MIGRAINE HEADACHES-A Real Pain In The Head!

I am a migraine headache sufferer. I have been getting these miserable headaches since I was about 5 years old.

I know many, many adults who have told me that they too, were plagued by migraines as children, so this is not unusual.

Apparently pediatricians in the 1940's and 1950's didn't know this fact. One woman I know had valium and librium prescribed for her as a child and her pediatrician told her she couldn't go outside and play. Especially in the sun. That's a lousy thing to tell a child, not to mention prescribing those drugs.

I apparently was luckier, as my pediatrician told my mom it was psychosomatic and he prescribed nothing.

Not very enlightened, I'm afraid.

Aspirin was all I took when I started getting a migraine. Nothing really worked on the pain-it usually just had  to run it's course. As I'd walk home from school sometimes, I'd grab an aspirin out of my purse and chew it-hoping it would start to work quicker.

Most migraine sufferers know that swallowing anything, at the onset of these "sick headaches" is a 50-50 proposition. If your nauseated stomach will allow you to keep a pill down long enough for the medication to be digested or at least pass through the stomach (certain coatings let the pills dissolve and go to work after they get to the intestines) then you may have a chance to get faster relief.

As a kid, I had a routine. I'd lay in a dark room, on my back, taking deep breaths (so as not to throw up) and keep my head perfectly still. I tried to filter out all noises and try desperately NOT to think of food. I always dreamed of mashed potatoes and gravy for some reason! I still think of food when I'm laying down with a migraine-my doctor says she does too!

Most of the time, I could be up and about again in a few hours, functioning at 100%.
(As an adult I learned that by actually throwing up it helped the headache to somehow ease and maybe go away sooner-terrible but true.)

When I was 14 years old, I saw an orthopedic surgeon for my rheumatoid arthritis and he was not only a great surgeon, but on my initial office visit he casually discussed my arthritis and planned some surgeries then asked if I had any other medical problems or ailments. I mentioned the headaches and he quickly left the room and brought back a huge book with page after page of medications.
After listening to my symptoms he said "you are having true migraine headaches". He then prescribed Cafergot-an ergotamine drug which is for migraines!

I will always be grateful to this doctor for his skillful surgeries but for finally giving me some relief for these headaches.

In my late 20's or early 30's my headaches were different. The Cafergot that had been a life saver for so many years wasn't helping very much anymore. It is loaded with caffeine and I just couldn't take them before bed if I had a headache coming on or I'd be wired all night and would be a wreck at work the next day because of lack of sleep.

The headaches themselves were changing and becoming very frightening too. The pain was worse and sudden. There would be warnings like jagged, flashing lights. My peripheral vision was difficult to discern. I may get numbness in my fingers on one side or in my lips. I also wouldn't want to talk to anyone because my thoughts would be racing, difficult to keep clear and my speech was a bit off.

In the last few years I also noticed a slight dimming of light-I keep wondering if it's getting cloudy outside, but it's just another migraine symptom. The blood flow to the eyes is strangled so the eyesight becomes very weak.

                                           Now this is SCARY STUFF

I read about 10 years ago that 10% of migraine sufferers get these warnings and symptoms. Sometimes these all come just minutes before a headache or up to 24 hours before a headache. The symptoms are the closest thing to a stroke without  being an actual stroke.

So, what brings on a migraine headache? I wish I knew. I think in women hormones (that nasty "H" word) play a huge role in our headaches. Actually though, I think it's everything and nothing. As a child I knew a baloney sandwich was poison to me. The nitrates I guess....
Yet bacon never triggered a headache, nor does chocolate-red wine, however, always does-DARN IT!

Stress and tension, of course plays a part, eyestrain, not enough sleep, infection, dental problems and depression does too. A poor diet causes many health problems so the headaches could be coming on from too much salt or sugar and not enough fiber and veggies.

Fortunately in the last 20 years or so we have medications on the market that address the specific kind of pain and causes of migraines.

I will name a few that I've used and something my doctor suggested after I was recently racked for 2 weeks with an unusual bout of daily migraines.

I've used Imitrex inhalers. They work quickly and easily. The pills are great too, but work slower and may not work at all if the headache has gotten a foothold. They are extremely expensive unfortunately and I hate having to make a choice: "is this headache going to be really bad enough to use the meds or should I try to work with it-maybe the less expensive Excedrin will work instead?" 

When you have a migraine you just want relief. I hate having to choose my method of attack because of cost!

Zomig is a newer drug that promises to keep the headache from coming back. It has done that, but it seems to take forever to get started in my system. Right now I believe they have a pill that dissolves in your mouth. Sounds promising.

Excedrin for migraines is a pretty good over-the-counter solution-again, though, it has caffeine which is great for our headaches as is a good cup of tea, but you can't take it before bed if you need to get some sleep-or you'll be feeling great and vacuuming the living room at 2:00 AM !!
Also, if you over-medicate with caffeine you can get a boomerang effect and the headaches just keep coming back until you quit the caffeine.

Ice packs. Ok, I know this can be ridiculous unless you have a freezer full of ice packs next to your bed or couch, but if you keep a few in the freezer then you can take all of them out when you lay down and just keep them wrapped together and use one at a time. I've never liked doing this because frankly, when I have a headache, I don't want to MOVE, or THINK. I don't want to mess with changing ice packs for heaven's sake! BUT, it can help to ease the pain and pounding. Heat may help too.

I'm trying to prevent the migraines from even starting so I keep researching for homeopathic ways to keep me headache free.  

I've been taking feverfew pills for about 5 years which has lessened the frequency of migraines, however, as my doctor said, if it isn't made in Germany, then it's probably not the best strength.

I am also taking a B-2 tablet everyday as suggested by Dr. Andrew Weil. Heck, I'll try everything if it isn't too expensive.

Anti-depressant medication. Sounds weird? Ok, I'm not depressed either, but my doctor tells me that these help to stabilize the seratonin levels in the brain and taken at dinnertime, maybe you won't wake up with a miserable migraine in the morning. Hmm. Maybe this is something to look into.

Seratonin is a 'neuro-transmitter' which plays a significant role in contracting and expanding the blood vessels. Dilation of the brain's blood vessels is the cause of migraine headaches.

My doctor said St. John's Wort as a mild OTC anti-depressant should do the same thing BUT again, the quality of herbs & supplements that are manufactured in the USA can't compare to the strength of those made in Germany.
She prescribed Elavil for me which I haven't taken yet, but I may take it if the headaches get crazy again.

There are other things which can be helpful, but I haven't tried them: massage therapy, bio-feedback, and acupuncture. Regular exercise should help as well.

If you get migraine headaches more than 2 or 3 times a month, then it's time to re-think your present medication or lifestyle.

I know that I can accept an occasional headache, I've done it for years, but I won't put up with the onslaught like I recently had without a fight.
That 2 weeks of feeling sick to my stomach every day, with my eyesight weak and my head pounding-I was irritated, hated to glance into my computer screen and sure couldn't see clearly enough to be comfortable doing anything-shopping, watching TV, working, driving-ANYTHING.

I'm too stubborn to take that lying down, and neither should you!

This was originally published 9 years ago, so maybe there are newer drugs. However, I am a firm believer in the natural way to health. Try the supplements and herbs first, then explore the other remedies.

See a good doctor for severe headaches that can't be controlled no matter what you try. 

Copyright Sue Goryan
Sept. 8, 2000