Migraine

This might be a little off-the-wall, but does anyone else get a migraine at or after going to Walmart or Sams Club?

I felt fine this morning (I always have a slight headache in one area but it is normally low intensity). Now two hours later after going to Wal-mart my head is killing me.

I don't know if it is the lights, the noise, the crowds, the visual stimulation overload or physical exertion (the fact that I have to circle the whole store to get everything on my list) or a combo of all of the above, but I'm starting to think shopping at Walmart is a migraine trigger for me. I was doing ok today until I passed the nail salon on my way out, so the fumes might have just been the final straw.

Last time I went to Walmart with my husband I ended up getting a migraine halfway through and wandered around like a zombie wearing dark sunglasses. Thankfully he was able to take over getting a last few essentials and we cut our trip short.

I like the prices and it is the closest store by my house, but I'm thinking I need to skip Walmart and hit other smaller grocery stores that don't affect me the same way.

Wouldn't shock me. That sounds like a mighty big list of stackable triggers.

You should also read Candace's post Heat/AC.

I have a similar issue in Target. What I do is try to go early in the morning, usually within the first hour the store is open. I find having less people there means less noise, and I can get in and out faster.

Also, if there is a way out without passing the nail salon that could definately help.

You can also try wearing your sunglasses indoors for the whole excursion. Tom Ford (a fabulous designer) once said the best way to look important and fabulous is to wear big sunglasses all the time, especially when you don't need them!

Hope that helps. If that doesn't work, send DH out on his own.

My Dad and I had this discussion about three years ago. We call it the Walmart Airhead Syndrome, because if we spend more than fifteen minutes in the store that is exactly how we feel. In fact if I am going to be in Walmart longer than fifteen minutes I have to use the scooters to compensate for how I start getting lightheaded, or have my balance messed up.

My realization that I get migraines has helped to understand some of what is going on.

Where I live walmart is the only place to buy a lot of things. However, if I can figure out how to stay out I will.

Mary in NM

I think that's strange that you mention this because I think that Walmart is a trigger for me. I haven't quite figured it out, yet, either. I've thought that maybe it's their lighting. I've gotten a migraine several times while beening at Walmart. My mom has notice that I'll get a migraine. She even asked me if Walmart gives me one. I'm starting to think there's something to this.

Interesting that Katinthecorner mentioned stackable triggers. That's the very first phrase that popped into my mind, too. Walmart is a trigger feeding frenzy waiting to happen.

Hello,

I have a horrible time in Walmart ( I try to avoid that store) when if I go to the lawn and garden section. The smell can trigger a Migraine for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Nancy Bonk:
I have a horrible time in Walmart ( I try to avoid that store) when if I go to the lawn and garden section. The smell can trigger a Migraine for me.

Yep, I have to avoid the lawn and garden section in any home improvement store like Home Depot. I don't know if it is the fertilizers or pesticides or what but I stay far away from that aisle.

I even avoid the pet aisle at the grocery store- I'm not sure exactly what sets me off, flea killer maybe? But I haven't wanted to investigate further to find out.

I also avoid the dried flower aisles places like Garden Ridge- I'm allergic to Eucalyptus that they seem to scent everything with. Fortunately it isn't a migraine trigger but it does make me sneeze constantly, bringing tears to my eyes on my way down the aisle.

Yes, Yes, YES! Stackables upon stackable triggers!

Between the florescent lights (even during the day with the skylights), the noise (read - screaming children), the toxic smells - the nail salon is at the entrance of the grocery section and the garden at the other, not to mention the laundry/cleaning aisle, and sure the walking can get to me if I forget something or get calls to add to the list and have to go back and forth several times. Not to mention I hate crowds.

I try to avoid Walmart, but its not always possible. I also wish I could avoid the one decently priced grocery store, but that too is plagued with crowds, loud children or florescent lights if I shop at midnight.

So, I wear my sunglasses literally all the time =and= put in ear plugs. Its the only way I can go out of my house. I live on a very busy street, so the traffic noise is pretty bad too. I don't wear the ear plugs while driving with the windows up, but I'll put them back in before getting out of the car. I hold my breath while going past those places that I know stink, as best I can. If I catch a whiff of something, like a perfume from some old lady, I do my best to holding my breath until I make it to open space.

It might sound over reactive, but I spend over half my time in bed as it is, I don't need more of my life cut away because I had to go to the store. As it is, my grown children do alot of those errands for us. Its not fair for them either.

<rant over>

It's nice to know that I am not alone in hating shopping or trying to stay out of WalMart. The looks people give me when they see me in the scooter and the expalanation I have to give is a little less embarassing.
everyone for sharing.

Mary in NM

quote:

Originally posted by twyxtz:
If I catch a whiff of something, like a perfume from some old lady, I do my best to holding my breath until I make it to open space.

I do the same thing for cigarette smoke. It is a definite migraine trigger for me. I'll hold my breath if I have to walk anywhere close to a lit cigarette. I've had to leave the non-smoking section of restaurants before because it was too close to the bar, or didn't have good ventilation. I'm so happy that the city next to ours has passed a smoking ban, it makes it a lot easier to eat out.

I'm definitely planning on avoiding Walmart for the foreseeable future. And if I do go again I like the idea of wearing sunglasses from the get-go. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who dreads shopping there!

quote:

Originally posted by Katinthecorner:
I have a similar issue in Target. What I do is try to go early in the morning, usually within the first hour the store is open. I find having less people there means less noise, and I can get in and out faster.

It is funny that you mention that, because Target can bother me also. For me it seems to be how long I'm there. If I only need a few things or spend less than an hour there I'm fine. If I have to get lots of things from around the store or it is crowded due to the holidays I'm not fine.

quote:

Originally posted by mlhrail:
In fact if I am going to be in Walmart longer than fifteen minutes I have to use the scooters to compensate for how I start getting lightheaded, or have my balance messed up.

The first time I went to Sam's club, with it's towering shelves, I almost felt like I had vertigo. I wonder if something about the shelf spacing and height messes with our visual cues.

I don't like Wal-mart much, either, as far as shopping experiences go. Way to much crowding and way way way too many people. Sometimes I go if what I want or need is a whole lot cheaper there, or I can only find there, but I think long and hard before I decide to go, because I hate the hassle. If it's a weekend, I tend to wait a couple of days. I've never triggered off of a visit there, though I came close once when one of the flourescent lights above whatever department we were in was flickering.

Funny you should ask. I can't shop in most stores because of the type of fluorescent lighting they use. It's not just that they aggravate my migraine. Certain types of fluorescent trigger soupey poopies within 15 minutes of going into the store. It took forever to make the connection, but there it is. I can't shop in most stores now because of it, and even sunglasses aren't enough to combat it.

DBF has to do all our errands now. If I'm having a good day I'll ride with him and sit in the car while he goes in, but I can't go in. I can sometimes tolerate the lighting in Costco, but the crowds there are too awful so I don't usually go there.

It's a good thing I have such an understanding DBF. Though I think he's seen me run to the bathroom enough times after going in a store to know that I'm not making it up.

Yes, Walmart's lighting tends to make me feel a little loopy, to say the least. And if I already have a migraine, it makes it worse.

Our local Office Max has Fluorescents of Doom too, and they are in those open soffits, rather than covered with paneling. It's horrible. I refuse to go in there because the migraine is always impending.