I've had migraines for the past 16 years or more. A neurologist is treating me.
Do you know what triggered your headaches? Not all bad headaches are migraines. If you haven't seen your PCP recently I suggest that you get an appointment. There are a lot of wives tails about headaches and migraines. DO NOT listen to anyone until you see your doctor.
Meanwhile, you can try and put cold, wet compresses (fancy word for face cloth). This helps me a lot. It doesn't make them go away, but it helps. If you become light-sensitive, try lowering your window shades, or very dark sunglasses. If you can eat, then eat, but in small amounts. Stay hydrated! Drink as much water as is comfortable. Dehydration can cause severe headaches.
If you can find a comfortable position that allows the headaches to subside then stay in that position until you can move. Do your headaches become more severe in different head positions?
The holidays are approaching, and a lot of times this can amplify stress. Can this be a cause for you? As you read further into this discussion you will find that there are lots of remedies that have worked for people. Migraines are different in everybody. You can go nuts trying everything so that's why I suggested going to the doctor first so that he can rule out a lot of things.
Do you have any other symptoms?
My fellow Mentor, Rachel @rwinney, posted this last year, I believe.
@kimmycorvette1 - I like your screen name. My parents always had Corvettes when I was growing up and as a kid I used to smush in the "back seat" of a 1970's Corvette.
Thank you @merpreb for tagging me in this conversation about migraine headaches and attaching some older conversations that I contributed to. My approach currently is very different than what I had discussed previously. While I still get migraines, I have learned different styles of approaching them thanks to my time spent in the three-week pain rehab program at the Mayo Clinic. I learned a lot of self-help tools and removed all of the migraine medications that I used to take, including Botox and injections. So my previous comments were from my prior life when I threw the whole kitchen sink at the migraine and tried for some miraculous fix. None of that stuff worked for me. As a matter of fact all the doctor hopping and treatment seeking enticed more migraines and it became this never-ending vicious cycle . Nowadays I have accepted that migraines are part of my condition ( Central sensitization syndrome) and I face them with tools of self-help like Stress Management meditation mindfulness healthy diet understanding when I need to step away and have a calm space understanding when I need distraction to relieve stress that induces migraine and also understanding that physical exercise is important as much as emotional and behavioral therapies are. My goals have been more about prevention in order to limit migraines and not adding fuel to the fire when they do come. It's more of a management approach which includes lifestyle changes and working on acceptance. Dr. Sletten from Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehab Center teaches to ride with the wave of chronic pain instead of against it. Go with the flow of the current until is passes. Positive self-talk helps me by reminding myself that I have gotten through all other previous migraines and telling myself that I will get through the next just the same . Also less pain talk and less pain behaviors allows the brain to not constantly be reminded that it's in pain. Pain behaviors fuel the fire and do what's called "accessing the network". The network meaning our brain and our central nervous system which is where pain stems from to begin with. This approach has to do with neuroplasticity and retraining the brain.
How long have you been dealing with migraines? I see you narrowed down one trigger which is smell. That's awesome to be able to identify and reduce things that are not helpful to your cause. Outside of sensory triggers are there any other triggers that you can think of such as stress or lack of sleep that you can work towards managing better?
My 22-year-old daughter uses peppermint essential oil and puts it behind her ears or neck or temples and claims it does help her. It's nice to see you are finding relief from it as well Kimmy.
@kimmycorvette1 - I like your screen name. My parents always had Corvettes when I was growing up and as a kid I used to smush in the "back seat" of a 1970's Corvette.
Thank you @merpreb for tagging me in this conversation about migraine headaches and attaching some older conversations that I contributed to. My approach currently is very different than what I had discussed previously. While I still get migraines, I have learned different styles of approaching them thanks to my time spent in the three-week pain rehab program at the Mayo Clinic. I learned a lot of self-help tools and removed all of the migraine medications that I used to take, including Botox and injections. So my previous comments were from my prior life when I threw the whole kitchen sink at the migraine and tried for some miraculous fix. None of that stuff worked for me. As a matter of fact all the doctor hopping and treatment seeking enticed more migraines and it became this never-ending vicious cycle . Nowadays I have accepted that migraines are part of my condition ( Central sensitization syndrome) and I face them with tools of self-help like Stress Management meditation mindfulness healthy diet understanding when I need to step away and have a calm space understanding when I need distraction to relieve stress that induces migraine and also understanding that physical exercise is important as much as emotional and behavioral therapies are. My goals have been more about prevention in order to limit migraines and not adding fuel to the fire when they do come. It's more of a management approach which includes lifestyle changes and working on acceptance. Dr. Sletten from Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehab Center teaches to ride with the wave of chronic pain instead of against it. Go with the flow of the current until is passes. Positive self-talk helps me by reminding myself that I have gotten through all other previous migraines and telling myself that I will get through the next just the same . Also less pain talk and less pain behaviors allows the brain to not constantly be reminded that it's in pain. Pain behaviors fuel the fire and do what's called "accessing the network". The network meaning our brain and our central nervous system which is where pain stems from to begin with. This approach has to do with neuroplasticity and retraining the brain.
How long have you been dealing with migraines? I see you narrowed down one trigger which is smell. That's awesome to be able to identify and reduce things that are not helpful to your cause. Outside of sensory triggers are there any other triggers that you can think of such as stress or lack of sleep that you can work towards managing better?
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@kimmycorvette1 - I like your screen name. My parents always had Corvettes when I was growing up and as a kid I used to smush in the "back seat" of a 1970's Corvette.
Thank you @merpreb for tagging me in this conversation about migraine headaches and attaching some older conversations that I contributed to. My approach currently is very different than what I had discussed previously. While I still get migraines, I have learned different styles of approaching them thanks to my time spent in the three-week pain rehab program at the Mayo Clinic. I learned a lot of self-help tools and removed all of the migraine medications that I used to take, including Botox and injections. So my previous comments were from my prior life when I threw the whole kitchen sink at the migraine and tried for some miraculous fix. None of that stuff worked for me. As a matter of fact all the doctor hopping and treatment seeking enticed more migraines and it became this never-ending vicious cycle . Nowadays I have accepted that migraines are part of my condition ( Central sensitization syndrome) and I face them with tools of self-help like Stress Management meditation mindfulness healthy diet understanding when I need to step away and have a calm space understanding when I need distraction to relieve stress that induces migraine and also understanding that physical exercise is important as much as emotional and behavioral therapies are. My goals have been more about prevention in order to limit migraines and not adding fuel to the fire when they do come. It's more of a management approach which includes lifestyle changes and working on acceptance. Dr. Sletten from Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehab Center teaches to ride with the wave of chronic pain instead of against it. Go with the flow of the current until is passes. Positive self-talk helps me by reminding myself that I have gotten through all other previous migraines and telling myself that I will get through the next just the same . Also less pain talk and less pain behaviors allows the brain to not constantly be reminded that it's in pain. Pain behaviors fuel the fire and do what's called "accessing the network". The network meaning our brain and our central nervous system which is where pain stems from to begin with. This approach has to do with neuroplasticity and retraining the brain.
How long have you been dealing with migraines? I see you narrowed down one trigger which is smell. That's awesome to be able to identify and reduce things that are not helpful to your cause. Outside of sensory triggers are there any other triggers that you can think of such as stress or lack of sleep that you can work towards managing better?
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1 ReactionYes! To distractions like walking, cleaning or watching TV on the couch with pillow/blanket. Yes we had a brand new vette 1995 red rag top for 6 yrs.
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