Finding the cause

[Fate12]

Hi, I’ve suffered migraines since I was 4, now 36. They go through phases so they either disappear for a few months or I get 2/3 a week for a few months. However for the last 2 years I’ve had an almost daily migraine. Enough to needs meds but not put me out of action. I’ve had maybe 4/5 big ones.

I need help on what to do. I know I need to do an elimination diet of some sorts but any advice on what to eliminate would be great. Any of things to try?

I’ve tried to figure out my triggers for years but the only consistent thing is weather changes and sleep (lack of/too much).

I cut out meat and dairy products a year ago and initially that helped but now they are back.

I’m more concerned at the meds usage as my mother passed away from bowel cancer and I don’t want to aggravate my stomach.

You’d think after all these years I’d have a handle on them but I’m baffled as to where this has come from. My eyesight is checked regularly and I’ve had a recent blood test that showed everything to be ok.

Does the feel of the migraine make a difference? If I were to see they made my head feel ‘tinny’ would that mean anything?

Thanks to anyone that’s read this far.

[babs1234]

There are so many different types and every persons is different too. Like you I’ve cut out this,that and the other but had no luck. I’ve seen a headache specialist who diagnosed Hemicrania Continua, which sounds very similar to your symptoms. His next advice was the multiple GON injections which I keep putting off as had one a couple of years ago and had a bad experience. Anyway my experience..... I had the daith piercing 2and ahalf years ago which did help with intensity now I’m taking Vit B2, magnesium chelated and Tumeric. The frequency and intensity have been a lot better also doing daily shoulder and neck exercises.. the combination of these things have helped enourmously though it could be that at last I’m growing out of them. (I’m 65). Hope yours get better soon x

[Alexa49]

Try removing gluten, starch, and soy from your diet to see if that helps your migraines to go away as those things can be potential triggers.

[Cat00]

Hello,

I've had migraines from at least 5 years old and now that I am over 40 I have chronic migraines meaning I have them over 50% of the time. I am going to say something quite controversial here and that Is looking for triggers is fairly pointless.

My understanding of migraines is that once you have them chronically your brain is hypersensitive to stimulus, this means to a certain degree almost anything and everything is a trigger.

Looking for food triggers is particularly relevant, as far as I am aware the only food triggers that have good evidence based science behind them is for things like Gluten, but this is only relevant if you have a previously undiagnosed intolerance of Gluten such as those with Celiac disease, there is a fair amount of evidence that once this is correctly diagnosed and Gluten is removed from the diet sufferers have fewer migraines.

Sleep, hormones and stress still remain the most likely triggers for migraines as these are the things that effect your mood the most and can have a direct effect on the excitability of your brain stem.

I was told a long time ago by a brilliant neurologist that looking for triggers will drive you mad and up your stress levels. If, as current understanding has it, that your prodrome period of migraine starts two days before the pain it is extremely difficult to think back two days to try and work out what happened particularly if you have a migraine. The chances of it being accurate is very unlikely.

Time is much better spent trying to keep your mood stable, mitigate stress as much as possible and have good sleep hygiene. I have two young children sleep disruption and stress are impossible to avoid, so you just do the best you can. If you are a migraineur, particularly if you are chronic, you will have pain in your life, it is unavoidable. Trying to avoid it is futile you need to learn how to manage the pain so you do not add to it and end up taking too many painkillers and getting rebound headaches from them too.

[Fate12]

Thanks everyone, lots to think about.

[Totmom]

Since you use the word tinny to describe it, maybe it has something to do with heavy metals like aluminum. Coffee is helpful in removing metals from the body. I wouldn't do any major heavy metal detox plans because they can mobilize the metals and then they just have free roam in your system, sometimes causing even more discomfort. If you're concerned about medications and their potential long term effects, aspirin is actually safe if you take it with about 1mg of vitamin k2 per 325mg of aspirin. Coconut oil is also a really good detox agent.

[headachequeen]

Sugar does not cause migraine, but eating large quantities of sugar causes an abrupt change in your body chemistry. Abrupt change in body chemistry can trigger migraine. So avoid binges. Everything in moderation. Sugar binges and eating rotisserie chicken (msg!) are the two food-related triggers I've experienced many times. It took me awhile to figure it out.

I also have to mention Aimovig because it has prevented 90% of my chronic headache and chronic migraine in the last six months. My headaches stem from neck and shoulder area due to minor scoliosis. Muscle and nerve stress.