#migraine tips

[thewanderingemporium]

My gentle migraine toolkit: tips from lived experience

Before we get started: I am not a medical professional and have no medical training. Everything below is based on my personal experience, and may not work for everyone. Please always speak with a qualified medical professional about your own health.

Migraines can take the fun out of any day. I don't get them regularly, but when one strikes, it can be very debilitating indeed.

On top of that, I also live with IBS. So, taking paracetamol for more than a day can trigger IBS symptoms. While I can sometimes take medication at the very start of an attack, I can’t rely on it for the whole duration.

So, today I wanted to share my personal tips on getting through a migraine attack.

These won’t work for everyone, but I hope they can be a starting point for you to build your own migraine toolkit:

Lie down in a dark room - Probably the most well-known tip — but for good reason. Darkness and rest really are your best friends when a migraine strikes. I find that for me, a dark room and naps are best done as soon as that migraine pain starts to build. Although this isn’t always possible (especially when migraines strike when you’re out and about). When this happens – try tip 2.

Wear sunglasses – even indoors. Now this may sound a bit silly on the face of it – but sunglasses are designed to lower the amount of light impact on your eyes. Which is exactly what you might need when migraines hit (especially if like me light is a big trigger).

Cold compress - A cold flannel or a chilled eye mask from the freezer can make a huge difference. It’s such a simple thing, but honestly one of my most effective go-to tools. Obviously, nothing will stop the pain, but a cold compress can help take away some of the bite of a migraine.

Audiobooks - I’m very lucky in that my main trigger is light, not sound. Having a small library of audiobooks means I can rest in the dark while still keeping my mind gently occupied. (This is particularly important in the recovery phase, where I am well enough not to need to sleep it off, but still rough enough that screen work isn’t an option).  I keep them on both my iPad and an old MP3 player, but free apps like Libby are a brilliant way to access audiobooks without extra cost.

Lavender spray - This one won’t be for everyone. If smell is one of your migraine triggers, it’s best avoided. And importantly: lavender is toxic to cats, so please only use it if it’s safe for your situation. For me, personally, I’ve found a gentle lavender spray can sometimes ease my migraine symptoms and help cut down the length of an attack (although annoyingly not the recovery).

A gentle reminder: Migraines are exhausting, both physically and mentally. Be kind to yourself, and give your body the time it needs to rest and recover.

What’s in your own migraine toolkit? Share your tips in the comments — I’d love to learn from you too.

Sending spoonie hugs!

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

[only-knives]

if you wanna use your phone when light hurts your eyes, here are some options to try (note: i have android, so they may be different elsewhere)

a screenreader w/eye mask

eye comfort shield (less bluelight)

grayscale mode

color inversion on light mode

low brightness (you can get an app like Screen Filter to make the brightness go even lower!)

dark mode

dark phone backgrounds and profile themes

dark/dim room lighting, not pitch black. or your phone might feel like the sun.

take breaks and do what's most enjoyable to you

rn, i'm using the eye comfort shield (max), color inversion, and light mode (since colors are inverted). these are in display and accessibility settings.

also, set your apps to match your device's theme. but if you use color inversion, you may have to try other themes depending on the app.

[moonbeamwritings]

i don’t know if any of you lovely people get migraines like i do, but if so!!! i highly recommend indulging in a migraine eye mask... i have one that has lavender in it and can be microwaved or thrown in the freezer (it also has a bit of weight to it so it puts the perfect amount of pressure on the eye/temple area) and i swear it works wonders when coupled with pain killers and/or a cup of tea 🌼☕️

[stressedbi]

Best remidies for migriane that has lasted almost 2 weeks?

General things that help me the most is:

Migraine medicine.

sleep. This is a bit of an obvious answer. Having regular sleeping patterns and eating patterns is my greatest tip.

Obviously cold, dark room. Is a classic.

Popsicle is my weirdest tip, but works almost everytime for me. Ice cube on the tounge does the trick to ofc.

I also use this mask thing that you can put in your refrigerator.

Generally, find out what gives you a headache and fix it is my greatest tip. Too much sugar? Chocolate? Too much caffeine? Too little caffeine? Alcohol? Too much sleep? Too little sleep? Hungry? Neck pain? Period/pms? Too hot? Ect Ect.

My tip for a 2 week long migraine is the doctor. Sorry that you have had it so long, that's incredible annoying and tiring 💛

Ask me things

[my-life-with-migraine]

[citrinecoven]

🌿Migraine Magick 🌿

Migraine is a type of headache but is so much more then “just a headache”. It is a throbbing pain felt on one side of the head. It will often occur paired with other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sounds. A migraine attack can be triggered by a lot of things ranging from loud noises or bright lights to simply drinking alcohol. Even certain foods can trigger a migraine attack. (Chocolate, onions, dairy, MSG, ...) Also mentioned will be price point and relief of symptoms that worsen migraines such as muscle cramps, menstrual cramps, etc.

🔮 Crystals for Migraine 🔮 🔮Bixbyite: Relieves headaches and migraines, also helps against mild pain in general. Not to be confused with Bixbite (red Beryl). $ 🔮Chrysocolla: Controls head aches and head complaints, relieves migraines, reduces muscle spasms. $ 🔮Cordierite: Controls fluctuating body temperatures, relieves headaches and migraines, purifies toxins. $ 🔮Lolite: Purifies toxins, controls fluctuating body temperatures, relieves migraines.Often used as cheaper alternative to Sapphire due to similar appearance $ 🔮Magnesite: Helps to calm down and ease stress, loosen tension is muscles, alleviates menstrual pain, controls headaches and migraines. $ 🔮Rhodochrosite: Improves blood circulation, controls headachesm head complaints and migraines. $ 🔮Sodalite: Purifies blood, calsm and controls nerves, controls head aches and migraines, controls nausea. $ 🔮Turquoise: Alleviates menstrual pain, relieves headaches and migraines. $

🌿Herbs For Migraines🌿 🌿Butterbur: Used to treat headaches, fever, general pain and asthma. 🌿Coriander Seeds: Used to relieve sinus pressure and headaches. Hot water is poured over the seeds in order to inhale the steam. 🌿Dong Quai: Used in the form of a spice, tonic or medicinal cream to treat headache, fatigue and nerve pain. 🌿Feverfew: Traditionally used to treat headaches and insect bites. Modern application includes treatment of migraines, dizziness and inflamation. (might cause nausea!) 🌿Ginger: Traditional remedy for migraines, nausea, stomach pain and cold/flu symptoms. 🌿Honeysuckle: Used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever, inflamation,infecrions, sores,... It has been found to also treat migraine pain. 🌿Peppermint: Often used as a liquid capsule or topical solution. Treats spasms, nausea and tooth ache. Menthol is an active ingredient of peppermint and stops migraine when applied to temples and forehead. 🌿Valerian: Used for centuries to treat a number of ailments including insomnia, headaches and anxiety. ✨Migraine Care Tips ✨ ✨Keep your hands, feet and head warm. ✨A small amount of caffeine can help relieve pain. ✨Apply a hot compress to neck or head. ✨Lie down is a darkenned room. ✨Avoid loud noises, personally when i am lying in a dark room i put on some very soft white noise such as rainymood. ✨Do not skip meals! ✨Make sure to eat something when taking your migraine medication or the nausea will get worse. * Magick should never recplace your medication and/or doctor's instructions and advice *

[cloudedstudies]

as someone who is lucky enough to have chronic migraines, ive decided to make a post about them, what they are and how to deal with them.

what are migraines?

MIGRAINES ARE NOT JUST HEADACHES. migraines are a neurological disorder characterized by a severe headache accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, disorganized speech, and much more, though you can have a migraine attack without the headache. they are most often caused by genetics, but can also be caused by stress, poor eating, puberty, and abuse of over the counter painkillers. 

what are chronic migraines?

chronic migraines are when a migraine is present for more than 15 days out of a month for more than three months, in the absence of misuse of OTC painkillers. they can be extremely disabling and cause a severe impact on ones social life, ability to work, mood, and ability to take care of ones self. 

how can i try and prevent migraines?

know your triggers

migraine triggers can be anything from the smell of orange to the taste of bananas. these triggers can change over time, so its important to be on the lookout for them so you can know to avoid them

take care of yourself

eat well, drink plenty of water, and try to avoid stress-inducing activities. if you have chronic migraines, sadly this will not help much, but it may reduce the frequency or severity of the migraines. 

make sure you are not vitamin deficient 

if you lack vitamins like B12, vitamin D, and magnesium in your diet, your chance of a migraine can increase. be careful though, as B12 and magnesium can end up causing migraines if taken in high quantities. if that’s the case, try reducing how much meat, dairy, and other foods high in those vitamins.

do not over exert yourself

this one’s pretty self-explanatory. know your limits, and dont be afraid to say no.

i have a migraine. now what?

find a dark, quiet, oderless place to lie down

if lying down hurts too much, try sitting with your eyes closed

have water handy

try a heat or ice pack on areas like your head and neck

wear sunglasses or keep your eye(s) closed if light is too much

wear earplugs if its too loud

if possible, try to do some light stretches for your neck and back

take a bath with epsom salts

try drinking some caffeine, like green tea or coffee

try and stay away from OTC pain meds

try herbal tea. some herbs that can help with migraines are lavender, peppermint, catnip, chamomile, rosemary, basil, sage, and licorice root

try essential oils. some essential oils that can help with migraines are lavender, chamomile, rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, lemon balm, and sage. apply them to your temples, neck, and the back of your head (make sure they are safe to use on skin)

take a nap

have a carbonated beverage (preferable ginger ale or sprite) to help with nausea 

if you have to get up, do so slowly. standing up too fast can increase pain and may induce fainting

make sure you dont overheat

something that works for me is to take a frozen banana and ½ a cup of almond milk and blend that to make a milkshake. it helps me to stay cool.

if needed, keep a trash bin or bucket beside you

some things that have been said to help

- salt and lemon water (for best results, use high concentrations of both and take it in a shot)

- cayenne pepper, lemon, and honey water

-lavender lemonade

-cucumber, lemon, and mint water

-almonds

-pineapple

-watermelon

-daith piercings 

-johnson’s baby soothing vapor bath

- gluten free/vegan diets

- low-fat diet

- acupuncture

things to remember if you have chronic migraines

your pain is valid

you should not be made to feel guilty for having “another migraine”

your migraines are not your fault

you are still worthy of love and acceptance

you are worthy of treatment

its okay if they cause you to miss school/work

its okay if they cause you to miss social events

they do not make you a bad person

youre so strong for having to deal with them, dont let anyone put you down by saying “it’s just a headache”

[memyselfmigraines]

Living with Migraines: Quick Tips

The pain in your head is intense and throbbing. You feel nauseous, see zigzag lines and might even have difficulty speaking. All you want to do is to crawl into a dark hole and be alone until the pain subsides.

Living with migraines is not easy. If you suffer from them, it’s only natural to ask the question, “How can I manage my condition better?” Here are some quick tips.Regulate Your Lifestyle

This may not sound like fun, but you’ll probably be better off if you systematically control your life. For example, eat on a regular basis. Try not to skip meals because hunger can trigger migraines. In fact, it’s best to eat 5 to 6 small meals a day. You should also control your sleep patterns. That’s because either lack of sleep or too much slumber can bring on that throbbing pain and other associated symptoms. So try to go to bed at the same time every night, even on weekends, and get up at the same time in the morning.

Drink Plenty of Water

While staying well hydrated is good for everyone, it’s especially important for migraine sufferers. That’s because dehydration can lead to a range of headaches from hangovers to migraines. Keep water at hand so you do not even have to think about it. Also, consider avoiding diet sodas and other beverages with artificial sweeteners as these additives have been linked to migraines.

Avoid Excessive Stimulation

As a migraine sufferer, your brain tends to become overstimulated easily. Therefore, avoid stimulants that bother you. For instance, if you are sensitive to lights and loud noises you might want to avoid the latest James Bond movie at the theater. Intense weather can also trigger migraines. If it does for you, stay indoors when the mercury climbs or storms are brewing. Ideally, migraine sufferers would be best served living in areas that see few severe weather patterns.

Exercise

There are mixed reviews on exercise. Some studies have shown that exercise can decrease the frequency and severity of migraines.1 On the other hand, many people complain that migraine attacks follow intense workouts.

The Good and Bad of Medications

When it comes to medications, just like many other aspects related to migraines, they are good in moderation. Should you overdo your medication intake and then go cold turkey, you could be punished with a medication overuse headache.

Trigger Foods

There are many foods that doctors and patients suspect as migraines triggers. Studies, however, have not conclusively proven that most of them are culprits. If you think a particular food is causing your migraines, eliminate it from your diet for a month or so to determine whether this change of diet alleviates your symptoms.

Keep a Migraine Diary

Nothing is set in stone when it comes to migraines, which means there are no easy answers. What precipitates a migraine for you may be very different to what sets one off for someone else. So keep a diary of your lifestyle, eating and drinking habits as well as your migraine symptoms and severity. When you visit your doctor, discuss this with him or her, and come up with a plan to try to alleviate your pain and discomfort.

While there is no silver bullet, there are changes you can make today that will most likely do no harm and may help. These include regulating your lifestyle, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding excess stimulation. When it comes to other areas of your life, think about moderation, especially as it relates to exercise and medication. Finally, keep a migraine diary and try to determine your migraine triggers so you can stay away from them. Take these steps and living with migraines may just become a little easier.