migraines

[lovetoeat]

In my life I've maybe gotten 10 migraines but to anyone who's had one knows the extreme pain that comes along with them. Over the last 4 years I've had maybe 6, including 2 in the last month, all of them occurring after playing hockey. But often I play hockey 2-3 times a week and I don't always get a migraine, just on occassion. Now my problem is I certainly don't want to give up hockey but will not keep enduring this pain.



I've tried various migraine drugs with none making the slightest bit of difference so this leads me to believe my hopes lie in preventing them. I would think knowing when I get the migraines will make it a little bit easier. I've always tried to keep my routine before hockey the same, so by chance if I do get one I can easily adjust.



As I understand it low levels of serotonin and norepinephrine are the cause of migraine and there are many factors that can affect these levels. Originally I realized benadryl was the culprit as pseudoephedrine will lower serotonin and NE, when my allergies would act up I would pop some before a game. This worked well and I went almost a year without a headache, but within the last month I have gotten two migraines and I have never gotten two so close together.



So I come to the board as I'm out of ideas, I'm wondering if S.S.R.I's would be helpful in my migraine prevention along with possibly tryptophan/5htp. Also Cafergot is prescribed for migraines, it's a combination of ergotamine and caffeine, but due to it being a vasoconstrictor I'm not sure it would be a good idea to take before a hockey game.

[Spook]

which medicatons have you tried. I get a form of mygraines called cluster headaches that occur every few years so I know a thing or two about them. i was just wondering if you did indded stay on imitrex for any length of time.

[lovetoeat]

I tried imitrex at first sign of migraine and it did nothing, are you suggesting staying on it for a long period of time?

[Spook]

yes thats why my doc has me do when I get the cluster headaches. one pill a day for month.

[lovetoeat]

Does it prevent them? I would think I'd have to be on it all year long as I'm not sure when I will get one.

[djremix]

dunno if this would be any help for you. but the last few time i got a headache i took 500mg aspirin and 1 dose of saint john wort.

not sure of the mechanism but it took care of the headache in like half an hour

[tony1]

If the migraines begin to occur to frequently you may need a preventative medication. I once went about seven months straight! with what what was diagnosed as ? Intractractable migraines, chronic headache. I couldn't finish school at the time and was bedridden on and off the whole time. Preventives include depression meds like prozac, the tricyclic antidepressants, etc. I hear depakote is being used successfully as treatment now too. I have been on Tofranil Pm for 3 1/2 years now but now live an normal life. I know what you have isn't as severe as daily headaches but preventatives can help alot. I hate taking meds like this but its better than what could happen. Noticing what triggers them is a great start if you can do this. One of the most important things to remember is if they happen frequently pain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. can cause chronic headaches for some. I see a great neurologist here in Houston (considered one of the best) and he said that Aleve is the least likely to cause chronic and rebound headaches. When I get a bad one I have to have 3. I have tried injectable imitrex and didn't like it. Your best bet is to see a neurologist that deals with alot of headache patients. Try to find something that treats the symptoms and if they occur to frequently get on a preventive. Good luck, I can handle pain in different areas of my body but nothing is worse than when your head hurts really bad.

[Dante]

I've heard of Cayenne Peppers and Feverfew, that standardized to Parthenolides (sp?) to work toward this end. Give me time, and I'll try to hunt references.



Feverfew:





http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...9&dopt=Abstract



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...3&dopt=Abstract



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...5&dopt=Abstract



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...6&dopt=Abstract



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...9&dopt=Abstract



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...4&dopt=Abstract



This is interesting:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...4&dopt=Abstract

[shpongled]

Are you sure they're migraines? Two of the main causes of headaches are:



1) Dehydration (the #1 cause)



2) Caffeine



Are you drinking enough water when playing hockey?



David

[lovetoeat]

I'm positive they're migraines, they are preceded by aura(blurry vision) and then comes the throbbing pain, nausea, chills, and hot flashs. I don't think I could possibly drink more water than I already do.

[lovetoeat]

Got another one a couple of weeks ago, still open for ideas on preventing or treating them. This one oddly didn't come after a hockey game, just woke up with it.

[pluto]

Definitely contact a nuerologist.

[natron]

1000-2000mg of taurine , 100mg 5-htp. It's a combo i've seen work in a lot of customers i deal with. All of which say that prescription drugs don't help at all or don't work that well.

[origip]

this may seem like bullshit, but I promise you it's not...



2 weeks ago I had such a bad headache that every movement made me screem in pain and want to throw up. I tried double motrin but that didn't help. Finally, at the recommendation of a friend I went to the accupuncturist that afternoon. Well, she put some needles in my head, after she made me go get something to eat - an eggwhite omelette 0- and I couldn't believe it but in a matter of seconds the pain was gone. I was skeptical, feeling that maybe the pain went away momentarily due to my relaxed state and lack of movement. So, like a jackass, I put the needles to the test by violently shaking my head. no pain whatsoever. Later that evening I felt a small discomfort in my head, not a headache but the feeling of an extremely mild hangover. I haven't had any problems since then but if I do I now exactly where I'm going. Eastern medicine is pretty cool.

[virtualcyber]

I had intense pain on the back of my head. I had it for days, but it would not go away. Then I started on choline supplementation; I took 1 g every few hours for a whole day.



Choline is very cheap, so you may want to give it a try.

[shpongled]

Here are my suggestions, sorry if they are repeats



1. Take fish oil

2. Take magnesium

3. Don't take NO products



And of course, see a specialist

[lovetoeat]

Here are my suggestions, sorry if they are repeats



1. Take fish oil

2. Take magnesium

3. Don't take NO products



And of course, see a specialist

This is exactly what I've started doing, also going to give feverfew a try.

[turoati]

weeks ago I had such a bad headache that every movement made me screem in pain and want to throw up. I tried double motrin but that didn't help. Finally, at the recommendation of a friend I went to the accupuncturist that afternoon. Well, she put some needles in my head, after she made me go get something to eat - an eggwhite omelette 0- and I couldn't believe it but in a matter of seconds the pain was gone. I was skeptical, feeling that maybe the pain went away momentarily due to my relaxed state and lack of movement. So, like a jackass, I put the needles to the test by violently shaking my head. no pain whatsoever. Later that evening I felt a small discomfort in my head, not a headache but the feeling of an extremely mild hangover. I haven't had any problems since then but if I do I now exactly where I'm going. Eastern medicine is pretty cool.

My aunt used to get debilitating migraines years ago and accupunture was the only thing that really helped. It was actually recommended to her by a neurologist.

[bigk376]

Might try vinpocetine if you haven't already.

[virtualcyber]

Just out of curiosity, what supplements are you taking currently?