Migraine

I am wondering; are GI symptoms (constipation, diarreah, nausea) related more to migraine than to any primary GI disorders (IBS and celiac disease, specifically.

I have been chronically constipated for years (thought it was the meds) and then began having other GI symotoms that are not concurrent with a migraine attack. So, how does one separate these symptoms out?

This might be a good question for our Ask the Clinician column.

Ask the Clinician

quote:

Originally posted by amigraineur52:
I am wondering; are GI symptoms (constipation, diarreah, nausea) related more to migraine than to any primary GI disorders (IBS and celiac disease, specifically.

I have been chronically constipated for years (thought it was the meds) and then began having other GI symotoms that are not concurrent with a migraine attack. So, how does one separate these symptoms out?

Hi,
I tried post a poll about this topic yesterday. It was here for a moment and then disappeared. Could someone tell me what happened?

I'd agree, I'd love to hear a dr's take on this question. I'd guess at their answer though, that's it's going to be different for each person, and really hard to pin down.

I recently went through a process of trying to pin down some GI stuff for myself. It started out as as an abdominal cramp that I thought was gas. Then it got worse. It went from a detox, to a tubal pregnancy (ER, here we come!) to a UTI, to a cyst, to ovary sensitivity, to an unknown GI problem (it started happening after I'd eat). After many tests I know that I have a "perfectly healthy gut" (lol) although I have a lot of problems. Basically, we don't know what's wrong with you, but we didn't find any problems. I left looking at food sensitivities (not an allergy) and considering other causes for GI symptoms. Don't forget that the body is so connected, stress is one we all know about causing havoc, but there are others. Vascular problems can manifest in your GI system as well. That's just one example that I've been considering.

I have an article somewhere from a great neurosurgeon about this stuff that I will post if I can ever find it. I hope you find the answer for your GI problems.. just a thought, for constipation you might want to try magnesium. I know it's a common supplement for migraines anyways and is a natural treatment for constipation.

Hi Debbie,

First, about your poll: I'm thinking it may have been removed because we need to have special permission from our forum "boss," Teri Robert, if we want to do any sort of poll here...I'll bet Teri or one of the mods will be along to let you know if this is the case.

Second, I just talked with my HA specialist about stomach difficulties at my last visit. I've got migraine with aura and I tend to have lots of GI symptoms. I've got reflux, hiatal hernia, and symptoms that look like IBS (fluctuation between diarrhea and constipation). I've also developed a Mallory-Weiss tear in my esophagus (it actually ripped and I vomited LOTS of blood!) while vomiting during migraine. I tend to think the majority of my issues come from my migraine meds...But I think this is kind of a "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" question in my case...

I started a discussion about this issue a while back...You can find it HERE. The thread doesn't specifically talk about whether stomach difficulties are migraine-only or due to some other primary cause...But you may find it interesting anyway!

My HA specialist told me that stomach difficulties (particularly IBS) are closely related to migraine disease. He didn't really give me an explanation as to the reason for this connection, however. In my case, he seemed to think that two different conditions are involved: migraine and IBS. I, however, am not so convinced! I'm wondering if it isn't all part of my migraine disease!

I'd like to see you ask Dr. Krusz this question, too! I look forward to hearing the response!

jenny

ps--Candace mentioned magnesium...I find it does help with my constipation. BUT please be sure to ask your doctor before you start taking it! Always ask your doctor before starting anything new, even supplements...

Debbie, you might also be interested in this article if you haven't already seen it:

Headche common in people with GI trouble

quote:

Originally posted by MaxJerz:
Debbie, you might also be interested in this article if you haven't already seen it:

Headche common in people with GI trouble

Thanks, I read the article and found it interesting. I would find it a bit more helpful if instead of looking for headache in people who already had GI trouble, they looked at the cormorbidity of GI symptoms in people with diagnosed migraine disease.

The reason I am asking this question is that I don't want to waste my $$ going to a gastroenterologist and looking for GI disease (IBS or celiac )that is (I believe) unrelated to migraine disease.