migraine, how can i stop it?

Question

i suffer from constant migraines and i am only 15
what could trigger these migraines and how can i stop them without using drugs (paracetamol or migraleve)

its nothing to do with the computer as i am hardly on it i am always going out with friends

Answer 1

Migraines are a neurological disease. While you can see a general practitioner/primary care doctor for your migraines, it is really preferable to go to a neurologist...and, for that matter, one who specializes in migraines...

For the most part, when you get a migraine, it's triggered by...something. It can be a trigger food that is specific to migraines. It can be other types of triggers. It can, indeed, be allergies (food and other allergies). My allergies, for instance, can trigger skin problems, asthma problems, and migraine problems - separately and/or together.

Just as each person is different, each migraine is, too, so your triggers are bound to be different from mine. But there are common triggers (possibilities) you might want to look out for... Not every one of these may have an effect on you. SOME of them may only affect you in combination. There are primary triggers (things that, all by themselves, will set you off), and then there are triggers that build up (things that combine with other things to trip you into a migraine state). Some things you can avoid...some you can't.

While the following are common triggers, they are by no means all of the triggers that are around:

Aged cheese
Eggs
Tomatoes
Citrus fruits
Wheat products
Alcohol
MSG
Chocolate
Caffeine
Nitrites (hot dogs, bacon, lunch meat, etc.)
Sulfites
Avocado
Fermented or pickled foods
Yeast, protein extracts, freshly baked yeast products
Onions
Nuts, peanut butter
Dairy products, yogurt, sour cream
Aspartame
Mold/mildew
Bright lights/loud noises
Perfumes and strong scents
Skipping or delaying meals
Missing sleep
Hormonal Changes (period/menopause)
Oral contraceptives/hormone replacement therapy
Weather conditions, barometric changes, cold and/or dry weather
High altitude
Time or time zone changes/jet lag

Stress is not a trigger exactly, but in the same way that stress won't =cause= a cold, if you're stressed, it can often be a contributing factor.

Exercise (the kind that suits you - not going out and going nuts), stress management and relaxation, getting plenty of sleep (form good sleeping habits), avoid missing meals, and (this is a big one!) discontinue smoking - will all help. Basically all those thing people talk about as healthy measures...as taking care of YOU!

Keep a migraine journal (to record what you've eaten or done that could be a trigger). Maybe do an elimination diet (same principle).

If you'd like to try vitamin supplements, they may well help as preventatives. Many migraineurs (folks who get migraines) take:

Magnesium Oxide
Vitamin B2
Coenzyme Q10
Calcium + Vitamin D
(when taking supplemental magnesium, it's necessary to take extra calcium to keep them balanced)

While the migraine is raging, you'll need to try things to see what works for you. I see a lot of folks talk about cold cloths on their head or neck - I'll kill anyone that brings cold close to me, but it helps others. So cold OR WARMTH to the head of neck. A dark room. Soothing music or absolute silence. An urgent care clinic, if you get to the point you need pain medication, is better than an ER. You'll get seen faster, and you're more likely to be taken more seriously (I read a study in a recent National Headache Foundation newsletter about this, as so many of us are viewed as drug seekers, when all we're looking for is something to ease the pain...)

And if you go to the ER/urgent care, instead of asking for a pain med, surprise them and ask if they can try an IV regimen that is now being used by many migraine specialists...it's a magnesium "cocktail" - that sounds odd, but =can= works. My migraine specialist (internationally recognized) recommends it.

Above all else, I wish you good luck with something that will let you get beyond the pain.

Take care.

Answer 2

It's hard to say exactly what causes a migraine. I too had suffered with migraines for years before I went and saw an osteopath. This guy didn't just look at my head and noticed that my pelvis was shifted and explained how this chain reaction was leading to a problem in my neck. The neck problem was causing increased pressure in my head since there was a "blockage" in my neck.

The treatment was a whole body treatment and I can honestly say that since I have been seeing my osteopath the number of migraines that I get has drastically reduced and the ones I do get are not very severe and I can usually catch them before they get too bad.

If you are looking for an alternative to medication I recommend an osteopath. Not sure where you are from but I am from Canada. Either way check out his website as it will give you some valuable info.

www.radford-associates.ca

Answer 3

I have had migraines for almost 20 years. I have been on every medication they make for them, I think. For many years the only relief I found was pain medications. I have seen numerous neurologists and tried many times to pinpoint the cause. These vary for different people; my worst trigger is caffeine, which many people find to be helpful with migraines. Finally, last year I saw yet another neurologist who put me on Topomax. This is a daily medication that works on your nerves (you can visit their website to learn the technicalities). The side effects were practically unbearable (though much easier to tolerate than migraines). But, I didn't have any headaches. I managed to stay on the medicine for 6 months (weight loss can be a side effect and I had lost too much) and have now been off of it for a year. It has been 19 months since I had a migraine. You should see a neurologist to talk about what kind of headaches you have, what triggers them and what the best treatment plan would be. In the short term, I found that taking nightime formula Tylenol made me able to fall asleep long enough for the headache to abate without all the druggy side effects.

Answer 4

There is no way of stopping a migraine without using drugs or going 2 sleep. Most of the time a migraine comes from light, too much noise, stress, or working your brain too hard. I'm 15 myself and I suffer 4rm migraines to, so talk to your doctor about using Imitrex, it works really fast.

Answer 5

first reply is just simply great! I gave up with all dairy products and I can easly see a difference, I don't have any lacto intollerance, but it did impact my migraines for sure, the only thing whichnoone has said is about fresh air at places where you sit, sleep, work, live. Make sure you open windows, so there is a permanent air circulation as heavy air, lack of oxhygen can give you a headache which may be a first step to migraine, ah, by the way! Please, don't confuse headache with migraine! ;)

Answer 6

Migraines are often triggered by stress. Try keeping a diary of what is happening in your life and how you feel. See if the migraines co - incide with stressful times. They may also be linked to hormones - keep a note of your menstrual cycle for a few months and again see if they co incide. Certain foods may trigger an attack. I react to red wine, citrus friuts and coffee. A food diary may be helpful.
Good luck.

Answer 7

Migraine is one of the Least Understood, Misdiagnosed, and Mistreated Medical Problem”. Unfortunately there is no permanent cure of migraine in all over the world. Here I am providing some useful information about migraine management.

Need for patient education in migraine :-

Patient education refers to “the information provided by health professionals to migraine patient”. Patient education is a necessary component of any treatment plan. The patient should be informed about the general causes and triggering factors of migraine. Such programs can increase knowledge about this disorder and increase confidence in the ability to manage pain and other associated symptoms.

Almost all the renowned medical institutions all over the world stress on the fact that some of the most effective approaches to control migraine do not involve drugs, and changes in lifestyle pattern are helpful in migraine management. Their goal is to provide information and support about choosing right doctor, identification of triggers, tips to coping triggers, self help tips during attacks, preventive measures, etc.

Need for sufferer-physician relationship:-

Migraine sufferers need to be educated that they require a close working relationship with their physician. Some patients expect complete pain relief or even a complete cure. The sufferer should be convinced that by maintaining a good rapport with their advisor they will be able to make intelligence decisions to control migraine properly. The possible pharmacological treatment plan, alternative therapy such as yoga, acupressure, ayurveda, etc, and their benefits and limitations should be discussed.

Need for sufferer-psychological counselor relationship:-

Many migraine sufferer stop taking medicine because they feel that nothing can be done to provide relief from migraine. Some sufferers are over anxious, stressed, and depressed. Patients with migraine must therefore be taken seriously and treated with compassion and understanding. They need proper counseling sessions about removing or altering precipitating factors which trigger migraine. Some sufferer need sessions for cognitive behavioral therapy to alter repetitive problematic thoughts, some require to learn stress coping strategies.

The sufferers who take the help of both, the physicians, and the psychological counselors are benefited more compare to those who do not go for it.

Conclusion:-

The migraineurs (the migraine sufferer) are quite fine as long as their lives are organized. If their life style gets disturbed at any moment their immune systems also get disturbed and the patients enter in the realm of migraine. Sometime migraine attacks due to sudden change in environment also. Hence, It is necessary to each migraineur to maintain a well organized life style. It should form their habit as well.
The migraine management plan should rely on the sufferer's self-ability to understand and manage migraine effectively; since the key to control migraine is in the sufferer's hand. So that sufferer's life should not be managed by migraine, rather migraine should be managed by them.

Answer 8

I get migraines pretty frequently. Of course, medication helps a lot, but you can put an ice pack on your head. I find that keeping the ice on my head seems to make it go away (as long as I keep the ice there). You can also buy "migraine patches" at your local drug store which have the same cooling effect & stick to your head. I also drink a coke when I have one.. the caffeine has the same effect as taking excedrin would. Good luck.

Answer 9

http://gottaheadache.com/

This is my headache doctor's website. I am diagnosed with chronic migraine and migraine associated vertigo. Her treatment program has changed my life. I started by reading her book and went from there. Enjoy!

Answer 10

straining your eyes so get an eye check up.

cheese and citrus fruits and stress are main triggers for people.

i find laying down in a dark room helps with mirgraines.

you need to work out what your trigger is and avoid eating it.

i get mirgaines from oranges and limes (im fine with lemons) so i dont have these anymore in anything. i hardly get migraines now.