Migraines

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I'm intrigued by this thread on migraines. Late last summer I began having what

I thought of as " the weird headache behind my right ear " . Didn't happen often,

and was usually pretty mild.

In October I had a QEEG done at Myra Preston's office in Charlotte. Her

technician administered the test. When we finished the test and were looking at

the results, she called Myra in because there was this one blip that appeared

regularly the entire time I was tested. The tech had no idea what it was. Myra

took one look at it and asked if I had a headache. I was floored! I said I had a

very mild one. She said is it on the right side, behind and above your ear?

Floored again. She said that the regular blip was the right artery pulsating,

and that it was something she saw in patients who were having migraines.

Until then I didn't even know the definition of migraines - other than very bad

headaches that make people lie down in dark rooms.

In March these infrequent, mild headaches turned into monsters. Throbbing,

sensitive to movement, kept me bedridden for days. First one lasted three days,

then the next lasted two weeks, though only about six days were bad. Only six.

Sigh. And a different type of fatigue layered onto the profound fatigue I

already have. Can't describe it, but it felt different. But I don't have any

nausea or weird visual stuff going on.

I got out the Merck Manual and read that the arteries pulsate (dilate and

constrict), and set off the pain receptors in the immediate area. Caffeine is

recommended because it is causes vessels to constrict - it stops the pulsating.

Or at least helps. And it did. I drank caffeinated tea for the first time in

years. All the time thinking, great - we already have reduced blood flow to the

brain. Here I am trying to constrict the blood vessels. But at that point I

would have done anything to make the pain go away.

When I went to the doctor the PA (physician's assistant) said yes, caffeine

helps - it's in a lot of migraine meds. When I asked about the best

over-the-counter medication, she said that most patients tell her Excedrin

Migraine is the best. It definitely helped me. It has aspirin, acetaminophen and

caffeine in it - about one cup of coffee's worth.

She also said that food allergies can trigger them, and that it can take awhile

to figure out if that's happening. Hormones can also be a factor, and sure

enough the really bad one started on the first day of my period, which friends

tell me is when it hits them. And of course stress. And here I am fighting my

disability company - they're threatening to stop my benefits at the end of May.

Stress.

The doctor gave me sample of Imitrex tablets and injections. I'm saving those

for my next really bad one. And hoping I won't need them.

My sister read that one woman was helped by putting very cold cloths around her

neck and head, and simultaneously putting her feet in hot water. Hmmm. Getting

the vessels to constrict in her head and dilating them in her feet. It's worth a

try. And it's free!

Carol