I have been suffering from migraines all my life. I can't remember not having them. Let me assure you that the word suffering is an understatement. Although I do have to say that I think I get off lightly compered to some people who also endure them. As I have gotten older I have learnt to cope and prevent them much better. I partially think this is because as I have gotten older I also have been able to have better control of my environment and lifestyle.
My big triggers are stress and tiredness, yes they are hard to avoid in today's busy over stimulated world, and that fact that I am a shift worker. I am sensitive to smells as well. In particular Asian furniture stores. They seem to have an aroma that only I can detect. I can't stay long in these stores. On occasion the weather will also trigger them. I am yet to find any dietary triggers. I have though at one stage or anther thought that red food colouring and UHT milk were triggers. However after some scientific experimentation on my self this have proved to be false
I always remember as a kid getting migraines on school camps. Not only was I out of my comfort zones but also having to endure late nights and early starts. It never took long for the spews to start, having this feeling like I wanted to snap my neck to release some pressure, and feeling like my eyes were about to shoot out of there sockets. If I couldn't get a handle on it my digestive system would go into shut own until any water that I was trying to ingest to replace from throwing up would not stay down. Needles to stay I have been hooked up to I.V's on a couple of occasions. I also had a very narrow minded principle who would only believe that these "headaches" as he called them were always caused by dehydration. He would not accept that there were other triggers. Anyway as I am an adult now I have a lot more say over my lifestyle and thus in a lot more control of my triggers. I have also found some great medicine (although dealing with side effects is another story) to help prevent and also treat migraines. One thing that I have found that works for me to aid in prevention is a regular Berocca. Vitamin B must play apart I assume.
I recently found a bioglhttp://www.migrainemonologues.com/ and it was so good to read about other people who suffer from this condition. I have found over the years that if I don't keep my blood sugar levels even over time this also to be a trigger. I was so relieved when I found on this blog that people could relate to this. I have often received funny looks from people when I insist on carrying muesli bars on me all the time. Not only to boost sugar levels when necessary, but also if a migraine strikes I have some food to take with pain killers.
Every migraine sufferer out there will have a million different triggers, and equally as many different treatments.
I hope this helps you appreciate what some migraine sufferers have to deal with. I count myself lucky that mine usually only last a day or two, and that I don't get auroras as some do. Please remain open minded when you next meet your next migraine sufferer.
