Ingria's Journal, 28 Apr 17

Ingria, what are they giving you as a rescue drug for your migraines, if you don't mind my asking? And are you taking a preventative? If you're getting more that 8-15 per month you've slipped into chronic migraine mode and definitely need to be on a preventative if you aren't. The latest research is that no opioids or NSAIDs except Naproxen Sodium (Aleve) are safe for use more than 8 days a month or so for someone with migraines or they will rebound badly and bring on migraines. Could you be taking something else that is giving you the migraines as a side effect? You've got me a bit worried dear. ☺️But my kids will tell you that's mom's normal state. 😝 

Thank you, but no need to worry, I don't think it is worse than before. I do not like to complain much, but got slightly more open recently as it does not make sense otherwise. A relatively informed and organized person just falls of the vagon on a regular basis and cannot make any significant progress over the years. We all have our issues that keep us where we are and I have mine. I am not taking any opioids at all, and very rarely take any painkillers, so that cannot be the cause. Sorry don't want to get into public discussion of prescription medications as I keep my journal open to everyone. Going to see my doctor for a regular check up next week but do not expect to be cured after the visit.  

My story: I used to have them constantly, they never totally went away, so feel for you. My regular doc gave up and referred me. I finally went to a neurologist who put me on a preventative and had me keep a diary of everything I did, the weather, where I was, what I ate, the mold and pollen count (available for the area from a children's hospital) and the intensity of my headaches and each symptom. I saw him about every 2 weeks for months and gave him my diary which he or maybe a staff member went through it and we would discuss it the next visit and hand him the next version. He adjusted the rescue drugs until we found something that worked. After I knew my triggers, learned how to avoid them, and after 2 years on the preventative he started weaning me off and suggested taking a magnesium supplement. I now am super careful on avoiding triggers and also learned in that process some things that helped. I rarely have one and it's rare they get to the state of hide in the dark in dead quite and knock me out pain meds..I was lucky to have landed with a good doc. It also turned out that many of the same triggers are asthma triggers for me.  

I understand, Hon. DAILY Chronic migraines and Cluster headaches have been my companion for over 24 YEARS now. Not exaggerating when I say daily, I actually managed 1 day without pain in my head last December for the first tome in over 15 YEARS. And I well understand not wanting to discuss your meds in an open forum. 😁 No worries! I was getting concerned at the number that seemed to be hitting you lately and wondered if anything had changed to intensify them. If it's just a case of fedup-itis with the pain, that one I understand all too well as well! LOL And I think our ages and some mention of your migraines and weight is what originally drew me to make the buddy request...thinking I at least have a small clue where this person is coming from. 😜 

Smprowett, thank you for your support. I very much appreciate it. You are getting me out of the closet 😄 I am just not feeling comfortable talking about my own pain. Yours, no problem 😉 I think it years of conditioning from friends, family and work colleagues. DH is very supportive, in his actions any way, but I don't think he wants to listen to any of my complaints on daily basis either. Wholefoodnut, yes I am trying to watch for triggers. I think there is some kind of general sensitivity that triggers asthma or migraines or whatever our weak point is. I had asthma in my teens, but was able to be meds free for the last 30+ years after learning how to control the triggers and response. So I know very well what you are talking about. Unfortunately my body found another outlet to keep me miserable. Cannot figure out that yet. I know a few triggers, like drastic weather changes, loud noise, etc, but sometimes I am fine and sometimes I am sick without any of that. Anyway one thing I learnt is that every time I fall I have to get up and use another break to make some progress. At least this way I can minimize the damage. 

did you try adding some l-carnitine? 

@Buhanov, thank you for the tip. I heard of it but have not tried it yet. I am sensitive to chemicals so am cautious about adding anything new. I only recently found magnesium supplement that I can handle, though was trying for years. I am now experimenting with MSM, still cannot figure out if I can take it or not. I might try l-carnitine after that. Malic acid is another one that I am planning to add. 

is that proper to use some supplement like l Catherine,that can raise the blood pressure? I also suffer from chronic migraine and sometimes it's connected with the increased blood pressure and if one has a problem with the changing levels of BP ,one needn't take l Catherine for sure.. 

l-carnitine* sorry  

L-carnitine doesn't have enough evidence behind it's efficacy currently to be a viable migraine treatment option. Naproxen Sodium in 440mg doses every 12 hours, 600 mg of CoQ -10 a day, 400 mg of Magnesium CITRATE per day have all got multiple research studies and the backing of headache and migraine specialists. They are also currently looking at electrodes similar to TENS packs and there are a huge host of acupressure sites and palliative helps like essential oils I could list. Oops forgot feverfew because it stopped working on me. (Sorry to hijack your journal Ingria, but this is a subject I take time to try to keep up with the research on. 🙃) Some of the best help you can have is a regimented schedule with proper sleep taking melatonin if you need to to help you sleep, but not combining it with antidepressants or muscle relaxers or sleeping pills without talking to your doctor. The world is so frenetic nowadays, many of us just don't turn off at night like we should. 😏🤗😴 

thanks for such a full definition! your information is rather useful ,and to tell the truth,living in Saint-Petersburg(Russia), I had been visiting many doctors and none of them could advice something adequate ,they referred only to unfavorable climate conditions in our city. Unfortunately,the only way out of this situation is to visit the clinic in a paid basis :( 

Feverfew is an herb that has been scientifically proven as a preventative to reduce migraines. I grew some started adding to my smoothies but is can cause throat and tongue irritation. There are capsules available in many pharmacies, health food stores, and even WalMart. It's affects are cumulative so not an instant cure.  

Hi Julia, no problem. Welcome to FS! A great and healthy May it will be! 

Processed sugar in the long run is not good for migraine's. Is it possible for you to snack on a higher sugar fruit such as a ripe banana to get the same effect? Or even try dried (unsweetened) fruit such as raisins or dates. 

@Wellness5, you are right, I totally agree with you. I am eating very little added sugar overall. I am not on low carb, but on limited carbs for sure. Unfortunately when I am hit by the train, thinking, planning and will power become less important. I also have abdominal migraine symptoms so food choices become really limited. I still don't get it how not eating at all on some days (when it gets really bad) does not cause any weight loss other than temporary dehydration but eating 300 calories in fruit candy causes a two pound gain. The mystery of CICO 😉 

@Zorgeubermeingewicht, don't blame Russian doctors or bad climate. 🙂 I live in US, in a major metropolitan area with plenty of research hospitals and great climate and still no relief. Try taking a good quality magnesium supplement or use magnesium oil if you can find it. I recall that when I was reading research on magnesium, St. Petersburg was mentioned as an area with naturally low magnesium levels in water supply, which was causing a lot of health issues for the population. Magnesium is very important for our health. Also as you are so far to the north you might get some relief with white light therapy especially in winter months. I hope you can find them in Russia as well. These are special lamps with natural light spectrum that you use to compensate for lack of exposure to natural light. It is not UV so it is safe for the skin. My doctor recommended to use it in winter even though I don't leave in the north.  

It is normal for the body to fluctuate weight wise within 5 lbs on a daily basis...don't really worry what the scale says. Ultimately, it is better if people forget about calories and look to eat more nutritious/healthy foods rather than focus on losing weight. If you do it properly, weight loss will naturally occur with switching to a healthier, less-processed diet. There are even some theories that propose that you can even lose MORE weight eating HIGHER calories if your calories come from unprocessed food due to the fact that your body feels safe and knows it is getting enough nutrients and doesn't have to hold on to anything. If you need any tips on how to bring/pack really easy snacks let me know! One other thing, you can check it out...but sometimes eating too low carb, especially for women, can cause a drop in blood sugar causing symptoms of hypoglycemia such as intense cravings for sweets and even headaches/migraines. The body does need carbs...just not refined carbs (actually sometimes even some people --athletes--need refined carbs, but that is a whole different topic)! P.S. I know that from looking at my food journal I am not the epitome of health lol...but am interested very much in nutrition and am working on studying dietetics/medicine so I do want to help others with their health--I have also helped people lose weight in a healthy way--I just can't seem to apply the same methods to myself but it is a work in progress. :)  

@ Ingria sorry for the hijack again! @ HFN yes feverfew has many good studies backing it, that's why I listed it, I almost forgot it because it, like MANY other Rx migraine meds have now stopped working on me or I have built up major, life threatening side effects to and can't use them. Over the long term, with continued use, your liver will build up a tolerance for just about any substance you ingest as it takes it in.. it has done that with feverfew for me and now I take too many other supplements that would give me contraindications with it and don't mix. If you are fairly healthy otherwise, great, if not, you need to be a bit more careful of the chemistry or you can poison yourself while trying to make yourself "healthy." There is major information out on migraine . Com ( without the spaces of course) and the International Headache Association also has a website with plenty of research articles. 

Not sure about feverfew. I don't know how I missed it as I am a bank of useless information, but somehow I never heard that it is used for migraines. May be because I thought that if I just ignore the problem it will go away by itself. That was definitely the way my old doctor thought. I looked it up and I am not sure if I should try it. It impacts serotonin production, my rescue medication also impacts serotonin, from what I can understand (as I am not a doctor) they work in opposite directions. I would be afraid trying it without doctor's advice and no doctor will ever advise a patient to switch to an herbal supplement. But thank you anyway. Who knows maybe one day... As for liver, what a mistake it was on my part not to train it to tolerate more liquor 😉 Abstinence, that is what killing me 😜 

@Welness5, thank you. Any advice from a person who knows how to stay slim is appreciated. My main problem though is not lack of knowledge or planning but inability to implement the plan when sick or in crisis. I.e. I don't eat a lot of junk and cook most of my food, but every now and then I get into survival mode. Any extra stress is just too much. My current approach is to do it one day at a time. If it is a good day, I crawl towards my goal weight, eat well and exercise, if it is bad day I try to minimize the damage, and start over on the next good day. The key point here is to start over on the next good day and not wait till January 1st of next year.