Migraine

What is the worst trigger of all for you? How do you cope/deal with it? And how did you realize it was the worst one for you?

Abby

I think I'd call weather changes my worst trigger, and it's unavoidable. I can avoid my other triggers, including red wine, beer and chocolate. As far as figuring out that weather changes are a trigger, I noticed it in my headache diary.

My doc is letting me take Frova to try to ward off the weather-triggered attacks. I watch the weather (WeatherUnderground.com) and take the Frova about 12 hours before the weather is going to change. I estimate it's preventing about 50% of my weather-triggered attacks.

Katrina was still a Category 1 hurricane when she blew through here. I had some head pain, but no migraine attack. And the headache could have been from being without power and hot at the end of August.

Gretchen -- central Mississippi

Sleep disturbances, without a doubt. It was a no brainer to figure out at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Joyce:
What is the worst trigger of all for you? How do you cope/deal with it? And how did you realize it was the worst one for you?

Abby

quote:

Originally posted by Joyce:
What is the worst trigger of all for you? How do you cope/deal with it? And how did you realize it was the worst one for you?

Abby

Weather

Nothing I can do about it except to spray the Zomig up my nose, grab the Breyers, get comfortable & enjoy the rest of day in a Dopamax/Zomig numbness=cloud 9. Almost better than pot.

For me it is things that are social that I just can't do anymore, like have a beer with friends, sitting in the bright sun at a baseball game, or eat where ever, whenever I want. I just feel like I have to be so careful about things that other people just take for granted. Plus I hate having to give an explanation of why I'm not drinking at a party or event. I really don't know why people even ask. I guess it just comes down to wanting to fit in and being able to be "normal" like everyone else.

J

The Holidays.

I can't avoid them no matter how much I might want to, but I really don't because I do enjoy family and Christmas and all that. But, I know that within the first week or two of January I'm going to be dropped by a really bad migraine. It happens like clockwork.

And then there's the lying to get out of visiting the in-laws because if you think stress with family you like is tough, then imagine stress caused by family you just aren't fond of. The only time we went out there for Christmas is worthy of a separate rant thread in and of itself.

Aged cheese, hands down. Even the tiniest bit (shudder). It was pretty much a cause-and-immediate-effect situation that clued me in as a child, early in my "migraine career".

Someone in this forum suggested, when eating out and uncertain of the content of a dish, stating to restaurant servers that you are "allergic" to a trigger food. I find this works very well 99.9% of the time in getting their cheerful and thorough cooperation.

Definitely weather shifts, particularly if there's wind attached. Extreme humidity or lack thereof in the summer is a biggie, too, considering that I spend my days semi-outdoors working at the pool. Pretty obvious for me.

I'm debating between cheese and weather. But i'm noticing more and more that its cheese. And so i've had to cope with it by not eating any more cheese or go to 50% fat free cheese or less. Otherwise I will get a migraine no matter what. Just something about that cheese that I can't let go. But because of the migraines I do want to let go.

Not getting my regular preventative meds on time is my worst trigger these days.

Weather. No contest. The rest can be avoided, but unlike onions, I can't pick a thunderstorm out and send it back to the chef.

Like MW above,miss just 1 tomapax and HOLY COW-->my head explodes. It isn't pretty. I simply can NOT miss even 1 single tablet.

Second to that, it's having surgery. I've done that WAY too often over the past couple of years and no matter what, I get a Migraine at some point post-op. I woke up without one the past 2 times BUT I this last time I got a week's worth starting about 3 days post-op. UGH.

Hell, I wish I knew A good dose of MSG will most reliably cause pain closest to a true migraine, and flying and a night or two of not enough sleep run close seconds. But sometimes I'll go from being pain-free to having a headache for no good reason at all.

Robin

quote:

Originally posted by Joyce:
What is the worst trigger of all for you? How do you cope/deal with it? And how did you realize it was the worst one for you?

Abby

For me it's the weather 99% of the time and can't do a thing other than running in front of a depression or a big change. Too sunny or cloudy is not for me. Exercises is starting to do it too. Offensive smells ( cheap perfumes) do not help. Strangely stress won't trigger an attack. Over the years I realized that stress, maybe a big adrenaline outburst seem to help. Go figure.
Marie

stress/being very upset.
whenever i am freaking out about something, terrible upset or had a big cry BOOM migraine for days!
weather is my #2. rainy weather, when it's going to rain or snow or if i'm outside and it's freezing instant migraine.