Saturday, September 22, 2007

Life of a Migraineur

I'm always complaining about migraines but I dun think many of you know what i go thru each time i get an attack...so here a short description, take time to read thru ok!!!

There are 4 phases to every attack i get

The prodrome, which occurs hours or days before the headache.
The aura, which immediately precedes the headache.
The pain phase, also known as headache phase. (Throbbing of a nerve & Vomitting)
The postdrome.(light headedness, faintness)

Prodrome phase
This phase may consist of altered mood, irritability, depression or euphoria, fatigue, yawning, excessive sleepiness, craving for certain food (e.g., chocolate), stiff muscles (especially in the neck), constipation or diarrhea, increased urination, and other vegetative symptoms. These symptoms usually precede the headache phase of the migraine attack by several hours or days.
(For me its stiffness in the neck and back pains)


Aura phase
This aura comprises focal neurological phenomena that precede or accompany the attack. They appear gradually over 5 to 20 minutes and generally last fewer than 60 minutes. The headache phase of the migraine attack usually begins within 60 minutes of the end of the aura phase.
Visual aura is the most common of the neurological events. There is a disturbance of vision consisting usually of unformed flashes of white and/or black or rarely of multicolored lights (photopsia) or forma­tions of dazzling zigzag lines

Pain phase
The typical migraine headache is unilateral, throbbing, moderate to severe and can be aggravated by physical activity. The pain peaks and then subsides, and usually lasts between 4 and 72 hours in adults.

The frequency of attacks is extremely variable, from a few in a lifetime to several times a week, and the average migraineur experiences from one to three headaches a month. The head pain varies greatly in intensity. The pain of migraine is invariably accompanied by other features.

Nausea occurs in almost 90 percent of patients, while vomiting occurs in about one third of patients. Many patients experience sensory hyperexcitability manifested by photophobia, phonophobia, osmophobia and seek a dark and quiet room. Lightheadedness, rather than true vertigo and a feeling of faintness may occur. The extremities tend to be cold and moist.


Postdrome phase
The patient may feel tired, "washed out", irritable, or listless and may have impaired concentration, scalp tenderness or mood changes. Some people feel unusually refreshed or euphoric after an attack, whereas others note depression and malaise.

Triggers
A migraine trigger is any factor that, on exposure or withdrawal, leads to the development of an acute migraine headache. Triggers may be categorized as behavioral, environmental, infectious, dietary, chemical, or hormonal.

Migraine attacks may be triggered by:

Bright lights, loud noises, and certain odors or perfumes
Physical or emotional stress
Changes in sleep patterns
Smoking or exposure to smoke
Skipping meals
Alcohol or caffeine
Menstrual cycle fluctuations
Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG), or nitrates (like bacon, hot dogs, and salami)
Other foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus, onions, dairy products, and fermented or pickled foods.
Changes in Climate/Temperatures

So well I'm pretty prone to attacks basically cuz of the above listed...Anyone and everyone of them can trigger an attack :(

So you see why I'm sucha sicko...who is alwyas down with a migraine at least one a month? Too manhy triggers for a poor little gal like me... hmm so u can imagine how much i look forward to my chiropractic appointments...They help a great deal!

Cant wait for next saturday hopefully i can get an appointment with Essemi Joensen, Chiropractitioner in Karlshamn.which is approx an hours drive away...i do hope she is able to speak english! else it is gonna be pretty tough! for both of us ;)
So now u guys shld know every little detail of what i go theu during each attack... frankly previously the pain used to be unbearable but after the hundreds of attacks i have had, i believe i have grown a little receptive