The KInd Life Community Forum

Hey everyone. OK so here's the story... I've been living with migraines for about 15 years. I've done the Imitrex shot (works but absolute last resort), the Imitrex pills (can you say HIVES? ugh) and Midrin which does nothing but make me impossibly moody. A couple of migraine-suffering friends told me about Maxalt but I haven't gone to my doctor yet.

Now, from what I've read, changing to this kind eating lifestyle can vastly diminish if not completely get rid of these horrible headaches. However, I'm still in early flirt stage, so I was wondering if anyone has a more natural cure for these stupid things while I'm in transition? I've had one today that just about took me out

I usually take Advil and lock myself in a dark room with a pillow and gel ice pack on my head. Sure, it works but I'm down for the count for at least three to four hours, sometimes more. Just wondering how others have handled this? Thanks!

Michelle - have you read The Migraine Brain? I, too, suffer from terrible migraines, both menstrual and other, which have steadily increased in frequency and intensity over the past two years. I have been vegan for three and a half months and I have had minimal, and I stress minimal, relief from this way of eating, and I think part of that is also due to seeing an acupuncturist regularly. HOWEVER, I don't say this to discourage you, as many people can reach some level of relief through changing certain things in their diet.

I would strongly recommend reading The Migraine Brain. It's a recent publication (2008), written by a doctor who suffered from migraines and started the headache clinic in Cambridge. I loved this book for its information, and for the sense of validation it gave me. As a fellow migraine sufferer, I'm sure you have experienced loads of well-meaning, but next to useless advice from the lay person, trying to tell you what you need to change. This book addresses the myriad triggers that can cause migraine, as well as the many possible paths to relief. Unfortunately, migraine remains a mysterious illness to a large extent. Every single individual person is different, their triggers might be similar, but still overall different, and positive treatments are different. For instance, one woman I work with can't have spicy food or caffeine, whereas for me, sometimes caffeine helps.

Oh, and as an interesting side note, this book discusses how our brains are actually different from the non-migraine brain (hence the title). The author says that a migraine is set off by a chemical reaction that for some people actually starts days before their symptoms! Amazing!

(Sorry for all the posts, but I am next to desperate here, too!!!!!!!!!!!)

One more thing, I promise. One woman I work with who gets migraines discovered that if she takes Natural Calm when she's starting to get one, it helps minimize it. I guess she's one of those sensitive to magnesium (I've been taking three rounded 1/2 tsp doses a day for a week, before that I was doing two). Maybe you could try that next time and see if it helps.

I used to have migraines. my doctor sent me to an acupuncturist (over 20 years ago!) and I have not had them since. Not one. Over 20 years. I was so inspired, I eventually became an acupuncturist myself!

In working with migraine patients other things that make a HUGE HUGE difference are food and drugs - the migraine drugs will eventually lead to rebound headaches - I had one patient who was going to NYU's headache clinic where she was told her meds for the migraines were what were, at this point, causing them! The first thing they did was wean her off the drugs every other doctor had put her on and it helped a lot. Also, oral contraceptives - very very bad if you have chronic headaches or migraines- that fact is actually stated in the drug's package insert. Food is huge as well, there are books out there regarding what foods tend to be triggers for the majority of people, but you could also have a sensitivity that is less common.