Author Topic: Question for Sirs, the Headache Expert  (Read 4277 times)

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_JS

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Re: Question for Sirs, the Headache Expert
« Reply #15 on: March 08, 2007, 01:09:42 PM »
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I can almost guarantee giving myself a migraine if I was to sleep really late some morning, but jump out of bed very quickly to rush to someplace I believe I can't be late to, and perhaps eat donught or 2, as I run out the door.

That's me as well. In fact, just sleeping late at all will sometimes guarantee me a migraine. I really haven't found many food triggers in and of themselves and I used to keep a detailed journal per doctor's orders. If I skip a meal or eat late (or just at odd times of the day) then I will be more likely to have a migraine. I don't necessarily have to eat fatty foods though, but I can't eat a single celery stick and call it a meal either.

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Whenever her period was about to start, she would crave red meat, especially steaks. Most of the time, she would ignore those cravings. However, recently she has given in to those cravings, eating BBQ or steak when she craved them just before her period. And she has not had a migraine in the 6 months or so she has been doing that.

I defer to Sirs' expertise on health matters, but I have read that tyramine, which is a monoamine from the amino acid tyrosine is very common in red meats, chocolate, beer, cheese, and soy sauce (and other soy products). These also just happen to be trigger foods for a lot of people with migraines (but not everyone).

Interestingly, they also happen to be potentially fatal if eaten by people who are on MAOI medication. So there are some doctors, neurosurgeons, and all those specialists who deal with migraines who have theories about a link between tyramine and migraines.

I have no idea how much validity it holds. As I said, I defer to people with a lot more knowledge than I have. There are so many things that seem to play a role and honestly medical science doesn't really understand migraines very well.

Some interesting aspects (just curiosity on my part) and maybe Sirs can help answer some of these, that would be too cool.

- Why do migraines seem to hit people in their teenage years and not in adolescence?

- What is with the after-effects of migraines? (i.e. the haziness, the pain in shoulders, neck, back)

- Are migraines similar to seizures? For example, seizures also have the after-effects of haziness and pain, and many of the prophylaxis treatment medication for migraines are also anti-convulsant medications.

- Is there any permanent damage from migraines, do we know?

Whatever the answers I empathize with anyone who has the damned things. They really are an excrutiating experience. It is really difficult for other people to understand the pain because they associate it with just a "bad headache" when it is much, much worse.

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sirs

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Re: Question for Sirs, the Headache Expert
« Reply #16 on: March 08, 2007, 02:44:07 PM »
That's me as well. In fact, just sleeping late at all will sometimes guarantee me a migraine. I really haven't found many food triggers in and of themselves and I used to keep a detailed journal per doctor's orders. If I skip a meal or eat late (or just at odd times of the day) then I will be more likely to have a migraine. I don't necessarily have to eat fatty foods though, but I can't eat a single celery stick and call it a meal either.

Precisely.  It doesn't have to be "bad foods" or sugar filled foods, it could be no foods.  It's just specific to each migraine sufferer.  Sometimes I can, and this will sound funny, sleep "too hard".  Where I slept so soundly, and so deep, that when I do wake up, there it is.  Bad eating habits are my worst culprit, but too much or too hard of sleep triggers them as well.  I did get a nasty migraine once visiting my Dad's church service.  small church, poor ventilation, and a very vocal and "passionate" congregation.  In other words, every other word was "halleluja!!".  and when the music was playing, it was loud, very loud, and that drum.....oh that drum.  Needless to say it was the last time I visited his church, as "perfectly intentioned" as it was    ;)


Some interesting aspects (just curiosity on my part) and maybe Sirs can help answer some of these, that would be too cool.

- Why do migraines seem to hit people in their teenage years and not in adolescence?


Good question, though no real good answer.  Strangely my migraines began nearly immediately following my mom & dad's divorce.  And I don't think it was a coincidence.  Something in the emotional centers of my brain became rewired IMHO, and the migraines have been there since.


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- What is with the after-effects of migraines? (i.e. the haziness, the pain in shoulders, neck, back)

This varies, and in some cases it varies with age.  When I was young, and when the migraine was gone, I almost had what you could call a euphoric period.  A burst of energy and calmness.  I think it was again largely emotional vs physical, since I was so glad to be relieved of the migraine.  As I've gotten older, I definately have noted a residual "haziness", though not necessarily any shoulder or back pain.  I have neck pain, but that's due to my degenerative neck condition.  (which could actually be contributory to the migraines)  But back to the question, migraines cause massive pain, we all know, and the amount of physical stress and anguish when one is having one, makes me conclude how I'd be surprised if someone didn't have any residual ache & haziness.


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- Are migraines similar to seizures? For example, seizures also have the after-effects of haziness and pain, and many of the prophylaxis treatment medication for migraines are also anti-convulsant medications.

No.  In no way, shape or form, are they.  Migraines are circulatory in nature, both in how they're triggered, and in their way of causing the pain they do.  Seizures are "electrical", literally a short circuiting of the brain's nervous system.  The after effects you refer to I would deduce are similar due to the amount of physical stress & anguish each causes.


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- Is there any permanent damage from migraines, do we know?

None that I'm ware of.  In fact, they're supposed to fade out after folks reach middle age.  Supposed to being the general trend.  I'd still suggest refraining from one's trigger factors, perhaps bright lights, or loud music, or apple fritters for breakfast every morning.  But I'n not aware of any documented history of permanent damage, be it nervous system or circulatory system, caused in long term migraine sufferers


Whatever the answers I empathize with anyone who has the damned things. They really are an excrutiating experience. It is really difficult for other people to understand the pain because they associate it with just a "bad headache" when it is much, much worse.

100% concur
« Last Edit: March 08, 2007, 04:04:23 PM by sirs »
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Lanya

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Re: Question for Sirs, the Headache Expert
« Reply #17 on: March 08, 2007, 10:27:24 PM »
The only related health problem I'm aware of for migraine sufferers is a slightly elevated risk of stroke.   That's not a given, by any means.

For years I didn't know I had migraines.  I thought they were sinus headaches, and another name for them was "stomach flu."   It certainly did not just involve the head, if you take my meaning.
My mother had them, I had them, my younger son has had a couple. 
Magnesium helped, a little.  The herb feverfew helped, a little. Coffee helps a lot.  Singing 'tra la, tra la' and throwing rocks into the river might have helped if I believed it hard enough!  Imitrex was a godsend.  Getting properly diagnosed was, too.  There are 2 or 3 pressure points that sometimes help nausea or head pain, but not both. 

I can't help thinking it's partly vaso-vagal in nature.   
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Henny

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Re: Question for Sirs, the Headache Expert
« Reply #18 on: March 09, 2007, 02:44:35 AM »
This varies, and in some cases it varies with age.  When I was young, and when the migraine was gone, I almost had what you could call a euphoric period.  A burst of energy and calmness.  I think it was again largely emotional vs physical, since I was so glad to be relieved of the migraine.

Although I don't suffer from migraines, I do have another problem - tree nut allergy. It is the most painful experience I can imagine having (something that as a women I compare on the scale of pain with being in labor). If I eat just the tiniest piece of cashew or pistachio, I'm in big trouble. Living in the Middle East has put me at higher risk as nuts are in so much of their foods. In the first 3 months living here, on 3 different occasions I inadvertently ate a small bit of the suspect nuts and... well, I carry an epinephrine injection kit with me now and avoid eating out at local restaurants.

The point is, the epinephrine stops my throat from swelling shut, but does nothing for the gastro-intestinal symptoms which is really the worst part. When the pain has finally passed - or almost passed - hours later, I too have a "euphoric state" similar to what you've described. I think it is simply the relief after any severe pain, not necessarily related just to migraines.

Plane

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Re: Question for Sirs, the Headache Expert
« Reply #19 on: March 09, 2007, 03:50:24 AM »
Is there any real connection between Migrane and creativity or talent?