Any migraineurs out there?

[lunasmom]

I'm in my late twenties. I've put on 25-30 lbs within the last 2+ years. Work and school make it more of a challenge to stay fit, especially when I get 2-3 migraines per week. I've always been within normal BMI until recently (I'm currently at 25.3.) I want to get fit for more than just weight loss. I need to control these migraines. It's getting ridiculous again. Anyone else out there with the same stuff going on? 

[Heybales]

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@lunasmom wrote:

I'm in my late twenties. I've put on 25-30 lbs within the last 2+ years. Work and school make it more of a challenge to stay fit, especially when I get 2-3 migraines per week. I've always been within normal BMI until recently (I'm currently at 25.3.) I want to get fit for more than just weight loss. I need to control these migraines. It's getting ridiculous again. Anyone else out there with the same stuff going on? 

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When I don't do enough cardio, like if I'm off it for 10 days - yes, I'll get 2-4 migraines a week.

Strong while i got them, but not multi-day, die off in 4-6 hrs with OTC meds.

If I can take sumatriptan within 30 min of start, kick in in 1 hr usually.

But 2-3 sessions of cardio weekly, and every trigger that normally would cause it without cardio - doesn't cause it.

My trigger is combo and specific. Usually doing something and eat later than normal, that usually means staying up later than normal, and eating snack later than normal. And usually more carbo type meals than balanced with protein enough.

I think I found that during a bulking 6 weeks last spring, I did not get them either, but I recall still doing cardio 1-2 x weekly after a few sessions, so not really a true test if it's only cardio.

[lunasmom]

Good to know. I'll have to pump up the cardio. What OTC meds do you take? I'm constantly taking Excedrin and Aleve. Sometimes I can stop a migraine from coming on fully by taking a "cocktail" in time. Otherwise, I rely on rizitriptan, which totally wipes me out. I'm sure you're familiar with plenty of side effects from the suma. How long does a typical cardio session last for you? 

[NewMe663]

I've had migraines since the 2nd grade -- they got really bad in high school through my twenties.  Didn't get real help until I saw a neurologist in my late 30s.  I now take a daily preventative medication which has helped tremendously (Topamax).  You also need to learn your food and smell triggers.  Don't smoke.  And yes, cardio activity does help.  Long-term use of Excedrin/Aleve is VERY bad for your stomach and liver.

[lunasmom]

I started getting them regularly when I was 19. I've seen several physicians, including a neurologist that specialized in migraine. I definitely know the risk of using Excedrin and Aleve (I work in gastroenterology,) but I continue to use them 2-4 times a week because I cannot take more than 9 rizitriptan per month. I've tried Topamax -- didn't work. I've tried TONS of preventative meds. I do not smoke or drink. I've done extensive food/activity logs and have not learned of any food triggers, but I do avoid MSG and other relatives (disodium inosonate, yeast extract etc.) Cigarette smoke and diesel are my top smell triggers. I'm also sensitive to certain candle scents and perfume. I don't like taking medication regularly, so I recently tapered off my beta blocker and other med. What types of cardio do you do? How often and for how long? I'm wondering how long it took you to notice a difference in frequence and/or intensity after you started a regular cardio routine? I've recently started doing yoga again to help relieve shoulder and neck pain, where some of my migraines stem from. 

[ErinScott]

Hi!

I started getting migreanes at 6 months old... and was in and out of hospital the first few years of life with them as I was constantly being sick and they didn't know the cause. I found out when I was around 11 that I have a malformation in my neck that caused them, and I've since also had a spine injury that left me with chronic pain and nerve damage (my life has been fun lol!). Throughout my life, I've discovered certain foods that set me off: red dye, too much citrus, too much chocolate, etc. Other things also trigger them, like a lack of sleep, environmental changes, certain lights, periods, and when my neck pain flares up.

When I was a kid, I missed a lot of school from them, and even had to be in the classroom next to the sick room with the bed so I could lie down if I felt one come on. I only get them every few months now, but that's mostly because I actively try to avoid triggers. I have to live life a certain way because of my neck, so that also clearly helps my headaches as well. I have meds I take and I lie down as soon as I feel one start, which helps limit them a lot too.

It's hard but I just figure that it's best to just now your triggers, and work at living a healthy life... and when in doubt... sleep! 🙂

[Heybales]

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@lunasmom wrote:

Good to know. I'll have to pump up the cardio. What OTC meds do you take? I'm constantly taking Excedrin and Aleve. Sometimes I can stop a migraine from coming on fully by taking a "cocktail" in time. Otherwise, I rely on rizitriptan, which totally wipes me out. I'm sure you're familiar with plenty of side effects from the suma. How long does a typical cardio session last for you? 

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The generic extra strength aspirin/acetaminophen/caffeine, which is the exact same thing as name-brand migraine meds, and their extra-strength version.

But only 2 if I don't have Rx around, otherwise like commented, hard on liver and stomach, which already doesn't feel like eating.

The 4-6 is about how long it's going to last anyway, the OTC just takes the edge off a bit and allows some functioning if it's easy.

I have no side effects from suma, and didn't from the others I tried that weren't as effective. Perhaps if I took enough to be effective would be a different story.

I think for maintenance to prevent them, I'd need 2-3 x 30 min sessions. But just getting suited up for a workout, I want an hour, if not more. But I'm usually training, so it needs to be anyway, except for short easy recovery runs.

[SeattleNative]

From age 14 - 45 I was a nearly constant migraineur. My history and looking for a cure was similar to many of you, above. Immetrix was a lifesaver, but I got 'sick and tired' as my mom would say, of waking each morning and taking meds to be able to get up an hour later and function as if I was not living with pain. Enough, already!

The cure for me was working with a female neuro-endocrinologist Dr. who's approach was a very thorough physical history plus heavy hormone level analysis. Result was my hormonal balance was basically upside down - too much progesterone + testosterone, very little estrogen. (The hormonal analysis was much more detailed, but trust me, the information lead to a cure for life) Once I started on compounded, organic hormone replacement therapy, my migraines disappeared in TWO DAYS. My last 15 years have been (essentially) migraine-free. For years after, I still never left the house without Immitrex on hand.

It is challenging to find a Dr. with this training or interest in female hormonal issues and the symptoms that may be chronic and dibilitating. Most will prescribe the common brand hormones that are synthetic, not balanced to correct for your chemistry and not manufactured for migraine. I cannot recommend strongly enough that anyone that suffers as you have for years, make the effort to seek out a trained Dr. to dig much deeper with you to get healthy.

[kellyebme]

Try researching herbal medicines. I use Feverfew for my cluster migraines. I started taking Feverfew 15 years ago & my daily severe migraines turned into maybe a dull headache once or twice a month. 

I wish you luck in finding something that will work for you.

[Raviv]

I know this thread is a year old, but I guess I missed it before.  I have found something that has helped dramatically reduce the number and severity of migraines that I get.  Super simple - I take 400-500mg of magnesium right before I go to bed.

Magnesium is something where most people are deficient anyway, taking too much just makes you poop (so it's obvious when your intake is too high), it relaxes your muscles in a natural way that doesn't make you loopy or groggy, and starting it almost immediately dropped the number of migraines I get in half.

For me, the crummy magnesium oxide version works better, even though everyone will tell you that magnesium citrate is better and more bioavailable.  For me, if I take the citrate version, I start getting migraines again.  But I've never been accused of being normal.  😉

Triggers for me are:

• sulfites (commercially dried fruit and anything with grape wine, even if the alcohol is cooked out)
• sodium nitrite (cured meats, even if it has it in "natural" celery seed/salt/juice form - so pepperoni, hot dogs, most jerky, most deli turkey)
• dark chocolate
• excess caffeine (and I'm genetically very sensitive to it)
• drops in barometric pressure
• lack of sleep
• sudden spikes in blood pressure (like if someone comes out of nowhere and starts screaming at me, which happened a lot at my last job).

[Michmac]

Hey! 

I am a longtime sufferer from migraines. From Christmas to Mid Jan I was having migraine or headaches daily for over a month. I started an activity & food log to help find new triggers but found nothing new. A little over a month ago I also started yoga 3-5 times a week (in studio & through Youtube videos). Now I haven't had a migraine in a month, and I also haven't developed any of the trigger headaches that I experience before migraine. I am by no means a yoga pro, but I have found a significant difference in my quality of life since starting. I also now rotate 3-4 days of cardio (learn to run program) because I have been enjoying the active lifestyle. Maybe this could help? 

[lunasmom]

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