[News] Migraines

[Nakamova]

Since many people with epilepsy, also suffer from migraines, the NYTimes article below may be of interest:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/30/he...tml?ref=health

[Rae1889]

Good Article Nak!

[Bernard]

Bold emphasis mine:

...
"Some early data suggests that if you let headache pain go without treatment it can lower your threshold for pain down the line," Dr. Saper said. In other words, untreated headaches can make you more vulnerable to pain.

On the other hand, if you are taking over-the-counter or prescription painkillers two to three days a week for months on end, the medications you are taking to dull pain could worsen your condition. You may then start to experience medication-overuse headaches - a risk for migraine sufferers.

Researchers are learning that pain and the medications used to treat pain can potentially change the biology of the brain.
...

...
Your doctor might suggest some natural remedies too — like vitamin B2, coenzyme Q10, magnesium or butterbur, an herb that is sold under the name Petadolex — which some specialists say can help reduce both the frequency and intensity of your headaches. These supplements are not covered by insurers but all are relatively inexpensive.
...

They forgot to mention oxygen therapy.

[Cint]

Migraines Force Sufferers to Do Their Homework

By LESLEY ALDERMAN
January 29, 2010

"The best ones pay attention to what you say,” said Ms. Louder, who is a chamber of commerce executive in Maryland. “One doctor I saw had a treatment plan in mind before I’d said a word. Then she kept telling me my migraines were due to stress, which was an oversimplification.”

The best doctors take time to LISTEN first!

Sufferers inherit a hypersensitivity to physical and emotional events — like stress, noise, certain foods and even bad weather. Learning to identify the circumstances that can set off an attack is important in migraine management.

Dr. Dodick said, “Recognizing triggers can prevent attacks from occurring.” After keeping a diary, Ms. Louder learned, for instance, that low-pressure storm systems, meats with nitrates and many other preservatives induced her migraines.

I can tell a day in advance that a low pressure system is coming my way because my headache is beginning.

[Crystal11]

Good article- thanks.
I have had a few migraines while in college- just thought it was stress related or whatever. But when I started getting them after a complex partial seizure- I knew something was up. Then one week before going to my new neurologist, I got a straight up migraine from he**. I was sitting in my living room and realized that I was hurting real bad- throbing constant annoying pain. My friend helped by rubbing my head gently or my temples- and boy, that burned so so bad. I got sick instantly and could not tolerate the pain of touch or light - my vision impairement also causes light sensitivity- so that didn't help at all! I was so sick for 4 days all from a migraine! I almost went to the E.R. for it- which I should have... but said "Wait one more day and if you don't feel better- then go to ER."
I was being my normal stubborn self.
So when I did see my neurologist, I told him about that bad headaches, the ones in the past, as well as the ones that come after a seizure. He diagnosed me with mirgraines with auras. This, I didn't really understand- I just thought they were real bad headaches. On that occassion before my neurology visit, I took 6 Tylenol before bed think it would help. My neurologist said "That only made it worse." I was in so much pain- I thought I was getting some weird illness or something.
Anyway- I am learning more about Migraine now- and will be asking more of my neurologist.
I had to go to ER a week or so ago for another horrible migraine- this time I took two Excedrin with food and I got even more sick. Took Pepto and that didn't even work- I was not able to stop it and already had had a seizure that morning. So EMS came for me- gave me a shot of something in the ambulace for dizziness and nausea but then I had a seizure- a shorter complex partial- and she gave me something else.. don't know what it is though..
But I got a Phenergan shot in the ER and I had a reaction to it. Won't be getting those anymore! That shot left me falling asleep standing up, could not drink water, could not hardly speak, and would not stand on my own. Those are not normal signs of being on that medicine.
Anyway- sorry for long story here- good article with good info I've never heard before..

Thanks

[valeriedl]

I get very bad migraines after I have a sez. I don't know what my neurologist was thinking when I asked him if he could give me something for them. They would last for hours and I would go through 3 or 4 ice packs on my head until I finally fell asleep.

My neurologist kept telling me that I needed to go to a headache clinic. I told him that I don't get headaches like this all the time, only after a sez. He did give me a perscription for butal-apap-325 caff tab mik. I really don't know if they worked or not because I had the really bad migraine after the last sez until I fell asleep.

Can anyone suggest something?

[epileric]

There is someone on this site who overcame migraines by supplementing her diet with Magnesium.

You might get more responses by introducing yourself in the foyer.

In the meantime-Welcome