what causes migraines and how come we haven’t developed a cure for them yet?
In: 90
A know a lot of people with migraines and not one of them shares triggers. For me it’s eating high carb for two or three days in a row, them I’ll have a crippling migraine for at least three days and headaches for the rest of the month. Entirely diet based and I’m in no need of meds.
My husband developed migraines in his mid-thirties. For him the only consistent trigger is irregular sleep. Not even too little sleep, just irregular. And it’s bad for him. He’ll get a headache first, than mindfog and grogginess, them extreme nausea and being overstimulated by absolutely the smallest things like being asked if he wants a tea, he wouldn’t be able to think of an answer. When he gets to this stage all he can do is crawl into bed and sleep it off, which then in turn ruins his sleep schedule even further. After our daughter was born he finally found a reason to ask doctors for help. He’s now on a anti epilepsy drug that got him from up to three migraines a week (he was miserable!) to maybe one a month. When he feels one starting he takes triptan (preferably dolortriptan) and it’ll be gone within half an hour.
Botox has been used as an effective treatment to stop and prevent migraines for some people.
Migraine causes are different for different people, and treatment varies accordingly as well.
I recently started seeing a migraine specialist and he asked me the following questions:
1) Do you get “brain freeze” when eating something cold?
2) Do you get motion sickness?
Apparently, not everyone has these things and it indicates a sensitivity to temperature and motion. While these things (brain freeze, motion sickness) don’t necessarily trigger migraines, there is apparently a strong correlation between people who experience these things and people who suffer from migraines.
My triggers, however, are definitely hormone changes (strongest), alcohol, smoke, and what I like to call “sugar hangovers”. My mother in law also gets migraines, and her triggers are very different. For her it’s onions, artificial sweetener, perfume, and screens.
Also, the medications that work for us differ. She had a lot of success with Nurtec and for me it’s as effective as an expensive tictac. For me, cafergot is a miracle. Though, both of us will only take it if it’s really bad, and both prefer Excedrin for “lighter” migraines.
Why does Excedrin do a decent job, but Tylenol, Aspirin, and a coffee don’t? It boggles the mind. All of it.
Different things work for different people… I’d suggest you try acupuncture. Worked incredibly for my wife. Just make sure you find someone good.
I started taking small doses (1.5mg every other night) of melatonin. Haven’t had a migraine in 3 years (knock on wood) I discovered this accidentally on a trip treating jet lag. Traveling has been a trigger but that trip I had none. Did some research and there is some reason to believe a mechanism there. I sure stand by it now. Life changing. Also have used sumatriptan in the past to mostly good effect.
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