Migraine suffers need help

That worked for me too.

But, try donating blood.

All of this is wonderful advice and I've picked a couple of great tips so thank you to everyone!!

I just wanted to really stress - drink a lot of water daily and always stay hydrated. I was never a "thirsty" person so I never listened to anyone tell me this and suffered for a long, long time needlessly and I wish someone would have really made me understand how much this very simple thing would help. Water helps tremendously - I now drink little bits of it throughout the day and find I am actually thirsty again. My headaches are down from once or twice per month to once in awhile. As an added bonus, it's done lovely things to my complexion.

ALSO, when you start to get the first indicators that a headache might be coming, there's a very short window to try and stop or lessen it. Drink a couple of glasses of water immediately and take something or do whatever you do, but don't think "maybe it will go away" - those are the ones that last forever. Do something right away.

Good health everyone!

I found a really good chiropractor who first did x-rays - the normal curve of my neck was pretty much gone, and I'd been waking up with killer headaches every morning for months, thought it was hormonal, or my meds. Well, he adjusted me one time, loosened up my whole neck, and was pretty confident it would fix things - haven't awakened with that headache since.

Also, there is a great accupressure technique where you pinch the meat between your first finger and thumb on the hand and if it is tender then squeeze hard and it should begin to relieve the headache - try both hands - usually one is better than the other at helping - the one that it hurts the most to pinch/apply pressure to that spot.

If the pain is always on one side of the head
- behind the eye
- eye lid drooping
- nose running
- excruciating pain almost blinding
- attack lasts 45 min to 2 hours
- attack periods months then months pain free
- OTC pharma useless

Then it is most likely cluster headaches.

For those of you that have it and are mis-diagnosed.

If you do have them I can tell you what works for me (as a CH sufferer)

- go to bed and get up at the exact same time every day
- keep your head at a constant temperature (use something to keep head warm)
- keep really strong coffee without condiments ready in the fridge - it aborts or lessens attacks
- do NOT apply pressure anywhere: it will only escalate pain

During the time of the most severe attacks my nights looked like this:

2 hours of sleep
awake from the pain 45 minutes attack
2 hours of sleep
awake from the pain 45 minutes attack
2 hours of sleep
awake from the pain 45 minutes attack
1 hour of sleep
awake exhausted

This basically stopped when I started to use a fleece blanket wrapped around my head at night.

Also trying to lie down on the couch: within 5 minutes 45 minute attack.

It does get more controllable over time but 95% of the cases are for life.

The pain is worse than giving birth (women witness statement) and like being operated on the eye without anesthetic.

If you do have it try the CH forums - and remember my advice.

One more thing: if you are unsure if you have Cluster Headaches try drinking a glass of red wine.

If you have an attack within 15 minutes it is Cluster Headaches. Alcohol (Red Wine especially) is a BIG trigger.

Drink a cup of Chamomile tea when you first realize you are getting the headache. It stops the headache if you catch it early enough.

I also use mind over matter techniques which have greatly reduced mine over the years. They have reduced the severity and how often they happen.

Edit: Forgot to mention that when you do have the headache, use a good brand of essential oils on the neck to increase circulation.

Last Edited by ERE3 on 11/09/2012 03:51 AM

You can still get the equivalent of it with the store brand version of Excedrin such as at Walgreens, Target, Walmart.
There is NO difference between Excedrin migraine and regular Excedrin except the package. The ingredients are identical.

Yes, i do get migraines so bad I wished I was dead, but taking vicodin is out of the question. No thank you!!!

I totally understand there is no difference between Excedrin migraine and what not, but Excedrin extra strength has no effect in my head. I know, weird. I've been taking Major, and haven't been happier.

Move to Colorado or Washington state. Cannabis kills migraines almost immediately. Imitrex helps until it does not, Maxalt helps but Cannabis is the best.

GET A NEW PILLOW!!!!

I suffered from migraines (several different types) for years and tried it all- diet changes, acupuncture, acupressure, vitamin supplements, chiropracty, physio therapy, neck/ muscle manipulation, reiki, hormone balancing drugs, natural remedies.. you name it, I tried it!

I ended up saving and purchasing a memory foam pillow - one that has a different height on each side to allow for differences in side sleepers. It moulds exactly to your body's natual alignment and reduces the strain on already stressed neck and head muscles. I have had only one migarine in the several months since I got it. Wish I hadn't waited so long to buy one as I was having them at least once a week.

My sister in law was recently hospitalised with a migraine they called an 'ice pick headache'. New type of headache, they told her... She claimed to NEVER have had pain like it. She thought she was dying.

Anyway - the way I see it, anything is worth trying if you don't need to have those awful strong drugs just to find relief from the pain of a migarine.

Sometimes the simplest treatment is the best.

Good luck - hope your sig other finds some relief.

Things that really kill me with migraines BAD, don't consume these things!:

The worst: Mushrooms, mushrooms have tons of natural MSG

MSG/ foods with MSG (BBQ potatoe chips, jerky etc... read labels)

Dark Chocolate/ cocoa powder

Citrus/ Citric acid.... citric acid is important, they put it in anything that has a tart taste, also allows them to dissolve EVEN MORE corn fructose into the drink... loads of this in Gatorade, Grape Jucie drink, sport drinks etc... read the labels and don't drink citric acid!!

Not as bad, but still bad:

peas, bean without strings, red wine, aged cheese, liver

Guaranteed cure----Feverfew.

I sustained a serious head injury in a car accident and shortly after being released I suffered the worse migraines imaginable. Tried every remedy available.
Please google it.

Before trying any strong medicines try Apple vinegar with the mother in it.
I used to suffer really bad headaches until I discovered they were gallbladder related, after changing my diet and started taking Apple cider vinegar and beetroot, my horrible headaches disapeared.
Check it out because there are a lot of people with headaches and migraine that will never thought it can be coinected to their gallbladder.

Thanks all. Neurologist prescribed Clonazepam. Anyone take this, and did it help?