4/22/09

A question to my readers

I suffer from migraine headaches, bad ones at that, and have all my life! They started when I was about 2 years old and have stuck with just like a best friend my whole life. When I was about 18 months old I fell down 2 cement stairs in my walker and had a skull fracture, would explain a lot, huh? Anyway, the migraines started after that. I would either wake up or go to school get a bad headache and then throw-up. My parents thought I had the flu. Low and behold a few years later I was diagnosed with migraine headaches.
Now this was around the time that migraines were just coming around as being diagnosed and there were no medications out there especially for children. My mom and I would go to this pediatric neurologist and beg for medication. I can still remember the doctors voice and how I would have to describe every minute of the migraines I would have.......can you say long and boring! So after many hours, many medications, and lots of treats from my wonderful momma...yes she bribed me and I love her for it, we moved on to an adult neuro dude at the age of 15.
After many years of battling migraines being hospitalized in college I was put on Depakote for a preventitive medication. Worst mistake of my life! I had short term memory loss while in college. I would study, go to class and then would fail the test that I was prepared for. Come to find out, I suffered from short term memory from Depakote....GREAT! So that one was stopped. My sister then suggested that I go the chiropractor, and she was right. I started going 3 times a week, then two, then one. My migraines decreased from having 4 weekly to maybe 2 monthly. I love my chiro dude!!! He thinks I'm nuts because I love to get popped and cracked!
So my question to my readers is: what are your migraine remedies??? What do you like about them, what don't you like? Also, if you are trying to concieve or pregnant, what has your doctor said??? I am trying to find some alternative remedies to help combat my migraines when we try to have a baby once again. Thanks all, have a great Wednesday!

9 comments:

Kayla said...

I get headaches very frequently.... I've never been diagnosed with migraines, but I know I get them from time to time. The Chiro helped a lot, but it gets expensive. I started going to this massage therapist on occasion and it really started to get rid of some of the headaches. I get a lot less headaches now. I have a lot of tension in my neck & shoulders because of the nature of my job, so I feel so amazing when I leave the massage therapists office! She does a great job concentrating mainly on my neck, back and shoulders but then hits the other parts for a short time as well.... Anyway, its relaxing, refreshing and works wonders for my headaches! Good luck! :-)

Kelsey said...

You're looking for an alternative to chiropractic care for during pregnancy? I actually saw a chiro. on a regular basis while I was pregnant to keep aligned (my hips were bothering me terribly). At icpa4kids.com (or org?) you can find a chiropractor who's certified to care for pregnant women.

Julie S. said...

My mom suffers from Chronic migraines and as a result, I do as well, but not nearly like she does. When I was still on the pill, the dr's thought that estrogen was causing them, so they put me on a progesterone only birth control pill. That helped immensely, until I went off the pill and I became pregnant. I have had my share of migraines with pregnancy, and surprisingly, my OB prescribed Tylenol with Codeine. I don't have to take it very often but it is nice to have on hand for when a migraine strikes! Good luck!

leah @maritalbless said...

Wow that is quite the story behind your beginning of migraines! I'm so sorry you have to deal with them.

I didn't start getting migraines until I was 17, after years of my mother's headaches. I never, ever understood the debilitating pain she suffered until then.

I never understood my triggers and only managed the pain through Imitrex and Butabitol, darkness, coolness and time.

About 2 years ago I decided to cut out Diet Coke because it was a cost and I needed to drink more water. Wouldn't you know . . . I haven't had a migraine in at least 1 1/2 years.

Mind you my caffeine intact stayed the same as I basically just switched to coffee . . . but those toxins and artificial sweetners in Diet Coke no longer entered my body. I'm convinced this is the change that helped me.

It doesn't sound like this will help you at all, but I'm sharing because I was a complete skeptic when it came to the "dangers" of Nutrasweet. For any diet pop drinking migraine sufferers, I urge you to cut it out for a couple of months and see if it has any effect!

Lacey said...

I have horrible migraines!! The doctor gave me some meds to take whenever I have a bad one. They seem to work but are very expensive. I get dizzy and have blurred vision from them.
You should contact your doctor.

Nicole said...

I am sorry to hear about your long battle with migraines. I suffered from migranes from about 16 years old. I really don't know what started it. The only solution I had was Imitrex and I absolutely hated how it made me feel. I tried lots of things (less caffiene, no chocolate to get rid of them). Then about 2 years ago I decided to get lasik eye surgery, totally unrealted to the migranes. Ever since then I have been migrane free. I don't know if that is why but I am keeping my fingers crossed I never get a migrane again.

Jessi said...

I get migraines all the time...infact right after our wedding I had 15 in one month! They have me on a preventive called Evlin (not sure if that is spelled right). It has helped, and the OBGYN said its save when I carry a child. Hope they get better...I know they are such a pain in the butt!

Mary Kay said...

I not only have migraine but I practice in headache medicine so I really sympathize.

The best alternatives for headache during pregnancy are rest, and tylenol or tyleno with codiene. I manage pregnant migrainuers and rarely we do put them on daily medication IF mom is throwing up everyday and in severe pain.

If your headaches are still disabling..try exercise 2x per week and vitamin therapy..magnesium, B2 and feverfew. Caution though..can't take these if pregnant.

Good luck!

Risa said...

I've been getting migraines since I was 22. They got worse about 2 years ago and I've been on imitrex since then. I also go to a chiropractor too. It hasn't prevented the migraines, just helped them go away when they are really bad and meds won't help. I really feel mine are related to a crappy sleep schedule, sugar and hormones. What does your chiropractor do exactly that seems to help?

I'm not a huge diet soda drinker but I do have a few every week. I'll try cutting it out entirely and see if it helps anything.

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