Migraine/headache sufferers

[krisim]

Out of curiosity does anyone here suffer from daily headaches/migraines?  If so, are they less severe then typical Migraines, do you know what triggers them and if there are any treatment options?  I've been getting daily headaches that come on about the same time each day and make it very hard to concentrate at work but they aren't as severe as the migraines I've occasionally had (aura, nausea, intense pain).  OTC pain relievers typically don't help, but the headaches usually subside in the evening when I get home from work.   

I can't get into see a doctor few months, so I've been trying to do some research on my own.

[mskitkat]

Have you had your eyes checked? I had headaches like that when my eye was scratched. Do you stare at a computer screen all day?

[krisim]

Jun 11, 2015 12:03:35 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Have you had your eyes checked? I had headaches like that when my eye was scratched. Do you stare at a computer screen all day?

Yes, I recently had an eye exam to get new contacts.  I do stare at a computer all day!

[fortnightlily]

Caffeine/sugar crash could be another culprit.

[ddi741]

The only time I've had daily headaches, they were migraines and I found out they were food triggered (peanuts). I would eat peanuts, the same time every day and within an hour had a terrible migraine. Once I stopped, the headaches went away. Can you keep a food diary to see if you are eating something that is triggering it?

Could you be hungry? Thirsty?

[krisim]

Jun 11, 2015 12:20:53 GMT -5 ddi741 said:

The only time I've had daily headaches, they were migraines and I found out they were food triggered (peanuts). I would eat peanuts, the same time every day and within an hour had a terrible migraine. Once I stopped, the headaches went away. Can you keep a food diary to see if you are eating something that is triggering it?

Could you be hungry? Thirsty?

I do wonder this sometimes, the headaches usually get worse if I drink a diet soda when I have one. (Which of course I do because I hope that the caffeine will make me feel better!)

[runnergirl]

Jun 11, 2015 12:56:12 GMT -5 krisim said:

Jun 11, 2015 12:20:53 GMT -5 ddi741 said:

The only time I've had daily headaches, they were migraines and I found out they were food triggered (peanuts). I would eat peanuts, the same time every day and within an hour had a terrible migraine. Once I stopped, the headaches went away. Can you keep a food diary to see if you are eating something that is triggering it?

Could you be hungry? Thirsty?

I do wonder this sometimes, the headaches usually get worse if I drink a diet soda when I have one. (Which of course I do because I hope that the caffeine will make me feel better!)

Artificial sweetners are a big migraine triggerer for me.  If you want the caffeine, try regular soda if soda is your preference.  I prefer black coffee and/or Excedrin migraine.  Agree with pps, food can be a big trigger, as can lack of water for me.

[ddi741]

Jun 11, 2015 13:00:45 GMT -5 runnergirl said:

Jun 11, 2015 12:56:12 GMT -5 krisim said:

I do wonder this sometimes, the headaches usually get worse if I drink a diet soda when I have one. (Which of course I do because I hope that the caffeine will make me feel better!)

Artificial sweetners are a big migraine triggerer for me.  If you want the caffeine, try regular soda if soda is your preference.  I prefer black coffee and/or Excedrin migraine.  Agree with pps, food can be a big trigger, as can lack of water for me.

Yes.  If I'm at the point where nothing I try seems to help then a good old fashioned can of Coke is my go to.  

It's funny, 90% of my migraines are hormonal related but I can't have too many peanuts or tootsie rolls (or twizzlers, any type of waxy candy) or I will get a migraine.

[mrsfarmer]

I have a few food triggers - raw onions and now fruit is added to the list to name a couple. The fruit thing is new for me.

[krisim]

Jun 11, 2015 13:07:08 GMT -5 mrsfarmer said:

I have a few food triggers - raw onions and now fruit is added to the list to name a couple. The fruit thing is new for me.

That would be awful, I can't imagine having to avoid fruit! 

[mrsfarmer]

Jun 11, 2015 13:12:40 GMT -5 krisim said:

Jun 11, 2015 13:07:08 GMT -5 mrsfarmer said:

I have a few food triggers - raw onions and now fruit is added to the list to name a couple. The fruit thing is new for me.

That would be awful, I can't imagine having to avoid fruit! 

It's only certain things - citrus, but now also apples.  Berries seem to be OK.  Like PP said, keep a journal.

[krisim]

I just gulped down two glasses of water and went for a short walk and that actually seemed to help a bit today.

[audette]

Jun 11, 2015 12:11:57 GMT -5 krisim said:

Jun 11, 2015 12:03:35 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Have you had your eyes checked? I had headaches like that when my eye was scratched. Do you stare at a computer screen all day?

Yes, I recently had an eye exam to get new contacts.  I do stare at a computer all day!

Did they change your contacts prescription? Maybe it's eyes adjusting to the new lenses?

Or, DH recently had an eye exam. Got the glasses, started wearing them, and got splitting headaches from them. Turns out the optometrist screwed up and gave DH a completely wrong prescription.

DH got a second opinion, got the new new glasses, and that fixed the issue.

[krisim]

Jun 11, 2015 13:31:38 GMT -5 audette said:

Jun 11, 2015 12:11:57 GMT -5 krisim said:

Yes, I recently had an eye exam to get new contacts.  I do stare at a computer all day!

Did they change your contacts prescription? Maybe it's eyes adjusting to the new lenses?

Or, DH recently had an eye exam. Got the glasses, started wearing them, and got splitting headaches from them. Turns out the optometrist screwed up and gave DH a completely wrong prescription.

DH got a second opinion, got the new new glasses, and that fixed the issue.

Sounds awful!  My prescription actually stayed the same for once, so I don't think that's it.  (I order my contacts online and they are the right strength.)

[AAM2012]

I would definitely keep a food and drink diary to try and determine if you can see any patterns.

[boiler717]

I used to get horrible migraines very frequently. Needing 12+ triptans a month plus narcotics. I started massage therapy -- once a week in the beginning, then I quickly progressed to monthly. Those helped greatly. Then when I revamped my diet/exercise they went completely away. I'd definitely look into food and lifestyle factors!
Despite being a pharmacist, headache oil and heated rice packs are my go tos to help meds. I hope you find relief soon!

[audry80]

Yes! I have discovered that I have food triggers. Nuts, raw onion, soft cheese and beef jerkey. I had a headache everyday for 6 months and started a food elimination diet. Once I cut out the daily peanut butter breakfast bar, they pretty much disappeared.

[sjh722]

Do you take OTC painkillers frequently? You could be getting rebound headaches.

Also, this time of year, I get a lot of headaches that are bad but not nearly as bad as a migraine. I think it's sinus/allergy related. Flonase and Claritin seem to help. My allergies have definitely gotten worse again the last few years.

[boiler717]

poundcake a friend gave it to me, so I'm not sure. It's not one of the common essential oil brands. She has a fellow yoga teacher who makes them.

[magdala]

Jun 11, 2015 13:15:56 GMT -5 krisim said:

I just gulped down two glasses of water and went for a short walk and that actually seemed to help a bit today.

I will get a headache when I am dehydrated, too.   When I am super dehydrated, these take on the form of migraines. 

[krisim]

Jun 11, 2015 19:23:07 GMT -5 audry80 said:

Yes! I have discovered that I have food triggers. Nuts, raw onion, soft cheese and beef jerkey. I had a headache everyday for 6 months and started a food elimination diet. Once I cut out the daily peanut butter breakfast bar, they pretty much disappeared.

I had to cut out peanut butter and nuts in the last year due to an intolerance, and it wasn't fun!  

[bowies]

Lurker, but I've had a migraine for the past 2 weeks. Mine is hormonal and following the same pattern you're experiencing - not as severe. It's typically just an aura and then a low-level or mid-level headache. They come at different times of the day though (sometimes while I'm asleep too).

Usually my migraines are triggered by big shifts in barometric pressure, eye strain, and anxiety. Do you have any allergies? I've heard that can be a trigger too.

[krisim]

Jun 11, 2015 20:29:59 GMT -5 sjh722 said:

Do you take OTC painkillers frequently? You could be getting rebound headaches.

Also, this time of year, I get a lot of headaches that are bad but not nearly as bad as a migraine. I think it's sinus/allergy related. Flonase and Claritin seem to help. My allergies have definitely gotten worse again the last few years.

No, I don't take any pain relievers regularly (they are mostly ineffective for me).   I do have allergies as well and sometimes I do end up with sinus headaches, but not very often as I've done immunotherapy for many years and take prescription allergy meds daily 

[krisim]

Jun 12, 2015 9:05:45 GMT -5 bowies said:

Lurker, but I've had a migraine for the past 2 weeks. Mine is hormonal and following the same pattern you're experiencing - not as severe. It's typically just an aura and then a low-level or mid-level headache. They come at different times of the day though (sometimes while I'm asleep too).

Usually my migraines are triggered by big shifts in barometric pressure, eye strain, and anxiety. Do you have any allergies? I've heard that can be a trigger too.

Interesting,  I hadn't thought about them being hormonal, that is definitely a possibility.  I'll have to pay closer attention to that. 

[fumbalina]

I was suffering from this type of migraine for a while. I found a food intolerance through a food journal and undetectable levels of vitamin D. If it is still sunny when you leave work it could be lore vitamin D.

[StJess80]

I have been experiencing the same thing for the past few months without any sort of trend. When I saw my dr, she said she wants me to do a sleep study to rule out apnea before delving any further.

[krisim]

Jun 12, 2015 12:27:27 GMT -5 StJess80 said:

I have been experiencing the same thing for the past few months without any sort of trend. When I saw my dr, she said she wants me to do a sleep study to rule out apnea before delving any further.

Did she say why she suspects sleep apnea?   

[StJess80]

Jun 12, 2015 13:27:51 GMT -5 krisim said:

Jun 12, 2015 12:27:27 GMT -5 StJess80 said:

I have been experiencing the same thing for the past few months without any sort of trend. When I saw my dr, she said she wants me to do a sleep study to rule out apnea before delving any further.

Did she say why she suspects sleep apnea?   

Because I have a headache when I wake up in the morning. The headache continues most of the day, as a dull roar, and sort of responds to OTC meds, but not entirely. I guess a big indicator of sleep apnea is morning headaches.

[koopa17]

Lurker, but when this happens to me it usually means I have a sinus infection. Sinus infections give me terrible, daily headaches until I get antibiotics to clear it up. Does it hurt more when you bend forward or after you sneeze?

[krisim]

Jun 12, 2015 14:25:40 GMT -5 StJess80 said:

Jun 12, 2015 13:27:51 GMT -5 krisim said:

Did she say why she suspects sleep apnea?   

Because I have a headache when I wake up in the morning. The headache continues most of the day, as a dull roar, and sort of responds to OTC meds, but not entirely. I guess a big indicator of sleep apnea is morning headaches.

Oh, that's interesting, I didn't know that.  Mine usually don't come on until about mid-morning, so that's probably not the case for me then.