creamychemist said:

Migraine sufferer here, and hates triptans due to the inevitable side effects they cause...I take vicodin and aspirin and take my hurtin ass to sleep, and wake up pain free in a few hours.
By the way, migraines are two-fold in theory; the visual disturbances and neuro effects are caused by the tightening up and spasm of blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to parts of the brain. After the spasm, the vessels react due to various chemicals prompted by the spasms, and dilate (get wider). This is what causes the INTENSE pain we have to endure. So, most neurologists will tell you to avoid caffeine, since caffeine dilates blood vessels. Triptans (imitrex, maxalt) mediate vasoconstriction, which is why they work. But, as you show, caffeine does work for some people. But it's usually a trigger, or exacerbates the pain.
My biggest trigger is not eating...if I miss breakfast, or go to long between meals, I will usually end up with a pretty foul migraine.

I've never had a migrane (knock on wood)... my mom suffers from them all the time. She gets physically sick to her stomach from them, can't open her eyes, etc..

I feel terrible for those of you who suffer from them as well.

SingMiaSong said:

I'm slightly anemic too.

Yeah, about only ten times a year, thankfully. So recognisable, all your symptoms. I also refer to it as sensory shut down, during an attack i want no light, smell or any other sensory input.
Funny though how some seek the cold, while my first step is to take a brutally hot bath in the dark, and then sleep it off.

yes I do and so does my mother...we both have learned to deal with them. However we both get a script from or doctor when it is needed.

I've suffered with migraines all my life. They really are awful. I don't get naueous with them anymore like i did as a child but when i do get them they knock me out for a couple of days. It starts as partial blindness and then about half an hour after that the pain kicks in and i just feel like laying down and dying. The way i deal with them is to ban light from my room and put some music on very low (altho' some people recommend total silence i disagree b'cos then the only thing you focus on is the pain, quiet music is a good distraction.) However, since i started drinking a lot more water i don't get them as much so it could have something to do with dehydration. But there are all kinds of triggers, red wine, dairy products and stress being among the most common.

Yes, I don't like taking pain killers but If the pain is unbearable, the only one that seems to work is Ibuprofen. Supa, I get anemic too. I think I need to have my eyes tested.

Lleena said:

Ibuprofen works for you Lleena? Are you sure they are migranes?