Migraine Tips

Forums: Migraines, Health, Medical, Oliver Sacks, Ocular Migraines
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I just had a doozy.

I got large, shimmering gray blotches in my vision which were bad enough to make it quite difficult to dial a phone number. This lasted around 45 minutes. As it passed, I felt dizziness and nausea briefly (but didn't throw up!). Then my three middle fingers became numb to various degrees for about 20 minutes. As this started to pass the tip of my nose became numb for a few minutes. Then - poof - I felt pretty ok. Now there's just a nagging knot of pain on the left side of my head that I only really feel when I bend down.

No massive headache perhaps thanks to quickly taking two Excedrin.

I haven't had a migraine this bad since I was a teen (over 20 years ago). My father requested that I call my doctor. Should I?

Happily, Thomas had stopped by and he listened to me document my symptoms patiently. He also assured me I was speaking coherently so that I could feel like I wasn't having a stroke. He mentioned a neuro-psych named Oliver Sacks. The man actually wrote a book about migraines! Will have to find it.

I know that the symptoms of migraines are as different as there are migraine sufferers. But, insights from sufferers or friends of sufferers are welcome! Someone I know mentioned a head band that you can chill before donning. Sounds like it could be helpful.

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[+3] - Thomas - 07/20/2010Two things I take away from watching littlek struggle with migraine last Saturday: 1) The migraine's effects must have been much more dramatic from the inside than they appeared from the...

Tips/comments on:
triggers
remedies
associations
when to contact a doctor
management
relation to aging
symptoms
experiences

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@littlek,

I'm sorry you had such a migraine! I used to have them chronically and I know how much pain you must have been in.

If I watch out for the triggers I can keep them away some. Pizza will kill me! Hard cheeses, pickles, chocolate and peanut butter. I used t have a list of migraine triggers but don't know where it is but it could probably be found on the internet. They aren't always triggers but I don't take the chance.

I can't be in the heat too long either. My thought on the doctor question is if you haven't had one for 20 years why would you have one now? For me, I'd go to the doctor if only to be on the safe side about it.

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@littlek,

Used to suffer badly fom migraines 40 odds years ago, I remember if I was able to have a short nap they would disappear immediately. In the end I did visit my Doctor, he discovered I had high blood pressue and prescribed lifelong medication. From that day I never had another migraine. You have my sympathy liitlek as I know they are not a pleasant experience.

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My BP is ok. Thanks, folks, for your comments and sympathy. Heat seems like a likely culprit today. I pushed myself pretty hard with a three hour hike.

I'll call my doctor on Monday just to inform her. My annual was just a few weeks ago.

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@littlek,

I am sorry you suffer from migraines, they're gruesome and debilitating.
You might want to visit a neurologist, littlek - with the numbness in your
fingers and the floaters in your eyes, it could be something more...

I used to get migraine's quite often when I was younger and more stressed.
Today, I'll have one if I drink red wine or eat too much chocolate. A sudden
high stress occurrence can trigger one too. Yes, excessive heat can cause
one too.

Taking medication, laying down in a dark, cool room with a cold wet clothes
on your forehead helps. The more you rest the better, sleeping is best.

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@littlek,

Have a large glass of Thai iced tea...

http://i.pbase.com/g4/40/590340/2/59532228.DSC_59121.jpg

it might help your soul if not your postmigraine state of mind.

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CJ, good advice - the cool clothe to the forehead is something I could easily have done, but didn't.

Tsar.... I'd love a thai iced tea. But, I think the dairy in it would have pushed me the wrong way.

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http://www.icedown.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1

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@littlek,

do you think hiking on a hot day could've triggered it?

both parents and my sister have been plagued by migraines for decades.
i believe they take fiorinal for them.
(i must be adopted -- i've never had a migraine...)

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@Region Philbis,

Region Philbis wrote:

do you think hiking on a hot day could've triggered it?

both parents and my sister have been plagued by migraines for decades.
i believe they take fiorinal for them.
(i must be adopted -- i've never had a migraine...)

I know you weren't addressing me but I used to take fiornal for my migraines. I became soooooooooooooo addicted to that stuff but it did work on the pain.

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@Arella Mae,

i suppose one could become addicted to anything that would relieve a killer migraine...

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@Region Philbis,

Reg, you're a boy. You're a lot less likely to have them just because of that. I do indeed think the hike could have contributed because it was both super hot and super bright.

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While I feel much better today, I don't think I'm up for a movie. I had been considering it just for the cool-down factor.

1 Reply

@littlek,

What are you planning on going to see?

Toy Story 3? Inception? Despicable Me?

Just to let you know I heard that watching Twilight or the Last Airbender can cause audience members to die from a really excruciating bout of migraine headaches so don't go to these evil sinister killer films. Mad

Might I suggest the documentary Restrepo?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1559549/

From the NYTimes review:

Quote:

Battle Company: Loving Life, Making War

By A. O. SCOTT
Published: June 25, 2010

What you come away with, above all, is a sense of the fragile, indelible individuality of the soldiers, whose names, faces and ways of talking are likely to stick in your mind for a long time. Some share their backgrounds — Specialist Misha Pemble-Belkin, for instance, reflects on the contrast between his pacifist, “hippie” upbringing and his violent profession — but others just speak matter-of-factly about stuff that happened in Korangal.

I don’t want to lecture, but as the war in Afghanistan returns to the front pages and the national debate, we owe the men in “Restrepo,” at the very least, 90 minutes or so of our attention. If nothing else, this film, in showing how much they care about one another, demands the same of us.

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I was going to see what ever was showing at the right time. Inception, Grown Ups, something else...... whatever. But, even grocery shopping put me off. No movies today.

1 Reply

@littlek,

To continue the list of symptoms, even though I'm not sure it is. Yesterday and today I have been having sweats. It's been hot, but I think this shvitz is more than because of the heat (no fever though). Cold compressing when I feel the need.

1 Reply

@littlek,

littlek wrote:

To continue the list of symptoms, even though I'm not sure it is. Yesterday and today I have been having sweats. It's been hot, but I think this shvitz is more than because of the heat (no fever though). Cold compressing when I feel the need.

I would always feel drained for at least one or two days after a migraine. I hope you are just kicking back, no stressing, no heat, just relaxing!

1 Reply

@Arella Mae,

Arella, it's sort of hard to avoid the heat. But I am chilling.

1 Reply

@littlek,

The heat this year seems pretty unbearable to everyone. Here in Louisiana it is so humid. If we get just a light shower the only thing that does is make it a steambath out there. I have to wait until late in the evening to go horseback riding. I don't remember this kind of early so early in the year here since I've lived here.

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