Migraine Headaches Support Group
Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.
Hello, I would like to introduce myself to your group. I am a 56 year old female, who suffers from migraines.
In my earlier years my migraines came about twice a year. However the past 25 years my migraines come every 8 - 10 weeks, like clockwork. They come on between midnight and 6 am always, lasting from 8 - 12 hours.
I am past menopause, so I do not think hormones can be the culprit, and due to the migraine always comes every 8 - 10 weeks they appear to not be triggered by anything. I do not have visual auroras before, but some times I might be very tired the day before a migraine strikes.
The pain is very severe always on the right side forehead and my neck becomes very painful too. I do not get nauseas but sometimes get upset stomach. The pain often kind of moves around. I get very agitated, nervous, laying down makes pain worse, so I often just pace. I even tremble the pain becomes so bad.
I have a neurologist, who is not sure what actually causes my migraines, or why they come every 8 - 10 weeks either. I have had many tests of course. I also have neuropathy in my feet severe, with no know cause.
I take foriciet, at the onset, but it often does not even help, but might take the pain down just a tad.. My family dr. gives me a shot of toradol, that sometimes helps.
Any ideas what might cause this cycle of migraine? Thanks any input is welcome.
Pattylyn
In my earlier years my migraines came about twice a year. However the past 25 years my migraines come every 8 - 10 weeks, like clockwork. They come on between midnight and 6 am always, lasting from 8 - 12 hours.
I am past menopause, so I do not think hormones can be the culprit, and due to the migraine always comes every 8 - 10 weeks they appear to not be triggered by anything. I do not have visual auroras before, but some times I might be very tired the day before a migraine strikes.
The pain is very severe always on the right side forehead and my neck becomes very painful too. I do not get nauseas but sometimes get upset stomach. The pain often kind of moves around. I get very agitated, nervous, laying down makes pain worse, so I often just pace. I even tremble the pain becomes so bad.
I have a neurologist, who is not sure what actually causes my migraines, or why they come every 8 - 10 weeks either. I have had many tests of course. I also have neuropathy in my feet severe, with no know cause.
I take foriciet, at the onset, but it often does not even help, but might take the pain down just a tad.. My family dr. gives me a shot of toradol, that sometimes helps.
Any ideas what might cause this cycle of migraine? Thanks any input is welcome.
Pattylyn
I went through several medications before they found what worked the best. Before that I would end up in the hospital E.R. and the Toradol wouldn't even touch the pain and I'd be in there for 6 hours and sometimes longer in pain so bad I would close my eyes and I would have fireworks shooting on my eyelids and that was so weird to experience.
The neurologist said it was important to break the pattern of the migraines and that's what we started with a preventative med, that didn't prevent but actually worked well in conjunction with the occipital neural block and then when I moved to the botox.
As a preventative, I slowly moved through treatments and finally ended up with botox for migraines, but it's not for everybody.
Thanks
Magnesium
VitaminB2
CoQ10
B Complex
They have all helped me. I'm also past menopause. The doctor ran bloodwork and found me deficient in Vitamin D, iron, and the B's. so I'm also taking those supplements as well, plus a multi-vitamin.
Good luck with your search for an answer.
I also was found to be low in vitamin D and B at one time and I took supplements, but have since stopped taking them. Unfortunately I did not notice to much difference when taking them, but maybe I did not take them long enough. I suppose I should consider another round of doing that. It just seems that a dr. could more clearly find reason why my migraines come on a 8 week cycle. If I was low on vitamins wouldn't I be susceptible at any time to get a migraine. I do wonder if a women past menopause have any type of hormone cycles still that might cause a migraine. Does anyone know? Thanks.
Although I have had the same neurologist and family dr. for years treating my migraines, the fact that my migraine comes every 8 weeks like clockwork has not been examined to determine if a possible hormone might be the culprit.
Being more assertive on my part is partially to blame as well as my doctors focused more on treating the pain after no threatened finding,
I should of been more proactive in finding out cause, since I have experienced these terrible cycles of migraines for 35 years. Also, I am competed debilitated for 8 hours when I have a migraine, just from the pain alone
I truly feel for folks that have migraines frequently!
Thanks again for your input. I will give you an update if I get any answers.
Pattylyn