Migraine

Hey just joined the forums today. Im glad I found this place, ive been looking for forums dedicated to migraines since I dont have many people to talk to whom can relate to this disorder with me.

About myself: I am a 20 year old who gets migraines 2-3 times a WEEK and I cant seem to figure out why. Im not 100% against medicine, but I prefer to find natural and permanant ways of curing myself. Im tired of having suffered like this, and its been this way since elementary school. It started getting worse (from once or twice a month to now weekly) in high school when I was tripped and fell on my back and neck. I get severe neck pains every time I get a migraine and i tried to see a chiro but he didnt help much. Honestly, it hurt more than anything. But I admit I have bad posture. Exactly how much that contributes to my weekly migraines im not sure. I tried topamax and I missed 3 days worth of doses because the doctor didnt give me enough and I ended up getting 3 migraines within 3 days a day after I stopped the medcine after being on it for 100 mg for a week and a half and being on the entire topamax program for about 5 weeks. I dont like being dependent on a drug like this, especially when it gave me such debilitating side effects, considering im a colege student and I cant afford having the memory loss problem, but then again, i cant afford to miss class because I get a migraine usually twice a week.

I was hoping some one here could help guide me towards more natural ways of eliminating my disorder. I was thinking about seeing a neuro but I know if I do, he/she will more than likely putme on some drugs rather then help me heal myself naturally. Im going to start an excerszie program soon and hopefully start some cardio 3 times a week and maybe even some weight training. Will that help? Also, how about acupuncture? A friend recomended it to me and said it might help with the neck pain associated with the migraines. Now, im not sure. is it my neck pain that causes the migraines, or the migraines that cause the neck pains. Btw, the pain is all along the back of my neck and into my shoulders.

Anyway, im rambling. Hopefuly some one here can help me out. Thanks for reading thus far if you managed, ill appreciate any help. I sure do need it.

Welcome Ally,
I am glad you have found us. The people here all can relate to the chronic pain and the challange of trying to get through life living with migraine disease. One of the first things you can do is keep a migraine diary. Through that you may be able to identify specific triggers of migraine attackes. If they are foods, often they can be eliminated. Here is a link for the migraine diary article along with diary samples: Migraine Diary.

One of the forum modarators will also be along with other links and suggetions for you. Somestimes education is your best tool.

Again, welcome. I hope the information on the site can help you.

Cindy

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Cindy's idea of using the diary to identify possible trigger foods (as well as other triggers) is a good one. Here is an article which lists a lot of the common food triggers:

Managing Migraine Trigger Foods

I totally understand your reluctance to take medication all the time. I felt the same way, and resisted preventive medication much longer than I should have. Eventually, I had to accept that I either had to go on preventive medication, or have my life dominated by migraines.

Fortunately, there are a huge number of possible preventives:

Migraine Preventive Medications - Too Many Options To Give Up!

On this list, you will find vitamins, minerals, and other supplements in addition to a wide variety of medications. I take magnesium and Vitamin B2 as part of my preventive regimen. While I'm still not sure whether those supplements are reducing my migraine frequency, I know they have reduced the severity a great deal. If you are more comfortable trying the "non-drug" supplements first, tell your doctor that.

It is very important to work with a doctor, and to consult a doctor about any supplements you plan to take. Supplements also have side effects, and you want them to make you better rather than worse. If you choose a headache specialist to work with, that doctor can help you to consider all of your preventive options, and choose the options that are best for you. See this list:

Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists

Now that I've completely overwhelmed you with information, let me give you a warm welcome to the forum. I wish you all the best as you continue your efforts to manage your migraines. Unfortunately, there is currently no final "cure" for migraines, but a means of managing them can be found for nearly all of us. Keep us posted on your progress, and let us know if you have any specific questions. You may want to examine the Complementary Therapies folder for posts concerning acupuncture and other non-drug therapies.

Good luck!

Hello, Ally, and welcome to the forum! Glad that you found us. I can certainly relate to your story - my headaches/migraines became chronic in my teens, and I was diagnosed with migraines and chronic daily headache when I was 20. I'm now 24, and my migraines have become daily.

I second Nut's suggestion to consult with a headache specialist. Headache specialists are more knowledgeable in general about *all* the treatments for chronic headaches and migraines, not just the drug-based ones. The headache center I go to has an acupuncturist on staff. (Acupuncture didn't hold any long-term promise for me so I discontinued it after 3 months - I would be glad to answer any questions for you about it though.) You are right that a neurologist will probably prescribe you medication. But, please do give it some thought about seeing a doctor. Migraines are more than just a disorder, in fact - migraine is a genetic neurological disease without a cure. And in a case like yours you will do better with some medical help to manage it.

Like many others on this forum, my current treatment regimen includes a combination of lifestyle changes, supplements and medications. I've tried a number of complementary therapies as well. For me, just trying one thing is much less effective than approaching my treatment at several levels.

I'll also link you to this article if you haven't seen it yet: Anatomy of a Migraine

Take a look around our site and let us know if you have any other questions. Welcome again!

Ally,

I hear you. Would far prefer not to take medications myself, but I also want a reasonable quality of life. I would NEVER want to discourage you, but please be careful. "Natural" substances that can help treat Migraine need to be handled with the same care os "regular" medications. Such herbs, minerals, and the like were, after all, our first drugs. We strongly advise that you learn every thing you can about them AND talk with your doctor before trying them.

Trigger identification and management should be the first line of defense for all of us. Do you know what your triggers are? If so, are any of them avoidable?

Something that was hard for me to get my head around -- Migraine is a neurological disease for which, at this time, there is no cure. I don't like taking my diabetes meds every day, but there's no real choice. It as important for me to take my Migraine meds.

There are some supplements that help me -- Coenzyme Q10, magnesium oxide, and vitamin B2.

Welcome again!

Welcome Ally!

Looks like you've already gotten some good links to check out, so I'll just say hello for now!

Welcome to the forum! Look around and get situated! We are all family here, so feel free to ask if you need help or just to talk!

Look forward to getting to know you!

Welcome

You story reminds me of my story at your age. The medication I tried when I was 18 was not Topamax, but the side effects certainly made me apprehensive enough to not try anything else. I attempted lifestyle changes to control my migraines.

Many years later, a migraine that sent me to the ER also gave me the push to meet with a neurologist. My headache diary I kept following that ER visit was shocking. I didn't realize how few days I didn't have pain.

Like you, I dislike medications and prefer not to take them. There are a lot of non-medication options that are helpful for migraine patients like yoga, exercise, biofeedback, establishing what your triggers are, acupuncture, and the list goes on. That being said, if you want some control over migraine disease a specialist might also suggest preventative medications that might help as well.

I got to a point I decided I would take a pill or pills every day if that kept me from all the negative things migraine disease has contributed to my life. I'm searching for the preventative combination that will help me. This includes medication and non-medication options.

It's frustrating to hang in there with a medication to see if it is "the one," but most will tell you to give it a good three months to determine if it is going to work for you. If it doesn't or if you can't live with the side effects, there is always something new. There is a better way to live with migraine disease than waiting for a "good day."

Liz

Thanks everyone for your responses and the links so far. Im happy to hear from everyone

Ive always wanted to keep a migraine diary, but I usually have problems keeping up with it. I do have a giant calender though, and im thinking that every time I get a major migraine attack, ill note it on there on the day on the calender. I keep an organizer too, but its usually filled with stuff I need to remember (and the topamax wasnt helping) but ill try and jot down some stuff in there when I get the chance. When I see my doctor again, im also goingask her about seeing a neurologist, or head ache specialist. Im a little worried about what the cost might be, since im tight on cash horribly though, but I guess seeing one for consultation wouldnt hurt.

Topamax seemed to be doing the trick for me, because while on it, i noticed a slight decrease in my migraines. When I started it in Jan. I believe I remember only getting about 2 major migraines and about 3 small ones that went away with the use of Imitrex. It was indeed helping, and since it was, im guessing it means that perhaps my migraines have something to do with my neurological system considering topamax is a neuronal stabilizing agent, according to the link provided above. I am pretty sure I dont have any food triggers, although I think coffee might be one of them, but I get migraines regardless of whether I drink coffee or not. One of my most major triggers is sleep. If I sleep even the tiniest bit less then what my body requires of me, I get a migraine. If I sleep the tiniest bit more, I also get a migraine. I normally require about 9 hours of sleep. Other than that, I cant seem to figure out any other triggers of mine, other than my bad posture (forward head position).

Im a little concerned though. I was on the topamax for a while, and I had to stop since the doctor didnt give me enough pills. It wasnt refillable so I had to wait 3 days with out taking the medication. I would say its been about 5 days now since I stopped it and just last night walgreens told me they had the pills in. I see the doc on monday, so im not sure if I should get them and go back to my 100 mg a day or wait for her to sya something first since its been so long since my last doasge. I know I read some where about the medication causing seizures from abrupt stops or starts, so what exactly should I do?

Call you doctor's office today and ask what she/he would suggest you to do.

Welcome to MyMigraineConnection Ally.

Topamax should not be abruptly stopped, rather tapered off slowly. Having read your situation, I hope you've spoken with your doctor by now for further instructions. If not, try contacting your pharmacist. We are not medical professionls and can't give medical advice here, just information and support.

Please let us know how you made out, ok?

Hi Alley,

I just wanted to welcome you to the forum I too hope you have already called your doctor or pharmacist regarding the topamax. Please let us know how you are doing.

Dar

Thanks everyone. Im seeing my doc tomorrow afternoon. Im alright, nothing bad has happened, but im still worried about getting another migraine.

Hi Ally, welcome to the forum