I Get More Migraines in Spring, and I Bet I'm Not Alone
Whether or not March comes in like a lion, March comes in like a lion…Photo credit
"Migraine March" is here again, and I'm not loving it.
“I have a terrible headache, I think the demons are trying to get out again.” — Unknown
For you lucky and blessed people who don’t get migraines, the month of March is wonderful, I’m sure. The hint of spring, the melting snow, the beautiful sunshine: Ahhh, spring is here at long last.
“A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.” — Catherine the Great
Not so fantastic for us migraine sufferers. After enough years of having migraines throughout most of March I’ve coined it “Migraine March”. Oh the cruelty of the roller coaster barometric pressure changes in March! Even if March doesn’t come in like a lion, the ups and downs are brutal.
“Migraines -the only time taking a hammer to your skull seems like an appropriate solution.” Unknown
This is my chronic migraine month. At other times of the year they taper off but I still have to be vigilant though about what triggers migraines for me.
My Migraine Triggers
Salty and aged foods including cheeses and processed meats like salami.
M.S.G. or Monosodium glutamate. A popular preservative in foods you would not even think needed preservatives.
Foods that contain the additive tyramine.
Skipping meals
Drinking alcohol and caffeine. Also eating chocolate — which has caffeine. (sorry ladies — chocolate is your enemy if you get migraines-so is red wine!)
Artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
Stimulating lights, loud noises, strong smells- too much sensory stimulation can trigger a migraine. (The bright sunlight of March is a killer for me- it can trigger a migraine or it can exacerbate a migraine.)
Certain perfumes or fabric softeners. (I have walked past someone with a perfume or cologne that has instantly caused me a headache. It’s not necessarily the smell itself, but a chemical ingredient in the product that you are sensitive to. I’ve had to explain to people that it wasn’t that I didn’t like the smell—it was an ingredient in the product that gave me an instant headache and a sick stomach.
Second hand smoke.
Hormonal changes- prior to menstruation, during pregnancy and during menopause. (Yeah- it’s so fun to be a woman!) Changes in estrogen levels can be thanked for these migraines.
Medications with hormones such as birth control and hormone replacement therapies. (Sometimes these meds can improve migraines however)
Uncontrolled stress.
Physical stress including extreme exercise, and physical exertion including sex.
Poor posture, neck and shoulder tension.
Jet lag.
Low blood sugar.
Dehydration.
Irregular, too little or too much sleep.
Changes in barometric pressure and weather changes.
If you live in Edmonton, Alberta and you are prone to migraines you probably have one right now. How can I say that with certainty?
Because I have one and have had an almost freaking constant migraine since March 1!
“And then a throb hits you on the left side of the head so hard that your head bobs to the right…There’s no way that came from inside your head, you think. That’s no metaphysical crisis. God just punched you in the face.” Andrew Levy
All migraines are not the same.
In the United States over 30 million people suffer from migraines.
Did you know that your migraine headache will never be the same as anybody else’s migraine? Mine aren’t even like a headache — on a really bad day they are like someone is tapping into the side of my head, just above my ear, with a pickaxe. It’s grueling and painful.
There are two major categories of migraines. (Yes of course there can’t just be one kind- we migraine sufferers are blessed with two major kinds, plus all of the sub-types of migraines.)
Migraines fall into one of two categories: Aura, or no aura?
The first is “Migraines with Aura, or Complicated Migraines.”
“It was like there were clear cut and sharp crystal prisms of light on the outside edges of my vision.” Photo credit
A kaleidoscope of visual symptoms, such as lines, shapes or flashes, seeing black dots, or tingling numbness on one side of the body happens before any head pain begins . This usually starts about 10–30 minutes before the migraine and usually lasts about an hour. About one in four people get this type of migraine.
When I had my first aura I didn’t know what was happening as I had not heard of a migraine ‘aura’ before. Scared the shit out of me. It was like there were clear cut and sharp crystal prisms of light on the outside edges of my vision.
You can temporarily lose part of your vision, or your total vision with an ‘aura’, and can also have pins and needles in your arms or legs as well as a stiff neck, shoulders or limbs.
If you experience abnormal migraine symptoms such as loss of sensation or difficulties with speech along with visual disturbances or an extremely severe headache do not ignore these symptoms. See a doctor immediately.
The second is migraines without auras, or common migraines.
These types of migraines account for about 70–90% of migraines. Nausea and vomiting accompany these migraines as well as the ‘aura’ migraines. Symptoms can include throbbing pain or pulsing on one side of the head.
There are also sub-types of migraines.
Chronic migraine: If you have a migraine for more than 15 days in a month.
Menstrual migraine: A pattern connected to the menstrual cycle.
Silent migraine: Migraine without head pain. This is classified as a typical aura without headache migraine, and also includes dizziness, nausea and other visual disturbances besides aura.
Hemiplegic migraine: Causes temporary weakness on one side of the body. A person having this type of migraine may has visual auras and pins and needles. This migraine can almost feel like a stroke.
Abdominal migraine: A newly recognized one that affects children under the age of 14. The migraine attacks are connected to irregular function in the abdomen and gut. Other symptoms tied to this migraine can include attention deficit problems, clumsiness and delayed development.
Brainstem aura migraines: Sounds brutal. Visual, sensory or speech and language symptoms plus two of the following: vertigo, slurred speech, tinnitus, unsteadiness, double vision or severe sensitivity to sound.
Vestibular: A migraine that includes having vertigo. The spinning sensation of the vertigo can last from a few minutes to hours.
Retinal migraine: When a headache causes temporary vision loss in one eye. This migraine happens to women of childbearing years, causing blindness that can last from a minute to months. Usually this blindness is reversible. For any woman who experiences this type of migraine it is strongly suggested that a specialist is seen to rule out more serious issues.
Ice Pick Migraines/Headaches: These are the ones that I get. While the stab of pain is fleeting, the duration of these repetitive stabs of pain is killer.
Cluster Headaches: According to the American Migraine foundation, this type of migraine is sometimes referred to as “suicide headaches”, because the pain is severe and the symptoms are extremely irritating. The symptoms include burning pain that starts above or around your eyes that can move to your temples and to the back of your head. Along with this is a runny nose and red, swollen eyes.
Cervicogenic headaches: With these headaches the pain is caused from the neck or even possibly a lesion on the your spine. Physical therapy is usually needed along with medication to treat this type of migraine.
Opthalmoplegic Migraine: This is most likely to occur in children and young adults. This causes intense pain behind the eye along with double vision. Paralysis of the eye muscles can cause a droopy eyelid. Vomiting and seizures can also accompany this migraine, and a doctor will most likely check for an aneurysm because of the severe symptoms.
Status migrainosus: A very rare and serious type of migraine. These can last for over 72 hours and most often the affected person will need to be hospitalized. Hospitalization is necessary because the prolonged vomiting and nausea will cause dehydration, so intravenous treatments are required.
(I didn’t realize that there were so many different types of migraines when I started doing my research but I had to continue to list them all or I would have an incomplete story! I’ll try to keep the list of treatments shorter.)
Popular Migraine Treatments Including Pain Prevention and Pain Relief
I did not get my first migraine until I was 30. After a weekend of camping, eating chocolate, drinking some red wine and then going out for Chinese food I had my first doozie of a migraine. (And I don’t even like red wine -not sure why I was drinking it!!) I have repeatedly told people that I can’t drink red wine, and I can’t eat too much chocolate, but sure enough I get the usual boxes of chocolates at Christmas, or I am handed a bottle of red wine as a hostess gift. Free regifting items is what they become.
Migraine Pain Prevention:
Learn to recognize your migraine triggers. Unfortunately the one thing you can’t control is the weather, but you can begin to take medication if you feel a migraine coming on or you can take daily medication if you have chronic migraines.
Avoid sensory overstimulation -remove yourself from an overstimulating environment.
Turn off the lights, turn off the tv, turn off the music if you feel a migraine starting.
Try using ice packs for a numbing effect, and hot packs to relax tense muscles. Use a warm or cold shower the same way. (I once had a migraine where the side of my head got hot. Using ice packs was a must to relieve the pain.)
In the early stages drinking a small amount of caffeine may help ward off a migraine.
Unwind at the end of the day -have a relaxing bath, listen to soothing music.
Eat and exercise regularly.
Simplify your life to manage stress - adopt some stress management techniques like deep breathing or meditation.
Prescription Drugs for Migraine Prevention:
Cardiovascular drugs (beta blockers)
Certain antidepressants
Anti-seizure drugs
Injection therapy
NSAID’S -nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, naproxen (eg. Aleve)
Botox injections are also used for chronic migraines.
“I’ve taken Midol before. My daughters find that hilarious. I had a headache and cramps, and there were no other pain relievers with caffeine in the house.” Bob Saget
Pain Relievers:
Over the counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen.
Prescribed triptans or dihydroergotamine (injection)
Prescriptions for nausea
Opiods or glucocorticoids (prednisone)
I take a triptan when the over the counter pain relievers are not working. However there is a very limited dosage allowed to be taken each day, so you need to be cautious if taking a triptan. They also knock me out, so I have to plan to be able to sleep for a bit if I need to take this medication. Plus they don’t always work.
Unfortunately sometimes you just have to suffer the pain of migraines.
“You look fine!” “Yes because migraines are invisible.” Unknown
Migraines suck. It has taken me three days to write this article, and only with taking lots of meds! I am thankful that I don’t often get the extreme nausea or sensitivity to light that can happen with migraines. They are a bitch to cope with.
Learning what your migraine triggers are, trying to stop a potential migraine in it’s tracks, and finding a treatment that works for you will help you get your life back from this debilitating invisible illness.
To all you migraine sufferers, I wish you relief from the pain and I am sending you hugs!
Are you a migraine sufferer? Do you get more migraines in the spring? Share in the comments below.
Corrine Roberts is a wife, mother, avid reader, artist, and aspiring writer. She originally published an earlier version of this piece on Invisible Illness. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
Sources: Mayo Clinic, American Migraine Foundation, WebMd, Healthline, Practical Pain Management, HealthLinkBC