Migraines

I spent a long time writing down when my headaches were coming and what I was eating, doing, etc. to try to find my triggers.  Caffeine, stress, and PMS all cause me to get migraines.  I was able to switch to a different birth control pill that's really helped cut back on the number of migraines I get.  Also, less caffeine and switching off the fluorescent light above my desk helped.

Have her read/research magnesium deficiency.

x2 with this. I suffer from mild ones, usually caffeine or PMS-induced. I don't drink coffee, as a result. My mother gets them severely. Caffeine, MSG or high sodium content in foods, and stress/hormones are her triggers. Have your wife track them in the manner that Jen said.

Ultimately, for my mom, the special meds did not work for her and actually made her worse. She avoids the triggers and if she does get one, her doc told her to take 4 full-strength Advil. That seems to work.

Edited by wurkit_gurl 2009-06-02 8:59 AM

There is some support for oxygen in treating headaches.  It is usually associated with "Cluster Headaches" but I believe it's also effective in some cases in migraines.

My BF has cluster headaches and finds that oxygen (if he catches them early enough) will head off a headache - and if he doesn't catch it early enough - it will shorten the duration. 

http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Oxygen_Therapy

I use massage and acupuncture to treat mine and it works quite well.  There are a lot of dietary triggers that could be causing them though it can be quite an intensive exercise and process of elimination to find the culprit(s)

I also think accupuncture helped. I did finally have to go on a relatively daily low dose of Topamax. I call that my life saving drug. I just could not control them otherwise. They were ruining my life and I had tried EVERYTHING! GOOD LUCK to your wife.

My wife has been getting them since childhood. Many of the same triggers that I have read here and she is generally good at avoiding them. She is on a low dose of Topomax daily and has begun acupuncture, which seems to help somewhat. When they hit, she has been taking Maxalt, which works about 1/2 the time. Only problem is it costs upwards of $20/pill. Does anyone use other meds during the migraine? Any and all help is welcome.

I've suffered with migraines for almost 20 yrs now.  Most of the triggers for me have already been mentioned by other posters.  The only trigger for me not yet mentioned is a weather change.  I take excedrin every day and that seems to keep them at bay although probably not the safest option.  My doctor has suggested topamax but haven't done that yet.

As far as non-medicinal treatment, an ice pack takes the pain away almost instantly for me.  However, the pain comes back soon after removing the pack.  I have even slept on an ice pack at times.  I have also found that since I started doing yoga, I've had less migraines (in number and intensity). Hope that helps!!

I've used Imitrex (pill and injection), Zomig, and Lortab.  They're expensive, but less than $20 per pill.  Imitrex is kind of nice because I've used the pills, had them not work, and been able to get an injection from the doctor.  It's really strong, but it works.

Has she used any daily medications or just ones to treat the acute symptoms?  Sometimes people can be put on a certain type of meds that will regulate the tone of the blood vessels and decrease the amount of headaches  although the drugs like zomig, maxalt, and immetrex help many people 

I have also found chocolate to be a trigger. My doctor once told me cheddar cheese because of the dye which I believe is one of my triggers too.

Common problem but many solutions; headaches are not always migranous but can feel as bad as a migraine (great example is cervical/trapezius muscle spasm); some people who take any short acting reliever (acetaminophen, aspirin, Excedrine, ibuprofen, narcotic containing meds and the short acting prescribed headaches) get what are called rebound headaches which can be hard to break; some headaches are worsened by menses or other hormone changes (birth control meds); dehydration, many medications and poor neck flexibility also cause a lot of headaches; classic migraines are not actually that common (these are the ones with the warning symptoms first) and a more common variety  - called common migraine - have the same severity often; both are very much affected by diet - there are lengthy lists of the usual offenders - most people who want a more natural approach start with eliminating as much refined foods and preservatives focusing on a more whole food diet; there are many who benefit from accupuncture and massage therapy as well; as far as meds go this depends on the type and frequency of the headaches and any PCP can help navigate the myriad options;

Good luck to everyone with this one;

My fiance used to get them really bad and actually passed out from MAxalt because she had not eaten. She gave up on birth control pills and she has not had one since about a month after going off it.

I got them really bad for 35 years, and finally sort of outgrew them.  Imitrex works well, as long as you take it early enough.

Non- prescription - Motrin, and with Imitrex, or by itself.
Lying down in a cool dark room, with a cool washcloth from my eye to the back of my head along the side where the pain is.  However, my mother swore by warm washcloths.  She also outgrew them with age.

Don't overdue the pain relievers.  That leads to rebounds.  My sympathies.  Migraines are horrible.

Yep, it was the birthcntrol pill with me too.  I tried loads and loads but gave up in the end and was pill free for 5 years.  My migraines pretty much went.  I went on the mini (progesterone only) pill last year, and within a week i startedhaving aura migraines (some of them caused me to go totally blind for the duration of the migraine), several times a week.  I came back off it and they stopped.  I didnt realise tho that a lot of BC pills use the same progesterone.  I tried a pill called Cerazette about 2 months ago.  I've had a few warning signs for migraines, but i just take an ibuprofen, and recently they seem to just disappear before they start up properly (touch wood!).  If your wife is on a pill, maybe she needs to try another? 

Fluorescent lights also do it, using computers  lot (you can get anti-glare screens that help with this) and humid thundery weather does it too.  Also, if she hasn't been t see an optician,it may be worth looking into, as she could be straining her eyes, which may cause headaches (don't know if it causes migraines though). 

I do sypathise, migraines are awful.  Good luck with getting it sorted out