Research Project
Hi All, Thank you all for responding so quicking to my request for help with my research. Here's the first couple of questions: What causes your migraine? (If you don't know what the cause is, that's ok). What orthodox (modern medicine) investigations/tests were carried out to confirm you suffer from migraine (Please include tests that ruled out other problems such as tumours, etc.) What alternative (ie naturopathic, or self diagnosis, or none is all ok) investigations/tests were carried out to confirm you suffer from migraine (Please include tests that ruled out other problems. It may even be that migraine was diagnosed through history taking and discussions with you and a naturopath). Please feel free to email me privately with your answers if you prefer others not to read them (although it may be helpful for the list to promote general discussion - it's up to you. My email address is hwest@... . If you'd like anything clarified, please don't hesitate to ask. And a big thank you to all of you for your help and participation. Cheers Helen.
Less than adequate sleep along with high stress levels get me primed. Then things like fast weather changes, glare, flashing lights put me over the top I've had CAT scans, MRIs, and another scan I can't remember the name of. Diagnosis was mainly based on symptoms and medical history The only alternative treatment I've used to far was a years worth of chiropractic. Still not sure if it really helped. ~~~I've been sane and I've been crazy. I can tell you crazy is alot more fun!~~~
Cause: Damaged disc C5/C6 (childhood injury) with nerve damage (muscle tremors & loss of nerve conductivity) in left arm/shoulder/neck. Treatment (only one that works): Tylenol#4 3x a day, with Tylenol #3 & Imitrex inhalers as needed for breakthrough pain. When I was young, Fiorinal+Valium+Darvon would stop a migraine in progress, but 28 years of the same meds and an aging body wiped out their effectiveness. Holistic approaches: Feverfew (tried for a month, no effect). Relaxation (what's that?) All the standard prophylactic meds were ineffective, as the cause is physical and not chemical (aside from triggers like preserved meats and msg). Anything else, just ask. Ron
Okay... Come down from stress/excitement (usually the worst), hormonal changes, *some* red wines, any amber or dark hard liquor will do it instantly (faster than anything else ever.. even a sip), drastic weather changes. As I have a family history I guess you could say that my "family" diagnosis was "alternative"?
What causes your migraine? The doctor says they were brought on by several head traumas from car accidents during my late teens and early twenties. I had a couple of seizures in high school which were controlled with Depakote. I had the two seizures and that was it and then started having migraines at the age of nineteen. Causes or triggers? Not eating when I should, hormonal, stress and crying, going from hot to cold room temperatures a lot in one day, looking at a computer screen all day (but not always), and red wine. What orthodox (modern medicine) investigations/tests were carried out to confirm that you suffer from migraine? CatScan - the neuro could not find anything wrong. Hearing and Eye exams What alternative investigations/tests were carried out to confirm that you suffer from migraine? None