disorders? Herbs, accupuncture, what ever. I am willing to try anything that is sensible and proven to work. Even a good book to read. I just need some relief, guidance, and a way to cope.

Post-partum migraines

Does anyone know of a place/person that does biofeedback? I developed migraines after my son was born 2 years ago. Since I'd like to try for another child later in the year and my medication options will be limited, I'm looking into alternative therapies. I live in Alameda but any location in the Bay Area is fine. Anonymous

Struggling with migraines during pregnancy

Can anybody recommend a good accupuncturist in either San Francisco or the East Bay? I'm 7 weeks pregnant and am struggling with a migraine that won't go away. Migraines aren't unusual for me as I've had them all my life. What is unusual is that I can't rely upon my regular medications due to pregnancy. As a result, I'm looking for an accupuncturist with experience in pregnancy, chronic pain, or ideally, both. Any help would be appreciated. On a related note - does anybody have a recommendation for an Ob- Gyn who specializes in pregnancy and chronic pain? Ideally, this person would be affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco? Thanks. lj

Migraine Equivalence

Has anyone on this network ever suffered from what is called ''migraine equivalence,'' which is migraine-related symptoms, such as extreme vertigo, light-sensitivity and nauseau, with no headache? I had never even heard of this condition until I had it for the first time last year. When I had it before it lasted for about a month, gradually lessening in intensity, and then mysteriously went away.

I just started suffering from this again recently and this past week has been awful. I have barely been able to get out of bed in the morning and the medicine my doctor prescribed for me is a combo of one motion sickness pill (mecclazine) and one valium, which is almost as bad as just being dizzy all the time. Does anyone know of natural remedies or any types of alternative treatments?

I am fairly desperate at this point, so I am open to suggestions. Thanks, Dizzy and Don't Like It

SO, having stated my ''qualifications'' to give you advice, here it is: go to a neurologist. It sounds weird to me that your doc is describing what you're going through as migraine. I like Dr. Starkey in Oakland, near Pill Hill. He is down to earth and can explain to you in plain English what is going on. I will warn you that a migraine to a neurologist seems to be about as exciting as a common cold is to an internist. But at least you'll feel better with a little more knowledge. fellow migraineur (sounds glamourous, doesn't it??)

Worried about working and chronic migraines

Hi. I'm hoping someone on the network can help me. I've had migraines since I was a teenager and I'm now in my mid thirties. I'm seeing a neurologist and we're working on managing the migraines.

I'm going into my second semester of graduate school, and I'm on the fast track for graduation. In other words, I have enough experience to get my master's degree in my department in 3 semsters instead of 2-3 years.

I'm making it through school, but I'm getting nervous about the work world and my migraines. They aren't considered a ''disability '' under the Americans with disabilites act.

Is there anyone in the network that has chronic migraines and works? I'd like to know how to balance the two, especially when the migraines still seem so unmanageable to me. Beth

I have learned to travel with the medication, and since then I have rarely had to miss time from work. Been there too

Migraines and Pregnancy

Does anyone have any suggestions for relieving migraines during pregnancy? Thanks Rochelle