Migraine

So I have recently developed asthma. I have been having shortness of breath for eight months or so, which I blamed on many things while I pretty much ignored it; thought it might be lingering effects from a bat of bromchitis, or my hypothyroid or side effects from Imitrex. Of course, Imitrex shots made it worse so it was easy to see a connection there. After I was taken off the Imitex and still had this effect I eventually had to go to the ER and then saw my doctor. Turns out I have asthma (which pretty much everyone I know was saying, but I just doubted, thinking it was something temporary or a symtpom of something I already have), which I was not pleased to find out, but did explain the whole wheezing aspect of things.

I was given an inhaler and then a med I take everyday. This has effectively helped with the shortness of breath, but coincidently the daily migraines I have been having for about nine months now, have been dramatically reduced. Perhaps a coincidence, but after such a long time, many med changes, pain killers and botox I find the timing quite amazing. Also extremely relieved for the break given I am back to work. So I was just wondering if untreated asthma can be such a massive migraine trigger... maybe something to do with the breathing problems during sleep and the day, or the heart palipatations and lack of circulation? It seemed I was having quite a bit of added throbbing pain, which would get quite a bit worse when I lay down. I am just curious to know, as not too knowledgable, at all, about asthma or what can be done to manage it. Still, I can say the asthma medication works extremely well, so having another medical condition crop up (making me feel insanely sickly in nature) is not all that bad, given once discovered was easily managed right away. Of course, I have to quit smoking, which is not so easy.

I don't know if anyone can speculate on the connection between the decrease and migraines and asthma treatment, since most people have had asthma from a young age, less so those who develop it later. But perhaps someone has noticed a conection between their asthma and migraines?

When I talked to my doctor about the theories of the PFO, and that they were working on the thought that unfiltered blood (which includes waste byproducts and lower levels of oxygen), passes into the brain and triggers a migraine, he also said that they were working with the same thoughts on asthma. With poor circulation and lungs that don't work right, you're not getting as much oxygen through your body and to your brain either.

I have not noticed a decrease in my migraines from starting my inhalers, but I also have the PFO. Logic dictates to me that the PFO is trumping the asthma and any effect the inhaler may have at that point, if they are working on the right assumptions with the theory.

There is no clear explanation on the mechanisms between asthma and migraine comorbidity that I know of. These are just the things that my doctor's talked to me about.

I hope you continue to see relief!

I read a few articles linking asthma to migraines, saying someone with migraines has a slighly greater chance in getting asthma. Something about the fact, that although treatments are very different, both conditions are a result of hyperactivity within different systems.

I could not find anything that suggested treating asthma may help with migraines. However, I suspect it has something to do with oxygen. My doc told me that when I got these oddly strong fluttering heart beats, it was because my heart was struggling to get oxygen around. So having your lungs working sub-par all day can cause more than one result, and I suspect that restricted blood flow may aggravate a migraine. I might have just noticed the difference because the shortness of breath was daily as well, so I guess I have been adequately getting oxygen through my system for a months now... which I suppose may not trigger a migraine, but certainly would not help if you have one I guess.

What's the medication you're taking for asthma? Some of the leukotriene blockers -- Singulair, Accolate, and Zyflo -- are also being used for Migraine preventives.

quote:

Originally posted by Myth:
(trimmed)
I was given an inhaler and then a med I take everyday. This has effectively helped with the shortness of breath, but coincidently the daily migraines I have been having for about nine months now, have been dramatically reduced. Perhaps a coincidence, but after such a long time, many med changes, pain killers and botox I find the timing quite amazing. Also extremely relieved for the break given I am back to work. So I was just wondering if untreated asthma can be such a massive migraine trigger... maybe something to do with the breathing problems during sleep and the day, or the heart palipatations and lack of circulation? It seemed I was having quite a bit of added throbbing pain, which would get quite a bit worse when I lay down. I am just curious to know, as not too knowledgable, at all, about asthma or what can be done to manage it. Still, I can say the asthma medication works extremely well, so having another medical condition crop up (making me feel insanely sickly in nature) is not all that bad, given once discovered was easily managed right away. Of course, I have to quit smoking, which is not so easy.

(trimmed)

When my Asthma/GERD (and ulcers/anemia) were untreated, my migraines seemed worse in general, but that may have been due to: my already bad sleep issues getting worse due to all of that (when you are coughing & are attempting to somewhat sleep hunched over in a curled sitting position, it's hard to sleep at all)...which then made my sensory issues worse which made me more vulnerable to my triggers & I have developed a hightened sensitivity. Once I got my Asthma/GERD & anemia under control & then was also taken off of Topamax, it was not so severe except when I have PMS/period & when I have mittleshmirz (functional ovarian cysts burst during ovulation & menstruation). I am still hyper-sensitive in general.

When I have a bad asthma day, I do notice that I am likely to get hemiplegic migraines, increase of my pattern parasthesias and "seizure like" symptoms & sudden "mid-head jabby pain" which then transforms into a shorter migraine (usually a couple hours at the most, frequently pain stops after about 1/2 hr if not transformed (not as long as my classic migraines (from about 5 hrs to about 2 days) & no where near as long as my basilar/occipital region migraines which tend to be marathons (from 2 days to 3 weeks))... they are frequently accompanied by pain/pressure in my chest...which is like a "silent" asthma attack for me...

I have not seen a direct correlation between my asthma & basilar or classic migraines though...

When I had my asthma test...I felt kind of foggy & "out of it"/spacy/sense of unreality that I have sometimes... then I had pressure in my chest & a hemiplegic migraine...then tachycardia... the technician said at that moment was when my oxygen level dropped signicantly, which showed that I had asthma.

When I forget to take my asthma meds, my chest pain that I wake up with at night is worse & I am much more likely to have parasthesia, hm, etc. If I forget to take allergy meds, my nose is more like to be runny & me feeling spacy. So maybe there is a correlation.

Hey Teri,

I had heard that about Singulair, but what she has me on is Symbicort which I take twice daily and is some sort of inhaled powder. However, I also noted some very rapid migraine relief from the inhaler itself.... which had made me wonder. While I have not been completely migraine free, there is a significant difference in intensity. I was having some serious problems sleeping because when I lay down the throbbing intensity would increase so much I would usually just get up... and it is also lying down when I experienced the prodominant amount of shortness of breath.

hey Alexandra,

I also was having some sleeping issues, I always do (quite the true insomniac really), but this was quite a bit worse. The throbbing pain of the migraines combined with the difficulty breathing when I would lay down often made me get up. In fact one reason of many I had not thought it was asthma was because while the shortness of breath and wheezing point to it, they occured always when I was lying down and if I sat up I could breath easier... although I often felt a heaviness in my chest and a deep sort of ache. And I assumed, since I know so little, that when you have asthma it is a sudden attack and the breathing issues are more profound and not daily.

I too have noticed a difference in the type of migraine, but mostly in its horrible thobbing intensity. My aura is all over the board really and noticed no change in that pattern, except more hearing loss episodes, one fainting episode. I had also been extremely fatigued and shaky. I get migraine with aura, as far as I know nothing specific about them, except of course their chronic nature.

Does your heart always do those funky things, that beat you feel in your chest oddly, every time you have an attack? Cause I had been wondering about that... might be an indication I need the inhaler, because when I am upright, I don't always notice me breathing is impaired. However the day I passed out, that heart thing had occured, so perhaps I did not realize not getting enough blood to the brain. Would rather not have that happen more than once, so best I use the other inhaler before it happens.

Well, I just went to see my daughter's neurologist for the 1st time & thankfully for the last time, today. He was arrogant & condescending, & basically told my daughter that she would have to tough it out! He chastised her for not wanting to stay on the Depakote, saying she hasn't tried it long enough & she's been on it for 2 years! She's had a migraine for 7 days now, had been in the ER the day before & into her family doctor's office 2 days before that & he's leaning back on his chair quizzing her & chastising her. I had enough! He said all his 'migraine' patients rarely ever or never go to the emergency room. ( ...maybe he only has 2 'migraine' patients, I don't know!) I told him all of his patients except for one!!!, (meaning my daughter). Then, I told him, that maybe he doesn't care about this one patient, but I do! We walked out of there & will never return & will tell others not to go to him. Had I known that he had such little regard for his patients, I would have never sent her to him.

Anyway, at least I did obtain something of use from that visit which may help you. The neurologist said that that some asthma medicines may set off headaches or may be migraine triggers for people.

Also, my daughter suffered terribly from asthma for years & had some real close calls on & off for years until she started getting allergy shots. It amy take a while, maybe weeks to months until the good reults may be seen & the asthnma problems decrease, but it's really been like a night to day change for her since she's been given allergy shots. Since her allergy shots, she uses a lot less medicine, & uses it less frequently, & has a lot less problems. My other daughter did so well with her allergy shots that she doesn't have problems with asthma attacks anymore, Thank God!

God bless you & all you migraine sufferers. I get the light type of headaches which basically go away with Tylenol or aspirin or even some Benadryl, if it's a sinus headache. (That reminds me, along with some other meds., they gave my daughter Benadryl in the ER for helping her migraine...) Anyway, I only ever had a migraine once when I was pregnant with my 4th daughter. It was so bad that I was rolling around on the floor in pain. I don't know how you stand them & pray for all you dear migraine sufferers.

In addition, I do believe in prayer. Heaven knows I need prayers after my visit to the neurologist's office today! God bless him & God forgive me for all that I've said! Yikes! Anyway, I would advise going to a Catholic/Christian Healing Mass/service, if possible. The other night I sent out 10 prayer requests for my daughter from 10 different Catholic prayer request sites. One of the responses came back from a Catholic woman who has a Church sanctioned healing service & she suggested going to a Healing Mass for the Family.

God bless you all! God bless all of the sick & suffering. Let's all pray for each other to get well! Thank you for this forum. I apologize if I've written too much. Have a Beautiful Day! JoyAnn

Welcome to MyMigraineConnection JoyAnn.

What an awful experience you had with that neurologist. Unfortunately that happens all too often. A Migraine Specialist may be a better choice for your daughter.

I do know my son's exercise-induced asthma has been much better since he has his allergies under control. When he took his asthma medications we did not see an increase in his Migraine attacks. Of course that may not be the case for everyone.

Keep us posted on how your daughter is doing. We look forward to hearing more from you.

Thanks for the comment about allergy shots. I don't really know much about asthma, so I am still learning things that I need to change in order to keep it under control. The meds work great for the shortness of breath and wheezing, but it seems when I get chest pains, nausea and a sudden headache these too are signs of an asthma attack. And sometimes you are not aware right away that your breathing is being affected until your chest feels heavy and your breathing is loud. So I essentially have to learn when to take the inhaler in addition to the Symbicort and it is not always clear. I also have allergies, but they never bothered me enough to go to a allergist about... mostly dust and hayfever really. Although I have a allergic skin reaction all the time that looks like it is a allergic reaction and my father said it was ezema. So I might have to look into that.

I know for a fact when the asthma is worse I will get a migraine and treating the migraines is keeping them at three a week instead of daily. So it is just a matter of changing the things I can change to make my home an enviroment that does not aggravate the asthma. Of course right now I have a chest cold from hell and have been taking cough medacine and using the inhaler more than usual because it is a beast of a cold... or likely bronchitis again... and it has been a bad migraine week from that alone... becauae of the combo sinus headahces.

I certainly hope the meds do not cause migraines in some cases, because I am currently in a state I can handle with the asthma meds and painkillers... but if one of those goes wonky I am back at square one. And since I am able to work full time now, and really wantining to be fit and ready for action, I would like things to stay as they are.

I wonder, to treat allergies and exema, can I add a daily dose of benadryl or claritin, to see if that helps?

You have Asthma and you smoke???? I can't believe it as this is a sure enough way to take many years of your life and ruin the little quality you have physically. I know it is hard, my brother is asthmatic and he used to smoke but he decided that he prefer to breath. there are sites that are there for the purpose of motivating each other to overcome this habit, it seems as if your body really asks for change

Obviously, I'm sure by now it's clear that asthma can aggravate migraines. I've just been recovering from pneumonia and my ONLY symptoms were a migraine monster followed 12 hours later by a fever! The doc said I was lucky--the type of pneumonia I had wasn't usually diagnosed until the patient was so sick that admission to the ICU was necessary.

I also had dreadful daily migraines (7+ every day), which almost completely abated when I had a hip replacement. Now I'm back to my lifelong pattern of 1 maybe 2 milder headaches a week, with a bad one every 3 to 4 months unless I get sick or something.

I really think it's interesting that body stresses like ulcers, asthma, and other medical problems like infections can trigger migraines. It took me a very long time to make the connection.

Tracie

Tracie,

The Migraine experts I know say that such "body stresses" aren't triggers. They're exacerbating factors that make us more susceptible to our trigger, sometimes trigger that aren't strong enough to trigger Migraines when the body is NOT under such stress.

quote:

Originally posted by tracieB:
Obviously, I'm sure by now it's clear that asthma can aggravate migraines. I've just been recovering from pneumonia and my ONLY symptoms were a migraine monster followed 12 hours later by a fever! The doc said I was lucky--the type of pneumonia I had wasn't usually diagnosed until the patient was so sick that admission to the ICU was necessary.

I also had dreadful daily migraines (7+ every day), which almost completely abated when I had a hip replacement. Now I'm back to my lifelong pattern of 1 maybe 2 milder headaches a week, with a bad one every 3 to 4 months unless I get sick or something.

I really think it's interesting that body stresses like ulcers, asthma, and other medical problems like infections can trigger migraines. It took me a very long time to make the connection.

Tracie

Tiffany,

Whoa, Nellie! I don't mean to be unfriendly, but don't you think it takes a lotta nerve to speak to someone like that, especially your first time out the gate here?

How about:
"Hi! I'm Tiffany, and I have migraines?"

Geeze, woman. What a way to influence people and NOT make friends. If you're for real, and you stick around a while, you'll see that people here don't usually talk to each other that way.

Do you know Myth? Do you know if she's tried to quit? Maybe she's tried, and tried, and tried again. Do you know that an addiction to tobacco is as strong and hard to break as an addiction to heroin?

I do hope you stick around, get to know people, and get as much from this forum as I have, even though I read a lot more than I post. There's no better place to learn and get support. But, really, I think you owe Myth an apology.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiffany:
You have Asthma and you smoke???? I can't believe it as this is a sure enough way to take many years of your life and ruin the little quality you have physically. I know it is hard, my brother is asthmatic and he used to smoke but he decided that he prefer to breath. there are sites that are there for the purpose of motivating each other to overcome this habit, it seems as if your body really asks for change

Hey there, Myth,

If I understand the meds correctly, Symbicort is a discus similar to the Advair that I use. My doctors have me using both Advair and Singulair. Of course, I don't know that with certainty, but you could ask your doctor about it.

Do you have a rescue inhaler too? Those are often albuterol, and for me, they nearly always give me a headache (not a Migraine).

quote:

Originally posted by Myth:
Hey Teri,

I had heard that about Singulair, but what she has me on is Symbicort which I take twice daily and is some sort of inhaled powder. However, I also noted some very rapid migraine relief from the inhaler itself.... which had made me wonder. While I have not been completely migraine free, there is a significant difference in intensity. I was having some serious problems sleeping because when I lay down the throbbing intensity would increase so much I would usually just get up... and it is also lying down when I experienced the prodominant amount of shortness of breath.