Tips on Migraine Relief

[Terisse]

As a semi-regular sufferer of migraines, and a poor bastard who can't afford to go to a doctor about them (and has no insurance to cover it anyway), I'd like to ask about your method to help relieve this particular eldritch affliction.

My main issues at the moment are:
-> They tend to be triggered by sudden changes in barometric pressure; Usually by a drop or rise by more than 3 inHg in one hour. They are also triggered by exposure to ammonia, from just about any source.
-> They last on average, 24-36 hours at a time, peaking in symptoms after 10-12 hours.
-> They are immune to standard pain killers (naproxen sodium, acetaminophen, aspirin). Taking acetaminophen actually causes a rapid rise in severity of symptoms, at least from my personal experience.

Of course, the general symptoms are there, light and sound sensitivity, nausea, fever, and blinding, crippling, sweet christ-on-a-moped pain. I've tried just about everything chemical to help it, and nothing is working. So, if you've got any suggestions or ideas, feel free to mention them.

[Specterbane]

Back in high school I used to get chronic migraines, though not as severe as yours, the neurologist I was seeing at the time for other brain related problems said to take 3 Ibuprofen tablets (200mg) and drink a bottle of Gatorade. That usually worked for me, but like I said my symptoms weren't as severe as yours.

Best of luck to you.

[Terisse]

Thankya. I'm considering attempting a round of autohypnosis once I get home. It might help, it might not. Even if it doesn't relieve the pain, I should forget about it or detach from it for a few hours.

[Sky Warrior Bob]

Not sure if it'll help with migranes. But sometimes caffine can help with reducing a headache. Sometimes all by itself, but I usually pair with whatever painkiller I take.

I tend to take Percogesic (http://www.amazon.com/Percogesic-Original-Strength-Reliever-Tablets/dp/B000GGJC1Q), but its darn difficult to find. Rite Aid carries it, but they are also very bad at stocking it. I know other places that carry it far better, but I think they are only local, so they wouldn't be of help to you.

SWB

[Nikose Tyris]

Tips for getting rid of those, since my mother and I suffer from those too:

- stop with chinese food. We've found that by dropping MSG from our diets, we get these headaches so much less frequently. Takes about a month for it to take hold.

- Morphine is your best fuckin' friend. Doctor's note only though, so it won't help you any!

- Induce vomiting, switch to drinking just water and a multivitamin to get you through the period of pain. Forcing yourself to be sick has helped my mother, did -nothing- for me.



ALL ADVICE IS ANECDOTAL AND SHOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE MISTAKEN FOR ACTUAL MEDICAL ADVICE. SEE A DOCTOR IF FOR ANY REASON YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO. DEBT > DEATH.

[bluestarultor]

Research some acupressure. That's what I generally use for my pain issues, but I learned it through trial and error and can't really coach on it.

I don't get migraines, but I do get a lot of normal headaches. It may not actually be able to help you, but it's worth a shot.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Tactical yak. Fixes everything.
I scoffed too until my friend, the proponent of the tactical yak, cut his achilles and didn't even notice till we saw one of his shoes had gone from white to pink. After that he spend rest of night partying, walked home, went to bed, cooked my breakfast in the morning and then went to the hospital. This is the injury that prevents you walking for like 9 months.

[bluestarultor]

Care to explain, Barrel? I'm finding nothing on Google and all I get as an image is a yak being dropped out of a plane with a parachute, floating down to the ground, and then boredly munching grass.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Yak means throw up. Tactical means to force yourself to do it at convienient times. Works a treat on drunkness.

[Hanuman]

As a semi-regular sufferer of migraines, and a poor bastard who can't afford to go to a doctor about them (and has no insurance to cover it anyway)
That's pretty disgusting, I'd move to a country that cares about you.

[Bifrost]

My migraines are relatively mild most of the time (low/no pain when I'm not hypersensitive to light/sound, moderate to severe nausea), but me and my mom've found that cutting out nirates and MSG helps. I wish I knew where to find a list of things to cut out of your diet for migraine help; I know that citrus and chocolate are on the list, as is the lack of caffiene if you're used to having a lot of it.

I do find that smaller amounts of delicious caffeine help, at least in combination with painkillers. I think it has something to do with it being a vasoconstrictor...? Bleh.

[Terisse]

I've noticed a few of those being of help; generally I try and stay away from MSG anyway. I don't really have too much caffeine anymore, though. one or two cups of coffee every few weeks at the most.

Tactical yak. Fixes everything

- Induce vomiting, switch to drinking just water and a multivitamin to get you through the period of pain.

I noticed that as a last resort. It wasn't really tactical, though. More of an "I shouldn't have eaten that" moment. Damn hot wings.
As for the water and multivitamin, my habits pretty much took care of those. S'what I get for taking my handful of vitamin pills at dinner.

[Fenris]

That's pretty disgusting, I'd move to a country that cares about you.

I'm willing to guess that if he has difficulty affording a doctor, that he would be unable to gather the funds necessary to move to a new country. But that is neither here nor there- this is not a conversation about politics, this is a conversation about do-it-yourself migraine cures.

[Domon]

I get migraines alot. Debilitating ones that put me down for the rest of the day. If I sense one coming on I try to take a combo of Excedrin Migraine(now called Excedrin Extra Strength, but it may not even exist outside the US) and Ibuprofen. And alot of water to make sure I am well hydrated.