To prevent, I need adequate sleep. If I get too little sleep (like 5 hours) I'm fine the next day and the day after, the migraine monster comes to visit. That's far and away my biggest trigger. At the first sign, I take 800 mg of ibuprofen (4 extra-strength generic advil), take a nap, and then I continue to take advil 4 at a time every 4 hours for 12-24 hours until I don't feel it coming back. I used to worry that this was way too much by my doc said that 2400 mg in one day isn't a big deal and even up to 4800 mg is OK every once in a while and is a better solution than moving on to the heavy-hitter migraine meds such as Imitrex.
My family sees a naturopath who does muscle-response testing to figure out what you are sensitive to, deficient in, etc. and puts together a nutritional and supplement plan according to how you test. Some people think this is quackery but it made sense for me and it really worked. Money is very tight so I can't afford to see her right now nor can I afford the supplements, but before working with her I used to get headaches daily (sinus, tension, jaw-related, migraines, etc.) and now the only ones I get are when I'm congested or don't sleep enough. I've also heard wonderful things about acupuncture and chiropractic and would recommend that you look into those too, particularly acupuncture since yours are hormone triggered. The way that acupuncture can work with female hormones is simply astounding. Good luck!
I saw all kinds of specialists and had tests done. Nobody could tell me why I get my migraines. They started at 16, some people told me I would outgrow them, I never did. BUT I decided to take matters into my own hands and just see by trial and error. I read somewhere about cell phones causing migraines and decided to give this a try. Incidentally I got my first cell phone at 16, and the first migraine a month or so after. So I went cold turkey and completely stopped using my cell, we got a land line instead. I haven't had a single migraine since! It's been about four years migraine free. Occasionally if I am in a large crowd of people with EMF surrounding me I feel the onset of a migraine, if I can I leave. Of course not all people are like that, but I am very sensitive to Electromagnetic Fields. When I did get them back then, nothing would help and meds would make it worse, i.e. it would subside and then come back even stronger. I saw that when I would ride it out it would go away on its own. That was before I had kids, so I don't know - that would be a lot harder to do now! It is really rare I even get a headache now, only if I am really exhausted and sleep deprived. It is so freeing to be migraine free, I know how torturous it is when you can't even look at light, or talk, or walk, drive... No fun. Wish I knew some natural remedies, I don't at the time as I haven't had the need - and back then four years ago I was more the 'medicated' type, now I will not take medicine for anything.
I also have hormonal migranes and I switched to Seasonale for birth control. On sesonale, you only have your period every 3 months, so I only need to deal with migranes 4 times a year. Cold packs and Imitrex work for me when I do have one.
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I also have hormonal migranes and I switched to Seasonale for birth control. On sesonale, you only have your period every 3 months, so I only need to deal with migranes 4 times a year. Cold packs and Imitrex work for me when I do have one.
I used to get migraines around the time of my period and noticed that if I didn't get enough sleep or if I drank soda or coffee it would be worse, chocolate sometimes did it too. I started drinking water only about a week before my cycle was due and thru out my cycle and made sure I got at least 6-7 hours of sleep and that seemed to help - also helped lighten my period so it was a double bennefit. I do still get migraines on occasion - usually sleep related or slight dehidration - if I do get them I take excedrine migraine with a huge glass of water and then nap until I don't feel like I am about to vomit if I roll over or sit up. I also will use a cold compress over my forehead and eyes when I lay down for the nap. usually takes about 1-2 hours to go away, sometimes longer but not very often. my 7 year old is really good if I tell him I need to lay down because of my headache - he has seen me vomit because of it and knows I am "sick" and will let me get my nap in.
I know how you feel..migranes are the worst! I have been living with them for 22 years now! Done every testing I could think of..allergist, ENT specialist and neurologist. Excedrin Migrane is the best..but, if not careful you can get "rebound" migrane headaches. That is when you take the medication for a few days in a row with the headache - the lingering headache can then be the cause of the med. Must take at on-set of migrane to really work. I was getting migranes 18x a month (not full-fledge migranes b/c I don't allow them to get that bad, I just took Excedrin migrane). Then realized I can't take so many of those and started with doctors & trial runs of meds. I am now down to 7 to 12 migranes a month - still no fun! Only once a year am I "down & out" with one - b/c I don't wait before I take the med. I have a prescription med. "relpax" that works great too! I usually take this first (especially if the migrane starts at night b/c of all the caffeine in Excedrin). If 2 don't work, I follow up with Excedrin migrane - usually it works alone or sometimes I need both - but, I do get rid of it.
I was on Topamax recently (saw others were on here) - and that is something you take daily as a preventive med. It did cut mine down by about 7 a month, but I just got off that (made me kind of forgettful) - the doctor said it's nickname is "dope-amax" - that finalized my decision to get off of that. I hate taking medications, but if I could find one that worked - I would! For now, after being on meds. for years - I am trying to just use the relpax and Excedrin migrane for when I get them. My neurologist next wants me to try nortipline (sp?) - another preventive med., but I am holding off for now.
Good luck with your migranes - totally know how you feel!
You can give acupuncture/chinese herbs a try, I have treated many women with migraines and have around 75% success rate, better when they are related to menstrual cycle. Acupuncture works very well at regulating hormones, menopause, infertility, etc.
I am surprised no one mentioned IMITREX. It saved me many times. I also avoid foods with MSG and drink lots of water. I found that usually around my period is when my migraines were the worst. The important thing is the need to take the pill as soon as you suspect a migraine. I take it with water and lay down til it subsides. Good luck.....migraines are the worst!