The Migraine War

Yesterday morning when I woke up to get Turtle ready for school, I knew it was going to be a bad day.  My head was already pounding, I was dizzy, and I felt like I was about to hurl all over the place. I immediately rummaged through my purse, took a tramadol, and hoped for the best.  But as I attempted to get Turtle to his school I realized it was too late, I had skipped right past prodome,  and into full-blown migraine. (I have included a link here that touches on the different phases of migraine. Some experience all, some experience just the attack, but I will let you explore that more on your own)  Another day lost, spent in the dark, praying that the medicine, combined with quiet and dark would have me feeling better in 4 hours rather than the 72 migraines can last.

According to The Migraine Research Foundation, about 25% of American households contain at least one person who suffers from migraine with about 18% of women and 6% of men suffering.  You would think that with this many people suffering from migraine, we would be more educated about what migraine really is, and what we can do about it.  The term Migraine is used loosely, and while it is considered to be one of the top 20 debilitating medical conditions, some people think of Migraine as being a synonym for headache.  But the fact is, while I wish it was that simple, it's not.

Migraine, and yes, I have been saying that right, is actually a neurological condition.  Many sufferers, including myself experience a host of symptoms which include dizziness, nausea, tingling or numbness to extremities, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound and smell (The Migraine Research Foundation, 2014).  Some sufferers are given a heads up that they are about to have an attack, others are not, and this makes treatment difficult as I have found once I am in full-blown Migraine, there is no turning back. 

Sure, I have a purse full of medicine. Excedrin, Tramadol and Imitrex are some of the common drugs, prescribed and over the counter, to help with migraine relief.  But as I have been researching migraine for this blog I have found a host of alternative treatments and preventatives that are holistic.  Have a used them? Not as much as I should. Am I going to? Yes. Especially after this last attack, and having to miss a day of my last full week in my current position at the Mental Health Center(more on this later).  I don't want to miss any more sessions with clients, contributing to the 113 million days of work lost to migraine per year. I especially don't want to have to miss any weekends, family events or any other pleasurable activities I have lost to migraine in the past.

So here, for you, are some of the preventions I have found in my research.  I hope that any of you that suffer from migraine will join me and use these interventions daily to minimize the risk of feeling the way I do as I sit here feeling the repercussions of today's migraine. Like anything else, the best course of action is prevention, but if you are and continue suffering from migraines please don't become a member of the nearly 50% of sufferers who go undiagnosed. Seek medical condition as migraine can mimic other, more serious health issues.

Preventative Holistic Measures for Migraine

1. Healthy Diet
• Riboflavin has been found to reduce migraine headaches by 50% in sufferers (according to Dr. Oz) and can be found in asparagus, low fat milk, mushrooms and quinoa
• Consuming foods high in Omega 3 fatty acids (such as fish) and B vitamins may prevent migraine
• Use of spices including garlic, chili peppers, onion, basil, rosemary , cinnamon, black pepper, mustard seed, cumin curry or cilantro has been found to reduce the risk of migraine
• Some of our favorite foods such as chocolate, aged cheese, red wine and sour cream have high levels of migraine provoking tyramine and phenylalanine and should be avoided
2. Food Allergies
• You may want to avoid certain common food allergens and change your diet to see if the migraine attacks reduce or subside.  Possible triggers, once again made up of a list of some of our favorite foods, includes caffeine, chocolate, dairy, gluten and alcohol
• It is especially important to look at food allergies in children with migraine, as this may prevent them suffering with attacks for their entire lives
3. Magnesium Levels  
• Taking a supplement of 600mg of magnesium has proved helpful as studies have found that individuals suffering from migraine have drops in magnesium levels, especially during attacks (this was found on several sites, including here)
4. Hormonal Imbalance
• There is a reason that women tend to have more migraine attacks then men, and some believe this is due to hormonal imbalance especially during a woman's menstrual cycle, if you believe this may be the cause of your migraine you should consult with a doctor before taking any hormone therapy

These are just some of the preventative measures, and I could continue writing more.  However, I am beginning to feel pretty wiped out from battling all day, and feel like it's time to retreat to my cave.  Please feel free to email us with any questions, or post comments about what you have found helpful in your own migraine war.