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?

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

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.

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!

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.

Are they weather related? Just a thought...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....

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]

Hope you are ok

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.

Sorry I missed this post.

Hope you are OK...sounds dreadful.