Off Topic!, For all our "general" off topic tendencies Options

[Mari Welsh]

I get migraines. I know I've been seeing a lot of people talking on the boards about them too. If you actually are a migraine sufferer with no place to turn to, consider the following. All of these are tips from my neurologist, who happily (me not him), I have not had to see in about five years.

1. Watch the caffeine intake. If you are experiencing migraines with some regularity and find that pain relievers like Excedrin are not helping as much as they should, it may be the coffee, tea or cola you are drinking. I stay away from caffeine if I can help it after early mornings, which, I know, would be a mortal sin for some people. The caffeine in Excedrin is what gets rid of the headache when you take one, or two or five. Having a constant low grade intake of caffeine through the course of the day means the caffeine jolt from two extra strengths won't get you over the migraine hump. Here's the kicker. In some people, caffeine can actually trigger a migraine!
2. Watch what you're eating. Some foods like peanuts and peanut butter, chocolate, cheese and a host of unrelated things (chicken liver, anyone?) can actually trigger a migraine. There are several websites that will give you tons of lists. Keep an eye on what you have eaten just before you get a head splitter and see if you have some common foods that may have hit you previously. I also get pre-cursor symptoms like rainbows and halos around bright or lighted objects. If that happens, I usually head for the nearest sink cause that kind of warning sign never ends pretty.
3. Take vitamin B2. You will need to take 400 mg of the stuff daily. When I saw the neurologist it was because I had been suffering from the same migraine for going on two weeks. I would go to sleep and wake up the next morning with the same pounding, nauseating feeling. Never went away in all that time. Injections and other less pleasant medications were the only things to get rid of that one. Scans showed nothing out of the ordinary. He had me taking all manner of medications, some if I felt precursor symptoms, some after the fact. None kept them really and truly from breaking through anyway. The doctor had read some anecdotal material on the positive effects of B2 on migraines and suggested I try it. The regular dosage of B2 in the diet is something like 20 mg per day. Mega doses stopped my migraines in their tracks. Fewer of them. Less severity for the few that did manage to hit. Now I only seem to get them just before "Aunt Rose comes to visit" each month. (That's what the nuns used to call it in grammar school. ) B2 can be ridiculously expensive if you buy it at the drug store. PM me if you would like to know where to get it really inexpensively on line. We're talking less than a quarter of what you would spend if you got it at Walgreens or CVS. Don't get the entire B-complex, you only need the B2 if you try this.

Apparently you also have psychic abilities Linda....just had my CT scan, to rule out something like a blood clot, and I am keeping a log of when I get the blinding and debilitating pain! I am not kidding, the first time it happened I kept checking my pupils in the mirror of my compact to make sure they were equally reactive, I honestly thought that it was that serious. (Having had all the crazy things happen to me with the Crohn's that had to be some headeache! ) I woke up crying, and my GP said, 'You never cry from pain!' (the only other time I have cried from pain was when my intestine ruptured, so trust me, it hurt!). He ordered the tests. I can't wait to get an answer for what this is, and figure out what to do about it. Nothing beats knowing, then you can figure out where to go from threre. Thank you for posting this, it is great timing for me.....Tragic about the chicken liver though. I would never know if that triggered anything...nor do I want to learn what that might trigger!
Mari

[stefanl]

I can't wait to get an answer for what this is, and figure out what to do about it. Nothing beats knowing, then you can figure out where to go from threre. Thank you for posting this, it is great timing for me.....Tragic about the chicken liver though. I would never know if that triggered anything...nor do I want to learn what that might trigger!
Mari

I hear ya with the pain and tears, Mari. When I was in the middle of my double week headache from h'll and the haloes were hitting I had the school nurse checking my blood pressure. She was convinced I was having a stroke.

One of my sister's daughters gets pounding headaches too. She also has difficulties swallowing pills and can get herself really worked up in a tizzy when she's got a migraine and can't take something quickly enough to cut the pain. They used to have to crush her pills and mix them in with yogurt just to get it down the kid's throat. They went the food trigger route too and found that she was getting the headaches even when she wasn't eating and/or drinking everything the doctor said could potentially lead to the pain. The kid's diet went from normal to practically nothing as they cut out everything one food at a time. "You had applesauce yesterday and got a headache today? Check that one off the menu!"

I kept telling my sister that she just needed to get the kid on the B2 and have it done with already. She started taking it without consulting the doctor. My sister was pretty much at wit's end and my niece has been pretty much migraine free for a couple of years now. She's gotten better at swallowing pills too. Nothing quite so gross as crushed B2 in anything. It's the deepest eggyolk yellow you can imagine.

Let us know what your CT results are, sweetie.

[Not_saying]

I hear ya with the pain and tears, Mari. When I was in the middle of my double week headache from h'll and the haloes were hitting I had the school nurse checking my blood pressure. She was convinced I was having a stroke.

One of my sister's daughters gets pounding headaches too. She also has difficulties swallowing pills and can get herself really worked up in a tizzy when she's got a migraine and can't take something quickly enough to cut the pain. They used to have to crush her pills and mix them in with yogurt just to get it down the kid's throat. They went the food trigger route too and found that she was getting the headaches even when she wasn't eating and/or drinking everything the doctor said could potentially lead to the pain. The kid's diet went from normal to practically nothing as they cut out everything one food at a time. "You had applesauce yesterday and got a headache today? Check that one off the menu!"

I kept telling my sister that she just needed to get the kid on the B2 and have it done with already. She started taking it without consulting the doctor. My sister was pretty much at wit's end and my niece has been pretty much migraine free for a couple of years now. She's gotten better at swallowing pills too. Nothing quite so gross as crushed B2 in anything. It's the deepest eggyolk yellow you can imagine.

Let us know what your CT results are, sweetie.

I feel for ya

and I hate pills .lol

As a kid I had them alot practically could predict them .

I grew out of the worst part of them .and Don't really get them much anymore unless I'm really stressed out .

I would see every time I closed my eyes what looked like fireworks when one was starting then all my senses got scrambled taste smell sight .

Mom and sis would have to keep the sound of the tv down and it pitch black in our place and whispering I practically go limp cus it hurt to move at all then fall asleep for two hours .. uggggggggg pure misery all around .

They always knew when I felt better .lol


and I just wanted to add here that there is a possibility that it's hereditary .

I have a family history on my greatgrandpa's side his sister suffered from them like me.

and it can be also food triggered.
Chocolate caffiene cheese.
none of which were my triggers .

Do you have any family history of migrains in your family?

[abfirefighterchi...]

Seeing a chiropractor and Massage Therapist can make a huge difference!! I am most grateful that I have never suffered from any severe headaches, or headaches much in general. My mom does, and I work the Reflex points(reflexology) on her feet. That and massaging the muslces along the base of the skull and neck and shoulders.

The Reflex points are the little toes(sinuses), the big toe(brain, and neck), the part of the foot directly under the toes(eyes, ears). You can find a chart of the feet, hands, and ears with these points by looking up relexology on the net. These ares when simulated will affect those areas of the body. That has been actually proven by medical science, that our bodies have these reflex points, and meridan energy lines that are used in Oriental Medicine including Accupressure, and Accupuncture. I know of people that Accupuncture has helped too.

Chiropractic can help because sometimes there is a misalignment of a cervical vertebrae that's causing or at least aggrevating the problem.

The B2 and other dietary suggestions are great too, that has also helped some of my clients as well Just some food for thought.

[stefanl]

I feel for ya

Do you have any family history of migrains in your family?

No, I don't have any history that I'm aware. Both parents had already died when they started hitting hard and heavy and I didn't ever think when they were alive to ask. My niece with migraines is adopted, so that wasn't something that was easily researched for her either.

[stefanl]

Why dogs bite people.

[abfirefighterchi...]

Why dogs bite people.

[Mari Welsh]

Why dogs bite people.

Linda, how I missed this earlier, I have no earthly idea. I have no idea what to say. I am so sorry, I have to leave now, I think I have injured myself laughing. Which I richly deserve.....
Mari

[abfirefighterchi...]

oh, my dear Linda, where on earth did you find this?? You should mail it to the Tonight Show for their Headlines segment!!!! Leno hates when people do this, it would get on, but you have to include the "Why Dogs Bite People" comment. I can see Jay laughing now!!!!!! I certainly still am!!!!
Angel Fire

[stefanl]

I rototilled this gitantic (for me) 10x20 foot bed at the back of my yard a year ago last fall and planned to put in tulips, hyacinths, all kinds of bulb plants that I absolutely HAD to have. Turned the soil, did all the right stuff you're supposed to do with soil amendments. Laid out the bed so my plantings would have the right color combinations, heights, pleasing layout, the whole nine yards.

On top of the bulb bed I also placed some perennials that I knew had to go in over the bulbs. Watching that the greens coming in would be hidden by those of the tulips, hyacinths, all kids of bulb plants... And then I mulched.

Last spring an absolutely gorgeous display of color and texture, fragrances you couldn't believe wafting through the kitchen window. Heavenly doesn't begin to describe it. And then the weeds came.

So I'm out there and I'm yanking and cursing up a storm. Pulling stuff out and wondering how on earth I could have had such rotten luck with all the back breaking labor I put into that bed......

A couple of days after the weeding and cursing and Round Up I found my original bedding plan. What I had been cursing up a storm over were the tall phlox that I had carefully placed the previous season. What was left of my Shasta daisies will hopefully grow back in this summer and who knows if anything from my miniature day lilies survived the onslaught.

I'm not weeding this year. I'm hoping against hope that what were cleomes last summer will be cleomes this summer too. Who could guess they were so good at self seeding?! And great googly moogly, help any slug I find even remotely near my hostas. It'll be war.

[laureng]

I get migraines. I know I've been seeing a lot of people talking on the boards about them too. If you actually are a migraine sufferer with no place to turn to, consider the following. All of these are tips from my neurologist, who happily (me not him), I have not had to see in about five years.

I also am a migraine sufferer. The neurologist I went to was very helpful in 'educating' me about foods, smells, etc. I had a migraine when I was there and he wanted to know what I had eaten earlier. It was an egg and sausage biscuit. He said it was the MSG in the sausage. Now I know not to eat sausage and watch labels for anything with MSG. He said that's a biggy. I'm learning what foods I cannot eat and stay away from them.

If I already have a slight headache I cannot walk into a candle store (which I love) because the strong smells will aggravate it and turn into a migraine, as will places like Bath and Body Works. I have to know what I want, go right in and get it and get out. Can't shop there at Christmastime with all the long lines! My mother-in-law died several months ago. The funeral home had 3 calling hours going on at once. My mother-in-law was well liked and there were loads of sweet smelling flowers. I knew I was in trouble the minute I stepped into the place.

He also said it's hereditary. I don't know of anyone before me that had migraines but two of my daughters do; one severely.

Even though I hate taking medicines, I use Zomig for mine (prescription). Several weeks ago my doctor put me on Topomax as a daily med to prohibit getting them. I'm just now coming back off of it. Bad, bad reaction. Tingling and numbness in my hands and feet; even my lips tingled. Loss of concentration. Mood swings from crying to biting someone's head off (usually hubby's).

Next time I go to the doctor I will say something to him about B2. Thanks for the direction.

[stefanl]

Next time I go to the doctor I will say something to him about B2. Thanks for the direction.

Oh, Lauren, good luck with the B2 if you try it. I can't tell you how it changed my life. Such a simple suggestion. Hope your doctor gives you the thumbs up and your daughter can get some relief too. Nothing anywhere near as toxic as the side effects it sounds like you're experiencing. Just some really sinple to take pills.

The dosage again is 400 mg per day.

Linda

[gorenpal88]

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday filled with people you like and good times. And I think it is soooooooo cool that USA network is have a Criminal Intent Marathon. Yes!! What a neat way to spend the day for us stay at home junkies.......lol Take care!!

[krodgers]

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday filled with people you like and good times. And I think it is soooooooo cool that USA network is have a Criminal Intent Marathon. Yes!! What a neat way to spend the day for us stay at home junkies.......lol Take care!!

Well put 'gorenpal88'. Same to ya and all the other members!

[alliehalliwell]

This morning I wasn't looking forward to my 10 hour shift. Then by 2pm our boss told us we can go home because the computer systems were down. Sweet! 3 hours off early with pay!

[stefanl]

This morning I wasn't looking forward to my 10 hour shift. Then by 2pm our boss told us we can go home because the computer systems were down. Sweet! 3 hours off early with pay!

That's almost like finding money in the clothes drier at the laundromat. Good for you!

[EYEballer]

To all:

It's Memorial Day Weekend; I remember those who sacrificed for us and the deceased. Have a nice and safe Memorial Holiday!

[krodgers]

To all:

It's Memorial Day Weekend; I remember those who sacrificed for us and the deceased. Have a nice and safe Memorial Holiday!

Thankyou 'EyeBaller'. The very same to you and your family!

[EYEballer]

Hey, I just posted my "holiday greetings" on "off topic"; I wish I saw this thread first.

I also wish everyone an enjoyable weekend!

[EYEballer]

Thankyou 'EyeBaller'. The very same to you and your family!

You're welcome KRodgers! (I found the Happy Holiday thread after I posted my greeting here.)