Migraines

[littlelamb]

One of my coworkers is always saying she has migrains and with no health insurance any advice I can tell her to try?

[Chris_]

I used to get migraines almost every day.  I recently had an eye test done and my optometrist (is that the right doctor for eyes?  haha) said that my old glasses were over corrected which caused my eyes to strain.  I'd first ask your friend to go get her eyes checked.  Some places will do eye check ups for as little as $20 without insurance.  I've seen it advertised in my local area.

Until then, I'd say take Excedrin Migraine.  My migraines still come around every other week.  I will take two Excedrin and drink some caffeine and it's gone within 20-30 minutes.

But if the migraines cannot be linked to an eye sight problem, she should probably go into a doctor with or without insurance.  Doctor offices will set up payment plans.  I should take my own advice here since I still get migraines.

[BEG]

I have used Excedrin Migraine when I had a migraine and it works pretty darn well if you catch it in time.

[vesta111]

I have used Excedrin Migraine when I had a migraine and it works pretty darn well if you catch it in time.

Migraines is really weird.

I have known people that get them from a smell, a food or some sound that sets them off.

I seldom if ever get head aches and when it does happen it is awful.

[Chris_]

High pitched sounds and bright lights are usually the cause of my migraines.

It's really horrible because my daughter is like the mini-Mariah Carey.  She can shriek really loudly and high pitched.  I feel like my head will explode. 

[debk]

Certain types of alcohol, riding in a car or anything that "sways", roller coasters, ferris wheels, or tilt-a-wheels, altitude change, are all causes too.

Certain types of ceiling lights, repetitive sounds or driving on curvy roads are guarantees for me.

When I have one, all noise is greatly magnified...all I want is a dark room, with the tv on low on something like Fox news or an old "quiet" type movie. I need a fairly consisitent, level, low decibel noise, that will block out any repetitive-type sound. If I can hear a bird outside the window, it will make screeching chalk on a blackboard seem like nothing.   

[RobJohnson]

Every since a neck injury in 2008 I suffer from migraines often. I usually go through about 18 tablets of the Rx drug sumatriptan (Imitrex) monthly. Prior to this I went over eight years without having any major headache issues. I look forward to that again someday.

Like others here mentioned the OTC migraine drugs such as Excedrin do work well if you catch the headache in time. But I don't always want something with caffine if I am trying to sleep off a headache.

I would suggest anyone with chronic headaches to get checked out by a medical doctor to be on the safe side. The doctor might even be able to provide samples of Rx migraine drugs.

[littlelamb]

My coworker told me to tell everyone thanks and she will try the Excedrin

[vesta111]

My coworker told me to tell everyone thanks and she will try the Excedrin

I began to think of this forum today when I walked into the living room in the middle of an ad on TV for a OTC for people that have Tinitius--ringing in the ears etc. and heard the announcer say the drug worked by causing a greater blood flow to the ears.

Now I am wondering if migraines stem from the ear to cause the headaches.  Someone mentioned a loss of balance and that is controlled mostly by the inner ear.

[BEG]

I began to think of this forum today when I walked into the living room in the middle of an ad on TV for a OTC for people that have Tinitius--ringing in the ears etc. and heard the announcer say the drug worked by causing a greater blood flow to the ears.

Now I am wondering if migraines stem from the ear to cause the headaches.  Someone mentioned a loss of balance and that is controlled mostly by the inner ear.

The product is call Quietus and it is a scam. It doesn't work and is really expensive. I have tinnitus and nothing really works.

Mirgrains don't stem from the ear.

No one fully understands the exact cause(s) of migraine headaches. Many experts think that a migraine begins with abnormal brainstem (a part of the brain) activity that leads to spasm (rapid contraction) of blood vessels in the cerebrum (main part of the brain) and dura (the covering of the brain). The first wave of spasm decreases blood supply, which causes the aura that some people experience. After the first spasm, the same arteries become abnormally relaxed, which increases blood flow and gives rise to migraine headache pain.

Certain chemicals normally found in the brain (namely, dopamine and serotonin) may be involved in causing migraines. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters because they transmit signals within the brain. Neurotransmitters can cause blood vessels to act in unusual ways if they are present in abnormal amounts or if the blood vessels are particularly sensitive to them.

Various triggers are thought to bring about migraine in people who have a natural tendency for having migraine headaches. Different people may have different triggers.

[thundley4]

The product is call Quietus and it is a scam. It doesn't work and is really expensive. I have tinnitus and nothing really works.

Mirgrains don't stem from the ear.

I have to agree with you on that.  I have tinnitus, but have never had a migraine, and rarely get any headaches.

[JohnnyReb]

I have to agree with you on that.  I have tinnitus, but have never had a migraine, and rarely get any headaches.

Ringing in the ears: I've had it since childhood and never notice it anymore....that is, until someone mentions it. Now my ears will be ringing until about lunch time.

When it comes to headaches, I've been lucky. I seldom have them and they're usually sinus related.

[debk]

M has tinnitus, too.  40 years of being in the tool and die, and metal stampings business.

He rarely has headaches, and has never had a migraine.


I did find some ear drops at CVS, that have been helping, when he remembers to put them in. They are supposed to have a cummulative effect, and he says it does. But soon as it subsides somewhat, he quits using them. 

I've been reading up on it a bit on the internet. Stress increases it. Also....for what it's worth, after Thor did a thread on the stuff that's going in cigarettes now - the "stop burn" rings - I read several articles and the comment sections to them, and tinnitus and/or increase in it, is a side effect. M smokes.

[thundley4]

M has tinnitus, too.  40 years of being in the tool and die, and metal stampings business.

He rarely has headaches, and has never had a migraine.


I did find some ear drops at CVS, that have been helping, when he remembers to put them in. They are supposed to have a cummulative effect, and he says it does. But soon as it subsides somewhat, he quits using them. 

I've been reading up on it a bit on the internet. Stress increases it. Also....for what it's worth, after Thor did a thread on the stuff that's going in cigarettes now - the "stop burn" rings - I read several articles and the comment sections to them, and tinnitus and/or increase in it, is a side effect. M smokes.

What kind of ear drops?  I'd be willing  to give it a try.

[debk]

What kind of ear drops?  I'd be willing  to give it a try.

Ring Relief. Got them at CVS. It's a little white bottle, the same shape as Visine.

[Beau Geste]

One of my coworkers is always saying she has migrains and with no health insurance any advice I can tell her to try?

What are her symptoms?

Quite frequently migraines are mistaken for tension headaches. Does she have any strange visual, smell, or auditory changes a few minutes to hours before a migraine comes on?

[littlelamb]

What are her symptoms?

Quite frequently migraines are mistaken for tension headaches. Does she have any strange visual, smell, or auditory changes a few minutes to hours before a migraine comes on?

Update on my coworker she went to the doctor when we all chipped in to send her and she explained her migrains. I just wanted all of you to please keep her in your prayers the doctor is sending her in for some more tests he said it didn't sound like any run of the mill migrain. He is sending her for a cat scan and hopes he can find the cause. She has missed 4 days of work due to the pain. She said it just feels like she is being beaten on the back of her head by a baseball bat.

[Beau Geste]

Oh that's terrible! Well, I hope she finds something out soon

[Chris_]

What kind of doctor did she go see?

I'm asking because I am going to make an appointment for my migraine problems.  I've had one almost all day.  Woke up with it, it went away in the afternoon, but then I got really stressed out and it came back. 

[littlelamb]

What kind of doctor did she go see?

I'm asking because I am going to make an appointment for my migraine problems.  I've had one almost all day.  Woke up with it, it went away in the afternoon, but then I got really stressed out and it came back. 

We helped chip in for her to see a Family Practice Doc but he is making her see a neurologist just to rule anything else out. The doc she is being referred to is taking her for a small fee and letting her make payments on her CAT Scan he wants done

[Thor]

I was going to recommend a neurologist. My neurologist is really good. Out of a dozen doctors, she's the first to diagnose (successfully) my SCA.

[littlelamb]

I just got off the phone with my coworker was saying she kept having migraine's.
 Well the doctor sent her to a neurologist's and he performed a CAT scan.
She just got the results and it is a small tumor that he does not want to risk operating on her because of where it is located.
She is going to need to do aggressive amounts of chemo and radiation to try and shrink it.

[Chris_]

I just got off the phone with my coworker was saying she kept having migraine's.
 Well the doctor sent her to a neurologist's and he performed a CAT scan.
She just got the results and it is a small tumor that he does not want to risk operating on her because of where it is located.
She is going to need to do aggressive amounts of chemo and radiation to try and shrink it.

That is so scary. 

I hope everything goes well for her. 

It's scary thinking about this because my own neurologist appointment is on Wednesday morning.  Your co-worker sounded like she had migraines daily though.  Mine are about two-three times a week.  Still excessive.

[BEG]

Wow, that is scary. Keep us posted.

Good luck EC with your neurologist apt.

[littlelamb]

What scares her the most is she has a new baby (2 months) that she is not going to watch grow up.