Migraines are miserable -- hours, even days, of head-pounding pain.
They're real and debilitating. Just ask the millions of Americans - as many as one in ten -- who have been suffering with them for years, and were told that the problem was psychological.
Nowadays, migraines are understood as a real, physical illness, and a public health issue.
Listen to an On Point discussion about living with migraines.
Do you or someone you know get migraines? How have they affected your or their life?
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 10
Yes, I want to confirm the woman who called in about seasonal sensitivities, for years and to this day I can predict a Winter storm or cold, damp Spring Rain. Migraine attack always appear, and I can still predict, cause I experience a tightness in my head on the right side.
The most debilitating attack was one that lasted 11 days. When I was younger 17-38 yrs old, I did experience visual changes along with nausea and the results of nausea. The visual experience was like looking through wavy lines of water, with only a very narrow viewing area in the center, the hole in the center of the tornado. Migraines always arrived before or during menstruation, but did change after menopause, not cease.
When I was 24 I finally went to see my doctor and he prescribed Fiorinal, but it rarely worked, I would hold out and then take it way too long into the attack. Later I met an elderly woman in her 80's who advised me to take it immediately at the first sign. When I followed her advice, it would help to some extent, but was inconsistent and often the migraine would last longer.
I learned to keep away from commercial red wine (home brew has no sulfates-and can take a very small amount of that and not suffer), champagne yeast, yogurt and only ingest small alcoholic drinks with Vodka during the Summer and early Fall.
I tried yoga, breathing into brown bags, acupressure, acupuncture,etc. Nothing worked. The only comfort during an attack is a very hot, moist bag over the right eye, perhaps it helps as a distraction. My migraines are one sided, sometimes during a very lengthy attack they would spread across the head. The acupressure person said I had an unusual tolerance to heat at certain points on my head.
The usual dark room, no sound etc and just patiently waiting it out as best I could.
My doctor tried calcium blockers and eventually a medication for high blood pressure (mine is extremely low). Blood pressure medicine caused extreme sluggishness in the morning for 3 hours. He would not allow me to take any Triptans.
The only relief was pregnancy, which was a great discovery ! Had 3 pregnancies, never felt better in my whole life. Wished I could be permanently pregnant, laugh laugh. Migraines returned within hours of delivery.
3 years ago during a family crisis involving the sudden tragic death of my 4 yr old grandson, my doctor prescribed a sleeping aide, Trazodone. Now I am just about totally free, but need to still be aware of my triggers, i.e. red & white commercial wine, etc.
Although I still have trouble sleeping I am thinking about gradually taking myself off Trazodone to see if I am now completely free without being medicated.
I hope this has been helpful for someone.
My migraines are infrequent and my sons have only had a few each in their young lives, but my husband's migraines have turned him into a complete recluse. Why? Because his main trigger often can't be avoided in a public forum... odors. He can get migraines that cause a trip to the ER from perfume, gasoline, diesel fuel, candles, paint, hairspray, nail polish remover, cleaning fluids, dies, exhaust fumes, and the list goes on and on and on.
Short of wearing a respirator, he has found nothing that can protect him from the environment at large. Because of this he can't work in public, or even go shopping. He has to carry medication with him where ever he goes, just in case he runs into a trigger smell. Our home is a chemical free zone, and guests are asked to not use various products before or during their visits. I even have to cut his hair because salons are completely out of the question. His migraines were part and parcel for his medical retirement from the military. In short, the man just can't function in a public setting.
I truly would have loved to have gotten through to the show, as I think that although there is a sexual bias in the treatment and research of migraines... that same bias actually flows over onto male sufferers. I have seen doctors roll their eyes at my husband, and it has been made clear many times over with various physicians that they either consider him a wimp. He has also been accused of drug seeking when he has been forced to go to the ER seeking relief. One doctor said that my husband was too "dramatic" about his headaches and that he needed to "stop being such a baby" about them. I do admit that puking is pretty dramatic, but it isn't as if the man wouldn't rather avoid that drama altogether! At one point his migraines had gotten so bad that the chromic vomiting that accompanied his attacks caused a tear in his esophagus.
If anyone knows where we could get some information on aromatic triggers, we sure would love to hear about it!
I started suffering with m's around age 40,( almost 20 years ago). I am finally in touch with my triggers, but new ones evolve, suddenly. The biggest most intense ones are chemicals in processed food. msg, phosphates, sulfites, etc. They lurk everywhere. Are we meant to bombard our bodies with this pollution in air, water, foods? My body thinks not. Why doesn't the FDA keep a watch over this trend. I go to Canada regularly and they do not put as much chemical ingredeints in there food products. I am unable to eat salad in most places, due to the chemical preservatives. Seafood, breadcrumbs, canned broths make many restaurant dishes off limits to me. I feel backed into a corner sometimes. to top it off, garlic, alcohol, and any wines trigger them. I have been a lacto-ova-pesco vegitarian for 30 years. This make me even more limited in my food choices.
upside:
My Dr. has prescribed Relpax, and told me to live my life. I tolrate it well. I have been given a new lease on life especially being able to travel. On my own I have been doing a body cleanse naturally with a daily fiber drink, I ballance the ph in my system through natural chlorophil tea, eat minimal processed food. Buy more and more organic food Cleanse my liver through herbal twice a year, and have a generally consistant sleep routine. I am fortunate to be retired and lead a relatively low stress life. I work out, do hot yoga, ski, bike, walk, and now can travel.
why I write this:
If I have given anyone hope or an idea to explore, I'd love to hear from you. Best wishes to all who suffer. I agree with the person who's comment spoke of our great appreciation of good health, every day that we are blessed with it.