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I wonder if anyone here who suffers from migraines can shed any light on this.

 

In the past 8 months or so, I've had three episodes where I felt slightly nauseous then developed a pounding headache and vomited a lot. One just before Christmas, the other maybe 5 weeks ago and the latest one today. I've still got the headache, and suspect I'm not done vomiting yet....and the bloody phone is now ringing. God I hate phones. I'm just going to pull it out of the plug.

 

The first two I assumed must be down to food poisoning, but now that I've got another one I'm thinking maybe I'm developing a problem with migraines in my old age. I'm 40, and I've never had problems with migraines before. I always thought this was something you either had all your life or didn't.

 

Is there anyone here who developed a problem with migraines (by which I mean headaches that lead to puking, not just plain old "I need an aspirin" headaches)? Obviously I'll be making an appointment with my GP tomorrow, but I just wanted to find out if anyone here has had something similar.

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I developed migraines in my twenties. Mine are related to hormones.

 

I get terrible pain and auroas and puke.

 

I controll mine by controlling my hormones avoiding trigger foods and taking a combo of meds.

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mine were related to hormones as well.

 

i first got them while i was pregnant. i had a migraine almost every day of being pregnant... it was debilitating.

 

i only get them every once in a while now... 17 years later...

 

i have to take action as SOON as i feel it coming on - or i can't get rid of it until i can sleep it off in a quiet dark place.

 

i take 2 alleve (used to be prescription back 16 years ago) as soon as i feel it starting - after that you can only take 1 tablet every six hours. i am aware that it usually rears it's ugly head when i'm ovulating or about to begin my period.

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whichwayisup

I suffered from very bad migraines for about 2 years. I finally went off the Pill and that helped, but also had a full round of bloodwork done, saw a Neurologist too. Speak to your family Dr, get a referral to see a Neurologist.

 

It could hormonal, or it could be environmental or allergies. I don't know, but please get yourself checked out.

 

Sorry that you're feeling this way, I can relate! Migraines SUCK!

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sunny, I feel for you – I know puking's part of pregnancy, but migraines are a bit of an extreme addition. Though I'm guessing it was from the hormone flux in your system ...

 

I used to get them from about middle school age (13?) til I was about 27, and I'm guessing hormones were the main culprit, though stress and a lack of sleep also contributed to episodes. My husband had a small bottle of pills called "cafergot" (I think is how you spell it), and those things worked wonders if I took one at the onset of a migraine episode. I've also been told that caffeine helps open up the blood vessels in your head, which alleviates the headaches.

 

check with your doctor to see what meds he can give you to circumvent the migraine, and if an improved diet/exercise regimen will help

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I developed migraines in my twenties. Mine are related to hormones.

 

I get terrible pain and auroas and puke.

 

I controll mine by controlling my hormones avoiding trigger foods and taking a combo of meds.

 

Ugh re the pain and the puke. What are auroas? (congrats on your wedding, btw hg - hope married life is treating you well)

 

mine were related to hormones as well.

 

i first got them while i was pregnant. i had a migraine almost every day of being pregnant... it was debilitating.

 

That sounds like sheer hell. Funnily enough I just finished my period. I'm trying to think back to what time in my cycle the other bouts of this happened in case it is hormonal.

 

KMT & WWIU - thanks. I managed to nap a bit, the headache's dulled down and all the necessities are close at hand (bowl with water in it :sick: - sorry, maybe TMI - glass of water and, of course, my laptop).

 

Migraines do indeed suck. I'm wondering if I've had this previously and just attributed it to a stomach bug. Generally I only get things like this once every few years.

 

Quankanne - my diet's pretty good, and I'm a regular gym bunny. It's been really frustrating to not be able to get to the gym for the last few days (a cold, now accompanied by this). Recently I really stepped up my exercise regime and have been wondering if it's been too much too soon. I'll mention that to my GP as well, when I get an appt. Thanks everyone for the advice.

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Yup tension headaches. I had a really bad one a few weeks ago actually the pain is so strong I get dizzy and nauseated to the point where I feel so sick I have to lie down.

I can feel one coming on because my mouth gets super dry I feel dizzy sick to my stomach. I feel as someone does when they are sleep deprived.

 

 

A few times I actually vomited and was left with the pounding "break my skull in two" ache, it's awful.

 

I don't always puke but more often than not when it's a really strong one it is accompanied by nausea and dizziness.

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SnapCracklePop

I've had various headaches and migraines all my life.

 

Early on, migraines were stress related. Now, I am not sure what triggers them. My worst caused 8 hrs of blindness (no sh!% - imagine that... waking up and you are blind... freaky...). But all the typical symptoms reported here... dizzyness, fuzzy vision, nausea, need a dark room, etc etc... all those apply.

 

Regular headaches - I get them if I have too much coffee, or not enough... I get them when a heavy rain is coming... I get them if I do not eat for a while... and sometimes I just get them. The best method for regular headaches for me (and for many I have suggested this to) is to take one Tylenol Ultra Extra Strength + one Advil Migraine relief. This combo is safe - I asked my doctor. acetaminophen and ibuprofen do not interact.

 

I went to my doctor to ask about my migraines and if there is any relief for them... there is! I had to go to a neurologist to get diagnosed as a migraine sufferer... which I am, and now I have a prescription for a drug called Maxalt (I think that is what it is called....) which stops it in its tracks. As it was explained to me... most migraines are caused by vasal dilation, allowing blood pressure in the head to rise. The drug is a vasal constrictor that gets blood pressure back to normal, and stops the migraine. Thank god.

 

If those migraines persist, do check with your doctor, and if you are still concerned, ask to see a neurologist.

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Jake Barnes

Now Im worried about you and I dont have a PM with this account yet

 

Keep us posted on what your doctor says

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I think being in front of a computer screen for long periods of time can cause massive headaches in some people who are especially sensitive to that type of illumination.

 

You might try staying away from the computer and backing away from your TV a bit and see if your migraines don't go away.

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My mother had a bout of very bad migraines a few years ago and had to go to the ER on at least two occasions because she got so dehydrated from the vomiting.

 

She said the turning point was getting enough sleep each night, rather than trying to run on just five hours per night, as she'd been doing for years.

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Yup tension headaches. I had a really bad one a few weeks ago actually the pain is so strong I get dizzy and nauseated to the point where I feel so sick I have to lie down.

I can feel one coming on because my mouth gets super dry I feel dizzy sick to my stomach. I feel as someone does when they are sleep deprived.

A few times I actually vomited and was left with the pounding "break my skull in two" ache, it's awful.

 

That sounds pretty like it - except that the pounding, skull-breaking headache comes first, then the vomiting. I've always found that a sudden severe headache heralds puking, but I always thought that it was an indicator that I was about to be sick rather than the actual cause of it. I'm hardly ever sick. Four times in the last two years - three of them since just before Christmas.

 

Early on, migraines were stress related. Now, I am not sure what triggers them. My worst caused 8 hrs of blindness (no sh!% - imagine that... waking up and you are blind... freaky...). But all the typical symptoms reported here... dizzyness, fuzzy vision, nausea, need a dark room, etc etc... all those apply.

 

How horrific, Snap. That episode of blindness must have been terrible. I'm not aware of having felt stressed in the last few days, but I have had a bad cold and been really bunged up from that. Which probably brought on the headache.

 

Now Im worried about you and I dont have a PM with this account yet

 

No longer a supporting member, Jake? No need to worry at all - I think the doctor saying "yup - migraines" is a pretty foregone conclusion, and they're certainly not uncommon. That or it was food poisoning, but I can't think of anything I've eaten in the last few days that would cause that. If it is migraine, I feel damn sorry for the people who get them frequently.

 

I think being in front of a computer screen for long periods of time can cause massive headaches in some people who are especially sensitive to that type of illumination.

 

I don't normally have problems with the computer - but yes, I think when you're bunged up with a headache the glare from the screen makes matters worse. I feel a lot better today, but I'll be rationing my time on the pc for sure. I just wanted to come on and thank people for their responses - but after this I'm going for a nice long walk to see if that helps clear the remaining fuzz in my head.

 

She said the turning point was getting enough sleep each night, rather than trying to run on just five hours per night, as she'd been doing for years.

 

If ever I have a bad night's sleep, that certainly does cause fuzziness and a headache...and having a cold has disrupted my sleep a fair bit for the last couple of days.

 

Again, thanks everyone for the advice. It definitely sounds like migraine, but obviously I'll get a medical opinion.

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could be that you are addicted to coffee? and when you don't drink coffee, the headache would be pretty severe. I had it before, but after I quit coffee, the headache stopped.

 

anyway, it is better to have a medical check

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Thanks lovely bird - that could be part of it. I drink coffee most days, but when I've got a cold I tend to stay away from it and drink lemsips or herbal teas instead. Also when I'm doing my detox thing I avoid it. Usually having a coffee free day doesn't affect me or leave me with any headaches. I think on this occasion blocked sinuses from the cold were what brought it on. That, and not getting any fresh air . Perhaps lack of coffee played a part too - see quankanne's comment about caffeine helping because it opens up the blood vessels in the head.

 

With my cold being at its worst, I stayed in bed all day...and because I was thoroughly bored I was using the computer far too much. Which, as Touche suggested, is a bad idea when you have a headache anyway - and I guess if it is migraine then the bright light from the monitor screen would really not have been helping. When I'm reading, writing or thinking I tend to get so absorbed that I'll ignore/fail to notice headaches or feelings of nausea until they're full on. When I was little, out of boredom I'd sneak books with me to to read in the back seat of the car on long journeys. It would generally end badly for everyone in the car.

 

So new rule is I won't use the pc for more than 30 minutes at a time without stopping for a bit and removing myself from it physically to check that I don't have any headaches or nausea coming on. I've got an appointment for next week, but I feel fine now.

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So new rule is I won't use the pc for more than 30 minutes at a time without stopping for a bit and removing myself from it physically to check that I don't have any headaches or nausea coming on. I've got an appointment for next week, but I feel fine now.

Found out with my daughter when she had similar problem that her sleep schedule was the trigger. If she did the typical teenage thing and stayed up til 3-4am on weekends, she would get a migraine the next day. When she was on a regular schedule, no problems. Sometimes, ol' Dad's advice about "early to bed..." turns out to be true ;) .

 

Mr. Lucky

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Ugh re the pain and the puke. What are auroas? (congrats on your wedding, btw hg - hope married life is treating you well)

 

Thanks for the congrats married life is good esp the hot married sex!

 

Auroas are events that preceed a migraine. They are different for everyone but mine are visual disturbances - seeing spots, colors I actually lose vision sometimes. they can also be dizziness, a feeling of unrest/anxiety, stomach problems. I tis hard to explain. Migraines also eeffect my depth perceptions so I am constantly running into things etc...

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Arise_Serpentor

I work in the medical field! One thing that may help is putting cheynee pepper in your diet! Serious!

Also, try cinnamon!

And are you consuming Aspartme? Go to splenda if you are into diet drinks!

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My ex-wife had horrible migraines beginning in her late teens and ending in her mid-twenties.

 

The migraines stopped after we had our first child.

 

Of course, depending on your station in life the "cure" may be worse than the "disease."

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Found out with my daughter when she had similar problem that her sleep schedule was the trigger. If she did the typical teenage thing and stayed up til 3-4am on weekends, she would get a migraine the next day. When she was on a regular schedule, no problems. Sometimes, ol' Dad's advice about "early to bed..." turns out to be true ;) .

 

Mr. Lucky

 

Sure those migraines of hers weren't hangovers, Mr Lucky?? j/k. I get fuzzy-headed too with lack of sleep, but these splitting headaches are unusual for me. Reading up on it though, it seems as though migraines can develop at any time.

 

Thanks for the congrats married life is good esp the hot married sex!

 

Auroas are events that preceed a migraine. They are different for everyone but mine are visual disturbances - seeing spots, colors I actually lose vision sometimes. they can also be dizziness, a feeling of unrest/anxiety, stomach problems. I tis hard to explain. Migraines also effect my depth perceptions so I am constantly running into things etc...

 

The dizziness definitely. I always thought that was because I have such low blood pressure...but maybe low blood pressure and migraines go together? How often do you find you get this, hotgurl? Have the episodes increased or decreased as time goes on? I've got a GP appt fixed up for the beginning of next week, but I'm going to arrange an eye examination too in case it's related to that.

 

I work in the medical field! One thing that may help is putting cheynee pepper in your diet! Serious!

Also, try cinnamon!

And are you consuming Aspartme? Go to splenda if you are into diet drinks!

 

Cheynee pepper, AS? I've never even heard of that! I'll try to find some. As for cinnamon - I love Chai tea and cinnamon bagels, so at least that's something. I've been researching trigger foods and it seems as though just about everything is classed as a trigger. Thanks very much for the suggestions...I'll definitely try them out.

 

My ex-wife had horrible migraines beginning in her late teens and ending in her mid-twenties.

 

The migraines stopped after we had our first child.

 

Of course, depending on your station in life the "cure" may be worse than the "disease."

 

Think that's one cure I can rule out, grogster...

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I have had horrible headaches since I was 15, I had been to several neurologists including one who specialized in headaches and none of them could tell me what was wrong with me, the only diagnosis I got was chronic daily severe headaches. I finally broke down a few months ago and decided to go to yet another neurologist and finally found one who know what she is talking about. I was diagnosed with migraines and occipital neuralgia.

 

I have figured out how to tell them apart now which helps me figure out which medication to take to treat it.

 

I have the occipital neuralgia under control now but I am still working on getting the migraines to a point where I can control them. I take Topamax daily and I have a kit at home so I can do injections of dihydroergotamine when I get a severe migraine that won't break using Tylenol or Vicodin. I still have to make urgent trips to the doctor every once and a while to get other injections but it's better than my previous trips to the ER when I would be in so much pain I would go blind.

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I have suffered from migraines for 24 yrs now I am 31 yrs old now

I get migraines any where between 3-6 times a month

 

It has gotten to the point that the meds I have been on to treat them have lost their effects as my body has built a tolerance

 

So now I have to go to the ER for them as they are so bad it feels like an icepick is being stabbed into my head and each time I get tested to make sure there are no brain aneurysms

 

The only thing I can do control the things that trigger them and prey that is enough

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Wow. Having had a taster of what it's like, I really do feel for people who get these on a more regular basis. I read somewhere that about 15% of adults get migraines, and that it does affect women more than men (hormonal thing).

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Taramere- snap.

 

I have had migraines that sound identical to yours (pounding headache that wont' go away until I have puked my guts out and slept it off) on and off since I was a child. This year they started up again, and by keeping a headache diary I managed to work out that my trigger factors are hormones, stress,, low blood sugar, neck pain (work related) and lack of sleep. If I have a couple of those factors going on at once, I get one. I also have low blood pressure like you, and am a healthy eater/exerciser.

 

I did ALOT of research into this and paid to see a migraine specialist (who wasnt THAT helpful TBH) because they were getting so frequent and I think I was getting a little dependent on codeine- based pain relief meds (codeine isn't good for migrained BTW, it can cause rebound headaches and make you sick, as I discovered!)

 

I saw my GP again, and he recommended a preventative med that is an anti epileptic but its got some quite nasty side effects and I want to get pregnant next year so didn't want something that could effect that.

 

After trawling the internet and reading many papers on the subject, I started taking a daily combination of supplements:

magnesium 300mg, feverfew combined with butterbur (you can buy this online), and vitamin B2 200mg.

A workmates husband who suffered from migraines has also started taking this combo on my recommendation and has noticed a significant reduction in the frequency of his migraines which were more debilitating than mine.

 

The migraines became MUCH less frequent, and I got a prescription from my doctor for diclofenac (for the neck pain) motilium (for the nausea) and sumitriptan (AKA Imigran) which you take when you feel the migraine coming on. You can buy imigran over the counter but its £6.99 for two tablets, so getting it on prescription is cheaper esp as you live in Scotland and its free!!!!

 

I also made sure that I had regular physio for my neck/muscle pain and got enough sleep and ate regularly throughout the day to avoid rapid blood sugar drops.

 

I still get the odd one around my period, but I can control them with the imigran now. Finishing work has helped too!

 

Here and here are a couple of websites that I got alot of my information from.

 

I also found a US based health forum that was quite helpful.

 

Good luck and I hope you get better, I honestly know exactly what you are going through.

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Wow - thanks sb129. That's a brilliant, really informative post - and yes, it sounds really similar. I'm wondering how many times I've mistaken this for being bouts of food poisoning. I just took it as read that puking is always preceded by a headache....but various people I've spoken to have said "no, I don't get headaches before I'm sick...".

 

I'm going to be referring to your post a lot in the next few days (I'm feeling fine now, btw - other than having the remnants of a cold). And I'm also going to keep my fingers crossed for your baby-next-year plans!

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