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mikacat


Coach

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migraines or cluster headaches?
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I get these very rarely but only in Spring and Fall and they last for weeks.
I have been to ENT, Allergist and Neurologist. Anyone deal with these?
BCPills, spring and fall, red wine, beer, wheat, hormones, drastic temperature changes in weather and MSG seem to cause them. OF course I have given up all the triggers but can't change the weather. Any advice on preventatives? I take steroids, which I hate, shots and MaXALT. I have tried Imitrex. We are considering moving from NC b/c I have been plagued for so many years.



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Maven


BCBG

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I feel your pain, Mikacat. I was initially diagnosed with cluster headaches, but they are just plain old migraines. I've done a lot of different things over the years: diet, biofeedback, Ergotamine, Inderal, Atelenol and Imitrex. I've kept a headache diary. There are times when I can drink red wine, stay up late, eat salty food, and I feel great. Other times, even though I have been careful, I get terrible headaches. Weather is definitely a factor. Fluctuating hormones a factor. I now take Zomig, which is a more refined version of the triptans, and it works for me--it usually knocks out a headache within a couple of hours.

There is also another version called Amerge, which I haven't tried, which is supposed to work well on hormonal headaches. Some anti-depressants help to prevent migraines, but if you only get them seasonally, or even monthly--well--not worth it to take pills all the time if you don't need them.

It sounds like you have done the research. One of the weirder things I found after a year of keeping a headache diary is that my periods were in synch with the full moon, and I always got headaches just before, during or after my period. The rest of the time I was fine.

Have you looked into Botox? It is supposed to help. Also, Lidocaine. I was well into adulthood when I found out I am allergic to lavender, which is an ingredient in many perfumes and cosmetics. I had to give up my favorite perfumes.

I wish you well. I hate migraines!



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mikacat


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Wow Maven--
I can't believe yours were in tune with the full moon--kinda crazy.
I felt pretty good yesterday and I even went to work for a few hours.
I have an appt at my neurologist tomorrow but he is 90 miles away. I am going to ask him about Botox and preventatives that you mentioned.

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Mia


Kate Spade

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Mikacat - if you haven't gotten a diagnosis on what *kind* of headaches they are, I would seek a more specialized opinion - i.e. not just a neurologist, but a neurologist specializing in headaches.


I get migraines as well and am on a prophylactic (propanolol, which has its own side effects, none of which even come close to migraines in terms of the annoyance level). I also take Zomig when I get a headache. It helps - lessens the headache - but doesn't make it go away. Amerge did not do much for me.


I have also heard that they are getting great results with Botox.


The first step is identifying the type of headache, though.


I know I get them more when there is there is a low pressure system - when it's cloudy and heavy. I am not sure about how this works in the US but if you get a particularly bad migraine here you can just go to the emergency room and get a demerol shot - v. helpful.


 



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rosie_the_riveter


Gucci

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I get regular migraines (about 2 a month sometimes 3) mine are usually caused by strong odors, sometimes the weather changes and I always get one before my period. My doctor prescribed Axert but I'm thinking of switching to something that might work better for me. Sometimes I have to go in for emergency shots of Toradol (did I spell that right?) But if your doc hasn't given you a proper diagnosis then you are better off going to a specialist to check out what is going on.

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blubirde


Chanel

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Ahhh migraines and clusterfucks. I'm so sorry. I have no advice or suggestions because I get different kinds of migraines. (I used to get the regular kind when I was going through puberty, so I feel your pain.) I get migraine headaches that last for 5-7 days. The pain is less severe and they don't hinder my life, but the annoyance factor is extremely high. I wasn't even sure they were migraines until my doctor diagnosed me. Anyway, mine are directly related to stress. Any time I go through prolonged periods of extreme anxiety, stress, etc., I get the week long migraines. Bastards! And they happen basically every other week until I've resolved the stressful situation.

My doctor encourages relaxation as a treatment. (Breathing exercises, yoga poses, or whatever makes you calm.) Not sure if that will work for you but I haven't had a migraine in a few months by learning to deal with my stress in more productive ways.

I hope you feel better soon! I think pain management is an excellent way to go when they're really bad. (The demoral, etc.)

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