BS: Weather related migraines

Subject: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Ed T
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 06:30 PM

I get weather related migraines. They occur mostly before snow or rain storms, and when the barametric pressure changes rapidly.

My wife and I have noted higher than normal illness-related sickness at our work during these conditions.

When I mention the weather association to friends and coworkers who have migraines, many have noted a related pattern with their condition.

Anyone else noted this?

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 09:33 PM

Allergy related migraines occur here at times, and the photo sensitivity headaches seem to be seasonal (in that the time of year and time of day intersect--we experience this is when we have to be out driving into the sun at a certain angle rising or setting).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Rasener
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 03:02 AM

THunderstorms tend to bring on migraines for me as well as eating chocolate or mature cheese.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 03:20 AM

last night was hotter than yesterday after noon, today it's raining and solid cloud.... and I have a doozy of a headache. maybe there is something in what you say.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Megan L
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 03:39 AM

Liz that is no way to talk about Manitas

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 11:45 AM

I suffered from migraines for years. Often, there seemed to be a connection with a big drop in barometric pressure. But not always.

I once read a book about migraines, a book which was published by something like 'The National Association of Migraine Sufferers.' The authors mentioned the connection with a drop in pressure. I believe their HQ was in New York, and they said that when Hurricane So&So hit the east coast, their switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree. (A hurricane is a gigantic low.) People said the pain was so great, they thought it was something worse than migraine.

One night several years ago, a tornado struck my Midwestern city. (A tornado is a super-intense low.) I was in such pain, they sent me to the emergency room. At the time I had a co-worker who was also a sufferer, and she told me that that same night she had a migraine so bad she thought she was going to die.

On a more ordinary level, it was common for me to be headache-free during the weeks of hot,dry summer and then be slammed with a migraine when the first cold, wet days of autumn occurred.

Migraines often disappear in middle age, and that's what happened to me. It is the only physical benefit I have seen to getting old.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 01:50 PM

If you consider the lunar phase weather, it is related to migraine.
The lunar tidal phase has a strong effect on the biorythms of most life on Earth.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 07:55 PM

http://headaches.about.com/od/triggers/a/ahs_weath_trig.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 08:04 PM

No question about it for me. Changes in the weather can trigger headaches, and low pressure weather seems to be the worst for that.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 08:21 PM

I have weather-related pain in my arm because of the 6" plate and screws -- when barometric pressure drops, tissue expands and the plate and screws don't. I can't always tell if it's going to hurt BEFORE it rains or snows, DURING the rain or snow, or AFTER the weather stops. Usually it's while weather is changing.

It's not just barometric pressure, though. Humidity and temperature add to the mix. But they really don't know what exactly causes the pain, my surgeon says. He has patients who have weather-related pain, but fly without discomfort and scuba dive without discomfort. So it's not just atmospheric pressure.

But it's definitely the plate and screws -- I have a friend with a break in the same arm in the same place on the humerus who has no weather-related pain or discomfort at all.

I'm just lucky, I guess. ;-)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 08:51 PM

I used to have problems that were not probably actual 'migraines' - none of the 'fortifications', etc.

But sudden cold (a heavily air conditioned car, etc) would trigger the sinuses and a headache.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 10:31 PM

A reverse theory on the old "not tonight, I have a headache"

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/features/are-migraine-sufferers-sexier

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Rasener
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 02:45 AM

Ed T
Is that where the expression "I gave her a good old banging last night" came from.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 10:57 AM

I hate to be a party pooper but sex during a migraine (swollen vessels in the brain) can cause agonizing pain and potential stroke.

I found that migrains coincide with the cycle of purging toxins and waste on or just after a new or full moon.

The Spring and Fall are the absolute most painful and frequent times for migraines. The body is going through some major adjustments for the new season but why Autumn and Spring is the migraine season is a mystery to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 11:55 AM

After years of suffering, visiting doctors and dentists, and reading things, I have decided that whenever a headache is really painful, it is labelled a 'migraine.' That is, if it isn't something with a detectable cause, such as a brain tumor.

Since migraine basically means 'evil spirit,' that diagnosis isn't much help.

These bad headaches actually could be caused:

by blood vessels swelling,

by the menstrual cycle,

by sinus problems,

by the weather,

by the moon, as Donuel says,

by maladjustments of the teeth and jaw,

by allergies, or

by something else I haven't thought of.

Worse yet, by a combination of any of them.

One night, it hurt so bad, I sat in bed with head on my knees, weeping. (A doctor once looked at me with eyes full of wonder and said, "It WAKES YOU UP?" I gave him an earful.) Then somehow I figured out that the pain was not something mysterious inside my head, it was a cramp (charley horse) in a muscle which leaves the shoulder and goes to the top of my head, holding my head on. It helped to understand that this pain had a simple cause.

I tell sufferers to keep an open mind, keep trying, and make observations about the possible causes of their headaches.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Ed T
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 06:41 PM

Many folks get pain with migraines. I don't.

I feel a great head pressure, sore joints, increased sound and light sensitivity, decreased deduction and vocal skills, thirst mood swings and stomach cramps.

Once or twice a year I get assocuated, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling in my fingers and lips.

Weather changes is a major factor. September-October is bad, and less so the winter (likely because of weather changes). I never get them in the summer.

A few food preservatives I noted can trigger them in the bad seasons. But, I can normally shorten the duration of these by drinking lots of water. A stressful experience can also be a trigger.

Migraines run in my family. My sister's stopped with high blood pressure medication.

I take Imatrex and have tried Maxalt. I am unsure if they work well or not. I only take them for really bad migraines.

(BTW, I have not noticed sex to be helpful to the condition nor prophalactic)

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Rasener
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 05:00 AM

I was tested for allergies related to migraine many years ago.

They found I was allergic to Chocolate, Cheese, Dust & Fluff and Stress/Exhaustion.

I also find that poor quality red wines trigger's migraine with me. I beleive ther is something in poor reds similar to chocolate and cheese.

Likewise if I go too long without eating, that brings on a migraine.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: oldfogie
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 05:27 AM

I suffered from migraines for many years -from about 14 years old. I would get the 'aura' followed by a headache, very rarely debilitating tho'. I could get 2 or 3 a day and rarely had a week with out getting one. What stopped them for about 15 years was having a vasectomy. This was done to prevent unwanted children but having no migraines for 15 years was an amazing bonus!! They did start again but could mostly be attributed to sudden atmospheric pressure drops. I also found that if I took Paracetamol as soon as I got the 'aura' symptom, that this minimised the headache. If I missed taking Paracetamol at that time it became a waste of time taking them when the headache actually got going as they had no effect at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 12:37 PM

I used to have some of those scarey symptoms, Ed. Such as the numbness, the difficulty speaking, the difficulty thinking. Then in 2005, doctors discovered that big vein that supplies my heart was 99% blocked. They put in a stent, and I have not had a symptom since.

So, were the symptoms caused by the heart problem, because my heart was not getting enough oxygen to my brain? Or did the symptoms go away simply because I'm getting older?

Nobody knows. However, I would urge you to be very aware of any possible heart problems, Ed. If you have any worries, see a doc right away.

Another thing to check is the carotid and subcarotid arteries. These are major suppliers to the brain, and they can be blocked. A simple, painless scan checks for blockage in these arteries. Mine were clear, but the doctor agreed they were a good idea to check them out.

Subject: RE: BS: Weather related migraines
From: Ed T
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 07:42 PM

Thanks for the advice leeneia. I will take your advice.

A few of my migraines I have had for years did resemble stroke symptoms. Brought it up to a couple of doctors on a number of occasions. But they tended to write it off as migraines and perscribe migrain medication, without considering the conditions you mention. Problem is that migraines symptoms are so broad and mis-understood within much of the medical community.

I am in my 50's and have had worries about increased stroke rates for migrain suffers. That has also limited my use of vascular constriction medication (Imatrex, Maxalt), which I feel could add to the problem.

Anyway, have a doctors appoitment next week and will indeed press the issue with him.