Migraine/tension Headaches

Do you drink diet pop? The nutrasweet gave me HORRIBLE head aches and stomach problems! Also drinking lots of water. Ive also heard about vit. D. Gluten free diets have helped a friend of mine.

Did your neurologist ever run an MRI or CAT scan? I think you should try a new neurologist that includes migraines in their specialties. My current routine is to take the Topamax daily as you do. That helps keep them mostly under control. If yours aren't under control then it's possible that your daily dosage isn't high enough.

When I feel a migraine start I take a couple of Advil Liquid Gels. If that doesn't maintain control then I take an Imitrex. I also make a good pot of strong coffee, although if I can't manage the coordination then I have my husband bring home some Coke since that has a decent amount of caffeine to help jolt the migraine. Usually I only need one more Imitrex with Advil for maintenance until the migraine is gone, but I also need to sleep and to remember to stay hydrated.

So there are a few things you need to remember to help minimize frequency aside from the medication. Reduce your sodium intake, but increase your water intake. Avoid strobe lights. Try to avoid high stress triggers. Get enough rest. Keep a food diary to see if there's something in your diet or something maybe that you're excluding from your diet (not enough water for instance) that's triggering the migraines. Try to avoid the computer screen and TV screen when you have a migraine. Pull the drapes when you have a migraine. Wear sunglasses if you have to be up and about. I like a hot compress on my temples, but some people like cold eye gel packs.

I do have chronic pain issues, and migraines are something I've had since I was a young child. It's just something I've grown up with and deal with as part of life. But with my other chronic pain issues and migraines increasing in frequency as my other issues have increased, I made it a point to get to a good neurologist. I really do think that if your current/old neurologist had you on so many different medications that they weren't really addressing your issues, and only addressing the pain isn't diminishing the frequency.

EDIT: I have to second the suggestion to eliminate sugar substitutes. I get awful migraines AND eczema from Nutrasweet, Aspartame, Truvia, Splenda, and all the rest so I have to either reduce it to completely eliminate it. I have to stick with regular sugar and other natural sweeteners.

It's just so important to avoid the triggers in the first place and eat as naturally as possible and avoiding processed foods if you can. If you have canned veggies try to go for the reduced sodium versions. If you like sweet teas, try to make them rather than getting canned and bottled versions. I even have a homemade "Snapple" recipe I'd be willing to share (it actually tastes like real Snapple). I know it means your grocery bill will go up a bit, but if it means your migraines could reduce it's worth it.

I'm sorry you go through this. I suffer through it too. But I do believe that a good neurologist can help you get through it better and if your insurance will cover it, please consider a nutritionist.

EDIT AGAIN: I wonder if your increase in the migraines is because you still have some anesthesia in your system from the surgery? After a major surgery your immune system can weaken for a good two years or so, and it can also make you more susceptible to migraines. That was the case for me after my breast reduction surgery a couple of years ago, and it also dramatically worsened my Fibromyalgia (before I knew what it was).

**As an Aside:
Do you have TMJ? In your jaw?
This can cause migraines too.
Your Dentist can help.
That is what my Mom had once.
------------------------

I would try, Acupuncture.

When I was pregnant, each time, I got BAD morning sickness and migraines everyday.
I had acupuncture. It got rid of it.

Have you gotten your eyes checked?
have then done an MRI? sounds like you need to get on your dr's for other solutions than just medicate and forget

I go to the massage therapy school in the next town. Massages are cheap and sometimes they even run 2 for 1 specials.

It depends on your triggers....

I have a pre-existing neck injury, and when I'm in pain I tense up which can lead/contribute to a tension headache which can trigger a migraine. So for me regular chiropractic care helps. I've also tried acupuncture but it doesn't help as much as prescription meds.

In the past I've been incapacitated due to migraines and even taken iv meds to break a migraine. Over the years I have been prescribed steriods, narcotic rescue meds and triptan abortivees, as well as a BP med used off label as a migraine preventative. My neuro wanted to start me on Topomax but I decided to try an elimination diet first.

For me the two things that have helped the most with migraines are
1) getting my vitamin D levels in range (it's a simple blood test to see if you are low, for some reason I have to take mega-doses to stay in range).
2) going on a wheat-free gluten free diet.

I still get an occasional migraine but they aren't as bad as before. It took me a while to figure out gluten was a trigger even keeping a headache/migraine diary because I get a migraine the the next day after eating gluten.

Since getting my vitamin D levels up my migraines have been easier to break, and since going gluten free I've had less frequent and severe headaches and migraines. For the most part I have been able to ditch prescripton meds.

I wanted to mention my experience in case it was helpful to you. I hope you are able to get some sleep tonight and some relief soon.

ETA: If I were you I'd get a referral to a neuro for further testing/followup. All my test results MRI blood tests etc. were normal with exception of low vitamin D.

God bless you love. My older sister is in the same boat. I love her so very much and she suffers so often. I would give anything to help her and the docs she goes to say the same thing. He told her they don't really understand migraines and the drugs other than imitrex are anti seizure meds which made her nlood pressure high. She did go to a chiropracter and he said she was out of wack but had to have xrays first that insurance doesn't cover. The er doc also told her to keep a food diary to see if its triggered by allergies (sure, that helped!) I've heard feverfew can help? I hope you find a answer honey because I've seen how awful it can be! Hugs to you

i have migraine attacks too specially when i am about to have my period... it hurts like hell.. ive read in reader's digest years ago is to eat chocolates and drink coffee... some people raise they eyebrows but ive done my research and it works for me... caffeine can help constrict the blood vessels thus making your blood circulate better...

we debated over this topic in school and i won... ;)

I suffered with migraines for 30 years. I found supplements that helped tremendously. Ultimately, it turned out that a hole in my heart was the root cause.
My friend's daughter had one that lasted 3 years straight. Acupuncture finally helped her and it has never come back.
I am so sorry for you. I hope you find relief.
edited:
Immitrex didn't work for me either. It made the lining of my skull feel like it was on fire. One med that did help was Ergostat, but I think they have been taken off the market because of birth defects.

I suffered through migraines, and like you, eventually the meds stopped working. My internist believed that I wasn't suffering from migraines anymore but instead these headaches were cluster headaches (also known as suicide headaches) that have similar symptoms but don't respond to migraine meds. I found a really good neurologist, who did an extremely thorough evaluation. At the end of talking to me before he examined me he asked me if there was anything else I could think of to mention about headaches even if I didn't think it related to the headaches I was experiencing. I mentioned that I often get knife like pains in the back of my head and have for years. He looked at me oddly and then examined me and found that I had occipital neuralgia, an inflammation of the nerve that runs through the back of my head. That nerve pain runs up over my eyes and causes the cluster headaches. He did some accupuncture thing with me that worked well. Ibuprofen helps a lot. They want me to do physical therapy but I have to find one that knows a specific technique and just haven't yet. I want to check into a chiropractor and accupuncture to see if that works. I'm thinking you need another doctor that can verify your diagnosis. I did try a nerve block but I really didn't like it, although my MIL swears by them.

i called a chiro for my 6yo daughter, I was told about $50 Out of pocket for the first consult and then $30ish for each appointment after. not sure if those are typical rates or pedi rates or what but i was expecting alot more. so while your insurance doesn't cover it, it might be worth a couple hundred to go a few times.

Do you excersise? My doctor told me to try that. 3 times a week, 20 minutes a day at least Although I have been slacking in that dept....but I am working on it! I have had headaches for about 7 years now so I know how you feel. I am also on Topamax - only helps a little. Imitrex works wonders. It stinks that you cannot take it.
Have they checked your sinuses? I also have sinus problems as well. I get alot of sinus headaches that turn into migraines. I had a really bad headache the other day and the Imitrex didn't work. So I took some sinus meds and the pain went away. I found out I have a deviated septum and the ENT doc says that could be the cause of my headaches. But, headaches run on my mom's side of the family, so I could be S.O.L!!!
I also heard that magnesium (double check me on that) is supposed to help.

You might try taking niacin. I've heard good things about it for tension and migraine headaches. Might be worth looking into and give it a try.
C.

The only thing that saved me from my migraines was taking one little pill called Inderal LA. It is a blood thinned. Never got a headache again. Good luck. Its miserable suffering from headaches.!

Cranial Sacral work will help relieve the pain. Those wall bangers you have will dry up and go away after menopause. Yes your ovaries are still working. That is why they were left in. The headaches are hormonal in origin.
You could save up some money and go to a homeopath. They can stop them with the right remedy.