NWR: Migraines and headaches..ugh

Do you know what causes the migraine? My doctor always says to treat what causes it to minimize them. Mine are stress and heat induced. Stress in unavoidable but I try to destress, get massages and I'm in AC all summer and it has minimized how often I get them.

I'm so sorry!!!! I get migraines too, and they are truly excruciating! No one understands unless they also get them. It's so much more than "just a headache."

Check your blood pressure, just to make sure that's okay. I know sometimes high blood pressure can cause them.

Also, try putting a cold towel or ice pack on the back of your neck. I read that the combo of a cold towel around your neck and your feet in warm water somehow works to relieve the migraine. Spicy foods help as well!

I've read that feverfew tea works wonders. Here's what I found online:

"Some evidence indicates feverfew tea works best as a preventative measure and will not stop a migraine once it’s started, so if you experience migraines it might be worthwhile to make feverfew a part of your daily routine. It can be purchased at health food stores in capsule form, or you can purchase the dried leaves to steep in a tea. The tea will have a bitter flavor and may irritate your mouth, so proceed with caution. About 50-100 milligrams (mg) per day should do, or one to two cups of tea per day. Please note that it could take a few weeks to start working, and that it should be taken with food."

Try to drink lots of water and get a good nights sleep every night too and try not to let yourself get hungry, always have snacks that are low in salt on hand. I've heard chocolate, citrus, and cheese can all trigger a migraine or make it worse.

Peppermint essential oils help tremendously. Also, you may want to check your pillow. I was having the same issue and it turns out it was pillow keeping my neck at weird angle. I bought a memory foam pillow and it's helped.

Have you had your eyes checked recently? If not that may be causing them too

I don't suffer from migraines, but I do read medical records all day for my job, and I know many neurologists recommend Botox injections after other failed conservative measures. Not sure if that's an option for you, and I'm not a doctor, but it's all I got! Good luck, hope you find something to help you.

I get migraines frequently too. Generally when I'm stressed, break my sleep pattern, don't eat, or start my period. Try to target what causes them. I had a bad one yesterday and I'm terrified i will have one tomorrow on my wedding day!

I've had migraines since I was 3 and my dad is a neurologist. Botox. If you can handle 36 injections in your face, head, and neck then you absolutely must consider it.

Are you on the pill? A friend of mine found out that was what was causing her terrible migraines. Got the IUD and no more migraines. I agree with getting your eyes checked too.

I'm not sure what causes them. I'm sure a lot contributes. I work in front of a computer all day everyday. :/ ugh. Stress... Sometimes, not often. I've been told to watch what I eat so I did clean eating for a few weeks and no changes. I've cut back on soda and drink a lot of water, no help. Thank god for FMLA, because the last two weeks I left early to go home, shower, take meds and sleep. It's horrible.

I second the peppermint oil. As a matter of fact, I swear by it. That and ginger tea helps me tremendously.

I would suggest going to the doctors as soon as you can. Researching anything on the Internet is a no no. I know when I do I will always find those post that tell me I'm dying. LOL. If it's not going away with meds I would go to the doctors. Medicine only mask the pain it doesn't actually take the pain away.

Currently nursing a migraine on my couch. Definitely a mixture of heat induced and period today. Was outside WAY too much today in 95 degree heat with heat index 100+. Such a bad idea.

I have no advice. My excedrin ain't doing shit right now.

Oh ladies, you have no idea when it comes to my eyes lol.. I have horrible vision.. I wore contacts (glasses part time) for the longest time and switched to glasses full time in April. I work medical records too! I am on the pill. :/ FH and I plan on me going off it right around our wedding, but maybe earlier now if that can cause the headaches .. Eek. I'm not sure I can handle Botox but if it comes to that, I'll do whatever I can!!! I'll be looking into peppermint oil!!!(eh, what do you do with it? Sorry if that's a stupid question, I honestly don't know)

Wait @Lela. I was told if you suffer from migraines that you CAN NOT be on certain types of birth control (if you suffer ocular migraines). Check with the doctors.

I had almost constant headaches from dehydration and gluten. Keep in mind that a lot of foods/part of foods can stay with you for weeks. Gluten can stay in your system for roughly four weeks. Some other proteins linger much longer. I'm not sure how long you ate "clean" but I recommend writing everything you eat down, and then also writing down when you get your headaches and what type of head it is (dull, sharp, pressure). After a few weeks, or maybe even months, you may be able to make some connections.

I notice a huge difference when I don't watch what I eat and drink. If I drink less than 60 ounces of water a day, headache. Gluten or too much sugar, headache. I also have horrible seasonal allergies that lead to sinus headaches too, which is why it's important to keep a record of the type of headache.

ETA: I was on a daily dose a pain management med to manage my headaches but began looking for alternatives when my liver staying healthy became a concern at 17 years old.

Lela, no amount of oil or tea is going to help someone with chronic migraines. Trust me, I have tried EVERYTHING! Considering your history I'm sure insurance will cover a good chunk of Botox treatments for you. I'm trying to start treatment but I moved and haven't found a new neurologist. My last neurologist put the paperwork through for me but I moved before I could start. Good luck to you!!!

Identifying triggers is an important piece. Diet, hydration and sleep schedule are all potentially important factors. I used to get a few migraines per week but chiropractic care helped me a ton.

I have severe migraines that will make me so sick that even a sliver of light makes me throw up. That being said I take flexerol (not sure of the spelling) and it usually works. Sometimes I have to double or triple my dose but it works. Be careful with Zofran. My doctor told me that a recent study has shown that women who were trying to get pregnant became unable to do so and pregnant women taking Zofran had babies born with disabilities due to the medication. I found this out after taking Zofran religiously for another medical issue.

If you have more than 14 migraine days a month you might qualify for Botox. I suffered from migraines 20 days a month before my Botox injections. I am also on an ssri daily as a preventative. I use flexeril at night and relpax when one hits. I also use m-grain, a young living brand essential oil. Although it doesn't totally get rid of them, it makes them manageable til my prescriptions kick in.

If you can identify triggers, that would of course would be the best thing. My neurologists explained to me that chronic migraine sufferers don't necessarily have to have triggers like other people do though- that our body has gotten in the routine of having migraines & so a previous migraine is our trigger for a new one (not the same as rebound headaches caused by the medicine)

I'd suggest finding a neurologist that specializes in migraines/headaches. That's what I've done & it's worked wonders.

ETA- do not let the injections scare you if Botox is an option for you. It's much less painful than migraines. I get 200 cc injected dvery three months and barely blink an eye to them now.

I also get migraines(have since I was 8) and I recommend keeping a food journal and eliminating things(dairy, gluten, etc) one at a time to see if it you can pinpoint anything causing them. Diet can be a huge trigger for migraines. It's kind of a pain but if you are anything like me you get to the point you are desperate enough to try anything!

I've also put peppermint oil on my temples. It lessens the pain somewhat for me, but it doesn't make them go away totally. It does seem to help with my nausea though.

Also, have you ever taken a preventative? I was on topamax for about a year and the side effects were terrible but ultimately worth it because the frequency and intensity both improved quite a bit.

Ugh I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I get migraines (thankfully infrequently...they started in my teen years) but when I do get them they're downright scary.

Every time I've had one in recent years I've been dehydrated and either in the bright sun or just very muggy weather. I've gotten them in the middle working out or at the end of a day when I haven't had enough water.

Definitely check with your doctor that you're on a BCP that isn't aggravating this for you. I take Zovia and haven't had any issues, but I know certain types are not recommended for migraine sufferers. I also take b vitamins and magnesium daily-both are known to help reduce migraines, but their levels get depleted by birth control pills, so I take supplements.