I've had maybe 2 migraines my entire life, but DH gets them all the time and has had 3 in the past 2 months. If you suffer from migraines do you know what triggers them? What do you do for them?
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I used to get them. For me it's red wine (boo), and dark chocolate. I also think there was maybe something environmental in my old office because I used to get them almost monthly, but after I transferred offices I've only had a few in 7 years since.
I had a imitrex prescription at that point though. I got them pretty badly (on the floor, unable to open my eyes, throwing up, nose bleeding) so a few times had to go to the hospital for an IV. Nowadays if I get that pressure feeling I can often head it off with a combo of drinking a Gatorade and a caffeinated beverage.
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@Sapphiresun: So caffeine helped you, it didn't make it worse? He does seem to get them when he is at work all the time and he is in front of a computer all day.
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@Bao: I get them and have for a long time. Like @Sapphiresun: red wine is completely off limits but white is fine :happy:. I have no issues with caffine or chocolate but I do get them with changes in the barometric pressure, hormonal changes (right before AF) and if I am really stressed.
Learning his trigger is important. Get him to keep a log of what he ate/drank the day of and day before as well as what the weather was like, you will probably find that a patter emerges.
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I started getting migraines when I was in 8th grade. I have at least one or two a month and have gone through times where I'd get 2-3 a week. I'm fortunate in that I don't usually get sick and, while it'd be ideal to lay down, I can usually function through them. Excedrin migraine works for me, as long as I catch it early enough. I also find that drinking one cup of coffee or tea in the morning helps, too. I don't drink any soda, so I think the relatively small amount of caffeine in Excedrin and coffee/tea is really effective for me.
The triggers I've figured out are being in the sun/heat (lord help me if I forget sunglasses, even when it's cloudy!), barometric changes (rain = headache/migraine), allergies, hormones, and stress. Whew. I tried to keep a food journal for a while to figure out food triggers, but I was getting them so often that I couldn't find any patterns.
Hope your husband finds some tricks that work for him!
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@Bao: I don't drink caffeinated beverages in general, and I've heard that consumption over time (or the withdrawal from) can actually contribute to migraines for some people, but I find that a headache pill with caffeine or a small bit of coffee can curtail them as they're coming on. Something about restricting the blood vessels.
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For me they are usually triggered by weather changes (when pressure drops before a storm front, for example) and hormones (I used to get them every month right before/during my period). Also, no caffeine will trigger them.
I take Excedrin migraine at the first sign of any headache or any pressure in my head. I'm sure I over-medicate for what might end up being a normal headache, but they all feel pretty much the same to me at the start, and I won't chance it turning into an unmedicated migraine, because I am completely out of commission, and I can't do that at work, for instance.
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Stress, Lack of Sleep, Dehydration, PMS, etc.
I've been on prescription meds and did not like them AT ALL.
Excedrin Migraine for the bad ones. During pregnancy they went away!
Ice pack, dark room, sleep is the best medicine.
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Oddly enough, gluten ended up being my trigger. I'd seen a neuro who suggested cutting daily coffee and making sure I was well-rested and hydrated, etc. None of that seemed to help. I cut out gluten for a totally unrelated reason (to see if it affected heartburn) and lo and behold, my migraine frequency went way, way down. I have had maybe 2 or 3 since cutting gluten, as opposed to 2 or 3 a month. I read up on it and sure enough gluten intolerance can cause migraines.
Obviously this isn't the case for all migraine sufferers, but it is a good lesson to maybe think outside the box...and keep a food journal!
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I wish there seemed to be a trigger for me! Not having enough caffeine will do it (yes, I know this means I'm addicted to caffeine) but other than that mine are very random, sometimes I'll even wake up with one coming on. I have to take two Excedrin migraine the second I feel them coming on and go lay in a dark quiet room.
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Thanks guys, I'm going to relay these ideas to DH and see if we can pinpoint what's causing them. I do know he forgets to drink enough water so I told him he should work on that during the day!
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Usually being dehydrated and/or lots of light stimulation. Not wearing sunglasses outside when it's super sunny can start them for me. I am super light sensitive. Also anxiety/stress when I have just a headache will make it turn into a migraine.
I would definitely try to get him to drink a lot more water!
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Brightness tends to be a big trigger for me. I used to work at one place where I was getting a migraine every single day - I realized if I turned off the fluorescent light on my desk right at eye level the frequency went way down. I also get into bad cycles with them - if they're uncontrolled they happen more and more frequently.
I've tried a ton of rx stuff, but what works best for me is Excedrin. If you're trying to avoid over medicating, drinking a can of coke while showering in the dark gives me some relief.
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Stress, or change in weather seems to cause mine. I would get them on Sundays a lot--I think because of going back to work the next day. I have medicine I take when it is really bad, but sometimes caffeinated drinks or being in a dark, dark room would help.
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Thanks so much guys! Relaying the tips to him tomorrow!!
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