Migraine

[Jorja]

As some of you already know, I am allergic to anything with artificial sweetener.  It gives me migraines.  Well, yesterday I had a pomegranate.  It was so sweet and I savored every morsel.  Guess what?  I got a migraine last night.  Upon checking on the net today, I discovered that pomegranates can cause a migraine. I knew that was the only thing I had different yesterday was that stupid pomegranate.  I'm glad I enjoyed it because I'd sure hate to hurt that much for something less palatable.

My question is . . . .  after you suffer from a migraine, is your head tender to the touch the next day?  Mine always is and I just wondered it you knew the reason.

Jorja

[Carolina]

Jorja,

I'm so sorry about your Migraine.

I think the blood vessels in your head and brain expand, putting pressure on the nerves.  Which causes the headache and would leave your head sore to the touch, rather like a bruise.

I've had maybe 3 migraines in my entire life, and I remember the places and events surrounding them.

It is a horrific pain.

My husband suffered from them for years and years, since about age 9.

He seems to either have outgrown them, or mastered them with a very low dosage of Prozac and using Imitrex at the first sign of a migraine.

If he doesn't catch it he takes massive doses of codeine and is out of commission for a couple of days.

Hope you are feeling better.

Who knew from pomegranates?

Hugs

Elaine

[gurs]

I get horrible migraines..from anything now..i flared so bad last night, and guess what, my head feels like its going to explode..i almost went
into the ER, but I know how severe these can get. I can only take Motrin too..
I cant even move my head without having severe pain and pressure...

wonder why pomegrantes? maybe because they act like a natural estrogen from what Ive read? uhmmmm. wonder if there is any
sulfites in it?

Gursie

[mshistory]

I get migraines too - mine are menstrual migraines and anything with sulfites in it gives me migraines as well (can't drink any amount of wine, eat too much pepporoni, etc.) Flashing lights can also trigger migraines. I do get the skin sensitivity but I always attributed it to the triptans I take for my migraines (e.g., Relpax, Frova). Perhaps it's the migraine itself though?

I will avoid pomegranates now too!

[A66eyroad]

I get migraines, also, but never noticed my head being tender afterward. So (of course!) I did a Google search and found this article:

http://www.headachedrugs.com/archives/intro.html

Well, whaddaya know!

[Luna]

Artificial sweetners give me migraines also. I have not had one in years. Once I found out it was the sweetners, I make sure I do not injest them. Anyway, it has been a long time sinse I had one, but if I remember correctly, yes, my head did feel tender. I think it is like Elaine said. I hope you feel better now and don't get another one again. Im sorry you went through that.

Luna

[susan]

I get frequent classic migraines, and the sore head afterward is definitely part of the experience for me. I have several triggers that I am aware of, such as barometric pressure change, eating too much salt. Have considered trying a triptan, but I am concerned about the side effects.

[Jorja]

You Guys/Gals are so helpful.  Before this board I had absolutely no one to talk to/ask about all these symptoms/side effects.  I truly appreciate your participation.

So far this week:
   I've been to the ER swollen, looking like a 'bullfrog in heat' due to allergic reaction to Evoxac.
   Had a day of nausea/vomiting due to 'whatever'
   Suffered a severe asthma attack
               and
   Had a migraine due to a stupid pomegranate.

But, I am alive and able to share with friends who understand and feeling truly grateful for another day.  Hubby is recovering well from having lower teeth extracted and we are blessed with full bellies and a warm home. 

Blessings,
Jorja

[Joe S.]

Jorja, try this meditation to prepare for your next migraine.

Find a comfortable position and close your eyes. With your eyes closed look to the top of your forehead.
Breathe in and think "hot hands", breathe out and thing "cool head", repeat
or
Breathe in and think "hot feet", breathe out and thing "cool head", repeat

This meditation moves the excess blood from your head. and will with practice stop and prevent migraines.
There is also the Hoku point between your thumb and index finger to trigger endorphin release to your neck and shoulders. This will also help with migraines.

[Ripvanann]

Hi Jorja. I'm sorry you have to deal with migraines. I used to get monthly migraines with my cycle, but I could get them under control easily enough. I only had a couple that went full throttle on me, but still never ended up in the E.R.

I had a full hysterectomy, going on two years ago now. I ended up bleeding internally and went into congestive heart failure. They "saved" me in time, but when  I woke up from surgery, I had a migraine. It had me vomiting, and they couldn't get it under control. The nausea and migraines never left. I had continuous headaches, and ended up in th E.R. so often, it was embarrassing. At one point I went to the E.R. three times in one month! I was finally sent to a neurologist who specializes in headaches. His treatment worked unbelievably well, until I began taking my turbo pain meds, and then I was back to migraines and the E.R.  Finally, my pain management Dr. told me that it has to do with the combination of the Sjogren's and my meds. He told me to get out of bed REALLY slow. Meaning, to raise my head off of the pillow as if I'm a sloth, until I'm upright. This was several months ago, and I dare say, I never have a headache, let alone a migraine! Now, I am on prednisone again, and that definitely helps me, but I was doing this before the prednisone and it was working.

I can't have artificial sweeteners either. I take Maxalt and compazine at the onset of a migraine, but again, I haven't had one since the bed rising thing. =)
Hope that helps!
~Andrea

[gurs]

Andrea,

I also started with the chronic migarines shortly after my hyster..are you on any HRT? just wondering because that could be the trigger..some docs use them right after surgery. My rheumy thinks I also deleloped POTS now, and all this is vascular related.

I have bad reactions to everything, so I havent gotten into all the migraine medications. I upped my medrol dose and have to take tylenol and motrin everyday. Im trying to get my hormones balanced, as im learning this is a big issue with blood flood, etc. Low estrogen can also cause many issues with the vascular system.

This is all very interesting..

Gursie

[Jorja]

Hey Joe,

If I have my eyes closed . . . how am I to look to the top of my forehead?!!  Just kidding.  Thanks for the advice.  Believe it or not I tried your breathe in - breathe out practice the other night but my head was throbbing so horribly that I could not concentrate enough to do it properly.  Hopefully, I can stay away from anything else that would cause another migraine.

I'm sorry so many of you are having them frequently.  Have you ever tried a food diary?  I had 54 migraines in 172 days before I had testing done with all negative results.  After that I begin a food diary and soon discovered the major culprit . . . artificial sweeteners.  Hopefully, this will help someone else.

Blessings,
Jorja

[Debbie48]

Jorga,

Bless your heart, you really have had a tough week.  I'm so sorry. 

I get a migraine about once a year, or so, and it puts me out of commission.  My first symptom is an obvious change in vision.  About half and hour later, the headache and vomiting hits.  I have to lay very still in bed, in a room as dark as I can get it, for 1-2 days.  I've tried for years to figure out what causes them, with no success.  My head is tender the next day, as you mention.  I also have to turn it very slowly for a few days after . . . no sudden movements with the head.

Hope you feel better soon,

Debbie 

   

[Joe S.]

Sorry I forgot to tell you to practice the meditation when you do not have the migraine.

[Chickpea]

What a week you've had, Jorja.  I'm so sorry you're suffering so much, and that the migraines are so severe.

I didn't know about pomegranates so that's a good tip.  I know of lots of food triggers for me but as I've got older I tend to need more than one trigger ie a 'forbidden' food like chocolate plus extra tiredness or stress or sunlight on snow ...

Since having a head injury two-and-a-half years ago I've noticed that my head feels very tight when I get any sort of headache.  I think it's the expansion that Elaine explained, and I'm more aware of it since the skin has been stretched across my forehead and scalp.

Has anyone else noticed migraines after surgery?  I had 3 or 4 a day for a couple of weeks after having heart surgery last September.  I asked the cardiologists about it and they said they'd never heard of it.  Once I was home I searched on the internet and lo and behold! there were lots of examples.  Could it be the anaesthetic?  Or is there something about being put on bypass?

Hope you have a better week.

Thinking of you - Chickpea