Migraines

I've had the beginnings of a migraine for two days now. Not all of my beginnings turn into full blown migraines, but more times than not, they do.

Last night it finally surfaced and decided to be a real one. After taking Imitrex and some Advil chasers, the pain dulled enough to go to sleep. The night was not restfull though, I was up at least three times. After getting up this morning and fixing my sweetie lunch (and putting together soup in the crockpot for a function later today) I went back to bed and slept another hour or two.

The thing about migraines is that nobody (including doctors) knows why some people get them and some don't. Some believe they are hereditary, some believe they are brought on because of hormonal changes, changes in altitude, dehydration, weather, diet, msg, lack of (or too much) sleep, stress, too much exercise (or too little), red wine, chocolate, dairy products, caffeine, etc. For every person who has migraines there are probably 10 or more things that "may" have contributed to it.

I have stress in my life just like everyone else. I don't always sleep well, yet sometimes I sleep wonderfully. My grandmother got migraines. Some of my sisters occasionally get them, but I get them more often. I don't eat right all the time. However, I often eat correctly. I don't exercise enough.

For every migraine I've had, there are well meaning people whose great Aunt Bessie had a surefire fix for migraines. You need to drink more water. (I do) Take a Vitamin B every morning. (I don't - I can't stand vitamins-they make me hurl) Make sure you get enough sleep. (I try like everyone else.) Press that spot on the back of your neck for at least 15 minutes, it will be gone for good. (that helps for the moment but doesn't make it go away) Eat fish. (I do but don't think I have less migraines when I go through a seafood phase) Go to chiropractor, your back is out of whack. (sorry, don't believe it, I've had migraines since I was 12.) Cut out the caffeine. (I've cut caffeine out twice in my life for an entire year each time - didn't cut the migraines)

This is what I know.
I WILL get a migraine if I fly on an airplane (change in altitude, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep all combined).
I WILL get a migraine if I ingest MSG. (have mistakenly done that too many times.)
I WILL get a migraine if I do heavy exercise (every time I overexert myself)
I WILL get a migraine before that time of the month (except for about 5 times in my whole life)
I WILL get a migraine if I stress out in a certain way (like sick to my stomach with worry, sobbing, etc.)

So why did/do I have a migraine right now? Your guess is as good as mine. I'm just thankful for Imitrex. It doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me. Before I had Imitrex, I was a zombie during migraines. I would have to go to bed for a day or two, miss work, ignore my children, snap at my husband and be somewhat distant. I just couldn't deal with people.

Do you have migraines? What do you do? How do you deal? Even though I feel it is hopeless at times, I still look for that miracle cure. Maybe it is Imitrex and I just need to accept that.