Reddit reviews The Migraine Brain: Your Breakthrough Guide to Fewer Headaches, Better Health

For my wife a chronic sufferer it depends on the food, some (bananas for her) will do it almost right away. Others stack.

One of the books we have read said is the migraine effect is like a glass of water. Everybody's glass is different, food and other triggers like weather, hormones, etc add to the glass. The amount added is different for each person. However once the glass is full you have a migraine, the severity depends on how much overfilled it is.

The author, who went on to say that food A or B might not trigger separately but A and B can. Tomatoes and eggs seem to be a popular combination trigger. The Author went on to say that they had seen the trigger time last up to 48 hours.

Not sure what book this description was in, but my wife said the two most helpful books for her were: (might want to check for updated versions)


The migraine Brain

And

Women's Migraine Survival Guide

I would focus on other meds then. How about muscle relaxants? Or Nodolor / midrin? Also for me it was the third triptan that worked-- other two didnt. Personally I think most tests might be unneeded if you know its migraine, MRI or touching your nose etc isnt going to get rid of it. I read this book and found it helpful and reasssuring. http://www.amazon.com/The-Migraine-Brain-Breakthrough-Headaches/dp/1439150354

Hey, I am right there with you! They finally had someone give her shots on Saturday... Which would be like 12 days after it started...

How basic is it to offer her indoor work and a new apartment? Migraines can be treated! And they can hurt like hell.

Sounds like yours are awful, though. I found this book helpful, but you seem to be far more expert than me. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1439150354/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

There are a lot of behavioral interventions that you can attempt on your own with or without a doctor's assistance that have been shown to reduce migraines. The best resource for this is probably The Migraine Brain.

I offer this resource as a person with direct experience with the book and from a family of migraine sufferers. Generally, our migraines manifest themselves differently (I become an irascible asshole, my sister becomes completely debilitated, etc...). We have found that it's pretty much trial and error for each person. After that, finding a neurologist that is willing to work on behavioral interventions is really about interviewing them up front.

Best of luck.

It would definitely be helpful for your doctors if you kept a log of your headaches. There's a migraine log template on the sidebar, or if you prefer to use an app, I highly recommend Migraine buddy (on Android only currently), and migraine.com has an iOS app.

Migraines can last between 4 and 72 hours, a typical one. People report pain in different places from their shoulders up, and at times in their abdomen. Some migraines are "silent," meaning there is no pain, just other identifying symptoms. Here's migraine.com's overview.

Obviously, we can't make a diagnosis for you here. If you've had a complete work up done with no results - I would ask for a 2nd opinion from a different neurologist.

My personal experience was that when my migraines first presented, I was being treated for a sinus infection that wouldn't clear - then one day presented with stroke like symptoms. I went in for an emergency MRI and followed-up with a neurologist who told me my MRI was clear, then told me to see psych. Just because you present with a "normal" MRI does not exclude you from migraines.

Ultimately, I was diagnosed with Migraine-associated Vertigo by an ENT that specialized in vestibular disorders. He started me on a regimen of Topamax. I was on a leave from work for almost 3 months just to get a diagnosis.

Also, I saw in one of your comments that you don't think it would be food related. I hate to say it, but most migraine sufferers have food triggers, so if you believe you have migraines, do not discount the food you eat. Here's some info about triggers.

If you want actual books to read, I would recommend Heal Your Headache, the author gives an actual migraine diet to follow, and information about how to identify your food triggers using an elimination method. And I would recommend The Migraine Brain, this author takes a somewhat more realistic approach to treating migraines than the first author (but the first author has great info about the diet).

Stress, I believe is a cop-out for docs. We all have stress in our lives and we all manage it differently. Some of us process it physically - and sometimes that means we need medical treatment. I have been told for many years that I need to "limit the stress," but it's not like I can live in a bubble. Life goes on, my friend.

Good luck!!

There are many types of migraines. In short, ianod, but yes, it sounds like a migraine; especially with the sickness and one sided pain.

Have you ever read The Migraine Brain ? It has really helped me understand and cope with attacks. I highly recommend

Talk to a doc. A migraine stroke is a thing.
I have noticed the 24-48 period BEFORE a migraine i have trouble speaking, my bf calls it word salad.
Also have noticed I sometimes get the need for speed before some migraines hit.
A good book I recommend .. The Migraine Brain