Migraine

[nemofreak]

So I started getting migraines when I was 14. I had 3 or 4 that year that really freaked me out because I had aura in terms of vision issues as well as numbness but I also had something that I haven't seen talked about here where I can't say words at all. I try to think of what I'm trying to say and it all comes out completely jumbled even if I can think of the words I am trying to say. I also can't write anything and text messaging is definitely out of the question seeing as it usually comes out completely jumbled and I send the message thinking that it was what i was trying to say. I had gone maybe a year without a migraine but in the past month I've had 4. Each one has the same thing happening--I wake up with a headache and realize that my hands, lips, and tongue are all numb. Then I start seeing spots everywhere and, when I try to talk to someone, it comes out in a jumbled mess. Soon after, I start getting really sick and vomiting constantly until I can finally lie down and sleep it off for a few hours. I want to get in and get some new medicine because when I went and I was 14 he gave me phenergen to knock me out and sleep it off, this doesn't work for someone who has to go to class or work. So I'm wondering if anyone has had these symptoms and found a medication that works for them because a lot of people I know have been through the wringer on trying to find a migraine medication that works and it really does sound scary. I know what works for one person wont necessarily work for another but it's worth a shot. Thanks :)

[sybilcat]

i can identify with your symptoms, i have experienced the same mumbled speech, which i find distressing when in company as people obviously dont understand what is happening and i cant tell them!!! i also go on to have difficulty remembering the names of items and people, which again can be frustrating especially when at work.i also get the numbness of one side of my face and my right arm.I was told i was experiencing hemiplegic migraines (my mum also has the same symptons), but i am just wondering if they are just migraines with an aura.Now i just get the aura and no headache!!

[jrona33]

sybilcat, I'm also experiencing migraine with aura without a headache and all of the brain fog you both described. I don't have pain so pain meds don't work, but can you do anything for the aura besides just waiting for it to go away?

[chatmytruck]

I'm new to the information of migraines, but the symptoms you describe, I've had on/off for 5 years without the headaches and thought i was going mad. I am 47 and started having the tingling/numbness on the left side of my body and face, trouble speaking, walking, etc for 5 to 30 minutes at a time for up to 2 days. I thought I was having allergic reactions to things, was in and out of the doctors for answers. It eased up for a couple of years, as I had moved to a new state, new job, divorce, total change, but 3 months ago the symptoms came back bad again. Since then, 2 years ago I started getting migraines. They started when I started menapause. I still didnt put it all together. My doctor sent me for an mri, cat scan, ekg, etc, as he thought i might have had a stroke or a brain tumor as some of these symptoms can simulate the same. Now I have answers and am so relieved. I hope this helps. I have migraines with AURAS. Auras are the symptoms aside from the migraine. They can vary from person to person and from trigger to trigger. These can be brought on from the simplest things as foods: cheeses, msg, caffein, chocolate, nuts; and from odors such as strong perfume, or paint, or solvants; change in weather. I am learning so much and it makes more sense as i find more answers. I've only been diagnosed for 3 weeks so I am still learning. I will be doing a food diary to see which foods affect me personally and which dont. And as the symptoms come and go I will try to log all that happened 2 days before. Eventually I am told this will help tremendously with the auras and the migraines. I am also on topamax now daily as well. Talk with your doctor about what might work best for you. I also would like more infomation from others experiencing these things so I may try different things. I didnt know there was a history of migraines in my moms family as she didnt raise me, so the doctors didnt know to look for them. But as always be careful with too much research, as each person is different and it doesnt all apply to all and it wouldnt be good to change your diet too dramatic if it doesnt affect you, as this could be unhealthy.
thanks to all.

[chatmytruck]

from what i understand, there is nothing to take during the aura. we can only wait out the aura, keep a diary of what may have triggered it and avoid it. the topamax is suppose to help somehow, but i dont know how. and once i do get the actual migraine, i take tylenol for that pain, seems to help. if the auras last more than 30 minutes at a time, i would consult your doctor, there may be more involved than just the auras.

[jrona33]

Everyone, I'm writing back to report that I have completely cured my migraines without drugs!!!!! It wasn't easy but I am so much healthier and feel 100% better. I changed my diet pretty dramatically. As it turns out the huge migraine trigger-MSG-is in pretty much all prepackaged foods and diet foods. I started only buying organic soups, organic frozen dinners, and organic prepackaged spices. That eliminated a lot of the MSG. MSG is hidden in a lot of your foods under the name "spices" so sometimes it'll sneak into your foods without you knowing it. You can decrease the amount of MSG you take in by eliminating any of the following ingredients: monosodium glutamate, aluminum glutamate, (anything that contains glutamate), disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, & sodium caseinate. There are many other terms used on ingredient lists that contain MSG but I found that the ingredients listed above are the worst for me. For a more complete list google "truth in labeling MSG hidden sources" and the first link should be a helpful website (I'd include the link but I don't think it's allowed in this forum). I also found out that aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in most diet foods, was triggering my migraines as well (for more info on why google the term "excitotoxins"). As it turns out, all of us migraineurs have a certain tolerance for migraine triggers and just eating less of the triggers can eliminate migraines because you don't reach the migraine threshold. For instance, I can eat foods that contain autolyzed yeast (another name for MSG) but if I eat them along with another food that contains MSG then I get a migraine. I am more conscientious about what ingredients I'm ingesting, and when I go out to eat and can't read the ingredients I'm less likely to get a migraine! I really believe that by modifying your diets, you can all feel much better! And you don't have to worry about the terrible side effects of some of those migraine drugs. I know organic foods are a little more expensive but you don't have to buy all organic-just some certain items-and it ends up being cheaper because you don't have to spend so much on prescriptions or miss work because of migraines! Here's a list of things that I have found cause a migraine every time! Fries (or anything for that matter) with seasoned salt such as Ocharleys or Ruby Tuesday's fries (i order mine without salt and add table salt myself) , Arby's curly fries, Dry Ranch dressing packets, gravy packets, really any prepackaged seasoning blends unless it specifies "no msg" and there isn't any fine print, bouillon cubes (watch out for those that claim to have no msg, read the ingredients and you'll likely find glutamate), All enchilada sauce, all taco seasoning even if it just says "spices" (I have a good replacement recipe, just message me and I'll share it), most packaged skillet meals, most frozen dinners esp diet dinners, anything with powdered cheese like cheetos, cheese sunchips, cheese popcorn, doritos, anything with powdered flavoring like sour cream and onion or bbq chips, almost all canned soups (even the ones that say "no msg", check the fine print). If you're interested in changing your diet and don't think you have the time just message me and I'll share recipes and ideas that helped me eliminate MSG without a lot of inconvenience. I'm slowly putting together an MSG free recipe book and can share what I have so far with you-I'm not selling it or anything I just want to help but I don't want to type a ton in this message if nobody's interested. I hope you will try changing your diets and learn more about the excitotoxins in foods. It truly changed my life. I went from having a migraine every day for over a year to being migraine free for over 3 months!

[pfm]

I hope you check this because it seems it's been a while since this was posted. I would be interested in what you do to simplify the task of eating fresh foods. I have suspected that MSG may contribute to my migraines but I am also really sensitive to the weather and atmospheric changes, along with seasonal allergies. I'm 58 and have been dealing with this for about 2 years. I have a family link to migraines and my daughter, who is 31, suffers almost daily. She also has Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue and Diabetes!!! We both take medication when we feel the migraine coming on. I take Amerge and she takes Maxalt. I am also on Nadolol, which is a blood pressure med that seems to have helped deter the headaches somewhat. But my daughter is finding it difficult to control her headaches. Not sure how you can send me the recipes/plan you use, but please write back if you can.

[lornagnat]

I'm very interested in these recipies as well. I've been battling migraines for about two years now, and I just made the link between the migraines and the prepackaged food.