Headache and Migraine Group: Let’s connect

@duvaldena I’ve been in cold water while serving in the Marines but I was much younger then lol.
I can see the benefit of it for sure but a guy just needs to be prepared!

@duvaldena This is iinteresting it is worth a try.

For many years I got debilitating migraines. During this time, I was taking Vitamin E daily. I read an article about Vitamin E and strokes. I stopped taking Vitamin E and haven't had a migraine since. Sumatriptan Tablets worked well at relieving my migraines.

@lynns21 problem with the “Triptans” is that they are known to cause stroke in those of us 60 and older 😢

Hello, I am 45M, fairly new to headaches. About 2.5 years now. I have been having trouble deciding what headaches I have. I dont get Aura or nausea or vomiting. More so either a dull throbbing ache all over or a sharper pain behind my left eye. I have made some lifestyle changes in the past 12 months, but more this January cause I spent Christmas day in a dark room for six hours. I abruptly quit coffee, alcohol and stopped using OTC meds on the regular. Looking back that was probably a bad thing to do and should have tapered off those items. But here I am, only used Ibuprofen once in 3 weeks and have started taking Riboflavin, Magnesium and CoQ10 daily. It seems to help some. I am also keeping a food diary and headache chart. The first 2 weeks in January were brutal, but seem to have gotten better. However I did have one yesterday out of nowhere that went on for 14 hours. More of the dull aching kind here lately. Also wondering if getting an hour massage is triggering as well? Last two times I've had bad days 48 hours post massage. Im thankful for this forum and hope to learn and help my mood. Headaches have cost me some things the past couple years.

Hi @bradley99 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like you have been doing some good self-assessment along the way to try to better understand your own headaches.

Spending 6 hours in a dark room on Christmas, quitting coffee and alcohol all of a sudden, and experiencing a 14-hour headache yesterday all sound very rough. I'm sorry you have been through all of this.

Have you had your headaches assessed by a headache specialist in a neurology department, bradley99? If so, what did they say?

@lisalucier I did have an MRI 2 years ago to rule out anything new in popping up,but everything looked OK at that point. It seemed like heat and dehydration really triggered during the summer and less so during cooler months. Have been mkre common here during the cooler months this winter, but I have to get through the first 3 months here and rule out rebound headaches as I was taking OTC meds probably 4-5 times a week for extended period of time. So I gotta get that situation corrected. As well as taking the vitamins for 90 days to get any deficiency built back up. I hope on the right track, I have an active lifestyle with kids and somedays my mood is really down. Hopefully I can smooth out that small roller coaster

@lisalucier also, Thank for responding, I'm really glad I found this for group ideas and support. I always hold Mayo Clinic in the highest standards.

I’ve had chronic migraines for decades. I finally found a neurologist who worked to find the right combination of treatments for me (QULIPTA, Ubrelvy, and Botox). Botox greatly improved my quality of life and helped so much with my migraines and my latest diagnosis, cervical dystonia. I had a change in heath insurance in 2025 and I no longer qualified for the Botox Savings Program. I’ve been off Botox for just over a year and have lost 2 jobs due to migraine absences. I still struggle with feelings of guilt or shame, as if my migraines are my fault. New year, new insurance. Trying again for Botox approval to see if I qualify for the savings program so I can afford treatment. Chronic migraines have completely upended my life.

@bangerang512 So sorry your pain has caused you to lose your job. At one time I thought it could be my fault but no longer I believe mine is bad posture, weak muscles, I am doing all that I can do, but my Mom suffered for years when I was young she would get so sick. She outgrew them and mine started twenty years ago. With the help of my Pain Dr. Nerve Block pain every few months, monthly visit to Clincial Massage Therapy (the very best thing). a daily exercise program I developed myself following Dr. Jon Saunders, some days good, other days bad, and some days awful, but don't give up we know how you suffer.