Migrane

[Jas86]

Hey everyone,

Today was a bad day for me as i sat in class for my lectures i suddently started to have like blurly vision..stars and sort of darkness in the sides of my both eyes.I couldnt really see people around me very well,the lecturer face was also blur blur kind.I got really scared , i tried 2 hang in and c if i recover but about 10 mins pass and i still cant see anythin so i just left class because i got panic and manage to walk back home (my college is 5mins frm home). When i reach home i just lie down and after that i was okay but above my eyes was really paining and my husband advice me to c a doc and so we went and the doc said it maybe migrane. Is my 2nd attack after few months back. :confused: So im wandering does anyone suffer from migrane here? what systom do you usually get? And what can be done to prevent it?. Just want some real live comments regarding this.

Do reply people. Thank you.

Jas

[mon]

Hi Jas86. I am a migraine sufferer. I probably am holding a phd in that. My symptom normally starts off with a headache, and lately, any tinge of worry ,stress, or even crying, will trigger me off. The pain will come as a throbbing, thumping bang to one side of my head, and yes, I would feel like throwing up most of the times with blurry visions. I would not be able to withstand lights, smell of smoke (haze is back but I'm ok this time thank goodness), loud sounds, watch tv, go out or drive..or it will worsen. Even moving my head or coughing slightly would hurt bad. It would feel like there's a bomb waiting to explode inside my head. It would normally last for at least a day with medication and sleep.

I had a very bad episode many years ago, after throwing up late in the night, I was having what they call a mild seizure. My fingers went numb and at the same time, I had gastritis. That was one horrendous experience where I was immediately given a jab to ease both my pains. I have no more gastritis occurances after undergoing a gastroscopic and given a month's medication but after several years, the migraine persisted. I was made to understand that my migraine attacks are associated with my stomach inactivity which leads to slower absorption levels.

I take uphamol most of the times when I have light headaches and Cafergot (http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/caf1060.htm) , when I feel a migraine coming.

How to prevent migraines? I really can't answer you but I do know that managing your stress level to a minimal would help, with a good balanced diet, some exercising and plenty of rest daily as well. That, is one thing I have not handled well up till now. Am still trying my best.

I'd suggest you see your doc again for advice and treatment ASAP if you are still having the symptoms.

Take care.

[kress]

i'm not a doc hor... but i think you're suffering the same thing as me... it's called migraine with auras.

http://headaches.about.com/od/migrainediseas1/a/aura_ache.htm

I don't take anything for it... It's useless.... just sleep it off.... I've even had episodes where i had trouble thinking.. the logical part somehow switched off.. scary...

[Jas86]

Hey Mon and Kress, Tq so much for replying to my question. I do feel better after knowing that the vision problem among migrane patients are normal and it happens sometimes. Actually the 1st time i got my migrane was about few montsh back, mayb mm...6months back if im not mistaken. When i got my 1st migrane i jus got a severe headache and pain above my eyes (eyebrowns), more on the sides of my head and generally the whole head too. And today i got my second migrane by starting with the vision and once that was gone i got the headache above my eyes(eyebrowns) and then i also felt like puking but not that much. Now i tink im a migrane patient coz i've got the 2nd attack and i may have a 3rd in future too. Im a little worrid how the 3rd attack will be. Does the attack usully start the same way like blury or does it differ evertime you get a migrane? does a migrane get severe and severe or does it stay the same? does it get worst when you get older? can it be cured totally or it will remain there?im asking base on your experienced.

Do reply please.Thank you for caring.

[alexhay]

a massage behind ur neck while lying down will do the trick to cure migrane

[mon]

Jas86 hi again. Different things work for different people. Try lying down/sleeping in a dark room, put a cold/hot pack on the back of your neck, forehead or just take a shower and relax your muscles. Get some juice or nutritious food (not too heavy ones) and most importantly, get someone to massage your head, neck, shoulders and back.(as suggested by alexhay)

And please, avoid stress and worrying thoughts. Don't cry. Well..that's from my personal experience.

Can't think of anything else now. You may decide to try these first and choose the ones that help you.

Take care.

[Jas86]

Hey Mon and Alexhay thanks for replying.Ill do what is adviced. Jus one more thing, does migraine get even worst as you get older? does the symptom varies everytime u get migraine?

Thanks alot you guys :)

[kress]

it didn't really get worse for me.. in fact, i get them less and less.. used to be twice a month.. now it's once a year... the symptoms can vary ... from numbness, ocular disturbance, etc.. i think you should get more info from your gp..

[mon]

Kress is right. Symptoms vary and the level of pain varies too. Don't know if it gets worse as you age but I seem to have gotten better. Just that, well...I simply can't avoid stress and worries at times. Even watching a movie like Eighth Below (doggie movie) or Click (adam sandler movie) can make me cry. hehe..that would give me an episode of headache to migraine if i don't rest enough after that.

[Life Ranger]

Jas86, since your case just started 6 months ago, I would suggest you to recall very carefully if there are any changes in your living environment and life style that could have created this disease symptom, for example :

1) did you start to live near a high tension cable or RF transmitter ?

2) did you start to consume some foods which contain over-dosed preservative or aspatame (nutrasweet) ?

................

[Jas86]

Kress is right. Symptoms vary and the level of pain varies too. Don't know if it gets worse as you age but I seem to have gotten better. Just that, well...I simply can't avoid stress and worries at times. Even watching a movie like Eighth Below (doggie movie) or Click (adam sandler movie) can make me cry. hehe..that would give me an episode of headache to migraine if i don't rest enough after that.

Mon ur sencitive kinda person huh :) , even im like that:">. Anyhoo, thank you so mucn Mon.

[Jas86]

it didn't really get worse for me.. in fact, i get them less and less.. used to be twice a month.. now it's once a year... the symptoms can vary ... from numbness, ocular disturbance, etc.. i think you should get more info from your gp..

I wil Kress. Thank you

[Jas86]

Jas86, since your case just started 6 months ago, I would suggest you to recall very carefully if there are any changes in your living environment and life style that could have created this disease symptom, for example :

1) did you start to live near a high tension cable or RF transmitter ?

2) did you start to consume some foods which contain over-dosed preservative or aspatame (nutrasweet) ?

................

Mmm no Life ranger there was no changes in my life style. When i got it the first time i was in college campus, is a nice enviroment, greenary and windy..etc. I tink the 1st time i got it is due to coffe, coz after that in the nite i got the attack.Come to think about it the 2nd attack was due to chocs which i ate the day b4 the attack and the next day i got the attack. But the funny part is i didnt drink much coffe( Jus 1 cup) and neither did i ate much chocalates (2 choc sweet). And the other times when i ate choc nuttin happen, even coffe nuttin happen. But the doc was sayin the cause could be coffe, cheese, chocs, sudden hot and cold weather change and could be cause of the haze too.

[PJS]

Jas86

I also suffer from migraine for some yrs already. But I've identified the sources and avoided certain food groups and made lifestyle changes and I've not had a serious migraine attack for sometime now. :D

I've found some very useful resources on the web, will share with you later when I'm free. Try and google in the mean time n see what u can find.

Migraine can be triggered by many factors: food, lack of sleep, change in weather(hot/cold), stress, etc.

So try and avoid these foods: red wine, chocolates, foods high in nitrate (preservative) like fishballs, meatballs, hotdogs, crabsticks, preserved dried fruits, etc, and especially avoid steamboat meals & the soup which contain mostly these items.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat fresh foods, exercise, get enough sleep, and mitigate your stress factors.

Take cafergot at the first sign of migraine and it shd go away within an hour, if u delay taking medication your suffering will prolong.

[Jas86]

Jas86

So try and avoid these foods: red wine, chocolates, foods high in nitrate (preservative) like fishballs, meatballs, hotdogs, crabsticks, preserved dried fruits, etc, and especially avoid steamboat meals & the soup which contain mostly these items.

Take cafergot at the first sign of migraine and it shd go away within an hour, if u delay taking medication your suffering will prolong.

I didn’t know that preserved dried fruits is bad, i' ve been eating raisins and almonds every mornin. Where do you get cafergot actually?Can get at the pharmacy? How does it look? Thanks so much for the info.

[birdy]

I didn’t know that preserved dried fruits is bad, i' ve been eating raisins and almonds every mornin. Where do you get cafergot actually?Can get at the pharmacy? How does it look? Thanks so much for the info.
I reckone anything preserved will be bad... coz they are not fresh and the nutritions will not be there...so, why bother to eat when there is no nutrition at all? ;)

Errr...not sure wat is cafergot? Can anyone explain? Some kind of pain killer? :confused:

I heard somebody told me before, migrane can be cured after u delivered your first child (for lady)....not sure if this is true...anyone can confirmed that? :confused:

[mon]

Jas86, I'd suggest you to consult your gp in regards to taking cafergot for your migraines. Perhaps he has already prescribed you with those. They can be taken as a preventive, short-term dose but only as prescribed by your doctor. Best taken at the start of a migraine attack, and it's not for normal headaches.

[PJS]

Some facts on Nitrites and Nitrates:-

"Nitrates and nitrites (chemicals found in hotdogs, ham, frankfurters, bacon and sausages) have been reported to cause migraine headaches. "

http://www.medicinenet.com/headache/page9.htm

Nitrates and nitrites are also often used to cure meat products so it exists in abundance in meat products mentioned above, and of course used in fish balls and whatever balls locally. So avoid food high in nitrates & nitrites as they will trigger migraines.

Cafergot (Ergotamine) is actually an outdated medication for migraines but still widely used locally. Because it works by contricting blood vessels, there are adverse effects such as dizziness(I took cafergot many times but only kena 1 time it made me so dizzy after curing the headache I had to stay in bed for 1/2 day n take pills for dizziness) and is not suitable for those with hypertension. (Thank goodness I had no more need to use cafergot lately. :D Touch wood.) Cafergot can be bought at pharmacies for about RM1.00/pc. It's a round cream coloured tablet.

Caution on cafergot:
- Caffeine: as the name indicates it contains caffeine and Ergot, some ppl sensitive to caffeine can't sleep after taking it.
- It is not a painkiller! Don't take it for other headaches or body aches, it is useful only if u r having a migraine!

There are more advanced medication such as triptans but they're more expensive coz it's newer.

Some info on triptans:
http://headaches.about.com/cs/druginfo/a/triptan_over.htm

u can find a lot of info from makers of migraine drugs, such as Pfizer's Relpax microsite (I don't work for pfizer ok, and I'm not sure if Relpax is available in Msia:p but the info is very good) :

http://www.relpax.com

Follow the advice there n u will be halfway there in ur fight with migraines. Talk to ur doctor to find the best treatment options for u.

[Chermaine]

I have migraine since I was in Std 5. Very often I fainted (can't take the pain) when migraine attacked, the headmaster got scare and called my father to take me home for a checkup(I was staying with grandma in JB, my parents stay in Tampin).

As I understand migraine would not kill you but it has no cure. I use to throw out whenever I have migraine attack. Do not worry if you need to vomit, infact you would feel better after throwing out!

For me, once the migraine attack, it would last for few days, and everyday almost the same time the pain would come. Advil is effective for me. But lately there is an article saying Advil is bad for liver!

Like Mon mentioned, many factors can trigger the pain. Stress, not enough sleep, lighting, sound, food, change of emotion.

I am very sensitive towards sound/noise. A close up hall or very noisy room can easily trigger the pain. Last Saturday i had dinner at Paris Restaurant in SS2 (2nd floor) it was so noisy, within minutes I can feel the pain. Most of the time I have no choice but to throw everything out and follow by Advil. Sometime I have to hold my forehead or whichever part of my head to sleep. Make sure no other noise in the room!

Genting indoor theme park is 1 of the place I normally have to avoid. The noise from all sort of game machine would just trigger the pain! My parents used to think, the pain cause by the cold weather up there! Actually is the noise!

Sometime, I do see those things flying around me, at first I though why suddenly has so many fireflies/crystals things flying around me kekeke :p I even tried to touch with my hand.

I am not sure about others, but for me, migraine would not fail to attack me few days before my menstrual. I read from an article, this symptom is normal to migraine sufferer.

Food wise, chocolate & coffee is a NO NO NO to me! very effective!

[tbearer]

I have migraine since I was in Std 5. Very often I fainted (can't take the pain) when migraine attacked, the headmaster got scare and called my father to take me home for a checkup(I was staying with grandma in JB, my parents stay in Tampin).

As I understand migraine would not kill you but it has no cure. I use to throw out whenever I have migraine attack. Do not worry if you need to vomit, infact you would feel better after throwing out!

For me, once the migraine attack, it would last for few days, and everyday almost the same time the pain would come. Advil is effective for me. But lately there is an article saying Advil is bad for liver!

Like Mon mentioned, many factors can trigger the pain. Stress, not enough sleep, lighting, sound, food, change of emotion.

I am very sensitive towards sound/noise. A close up hall or very noisy room can easily trigger the pain. Last Saturday i had dinner at Paris Restaurant in SS2 (2nd floor) it was so noisy, within minutes I can feel the pain. Most of the time I have no choice but to throw everything out and follow by Advil. Sometime I have to hold my forehead or whichever part of my head to sleep. Make sure no other noise in the room!

Genting indoor theme park is 1 of the place I normally have to avoid. The noise from all sort of game machine would just trigger the pain! My parents used to think, the pain cause by the cold weather up there! Actually is the noise!

Sometime, I do see those things flying around me, at first I though why suddenly has so many fireflies/crystals things flying around me kekeke :p I even tried to touch with my hand.

I am not sure about others, but for me, migraine would not fail to attack me few days before my menstrual. I read from an article, this symptom is normal to migraine sufferer.

Food wise, chocolate & coffee is a NO NO NO to me! very effective!

really so sorry to hear that your migraine is so bad and it impedes your lifestyle.

i have heard testimonies of certain supplements that can help migraine sufferers. a friend of mine also had bad migraine, (she buys ponstan by boxes) each month. but after taking this supplement, FitLine from germany, the attacks subsided greatly. now, she only has attackes, the most once in 6 months. am not trying to advertise or promote products here, just sharing.

[Chermaine]

Thanks tbearer!

I have sort of get used to this MIGRAINE!
Cannot avoid but try to prevent and shorten the pain!
I would take note of what you have just reconmended!
Thanks again!

Cher

[Life Ranger]

I didn’t know that preserved dried fruits is bad, i' ve been eating raisins and almonds every mornin. Where do you get cafergot actually?Can get at the pharmacy? How does it look? Thanks so much for the info.
You should start to acquire more knowledge from now on since you seem to be becoming a victim of these toxic food. Instead of taking medicine, you can try to stop consuming all sort of preserved food as you do routinely now. Simple steps are : Drink 3L of good water a day, take more fresh fruits and vege, take good live veneger, avoid eating MARGARINE....

[mon]

You should start to acquire more knowledge from now on since you seem to be becoming a victim of these toxic food. Instead of taking medicine, you can try to stop consuming all sort of preserved food as you do routinely now. Simple steps are : Drink 3L of good water a day, take more fresh fruits and vege, take good live veneger, avoid eating MARGARINE....


I definitely agree with this. Once a migraine is starting or in progress, drink a lot of water. Perhaps this would help to get the food residues moving through the large intestine faster?

I can't comment or pinpoint at food that causes migraines but for one, coffee is to me, especially taken on an empty stomach or late evenings. My headaches seem to come on much faster after consuming coffee. However, it seems to be a very confusing factor in migraines to many, either making them worse or preventing, curing or alleviating them. Not sure which is which but I avoid having more than a cup a day. Lately, trying to avoid them altogether. Well, canned or dried fruits are not my favourites so I can't contribute them to migraines either, tho I've heard of them being migraine foods. But best to go easy on them.

It is quite difficult to pinpoint the culprit migraine food and for me, it is almost impossible to get along without any and all of them food mentioned, esp chocolates and margarine or in this case butter too? As my diet and choice of food changes everyday, my basic conclusion is that it's better to eat everything in moderation and most importantly, have plenty of rest and exercising but not overdoing it either. And yes, try to avoid trouble makers too, so non consequential people don't get into your system.

:)

[black widow]

Hello Mon,
If coffee is known to cause your migraines, then i know what is wrong. I had the same problem too, went to the hospital and while waiting for my turn, i saw a newspaper cutting on the table about how the acidity level of coffee on an empty stomach can cause a lot of gases to form and thus creating 'wind'. That 'wind' builds up and creates pressure on other organs, which then causes you to have a migraine.
Since then, i try to hv coffee only after i eat something.. and i pick coffees that are less acidic. Also, try not to keep your tummy empty over long periods, the same thing will result. Wind buildup and pressure when you finally eat something. For those kinds of migraine, i have been advised to take eno, and a painkiller. Works for me.
For migraines that affect the brow area, a combination of aspirin and caffeine in some types of painkillers work much better than regular paracetamol. But always remember not to take meds on an empty tummy.

[mon]

Hi black widow. Long time no see. :)

yes I have to admit that I'm a nut to go on without food for long periods in a day, and I used to love a cuppa before anything else, and didn't realize that that cuppa causes my headache. Don't really know for sure as I am still having migraines every now and then but coffee is known to be a very good candidate for it contains migraine causing toxins. Chum...milo too, for the chocolate. :p my favourite. I try not to avoid it like plague but I am going easy on them as well as they sometimes give me a zit or two. haha..

And yes, NEVER take meds on an empty tummy. I've experienced that and it's a killer.

Thanks for your advice black widow.

[wanmei]

I didn’t know that preserved dried fruits is bad, i' ve been eating raisins and almonds every mornin.

you can try organically grown preserved dried fruits or nuts.....dried apricot(the color might look dull and not appetising..because not preservative used)
or others organic produce in the market...its easily to find and with the wide selection too...but cost a bit ler

[Life Ranger]

I found this CAP site http://www.cap.org.my/ (anyone knows if there is an English site ?) recently in conjunction with its announcement that 92% of the breads on the market contain overdosed preservatives, as much as 5 times beyond the safety level. And it did mention that preservative causes migrane.

Just imagine only the bread alone already over-load our body with that much of preservative, how about other preserved foods ? If we keep consuming them without much ignorance, our organs like liver & kidneys will fail soon by definition.

Aother point is, if ones don't realise that chemicals in the food are the source or the symptoms of our sickness, instead of eliminating the bad foods ones resort to take pain killer or other Migrane drugs, which would merely hipnotise or suppress our bodies' natural immune (security) system, it would definitely get worst in the end.

You think about it.

[tbearer]

Thanks tbearer!

I have sort of get used to this MIGRAINE!
Cannot avoid but try to prevent and shorten the pain!
I would take note of what you have just reconmended!
Thanks again!

Cher

well, that's the problem that i see most ppl have. most ppl been having migraine, or backpain or whatever pain for such a long time that they have learnt to live with it.

that is not correct lor...we are not supposed to be having pain when we are healthy.

my 2 cents worth...

[PJS]

well, that's the problem that i see most ppl have. most ppl been having migraine, or backpain or whatever pain for such a long time that they have learnt to live with it.

that is not correct lor...we are not supposed to be having pain when we are healthy.

my 2 cents worth...

That's right. When I previously had a more stressful job coupled with unhealthy eating habits, lots of travelling, irregular sleeping hours, and lack of exercise I used to get migraine quite often.

Since I started a healthier lifestyle, hey, migraine attacks is history!! :D

Except nowadays I still get some aches and pains... muscle aches, that is, from hard workouts, heh heh heh :D