Official February News

This past cycle: I had a few small headaches that were short lasting and on one side of the head. But nothing to report except my life is getting back together!

It is a little unbelievable how much migraines can control life. My husband referred to the headaches as "that part of our lives is behind us now" and I am struggling to trust that. But eventually (I hope) life without the fear of a migraine will be the norm and I will look honestly at these migraines as a bad phase in life that I got through with strength.

I can report that it has been three months since I've had migraines a two to six times a week. The number is down to no more than five a month, and probably more like twice a month. That is phenomenal!

And I wish I knew exactly what it was to change this. My body's hormones, perhaps. The butterbur, perhaps. The yoga, perhaps. My advice to those suffering: go with your instincts on your care, be assertive with your neurologist, be aggressive on the research, and find something (healthy) that gives you peace, like yoga, writing, or the beach. It is important to find normalcy, some kind of normalcy, when you can't control what your body is doing.

Exercise is wonderful--and I know, that is the last thing you want to do when you are sure you will throw up, or you want to curl into fetal position in a dark, quiet room. But when the vomiting subsides, you're not dizzy, and you're not in too much pain: go for a walk, at least. Get some fresh air.

I know for many diet is key. I didn't find any foods that triggered my migraines. Though one time a smell triggered a migraine. I think for me it was that my body doesn't like change. For those who think it might be food, there is a book out there, I wish I knew the name, but it talks specifically about foods and migraines. My cousin mentioned it to me once, it helped her a lot, and if I find out the name, I will rewrite this post with the name.

Until my next post, hang in there.

February Update

It's early to update, really, since my period hasn't started yet. But it is so remarkable to me that migraines haven't been an active part of my life these past few months. My body no longer in a panic, I'm even starting to lose weight!

I think I had a headache a week or so ago (ovulating) but nothing much to report. I don't remember even taking medication for it.

I don't think it is the Vitamin B-2 that has helped me. I am still taking it and will finish the pills I have before talking to my neurologist and then discontinuing them. This isn't to say that the B-2 treatment didn't work for those in the study and won't work for another person; I just don't think it made an impact on me.

My migraines did dramatically decline one month after starting the Butterbur at 75 mg/day. I will wait a few more months of consistantly not having migraines before I discuss with my neurologist getting off of this herb.

You see, I'm still a bit of a skeptic. I have left a lot of room in my reasoning that it is just my body going back to wherever it was, before July 2007, before the migraines began. I'm not so sure it is the Butterbur...but it is significant enough and timely, that I will continue this treatment. After all, it doesn't harm me.

I do hope all out there who suffer will be agressive with their neurologist (again I repeat, if you are not seeing a neurologist who has a specialty in headaches--see one!!!) and researching from good sources (and not just anecdotal ones--like this blog!) different treatments.