Migraines...what actually helps?

[GEMgarden]

My job requires constant thinking and it really drains my mind. I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day and my neck and shoulders get stiff. I think that worsens/causes the migraines. I get ocular migraines and I'm sensitive to sunlight.
I never had any migraines when I was in school but after starting to work a couple months, I started getting them

I have tried stress-relieving lotions (doesn't help in my opinion), leaving curtains closed (that only does so much when the rest of the office has their curtains open wide), do a little bit of muscles-relaxing exercises in the washroom (hehe).

Do you guys think vaping helps or worsens migraines (I haven't tried it yet but so far vaping is causing me headaches I think...not sure though...it could be the PG)?
What do you guys do to lessen the headaches and symptoms?
Does regular exercise help?

[MeMa]

Are you sure they are migraines and not tension headaches? It sounds like you might be clenching your shoulders and neck causing occipital headaches. If your neck is out of whack you will get a migraine type headache (referred pain) but the cause could be your neck. Try putting some moist heat on your neck, see if that eases the pain at all. A damp, extremely wash cloth will work.
I find that coffee takes the edge off of a migraine. When that doesn't work I take 2 midol and some afrin.

[MacArthurBug]

For me, and it's just me here- I get migranes from my vision, stress, poor eating choices, and yes- overdoing the vape.

My first go to is caffine+ asprin. There's a powdered asprin you can take that works like lightening, combine it with warm coffee/tea and sometimes that helps.

MeMa may be right though. Too much tension is a bad thing too. Can you afford a massage or pressure therapy or simular. Every 6 months or so I splurge on a message for myself and it makes all the diffrence. May want to look into a chiropractor if it's a spinal/nerve issue.

The bad ones can knock ya flat, so best of luck dealin' hun.

[dawgcrazy]

My job requires constant thinking and it really drains my mind. I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day and my neck and shoulders get stiff. I think that worsens/causes the migraines. I get ocular migraines and I'm sensitive to sunlight.
I never had any migraines when I was in school but after starting to work a couple months, I started getting them

I have tried stress-relieving lotions (doesn't help in my opinion), leaving curtains closed (that only does so much when the rest of the office has their curtains open wide), do a little bit of muscles-relaxing exercises in the washroom (hehe).

Do you guys think vaping helps or worsens migraines (I haven't tried it yet but so far vaping is causing me headaches I think...not sure though...it could be the PG)?
What do you guys do to lessen the headaches and symptoms?
Does regular exercise help?

I agree, it sounds more like tension headaches than migraines. Definitely deep breathing...sit up straight, close your eyes, and slowly tilt your head back for a bit. Also stretching your neck, shoulder rolls, etc. Get up periodically and walk around before you get in such bad shape (make yourself look busy or whatever). Aleve helps...and if you can stand the smell, seriously, valerian root works wonders. It's almost like a natural muscle relaxer/pain reliever. Smells like A$$ though! Two of those capsules and 2 advil or aleve make me feel loads better.

If they truly are migraines, the only thing that has ever helped mine was a prescription med called Fioricet, total darkness, stillness, and quietness. Even moving my eye made me want to die.

[MickiO]

My job requires constant thinking and it really drains my mind. I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day and my neck and shoulders get stiff. I think that worsens/causes the migraines. I get ocular migraines and I'm sensitive to sunlight.
I never had any migraines when I was in school but after starting to work a couple months, I started getting them

I have tried stress-relieving lotions (doesn't help in my opinion), leaving curtains closed (that only does so much when the rest of the office has their curtains open wide), do a little bit of muscles-relaxing exercises in the washroom (hehe).

Do you guys think vaping helps or worsens migraines (I haven't tried it yet but so far vaping is causing me headaches I think...not sure though...it could be the PG)?
What do you guys do to lessen the headaches and symptoms?
Does regular exercise help?

Hi GEMgarden, I have gotten some relief from tension headaches, sinus headaches, using high nicotine, I use 26mg, that I only use for pain, I only vape around 15-18mg during the day, sometimes less. but I have been able to significantly decrease the pain with a cup of coffee and vaping high nic. (YMMV)

It also helps to keep a pillow on my back so I'm not leaning forward too much,

Not sure how your vision is, but what you're describing sounds like eye strain, Straining too much to see can do this, and so can sitting for long periods with bad posture, as well lighting from florescent lighting can cause it. If you were glasses, tinted lenses helps.

I have Migraines, and they put me down on the floor, I get nauseous and sometime get sick, I can't handle ANY light and take med. and to go straight to bed in a complete darkness and CANNOT function whatsoever, until it lifts.

Also, Higher nic also helps it go away faster than plain med by themself.

[Mary Kay]

How about your glasses? I also believe stress brings on headaches. When I concentrate on a woodworking project..total focus or off comes a finger or God Forbid a part of the project.. I get screaming headaches. I have to either go outside and look far in the distance while sipping coffee and an aspirin or go lay down in a very dark room. It always starts with a neckache.
I am confused about if you have vaped or not. Headaches isn't one of the common symptoms of vaping..as far as I know. From what I understand P.G. problems are more sore throat, sneezing, coughing and chest problems. Others report hives or rashes. But I have to say that P.G. problems are faily rare. We have over 30,500 people here and only a small minority have any problems with P.G. Of course it's not pleasent for those who do have a problem! V.G. seems to help. We get P.G. in ice cream, make up, toothpaste and inhalers for breathing problems including lung transplant patients.

Drinking extra water will help too..P.G. tends to dry us out! @We are also getting rid of a lot of toxins when we first start vaping.

Welcome to the Women's Room and to ECF!

[Daifne]

I've been getting migraines since I was about 12 years old. I get the visual scitoma (lightning flashes that block your vision), sensitivity to light and sound, loss of coordination (especially in my hands) and sometimes, inability to speak (words just don't come out right). That part of it usually lasts about 30 minutes to an hour. IF I can get a valium in me fast enough, I can sometimes knock it out. If I don't, then I have 24-48 hours of pain.

As I have gotten older, the pain part of it has lessened greatly. I can function on pain killers. The beginning portion is when I can't function. Unfortunately, I can't take most of the medication out there for migraines.

One of the causes is my eyes. I have a condition related to being cross-eyed, but my eyes actually see one above the other. The horizon line is different for each so I would tilt my head to correct this, causing pressure. Since it's been corrected with prisms in the lenses of my glasses, the migraines have been reduced from at least monthly to twice a year. The ones I get now in the Spring and Fall are definitely related to allergies and sinus pressure. There are some medications that will trigger them for me as well. Most of the cholesterol medications will bring them on. These will be a bit different in the way that the scitoma appears. It will be a circle instead of a line. Weird.

That out of the way, it does sound like yours may be more of tension headaches, but I would definitely talk to your doctor and an eye doctor.

[bobtow]

Do you drink diet drinks or are you on one of these diet regimes? Afriend of mine developed migraines from the aspartame in the daily packages. Sugar substitutes are the main causes for migraines. Not the whole cause mind you. Just curious!

[dawgcrazy]

I've been getting migraines since I was about 12 years old. I get the visual scitoma (lightning flashes that block your vision)

I don't want to derail this thread, but I wanted to ask, when you get the visual thing, do you get a headache too?

Last year, I had that visual thing a few times. Scared the jeepers out of me, it's never happened before, and I was driving down the road when it happened!! They looked like HUGE lightening bolts and I couldn't see anything hardly. It lasted for about 30-45 minutes and then just went away. No other symptoms, no headache or anything either. It happened once or twice again after that day, but hasn't happened since.

I have NO idea what it was or what caused it. Just wondering if maybe this is it..?

[Daifne]

I usually get the headache soon after the visual scitoma is gone, but there have been a few times when I don't get the headache. My DH gets just the visuals...