Migraine Advice from around the world

On talking openly about my battle with migraines, I’ve received an amazing response.

As promised I’m going to share some comments, advice, and suggestions. My experiment continues and I’ll have some interesting results to share with you soon.

Praise

“It’s always wise to discover the cause instead of treating the symptoms” and “Good on ya!”

It’s lovely to receive positive encouragement

Things to avoid

Cheese
Dairy products
Preservatives
Colouring
MSG
Artificial flavourings
Citrus
Chocolate
Wine
Too much meat

Replacing lost nutrients

Seeds and nuts

Good for migraines

Caffeine

Magnesium

Bad for migraines

Caffeine

Chocolate

What can be good for you

Dark Chocolate

Interesting remarks to ponder

“Sometimes people think chocolate is a trigger for their headaches as they have eaten it just prior to getting one, when really you’ve eaten it in response to the onset of a headache, (e.g. your body needs it).”

I found this interesting and this made good sense to me. It’s something I am keeping in mind as I go and monitoring my results.

In response to “Chocolate can be good for you,” one person commented, “I can’t eat dark chocolate at all, guarantees a migraine with vomiting.”

Another friend mentioned their pain and suffering with migraines, “I’ve tried everything even Botox! I sometimes think it is hormonal and the Doctors don’t know what to do apart from tablets..”

I’d never ever do botox (botulism injected – yikes!) of course, desperate times calls for desperate measures and I know when I’ve been in extreme pain I’d pretty much take anything that would hold some hope. This is one reason I am avoiding Doctors for as long as possible – I don’t want drugs, I want to beat it myself.

Alternative Help

“I was advised that pouring cold water over your head can ease it, mine disappeared of their own accord.”

I do find that if I am too hot (working in that humidity mentioned in the last blog), I suffer, so this makes sense too. I have had a cold cloth on my forehead and the back of my neck before, if I remember to do it early enough – if I don’t, with a full blown migraine, nothing can touch my head. (I’ve done some interesting (self) research on this!)

Later, another person commented, “We have used ice packs around necks in ED to help the really nasty ones that meds weren’t budging with some success.”

I’ve taken note and will try to use this method in the early stages IF I get another migraine.

More Technical Advice

Look out for Part 3 of this experiment which will detail some fabulous advice for those who have to take the next step – watch those chemicals! Read those labels!

And – a great alternative/recipe for chocolate…

It’s time for me to step away from the laptop to give my eyes a rest…. to much screen time could be another trigger!