attempted.. did not succeed

[ehirsch83]

Well, yesterday I attempted to make the 18.5 mile commute to school(took the road bike, decide I will just take it into class with me), but about 4.5 miles into the ride this little headache I had turned into a full blown migraine and I had to turn around and go home. Let me tell you, that was the longest 2.25 mile ride of my life! I had to pull over a few times and get off the bike because I was so weak and confused. I just kept telling myself pedal move the legs.
I am going to try again on Wed. will let everyone know how it goes then!(the plan is to commute mon,wed,fris and drive tues, thurs)
Hopefully it all works out:-)

[Tri Girl]

I'm sorry you didn't get very far before your head started screaming. :( Just curious, what triggers your migraines (or do they just come and go at random?). I feel so sorry for migraine sufferers. My mom would be in such pain when I was growing up, and I always felt so sorry for her.

I hope next week your brain will cooperate and let you make the ride in to work.

[ehirsch83]

I'm not sure what is causing them...
Last summer they came on when I was at work at the barn teaching lessons- I figured it had to do with something I was allergic to. Went to an allergist and came back negative to all of the tests...
The last one I had came close to my menstraul cycle, so I am guessing it was hormone related, but yesterday I have no idea. Still a good week, week and a half out from that time of the month. We did just have a nasty storm come through here so maybe it is weather related... who knows.

I did just get an MRI done of my neck and shoulder and it turns out I have 3 discs in my neck that don't have any fluid in them, the orthopedic told me that could be causing some of the problems. I really have no idea, maybe I should go to my GP and see what he thinks.

[Tri Girl]

How frustrating that there's no clear sign of what's causing them. My mom's were always unknown (not that she ever really went to the doctor to find out), but we figured out after many years that hot dogs caused my brother's. Sounds weird, but something about the hot dogs (no matter the brand) that gave him terrible migraines. Do you eat hot dogs? Just kidding. :)

Hopefully you'll be able to figure out the cause so that you can not be exposed to, or fix the things that cause them. I know the brain is one tricky puzzle, but that's what neurologists get the big bucks for. ;)
Take care of yourself!

[Melalvai]

I hope biking is not a trigger. If you have neck problems though it could be. But that doesn't mean you can't bike, if you can find a way to bike that doesn't put you in a posture that triggers a headache, like a comfort bike or different handlebar.

[ehirsch83]

Yeah, I am pretty sure it isn't food- only because I am a pretty pristine eater(allergic to MSG, sulfites, and most preservatives that involve nitrates- so is my mom- her allergies are worse then mine), so I feel like food isn't the cause...

I have a feeling it is either stress, hormone, or something to do with my neck issues. I think I am going to have to start going back to the chiropractor and maybe the acupuncturist. I just want to figure it out so I can manage them before they get to such a debilitating point. The SO came home from an out of town race a few weeks ago to find me passed out on the bathroom floor with our comforter and a pillow propped up against the bathtub. It was the darkest place in our apartment that I could think of, so it is where i nodded off at(took some pain killers I had to knock me out). Didn't think about the big huge walk in closet that we have where I wouldn't have been scrunched up!!

I just can't believe that your body can cause you so much pain for no known reason!!

[redrhodie]

I'm so glad you are going to try a chiropractor! It's worked for me--no migraines in 6 years. I believe my neck was the cause. I go about twice a year.

I can't believe you still rode home! You poor thing. Be well, and call for help next time. You could have really gotten hurt.

[shootingstar]

HOw long have you had your migraines.

To want to be in a darkened rm. ..that's a pretty serious migraine.
I knew someone who has migraines..for many years of her life. She saw a acupuncturist every month for relief.

Another guy who also had migraines for many years found his triggers were: nitrates (in ham, hot dogs, cold cuts) and chocolate. :(

Hope you find your triggers.

[Kano]

Might be a stretch, but this did remarkable things for me:

http://www.nti-tss.com/

My issue is/was TMJ, and clenching my jaw at night. It was actually a pretty inexpensive solution to what was going on in my head -- not migraines, but the gizmo was designed for migraines first...

Karen in Boise

[2Gowans]

Well done for trying to commute, but also well done for realising early enough that cycling (or driving anything) with a migraine is a dangerously bad idea.

Your next commute probably will be okay, but a backup plan won't hurt. It might help if you keep a small bottle of water plus whatever tablets you take either on the bike or in your pockets, enough money to get you home if you can't cycle, and emergency contacts of people (a trusted cab company if you've got no friends or relatives available?) to pick you up if needed. This may seem like overkill, but if you've got all this with you, the next migraine will be less of a problem.

AFAIK thunderstorms can trigger headaches and/or migraines, but seeing as the attack started after a few miles, it could be low blood sugar or dehydration being the last straw on top of the storm.

For the next migraine, maybe see if you can get a thin black silk scarf? This flat has nowhere that can be darkened enough, and a silk blindfold isn't bulky (even folded over several times), doesn't itch, won't dig in when you roll over, and the darker the colour, the more light it keeps out. It may also be worth getting a v dark pair of wraparound sunglasses to wear when you've got a migraine but can't rest immediately. Sugar + caffeine can also help slow down an attack long enough to get safe (e.g. get a cab or a lift home if poss, failing that, rest as soon as you can). I've found it's best if any painkillers or anti-nausea stuff is taken at the v first sign of a migraine (or it comes back up before being absorbed).

If your migraines are at all stress-related, you can be prescribed betablockers, which you'd take every day. These aren't addictive, and have v few side effects, but they do stop surges in blood pressure, and if these don't happen then neither can a lot of migraine attacks.:)

It may be stating the obvious, but have you kept a trigger diary? Need to keep track of everything which happens 24 hours and less before each migraine attack - after a few migraines, common factors should start showing. The other thing is, have you been referred to a migraine clinic? Not blaming the GP, but there are a lot of things that a GP is just too busy to know much about.

FWIW, have had migraines most of my life, know my triggers, and have reduced them to approx 6 attacks a year (at worst it was a couple a week).

[Melalvai]

Well done for trying to commute, but also well done for realising early enough that cycling (or driving anything) with a migraine is a dangerously bad idea.
Better to bike than drive with a migraine. Mine come with auras, a spot of my vision turns into an area of static sort of. This happened while I was driving once and I did not know what to do. I wasn't far from home so I went ahead and got home using my peripheral vision. I focused to a spot off to the right so that my left peripheral vision, which was clear, included the road in front fo me.

The next time that happened I pulled into a gas station and called for a ride.

[sundial]

I attended a CE that addressed menopause. Many ladies experience them during the peri-menopausal stage.

[F8th637]

Kudos to you for attempting your 18.5 mile commute! You'll get to complete it eventually. Hope you find what is triggering your migraines. :(

[kelownagirl]

I attended a CE that addressed menopause. Many ladies experience them during the peri-menopausal stage.

Hmm, I've started getting the aura but no headache lately. I wonder if that's what's triggering it. (I'm 48 and have other peri-menopause symptoms as well)

[SouthernBelle]

Snug hats or helmets give me a headache. I need to adjust my helmet when I wear something under it, like a buff. If I forget I get a headache.

[ehirsch83]

Sorry it took me so long to get back!
It actually started before the commute, but I thought it was just a small normal headache, did not think it was going to turn into the huge massive migraine it did! I am thinking it is hormonal and or weather related. We have been having some strong winds and storms coming through here lately.
I am going to go to the acupuncturist this week and also make an appt with the chiro.

Going to attempt the commute again on Wed!! can't wait, will let everyone know how it goes :-)

[TahoeDirtGirl]

OH I know what you are talking about. The older I am getting the more frequent those headaches are. Mine aren't what I would call migraines most of the time, just really bad headaches. I also feel like I'm getting the flu around my TTOM now. For the headaches I just take advil as soon as I feel them coming on (it's usually a week prior to aunt flo). I noticed if I don't drink enough water they are worse. I know also that if I rode for a long time that week, they are worse too, because me and my chin sticking out really stick it to the neck and my muscles are pretty tense.

Come to think of it, actually massage helped me last year with them, so much that I had an appointment once a month. Seemed to do the trick.