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Anyone get barametric migraines?

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Posted 4/21/2007 10:27 PM (GMT -8)
I get migraines and have since I was 16 years old.  When I was younger they were definately related to hormone fluctuations.  As I got into my late 30's they were less hormonally related and more food related.  Now in my 40's (and premenopausal stage) the only trigger I have is a lowering of the barametric preassure.  I am wondering if the traditional migraine treatments are the only thing to do with this sort of trigger or if any one has had any other experiences.  I take Imatrex  but with these headaches I seem to need to take 2 Ibuprofin and the Imatrex.  I think that I am tensing up when I get a headach and the Ibuprofin helps with that while the Imatrex takes care of the headache.  I appreciate any insight that may be offered.
Posted 4/25/2007 3:24 PM (GMT -8)
I could be the greatest weather person ever!!!

I can tell you what the pressure is outside by the way my head is feeling, right now it is 20 and falling where I am !!! ha ha, I have a terrible migraine right now, it is rainy and going to storm and when the pressure gets to 19 its a killer! ick.

I know there is a big link between barometric pressure and my head pain, not sure when it started or why but I know that is one of my biggest triggers!

hang in there, I have found that a good preventative medication and taking frova as preventative/abortive  when I know the triggers are on the way are the best method for me!

Sara

Posted 4/25/2007 6:24 PM (GMT -8)
When I feel one on the way I take two Ibuprofin and an Imitrex nose spray. It usually works. I take the Ibuprofin because my neck and shoulders get tight when I get a headache and it helps that stiuation. In the Spring I usually get a week of headaches at the time when you can feel the season change. I used to get that in the Fall too but in the last 5 years that has lessened.
Posted 4/26/2007 6:16 AM (GMT -8)
I am new to this site - what a blessing to have found all of you.  I have had "headaches" on and off all of my life but knowing what I know now, they were never migraines.  My maternal grandmother, aunt, mom and baby brother have always suffered with migraines and, to be perfectly honest, I never had a whole lot of sympathy....until......this past summer (when I was 41), I had my first true migraine.  Not the throbbing pain of my other headaches but this was a severe stabbing and burning through my left eye.  Nausea and vomiting.  Well, since then, I am having them constantly.  Am seeing a wonderful neurologist, have had CTs and and MRI - all negative.  He is so awesome to work with changing meds.  At first, he thought the headaches might be hormone related, so, in January, I had a complete hysterectomy.  Since then, they have been much worse.  Now, he truly believes they are related to the barometric pressure.  The last two severe ones that I had were on days that there were tornadoes all around me here in Georgia.  Now I am on Verapamil and Trileptal for preventitive.  I watch the weather and the night before we are supposed to have a pressure change (either high or low), I start taking my Relpax and Prednisone and Dilaudid.  He is hoping that this can keep me out of the ED (where I seem to have become a regular customer).  So far, so good.  We are expecting rain and storms this afternoon.  Last night, I felt a small headache (and normally would not have taken anything and then woken up at a 10/10) but I did what he said and started the meds.  Today, so far, I am good.  Anyway, just wanted to share what I am trying so maybe it will help someone else.  I also take Lortab 10/500 combined with Dilaudid if needed.  Oh, the other thing that he has given me to try (but I haven't needed yet) is Lidocaine 4% nosespray.  He says this helps some.  You have to have it filled at a small pharmacy that can mix meds - most chains won't have this. 

Thanks for all the help on your posts - I am so glad to have found you all.

Posted 4/26/2007 9:34 AM (GMT -8)
the key is to take your meds right away when you know it is starting. Good luck with the storms.
Posted 4/26/2007 9:55 AM (GMT -8)
This is great advice - thank you.  That is always my problem - I will feel what I think is a "little" headache and I hate to take my meds so I will just wait.  Waiting is your worst enemy.  Even the ED doc told me the last time I went that I had even waited too long to get to the ED.  My BP was 198/102 when I got there and I don't have high BP - it was all from pain.  As soon as they got my pain under control, my BP was normal.  I do find, however, that sometimes the Relpax will increase my BP.  Does anyone else have this happe.  Thanks to all of you again. It is wonderful to read that there are others out there like me - that I am not just crazy.
Posted 4/26/2007 9:58 AM (GMT -8)

By the way, stormy weather is here - this will be the true test of my new med regime.  Wish me luck!

Posted 4/26/2007 7:01 PM (GMT -8)
I am completely feeling like I have a migraine today related to the weather. I have actually had this current migraine/tension headache for 8 days now, I am miserable! I have tried several different meds within the past week and nothing seems to kick it completely. =( I go back to my dr. Tuesday so I'm trying to hang in there until then. Maxalt does help the pain but also puts me to sleep so I can't take it at work. Today the pain was more intense than it has been in several days and the only thing I can atribute that to is the weather!
Posted 4/27/2007 11:07 AM (GMT -8)
BBMof3, how did the storm go?

Posted 4/27/2007 12:19 PM (GMT -8)
Well, I am keeping my fingers crossed.  We had storms here yesterday (although not as severe as was predicted) and no headache.  The night prior to the predicted storm, I took my Relpax, 1/2 prednisone and Dilaudid 2mg.  Then, when I woke up yesterday morning, I took another Dilaudid.  So far, so good.  This will be the first time in months that I haven't had a migraine and ended up in the ED when we had rain.  I truly believe that the key is to take your meds the second you feel the first twinge of a headache and also to watch the weather forecasts.  I am still unsure what to look for - high pressure, low pressure, change, etc. but right now I feel like if I can see there is rain or storms coming, that is the time.  Now, some will say that taking the Dilaudid is not great; however, my thought is that taking 1 or 2 2mg Dilaudid po has to be better than having it IV in the ER.  Any thoughts?  Hope all of you are well today.  Please share any thoughts or ideas you might have on this.  I am all ears!  Also, the Relpax makes me terribly sleepy - my neurologist has said that it is not the actual med that causes the sleepiness but the fact that your vessels are going from dilated to normal - either way, I can't take it and function for several hours.  Does anyone else have this problem?
Posted 4/27/2007 12:33 PM (GMT -8)
It is quite common to experience what you could call a 'hang-over' effect after an attack, which leaves you feeling drained and exhausted. This can be simply the result of the attack itself but can also be complicated byt the after effects of the meds too!!!

Usually the day after a bad attack I will be wiped out!!!
Posted 4/27/2007 5:13 PM (GMT -8)

I'm in the same boat of pressure changes, and it's always humid in Florida. I have found mine are the worst during PMS added into the air pressure. They have gotten worse since my partial hysterectomy, but still having the ovaries there is still estrogen? I started with Maxaalt that knocks out the headache- and me for 2 hours. So I never get to take it till bedtime, and my doctor pal said the same thing about starting the meds early. He said if you don't try within 1 hour it may not go away. I use Excedrin Sinus all day until the Maxaalt. Last Fall I took Topomax, which worked great ont he headaches but such bad side effects I had to stop. Then went to Depakote, almost as good and almost as bad side effects. I cut the dose in half and it's slightly less side effects, but almost no pain relief.

Next week I am seeing my GYN and will talk about horone control. I used to take BCP continuous for the endometrioisis, but stopped after 1 year post-op. Any advice for what type of hormones- more estrogen or less?

Posted 4/27/2007 5:30 PM (GMT -8)
 

Purplekris, I am actually in the same boat - I have one small part of one ovary left which may be why the hysterectomy didn't help.  My neuro doc had hopes that just the decrease in hormones might help but no such luck.  My brother takes Maxalt (the dissolvable tab) and he says the same thing about knocking him out.  I am a true believer in the Relpax (if I take it soon enough) but it, too, just makes me sleep for a couple of hours.  After the horrid past few months, I will settle for now on being sleepy if I can just have relief without the ER.  Do you take any pain med also?  I haven't heard back from anyone else yet with an opinion on taking the Dilaudid and Lortab.  I do worry about taking so many meds but what is the alternative?  My neurologist says that I am taking an acceptable amount - he feels like the alternative (IV meds in the ER) is a worse choice than medicating at home.  Anyway, I worry about that but not so much that I am willing to back off and just "suffer through it".  My migraines last 24-72 hours and seem  like 4 times that long - I just can't do it anymore. 

Have a great evening.

Posted 5/2/2007 8:54 AM (GMT -8)
Can anyone tell me what you are supposed to watch for if you have barometric migraines?  I don't know if I am supposed to look for high pressure systems, low pressure, etc.  I thought it was whenever it was stormy but night before last, I woke up with a horrible migraine and it was sunny yesterday.  I thought my dx of barometric migraines was shot but then a friend told me that the weather lady on the news had said we had a huge "high pressure" system pass through.  Any suggestions?  My neurologist says to premedicate when I see a change coming - what do I watch for?
Posted 5/2/2007 1:45 PM (GMT -8)
Baseballmomof3's story sounded so much like my wife's headache history that I just had to post today (been lurking for a while).

Since I met my wife in 1976, she has had headaches on a regular basis, minimum one a week. Sometimes they lasted multiple days.

In the last year, she has gotten migraine-type headaches lasting for one to two days. These have been very severe, sometimes forcing her to stay in bed, often accompanied by nausea.

She is a nurse so cannot take real strong pain meds while working.

A few months ago an internet acquaintance told me he had stopped his migraines by the use of a nutritional drink called Limu. I had not heard of it and was very skeptical. When another person told me they had the same results for migraines from this product, I did some research.

Long story short, about 5 weeks ago I ordered some Limu and my wife started drinking 2 ounces per day. She has had 2 very minor headaches in that time period. She looks a thousand times better and has lost that irritability that comes from headaches.

I have no financial interest in the product. If you do a search on Limu or Fucoidan you will be amazed at the amount of information available and the results being gotten by people with migraines, sinus problems, Fibromyalgia and lupus.
Posted 5/8/2007 9:24 AM (GMT -8)
HighPlains, I would like to discuss this with you, including information on where you purchased Limu.  My email is enabled, if you are willing to talk please email me.

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