The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

I have had a migraine for the past three days that just won't go away. I have had migraines/headaches my entire life. When I was very young adults would always tell me, "Children dont get headaches!" dont be fooled, they do Origanally they were caused by an AVM, which when I was four they did surgery on it (my second surgery by then, first being tonsil removal because of my sleep apnea when I was two) and blocked the artery with surgical glue. Which more or less fixed the AVM, my AVM is that my artery is missing a capillary, which feeds into my left eye, fun fact, when they finished the surgery the doctors weren't sure if I would be blind in that eye or not, I'm not, but I have a bump on the left side of my forehead. Luckily my AVM has a slim chance of being deadly, but it is very unusual. It is also more red there than the rest of my forehead. I have had four MRI's (shudder) and so many doctor's appointments. At this point it probably isn't the AVM causing the migraines, but they have yet to figure out what. So many different medicines, herbal treatments, and as a young teenager, they still have not figured it out. I have had to quit different sports because I always developed migraines and was told that I should quit by a vascular specialist. All in all, what I am trying to say is to please pray that they figure out what is causing these migraines, because I really would like to go one day without a headache. Also, I am usually not this whiny, its the pain talking, honest!

Emma, as a fellow migraine sufferer I feel your pain all too well! It really sucks when you are in pain and there's nothing anyone can do. I'll say a prayer that the doctors can get an answer for you and that the pain goes away. *hugs*

I'm so sorry that both of you suffer from migraines. My mom used to get them. I don't know how old either of you are, but my mom's migraines stopped when she had her hysterectomy. Maybe there is some hormonal issue that might be causing them. I pray they will find the answer and a cure.

Emma I too have had migaines all My life. I understand. They were never able to figure it out but as I have gotten older what I eat makes a big difference. I have to limit chocolate( ugh!) Caffiene and foods with nitrates like in lunchmeats. I hope they can figure it out quickley. Prayer
Becky

Nicole, thank you so much! I sometimes use a ice pack on my forehead, but it doesn't help long term. I also feel badly when I have to constantly ask people to lower their voices. I hope your migraines lessen!

Terry, I am mid/early teens. The age when one would be blaring loud music, I listen to volume as low as it can go. I have suggested hormones to doctors, but they offered me Prozac instead. (And I definetly don't need it!) I will ask about hormone therapy again though, and a thyroid test, as that runs in the family. Thank you for the suggestions.

Becky, interesting you have to limit caffinated foods and drinks. Due to the fact that I have a vascular problem, caffiene sometimes helps. I was told though to try to limit my intake of cheese as that sometimes helps migraine prone people, all that happened for me was I suffered greatly, I adore cheese. Limiting chocolate must be torture. My sympathies!

To those that suffer from migraines. Ask your physician if they think Butterbur (and herb) and more vitamin B would help. The Butterbur tastes truly disgusting, but my neurologist said it often helps prevent migraines, as well as I believe kale, also ask about Topamax. Just a few things they tried on me.

Emma caffiene helps when I have a migraine but I need to limit it otherwise.when I was a little kid I always said hotdogs gave me a headache. Preservatives in food bother me and hormones at certain times too but sometimes no known trigger either. I would suggest a food journal. I have tried several migraine medicines with no success. I take fioricet(spelling) for pain and take a nap and that usually works. Recently I have had visual disturbance during a bad migraine for the first time. Sand I hear you on the noise issue too. I am always turning the volume and lights down at home.

I have recently read that Botox can help with migraines. Here's an article where the FDA approved it for that use:

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headache ... -migraines

You are in my prayers that this is figured out soon, and a quick easy fix. Headaches are no fun. I get them too, and sometimes they are so bad I don't even realize my surroundings. They are no fun!!!

Vascular headaches make you miserable. Light from any source is excrutiating! Please take care, retreat to a dark room with a sympathetic cocker or three. A cool cloth over your eyes is soothing too. God bless you. Lifting you and the family in prayer for His healing grace.

Emma
I totally get it . . . also a long time migraine sufferer.

Besides the migraines are you under alot of (excessive) stress . . .?
Also MSG (mono sodium glutamate/ Accent) triggers migraines immediate for me so keep an eye on that!
sending those prayers to lift and relieve the pain . . .
debbierg

I started getting my migraines at 13 (so close to 15 years now). I get the visual distrubance so it freaked me out the first time. I've had them ever since, we've tried different meds, changing pills to see if it's hormone related and everything. I will admit that after loosing my dad 3 years ago they seemed to get worse. I was put on an anti-depressant to help cope with his death and that has had a profound effect on making the migraines go from almost once a week to maybe once a month. Of course that also means I can't take many of the pain relievers so I just take some Advil and go back to bed with a pillow over my face and sleep it off. Of course the dogs love that because it means they get to come cuddle with me.

DebbieRG, I've noticed that if I eat a lot of Chinese foods (that contian the MSG) it'll trigger one for me. But otherwise they strike completely out of the blue.

Tina, I read that article when it was first released and it's something I plan to talk to my doctor about. Who knows getting botox might help wrinkles and headaches.

Thanks for the concern Terri.

Emma, take it easy and hopefully you'll feel better soon!

Hi Emma,
I have had migraines since middle school. I could echo much of what's said. Something that helps me when I'm trying to rest (in a quiet, dark room) is an ice pack on the back of my neck as well as one on my forehead. 20 min on and 20 min off. Since everyone is different maybe heat may work for you.
Caffiene also helps me as I avoid it otherwise. Thankfully chocolate and chinese are not my enemies but everyones triggers are different. For me, bright sunshine, strong smells like purfumes or lilacs, messing with my sleep (too much or too little), skipping meals too often, exercise where you really exert yourself like aerobics, changes in weather are just some of my stronger triggers. Learning about what yours are is your best defense.
Many prayers to all those who suffer from migraines, you have my empathy!!

Prayers going out to you! I also know how it feels to suffer with migraines. Fortunately, Imitrex works great for me. My husband gets them, too, much worse and more frequent than mine. My husband is currently seeing a neurologist to try and get the botox injections for his. I don't know whether it's just his insurance, but before he can get the injections approved, he basically has to try 3-4 other types of migraine treatments to see if they'll work, first. He's already tried topamax, amitryptilene, and depacote, without success. So hopefully he'll get approved for the botox soon. It's a series of 31 injections in his head, face, and neck. I tell him that he'll be so wrinkle free he'll look like a 30 year old again but I sure hope they help.

First off, two things.
One. Thank you everyone for your prayers, support and suggestions! I do so appreciate it. I will reply individually.
Two. I find it fascinating just how many of us on this forum, suffer(ed) from migraines! Considering about 14% of the USA's population suffers from migraines, a significant amount are right here on this forum!
Now on to the replies. (and this will be long!)

Dawn and Kevin, although I will be sure to mention your medication, I am a little wary since I do have a vascular condition. (The AVM, meaning, I believe 'Arterious, Veinous Malformation'. I have an artery in my forehead that feeds into my eye, that developed without its capillary, so instead of gently distributing the blood, it just poured, with each heartbeat. Funfact, because of the surgery I don't have a pulse in my left temple!) I sincerely hope these meds continue to work for you!

Becky, dark sodas (Rootbeer, Coke Cola, Pepsi) often give me headaches. Interesting that preservatives bother you, I have never heard of that. I do often get visual disturbances during migraines of headaches, usually just blurred vision, but has gone black several times before. That is often when I give in and take painkillers. (I am so tired of the almost daily dose of them, that I often refuse to take them, until I am nearly sick from the pain.) But I often get head rushes, and when I do, I usually totter for a moment, lose my vision, and then wait until it returns to normal. Hopefully the find the cause of your migraines soon. Who knows, maybe ours are both caused by the same thing!

Lee, they have indeed checked my nose, since I have chronic sinus infection. No such luck. And boy did that tube hurt! Glad your migraines are better!

Tina, I too have heard that, but at such a young age, I don't want to subject myself to that quite yet. Maybe in a decade or two.

Debbie, thank you! They are indeed no fun, by now most of my friends know, if I say I have a headache, back away slowly. (They are a few that insist on screaming to remind me where I am, kind of them, right?)

Donna, vascular headaches do make a person miserable for sure! I will have to convince my parents on that third Cocker, right now I have two, but the say three is a magic number! Thank you for your prayers.

DebbieRG, I am under the usual amount of stress, I suppose, but I become stressed/panicked easily, so that might be influencing my headaches. I will be on the lookout for MSG, thanks for that tip.

Nicole, I was depressed a year or so ago (read: when my childhood doggie companion was very ill and subsequently died, among other family disasters) but I am not now, and I don't remember my headaches being worse then. I am terribly sorry about your loss, that must have been hard.

Sally, your triggers sound exactly like mine! I remember once a relative had on instant tan lotion, I got such a bad headache I threw up! (Said relative didn't believe me origanally, they thought I just didn't want to sit next to them, until I threw up that is.) Ice packs do work for me, and I am pining for one right now! Thank you for your suggestions!

Darra, hopefully your husband get those Botox injections, soon! And hopefully they work!

To all, one thing I have not seen here, is mention of a constant headache. My headaches occur, every day, all day. The only difference is the intensity, that is when I catagorize it a headache, or a migraine. I have gotten these my entire life. Maybe I am the only one to have a constant headache (for your sakes, I really hope so) and if I find anything, I will let you all know. Thank all of you so much! I really appreciate your understanding, and help.

Prayers that they can get a handle on what's happening and give you some relief. It's very hard to go through days feeling lousy.