What is a Migraine

a reply to: rickymouse

Quite an oversimplification, if it would actually be so simple and easy to recognize the triggers, not millions of people would be suffering all their lives. Most people can only find a few very obvious triggers, most of them not being identified ever. Overall they're sort of stress factors for the body/mind and for most people it's absolutely impossible to live a life where you're not overly stressed a few times each month (or even week), no matter how carefree person you are. Most stress factors come from other people and outside sources that are not within our control, and as the triggers often go unnoticed when they happen, you only realize something triggered the migraine when it's way too late to do anything about it.

For example in my personal life I have very stressful family life, having 7 siblings and mom. Plenty of health problems around and other factors, which unavoidably cause some stress quite often, no matter how "used to them" I am after almost 40 years of life. The only solution would be just to disconnect from the family, but it's not really a reasonable solution. I can avoid my chocolates, milk fats and take care of sleeping hygiene etc. but 90% of stuff that happens "around me" is not in my control whatsoever.

Sure we can (and should) identify as many triggers as possible and try to minimize them, but if you actually manage to control "real" migraines without having to rely on pills you sure have a miraculous life or extreme stress handling capacity. I know that doing sports and being active helps a lot for my own migraines, but even for that it's a choice between having a big problem with my chronic side/chest pain and joints or doing the sports and being in "better shape" otherwise, also avoiding excessive migraine attacks.

I keep atenolol around as a 'rescue' med. Luckily, haven't had but a handful of these, ever. They're quite memorable.

1) puked my guts out after asking 'why is it so damned bright in here?'
2) bone crushing headache + photophobia again, no nausea: got narcotics, didn't fix it but didn't care a lot either
3) went blind to the right side. Literally. Both eyes. Also, kept whacking my right side into things. They thought I was having a stroke, but ended up with "atypical migraine"
4) again "what's wrong with the lights in here?", pupils dilated out, nausea, vomiting, loss of balance (this year)

So far, the best fix for me is a big ass full of reglan. If I'm not expected to shoot anyone in the next hour or two, benadryl and some fluids speeds the recovery up a lot.

a reply to: tikbalang

Scientifically many things. I usually get rid of headaches which are rare for me, by massaging my hand between the thumb and forefinger.

Personally, I believe things like Migraines represent the stress we hold inside of us, sometimes it comes out as a Migrane, sometimes, something worse.

a reply to: LuXTeN

Personally, I believe things like Migraines represent the stress we hold inside of us, sometimes it comes out as a Migrane, sometimes, something worse.

Being in the medical field and being a woman placed me in that number one category for diagnosis by most physicians.

When I had my first cluster headache, i knew something was seriously wrong, but a trip to my trusted physician, proved that it was only stress related. When the traditional methods of treatment failed, it was obviously due to hormonal imbalance. Us woman are well know for those wacky hormones we produce, or not.

After 18 months of therapy, treatment, and advice, I decided it was time to see another doctor. He agreed to see me but only after I had had a CT scan, something my first doctor never bothered to order. 24 hours after my CT scan I got a call for the new doctor suggesting a MRI just to be on the safe side.

I was floored when I found out that my persistent headaches were due to a brain tumor. Even worse was finding out that removal of the tumor does not always come with removal of the headaches.

Word of advice. Stress and hormones are the most likely culprits, but not always. If your headaches are persistent, not responding to treatment, and your doctor is not recommending next level diagnostics, demand them.

a reply to: studio500

Why is immigran dangerous? I was injecting up to 4 times a day for 2weeks at a time,and then my blood pressure went through the roof,it was fine beforehand?

I suffer from frequent, sometimes debilitating migraines/headaches. I just got over one that lasted 5 days. I was taking OTC medicine for it, which seems to work. It's basically aspirin with caffeine in it. I had a MRI done of my head/brain awhile back and it showed that I had a Chiari Malformation 1 in my head. Basically, from my understanding anyway, it's genetic. Part of my brain has grown into my spinal cord region, at just the base of my skull. Very glad to read everyone's responses.

a reply to: OverAndOut19

wait whaaat?

Could you fill in the rest?

originally posted by: tikbalang
a reply to: OverAndOut19

wait whaaat?

Could you fill in the rest?

I will let OAO19 explain their condition, are are different types. I can tell you that the patients that I have had with Chiari malformation found it made them dysfunctional at times due to the feeling of vertigo and or dizziness. A simple thing like walking across the room was like trying to walk the Grand Canyon on a tight rope.

a reply to: Phage

I have a hunch it has to do with dehydration but can't be sure. Drinking water makes me puke when it's happening

I agree dehydration seems to be at the core of my migrains/severe headaches . In my case when i get them it is always at night and the pain is that bad that ... well lets say i am glad i dont own a gun . I have to lay in the lounge strip off and turn the airconditioner on , even in winter . I try panadol and that stays down for about twenty seconds . So as cold as i can get it , absolutely no sound and try to drink water . Thing is my wife can hear me moaning and pleading for it to stop and says it goes on for hours but i can only remember the first 20-30 minutes . The next day i am totally trashed .The doctor says migraine and to go straight to the hospital (small country town) but the thought of getting to the hospital is a terrify thought .
migraine.com...

What peeves me a bit is those people with a mild headache who call migraine . One particular time this lady called migraine and i went off . You got a migraine lady you aint going to be sitting in the sun listening to music .

a reply to: hutch622

For me, i get as hot as i can.. Steam shower, tons of clothes, my bed clothes are soaked after an attack.. Cold, no.. not for me

a reply to: tikbalang

Like was mentioned earlier is a horses for courses type of thing . If its 13c outside i will still put on the aircon .

I thought I was a victim of migraines for years. Found out the culprit was my bedside fan messing with my sinus. Terrible pain and debilitating, I really wanted to drill into my skull, but i guess not a migraine. I hope I never have a real migraine.

I occasionally get the migraine aura, with no pain. No headache develops after or during. I was really surprised to find out that they're considered migraines.

They last about 20 minutes, I had one while driving once, they build up for the first 5 minutes, so there was time to pull over and just wait it out.

Haven't figured out what the triggers are yet - sometimes it's sunlight hitting my eyes in a certain way - no other common denominators, maybe hormones at times, maybe stress at times....

They are annoying, they really mess with your vision.
I'm very thankful to not get bad headaches.

Did my thesis on these bad boys and found some interesting stuff:

Migraines are triggered by an excitotoxic event - which is a fancy term for over-active neuronal activity. The excessive metabolism of these neurons causes cortical spreading depression - a fancy term for a spreading wave of inhibition that travels across your cerebral cortex. This inhibitory wave is what causes numbness, blind spots, trouble speaking/hearing/understanding words, etc during the aura phase of the migraine. Cortical spreading depression is actually a protective reflex that prevents an epileptic attack! Without this mechanism, the excitotoxic neurons reach epileptic levels and your brain goes haywire.

This wave of cortical spreading depression is facilitated by GABA neurons (the same neurons that Alcohol triggers). This is why many of the symptoms of migraines - nausea, headache, light and sound irritation, etc - are all associated with both migraines and an alcohol hangover.

Intuitively, you would want to prevent excitotoxic events from happening to prevent migraines. Excitotoxic events are caused mostly by mental stress, flashes of light, dehydration, hypoxia (low oxygen), and malnutrition (especially a magnesium deficiency!)

a reply to: cooperton

I know about the flashes of light thing!

If I get exposed to a light flashing at just the right frequency, it's a reliable trigger and it doesn't really matter how obvious the light is.

I once sat at work every day for a solid week and got a migraine every day and couldn't figure out why until I thought to examine the fluorescent tubes above my desk. Sure enough, one of them was just starting to go bad and there was a bare flicker to it.

I asked the boss to change it and explained why. They had someone do it that afternoon while I used a different work station for the day ... no more migraines.

Some movie effects will do it too, and the same movie will do it over and over. I cannot watch Star Wars Ep I for example. The laser fight in the end between the Gungins and the battle droids does it without fail.

a reply to: cooperton

Cortical spreading depression is actually a protective reflex that prevents an epileptic attack!

This is something i also found, well the epileptic thing

originally posted by: tikbalang
a reply to: cooperton

Cortical spreading depression is actually a protective reflex that prevents an epileptic attack!

This is something i also found, well the epileptic thing

Yep, and that's why one of the ways to prevent migraine is to use an anti-seizure medication. There are others and not all people respond to anti-seizure, but it so happens that I do. And I take one twice daily as a preventive for my attacks.

a reply to: cooperton

I found that magnesium works the opposite, well for me.. Its a trigger

a reply to: ketsuko

A normal human as i can see it, dont save information, that isnt beneficial for survival.. A person who has migraine, forces the procedure to prevent a epileptic seizure with forcing a trauma..

Just a theory

originally posted by: tikbalang
a reply to: ketsuko
A person who has migraine, forces the procedure to prevent a epileptic seizure with forcing a trauma..

Just a theory

I think you're right - The neurophysiology is undeniable. There was a test where they inhibited GABA neurons and incited cortical spreading depression and it resulted in epileptic attacks: (Source).

I found that magnesium works the opposite, well for me.. Its a trigger

Were you getting it from food or supplementing?

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: cooperton

Some movie effects will do it too, and the same movie will do it over and over. I cannot watch Star Wars Ep I for example. The laser fight in the end between the Gungins and the battle droids does it without fail.

Yup! The most recent Great Gatsby film did that to me. I remember another one I got was during a basketball game when the sun was near the horizon - I kept having to look near the sun to see the basket and afterwards got a migraine. The blind spot from the aura is caused by the cortical spreading depression inhibiting a particular part of the visual cortex.