Migraine Headaches—Piecing the Fragments

It was a fall day in 2006. I was rushing from my job in the Twin Cities to pick up my kids from their daycare.  I wanted to run to the chiropractor before going home to make supper and do the usual household chores.  When I arrived at the daycare, I was overcome with a sharp pain in my head.   It felt like a vice was squeezing my head.  I was somewhat overwhelmed with nausea and dizziness, and my vision seemed a little fuzzy.  I thought I was just a little dehydrated, so I asked for a drink of water and loaded the kids into our SUV.   I didn’t want to be late for my appointment.  Unfortunately, I never made it there.  20 minutes later, I ended up in the emergency room with my first diagnosed migraine headache.

 WHAT ARE MIGRAINES?

 Classic migraines are typically thought of as severe headaches that become incapacitating because of excruciating pain, vision changes, and nausea/vomiting.  They can last for hours or days at a time.   The migraine sufferer may need to lay down in a dark room while coping with these strong symptoms.   Migraine symptoms are diverse and vary over a spectrum of severity.  Symptoms can include feelings of pressure, tightness, burning, vibrating, tingling, pulsating, stiffness, soreness, etc.  Migraine sufferers may experience auras of light in their field of vision, dizziness, ringing in their ears, sinus congestion, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light and/or sound.

 Migraines are considered to be vascular in nature, and they affect the blood vessels of the head.  Some doctors describe the vessels as swollen, inflamed, and/or pulsating.  Other sources suggest there is an uneven distribution of swelling and constriction of blood vessels in the head, and the migraine pain occurs as blood travels from wide spaces through narrower places in the vessels.  Some migraine sufferers describe having neurological symptoms such as vertigo/balance problems, numbness/tingling in the face, clumsiness of hands and/or legs, brain fuzziness or fog, and in some cases memory loss and/or confusion. 

WHAT CAUSES MIGRAINES?

 There is some debate about what really causes these headaches. Some people describe what is known as a “mechanism of a migraine.”  Theoretically, our bodies carry a threshold for migraine headaches.  Varying factors as well as genetic makeup will determine whether an individual has a high or low threshold.  When migraine triggers surpass the threshold, the migraine mechanism is activated.  Those who do not experience migraine headaches would theoretically have higher thresholds.  Anyone who has a headache might be experiencing a partial activation of this mechanism.  When the mechanism is fully activated, you experience a migraine. The goal would be to remove enough triggers to get below the migraine threshold.

 MIGRAINE TRIGGERS

 It is believed that various factors can trigger migraines.  I am not a doctor or an expert on migraines, however I have done some research.  These potential triggers are based on what I have learned through research and have experienced myself.  They include hormone imbalance, menstrual cycle, stress, contraceptives and other prescription medications, dental amalgams (mercury fillings), metal implants, certain foods, withdrawal from caffeine and other addictive foods/beverages, hunger, sleep depravation, too much sleep, rigorous exercise, changes in the barometric pressure, perfumes/air fresheners, chemical exposures, exposure to mold, electromagnetic frequencies, and fluorescent lights.  Certain bacterial infections, viruses, and other pathogens can also cause headaches. 

  DIETARY TRIGGERS

 Some migraine triggers are easier to manage than others.  Dietary triggers often are one of the first things that are addressed because they are easier to control than environmental and physiological factors.   Common dietary triggers include chocolate, sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, carbohydrates, yeast, MSG (Monosodium Glutamate found in processed foods, soy sauce, salty foods, soups, protein powder, etc.), foods with natural glutamate (peas, corn, soy), processed meats (hot dogs, lunch meat, cured ham, etc.), alcohol, vinegar, fermented foods, nuts, some citrus fruits, and some types of cheese. 

 Over the years, I have consulted with 2 different nutritionists to discuss nutritional factors that trigger migraines.  It took me several years of half-hearted efforts and trial and error before I decided to make a serious commitment to change my eating habits.  I started by removing gluten and dairy products, and eventually went on what is called an elimination diet.  I did not have much success with the diet, as the headaches didn’t go away when I eliminated the foods on the list.  It took a lot of research and reading about various migraine prevention and holistic diets as well as testing for food sensitivities before I came up what works for me. After altering my diet, I shed a lot of weight and almost completely eliminated my asthma symptoms.  Unfortunately, the dietary changes alone were not enough to manage my migraines.  I needed to reduce more triggers.

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS

 As a result of bioresonance testing and adverse experiences with certain chemicals, I have discovered that I am prone to multiple chemical sensitivities.  These sensitivities have made a huge impact on my headaches, therefore my family and I decided to make several adjustments to our home environment.  We use scent-free laundry detergent, laundry balls (instead of fabric softener that is scented or fabric sheets that carry fire retardants), chemical-free cleaning supplies, limited exposure to perfumes in the house, allergy-free dish soap, etc.  My husband, who is in the construction business, is careful about what chemicals he may carry home on his clothes.  He used low-voc paint when he re-painted one of our bathrooms.  When we have to use chemicals in the house, we isolate and ventilate that area as much as possible by closing door the door, leaving a window open, and using fans when needed.  I have a special mask I can wear to reduce exposure.  I am also very careful about what personal products I use—no fragrances and as little harmful chemicals as possible.   If you suspect chemical sensitivities are triggering your headaches, I suggest paying attention to how you react around household cleaners, air fresheners, perfumes, and other common chemicals.  You can remove them from your home environment and see if it makes a difference in how you feel.

EMF’S AND FLOURESCENT LIGHTS

Electromagnetic Frequencies or EMF’s (also referred to as electro-smog) derive from the technologies that we have come to depend on:  microwaves, TV’s, computers, lap tops, iPads, cell phones, and other wireless devices.  There is new research about the negative impact these technologies have on our overall health.  I believe that they affect my headache symptoms. Fluorescent lights also put off a frequency that can cause dizziness and trigger headaches.  Headache sufferers may describe experiencing headaches and other symptoms when shopping at stores with bright over-head fluorescent lights.  We are in the process of replacing most of the fluorescent lights in our house as I will react to them with dizziness and headaches. I try to limit my cell phone and computer use to reduce exposure. 

CONVENTIONAL VS HOLISTIC MEDICINE

 When choosing conventional medicine to treat migraines, it is not recommended to use over-the counter painkillers or “rescue” medications that quickly eliminate the migraines on a temporary basis. These tend to cause rebound headaches.  Dr. Buchholz recommends attempting to reduce triggers prior to using prescription medications, and only using certain medications for prevention when absolutely necessary.  In 2011, I started taking Propanolol to prevent my migraines.  I did not like the side effects and discovered that use of the medication can lead dependency on the drug, so my doctor tapered me off of it. I am cautious about prescriptions because of the side effects and toxins in them.  I prefer to detoxify my body and use holistic approaches of finding root causes and removing triggers for headaches.  I have a friend who uses a natural approach to treating migraines through her holistic doctor, however also sees a neurologist and takes a preventative medication.  She plans to use it until they are able to address the root causes of her headaches and manage them through removing enough triggers.  Her holistic doctor recently conducted bioresonance testing on this medication and the tests revealed that her body would respond well to it.  I believe it should be a personal decision whether or not you choose preventative medications, however you should be aware of the side effects and potential problems that could arise with taking them.

Magnesium and other natural supplements are sometimes used as a natural way to treat migraine headaches.  I have taken magnesium in the past as a part of my treatment regimen.  If you choose herbal remedies to help your headaches, I recommend consulting a professional to assist you in determining what would work best for you as each situation is unique.

HEALING FAITH

 We live in a broken world with pain and sorrow.  Headaches seem to be one of the many fragmented paths of this broken world.  As I have pieced together the fragments of this journey, faith has played a central role in my path toward healing.  I have trusted God to guide me through each step.  Through the years, I have found comfort and hope in the many promises that God has given me in his word. 

 Psalm 103:1-5:  "Praise the Lord, O my soul, at my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so your youth is renewed like the eagles."

RESOURCES

I am NOT a doctor or an expert on Migraine Headaches.  This article is not intended to be used as medical advice.  If you are experiencing migraines, I recommend you seek medical attention from a professional who specializes in headaches.

Other resources on migraines:

https://karen-r.mylearnworlds.com/course?courseid=good-general-health&_ga=2.226991963.713406264.1617083819-226501929.1617083819

http://www.naturalnews.com/036793_migraines_natural_remedies_solutions.html

This website is very informative about the hidden sources of MSG, a common migraine trigger:

http://www.msgtruth.org/avoid.htm

Other resources on chemical sensitivities and the harmful effects of EMF’s:

http://www.multiplechemicalsensitivity.org/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-3.php

http://www.naturalnews.com/022926_EMF_cell_phone_home.html