Dealing with Migraines

Since birth I have suffered from migraines. For me, they're genetic, something that many of the women in my family, including my mother have dealt with. In my family's case they decrease with age, over the years I've gotten them less and less and today I hardly ever get a real migraine, maybe a few times a year. I remember when I was in elementary school, it was not unusual for me to get them 3 or 4 times a week and back then there was no medication that I could take, excluding Tylenol and anyone who suffers from migraines knows that Tylenol is no match.

Yesterday I had a real migraine. Since I rarely get them anymore, I had no prescription medication to take, just had to ride it out with Goody's powder and Tylenol. If you suffer from migraines it's important to know that there are four parts to a migraine. The Prodrome, the Aura, the Headache, and the Postdrome. Not all migraine sufferers experience all four phases, and your migraines could be different every time, having all four on one occasion, but only two, three or even just one on anther. That being case, it's important to recognize and pay attention to the phases you're experiencing. If you can acknowledge that the way you are feeling is due to the Prodrome or Aura-then you can take action now and work to ward off the most debilitating aspect of the migraine-the headache.

food cravings
constipation or diarrhea
mood changes
muscle stiffness, especially in the neck and shoulders
fatigue
increased frequency of urination
Listed above are some common symptoms of the Prodome phase. Food cravings, extreme muscle stiffness in the neck and fatigue are usually the symptoms that I experience. Feeling these things warns me that a migraine headache is coming and I know I need to do ward it off. At this point I usually take a Goody's powder, BC powder or Excedrin migraine.

visual: flashing lights, wavy lines, spots, partial loss of sight, blurry vision
smelling odors that aren't there
tingling or numbness of the face or extremities on the side where the headache develops.
difficult finding words and/or speaking
confusion
Vertigo or dizziness
partial paralysis
auditory hallucinations
decrease in or loss of hearing
reduced sensation
hypersensitivity to feel and touch

Listed above are some coming symptoms of the Aura phase of a migraine. I have experience all of these at one point of another. I've hallucinated many times during the Aura phase, like last night I was convinced that my husband was going to strangle me. He wasn't of course and part of me knew that, but a migraine aura can cause you to think, feel and believe many strange things. Before the aura hits, and many times during the aura-I take a hot bath. As hot as I can stand it, it helps loosen up the tension in my shoulders and neck. I've also noticed that keeping my ears below water in the tub seems to help the pain in my head.

Migraine aura's are well known to be very intense. There is research and evidence that shows that parts of Lewis Carroll's, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland can be attributed to the migraine aura that Carroll experienced.

If you experience frequent migraines go to your doctor, you may be able to find a medication that helps. Either way learning to take action if you experience these first phases of a migraine can often help you to at least dull the pain of the headache with medication.