 Mindfulness
I have suffered from migraines since I was a child. There have been times that I was so nauseated from a headache that I could not even keep down a glass of water!
One thing I have discovered is mindfulness or meditation.....It REALLY does help. In fact, people use these techniques to deal with all sorts of pain.
Here's what you do: Get into a comfortable position. Concentrate on a particular part of your body. If you are not having a headache, concentrate on your breathing. But if you are having a migraine, FOCUS ON THE PAINFUL spot. Become MINDFUL of what is going on. Oddly enough, by focusing on the pain, it is not painful anymore. You still feel the headache there, but the suffering is gone. I don't know how to explain it any better than that. It works every time, but you have to stay with it. I use an ice pack at the same time that I practice this technique. Sometimes I fall asleep (which is not the goal) and when I do, the migraine is usually gone.
Here are the other remedies I have tried:
Ice packs and a dark room--can keep me from throwing up, but the headache stays.
Caffeine--not effective
Aspirin--not effective
tylenol--not effective
ibuprofen--takes the edge off, but the headache stays
Maxalt--did not help all the time--not a reliable remedy for me
Imitrex--works almost always...This is what I use now.
Tylenol 3 with codeine--I LOVE this stuff, and it is foolproof. Unfortunately, I can't get a Dr. to prescribe it for me. They are afraid I will become addicted. It gives you a goofy, sleepy feeling, that frankly, is quite pleasant. Maybe I would become addicted! |