Migraine Headaches

Symptoms

For those of us who get them, we know. It can bring much anticipated plans of spending time with friends and family to a grinding halt. It can feel like a knife stabbing in the head or unbearable pressure. It mostly affects a limited area such as the right temple or around an eye. Some of us get warning signs. Fatigue, depression or euphoria, and food cravings are all possible. We might even see the lights known as the aura. For me, I become disoriented and forgetful. I don’t always realize it is happening because it can start so gradually. At other times, it hits me like a wall of bricks fell on me. It feels like somebody tried to slam his fist through my eye. Some are mercifully gone within a few hours or less. Others have lasted for days. However it happens, it is a migraine headache.

Seek the professional help you need

Most milder headaches go away on their own. For headaches this severe, I would encourage everyone to seek professional help. What I am presenting is additional information I hope is informative and helpful to consider.

Keeping it away as much as possible

I firmly believe in preventing the pain to begin with when that can be done. This is extra work that would be worth the effort. Keep a paper notebook or computer file. On the days when you are free of pain, write that down. What did you eat safely? Where did you go and what did you do? What else happened, ordinary or different? On days the pain hits, write down the same information. I discovered that certain chemicals cause my headaches such as fertilizers and pesticides. And of course, consider emotional stress. Was there any?

What to do

Some of mine have been so severe I ended up in the hospital with an IV full of drugs. That is pain I would never wish on a living soul. If professional help is needed, don’t hesitate. If it is less severe, a quiet rest in a dark room can work wonders. Also in the what to do category, we have all heard avoid things like chocolate and cheese. For those of us that helps, wonderful. I have learned that chocolate and cheese helps me relieve headaches. In other words, keeping a notebook of what works or hurts can really pay off.

I made another discovery. Having a glass of wine with dinner relieves the pain of some of the headaches. For me white wine works. Red wine seems to upset my stomach. My doctor knows this works for me. And he has my word I will not take drugs on top of alcohol.

Another point to consider is nutrition. If we don’t eat well, we are asking for trouble. Also worth considering, there are more artificial ingredients in our food than ever before. If you document that eating something causes the headaches, ask this question: Was it organic? If not, letting some time go by and then trying an organic version of what you ate might make a difference. If not, you know the food itself is to be avoided.

Additional considerations

Don’t suffer in silence. If something hurts there’s a reason for it. Speak up. Some of my worst headaches have shown little or no outward sign of the pain. Seek out professional help as needed. And let friends and family know about the pain.

Please add your comments for what works and what doesn't for your headaches.

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