Migraines
 

This is a weird one.
I suffer from migraines. They began when I hit puberty and were quite frequent to the age of 17(ish) then they slowly ebbed off to perhaps twice a year if that.
However, since moving to the US in November I have had five migraines. In the UK I could always pin-point a trigger, basically if I combined PMS with cheese, stress or caffine I was guaranteed a day of blind spots, vomiting and slurred speech. In the US they seem much more random and always really severe and yet my life here is much less stressful and relaxing so I really don't understand! I'm concerned because the type of migraine i suffer with increases my risk of stroke considerably. I wasn't too concerned when I was just having the odd one here and there but now they're more frequent I'm quite anxious to find out why.
I'm just wondering if any other migraine sufferers had any similar problems?

Re: Migraines
 

Have you been to the doctor for a general check up? Blood pressure, heart etc?

Re: Migraines
 

Migraines happened suddenly to me when I was about 20. The triggers were the time of the month, whiskey and stress. Mine was brought under control about 20+ years ago when my doctor prescribed Migraleve. I've tried newer drugs but they don't seem to help. I can't say I noticed a difference when I moved to the US. For me the secret is to take the meds at the very first sign of an attack...if not the migraine takes grip and can last for days.

Have you seen a US doctor about the attacks? I would go to see your MD...I think you will be sent for a CT scan and recommended to see a neurologist.

Re: Migraines
 

I love migraleve! Though I haven't found any in the US? My mum keeps my stock up for me.

I was recently back in the UK and had a check up with my GP and everything was fine. They didn't do any testing though in regards to my migraines.
My concern is the high amount of GMO, preservatives and such that I'm now consuming. In the UK eating organic was easy, here I struggle to find it without a huge price tag!

Re: Migraines
 

You can't get it here...in fact you cannot bring it into the US as it contains a controlled substance...codeine. Doctors here are loathed to prescribed meds containing codeine. It is actually manufactured a few miles from where I used to live in NJ.

It is scary the amount of crap in US foods.

Re: Migraines
 

Are they weather related? Just a thought...

Re: Migraines
 

Don't have migraine, but could they be being triggered by pollen/molds/trees/seeds/something in your house such as moulds in vents or chemicals in carpet etc that you were not exposed to in the UK?

My hayfever is far, far worse here in the midwest than anywhere in England and I get the mother of all sinus headaches because of it from time to time.

Re: Migraines
 

I get migraines after a stressful event, when I have relaxed. Day after exams, that kind of thing. Something to do with the blood vessels dilating in the brain and probably adrenaline levels.

Fortunately they are less acute than when I was a teenager and usually controlled with Migraleve, with Imigran or Maxalt as a back up if they don't work.

I would say its worth getting a check up with a neurologist here. It sounds like you may have some different/new triggers that it's worth understanding, particularly if they are a stroke risk for you.

As an aside for anyone who suffers from migraine related nausea, next time you're in the UK, ask your pharmacist for Buccastem. It's a tiny tablet you stick on your gum that's really good for migraine related sickness. The drug absorbs through your gum so no trying to choke down tablets when your stomach is churning.

No need for a prescription, but it's behind the counter like Migraleve, so you have to ask for it.

Re: Migraines
 

I get them from diet root beer and Orange juice.
Every time I drink either I wake up with a killer migraine.

Perhaps get tested for any food intolerances which could be contributing to it?
I'm currently on day 14 of a migraine (as a result of a lumbar puncture though) but it's the worst I've ever had. 8 full days of not even being able to sit up. Migraines are brutal. Hope you find what's causing them for you.

Re: Migraines
 

Best to check that it is legal to bring Buccastem into the US.

Migraleve also has an active ingredient that stops vomiting. When I had migraines I couldn't keep anything down...including the migraine meds...that's why Migraleve works for me.

Re: Migraines
 

Not sure what you mean?
We rarely eat processed food, everything is made from scratch, lots of salads, lean protein, vegetables. Not difficult to find these items in the store....

Re: Migraines
 

Buccastem contains prochlorperazine, the same drug that's in Compazine. It's not a controlled substance, unlike codeine. So no problem with customs.

[tangent]last year I had bronchitis, and while visiting the uk I went to Boots to get something to help me stop coughing. I thought codeine linctus might get awkward to explain if I was stopped on the way back (no, I don't have a prescription, yes you can just buy it in England, no I don't have an opiate problem). So I opted for pholcodeine linctus instead, which is encouraged back home as you can't get high from pholcodeine if you abuse it, unlike codeine. When I got back, I idly wondered why you don't see it over here and found to my horror that pholcodeine is a Schedule I drug, ie in the same class of heroin. There is actually no good scientific reason why it's in the same class as heroin, as I said it's seen as safer than codeine in the UK. But I would have had the rubber gloves and orange jumpsuit treatment had it been found in my suitcase. I got cold sweats from that one and am still slightly paranoid that the DEA is going to raid me. So, yes, always check the FDA/DEA position on pharmaceuticals before bringing them to the USA!/[tangent]

Re: Migraines
 

:(

Hope you are ok:fingerscrossed:

Re: Migraines
 

About 30 years ago we were on holiday in Florida when hubby got Dehli Belly. He went into a pharmacist and asked for kaolin and morphine...which was an old remedy for the trots and given out freely by my vet for my dogs. Needless to say the pharmacist nearly collapsed on the floor. :lol:

Re: Migraines
 

Sorry I missed this post.

Hope you are OK...sounds dreadful. :(

Re: Migraines
 

it's still made in the UK if you know where to look. Always used in my family (tendency to IBS), I preferred it to immodium as it was far more comforting. Not surprising when you look at the ingredients:

• Morphine
• Kaolin
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Black treacle
• Liquorice liquid extract
• Peppermint oil
• Alcohol 96%
• Anaesthetic ether
• Chloroform
• Liquid sugar
• Purified water

Who isn't going to feel better after a dose of alcohol, ether and chloroform?! :rofl:

Re: Migraines
 

Yes it's easy to find vegetables. But it's not so easy to know where they come from. In the uk I ate veggies from a local farmer that came from a field I could see. Here everything is industrially farmed and organic is obscenely over priced when compared to uk prices.
Plus the meat here is pumped full of growth hormones and my migraines are hormone related so I'm wondering if that's relevant.
There are a lot of preservatives, additives and food growing methods here that are banned by eu regulations.
I eat decently here. I'm not snacking on in n out everyday. I eat salads, fresh fruit, smoothies, steamed veggies and white meat. It's more the quality of the produce that concerns me.
And even if everything is made fresh at home from well sourced produce what happens when you eat out?!
I'm not thinking it's the weather because today was lovely and cool, last time it was hot, the first time I was in big bear during snow :/ I think a trip to a doctor is necessary.

Re: Migraines
 

My migraine history is very similar sounding to that of the OP. Mine haven't increased since being here thank goodness, only thing I would suggest is keeping a food diary for a while and seeing if there are any triggers.

Re: Migraines
 

wish I knew what triggers them. I get them about 5 days per year. Have never figured out what causes them. Last visit the doc finally gave me replax after I begged for meds She wanted me to have a scan, but without medical insurance I didn't obviously want to get that! she gave me 10 replax pills! I hope you figure out what causes yours because I KNOW how ill you can be with them..

Re: Migraines
 

Thanks. It's getting better just reallllly slowly. I can at least function now, albeit with a constant migraine.
It was due to being tested for meningitis (lumbar puncture/spinal tap) so really a 2 week migraine was the better outcome because thankfully I didn't have meningitis.

Re: Migraines
 

I've always had Migraines. When I lived in the UK, I'd take Co-codamol, which is paracetamol and codeine.
I found out you couldn't get it here without a prescription, so, When I went back to the UK for vacation, I stocked up, and brought a couple of hundred tablets over....Not realizing it was illegal to do that!!:
When I realized I was bringing 'illegal drugs' into the country, I freaked at what might have happened if my case got opened at customs!!! :eek:

Now, I get Maxalt from my doctor (expensive if you haven't got insurance)and they work fantastically. You melt one under the tongue, for almost instant relief....saved me from many a 3-day blaster!:)

Re: Migraines
 

I get migraines as well. Mine are hormonal and stress related. I used to take Topamax but it really didn't do much. I would get them probably two or three times a month. I would get very nauseous and light sensitive and some days just couldn't leave the house the pain was so bad. I got acupuncture for them just over a month ago and (knock wood) have not had one since. I had three treatments. I also found B.C powder helps. It's an over the counter powdered aspirin and caffeine combo.

Re: Migraines
 

Please be very careful with the BC powder, it can cause intestinal problems if over used.

And before anyone jumps on me for that, I mean "excessive" use not occasional.
A guy M worked with was using them everyday, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. His large intestine became eroded and he recently had emergency surgery from a massive internal bleed.