Not particularly cycling related except that they stop me riding! (and doing everything else for that matter&hellip Just thought I’ll ask who else has this curse and what treatment works for you.

I’ve been having migraines since April last year and they have recently got a bit out of control. Over the past couple of months I’ve been averaging almost one a week, sometimes 2 week. I’ve tried the usual painkillers with absolutely no effect, moved onto sumatriptans and now taking rizatriptans. 

I am also experimenting with preventatives – bit of a gamble with side effects though. I tried pizotifen which made me unbelievably drowsy, all I wanted to do was sleep and I didn’t even take the full prescribed dose! So I stopped those after a week.

Now I’m on slow release Propranalol and so far doing OK. I am slightly concerned about the blood pressure lowering/ heart rate slowing effect though, it is primarily a blood pressure medication after all. I’m only taking 80mg a day and the doc said it shouldn’t affect my heart but my blood pressure and heart rate being on the low side anyway I really don’t need them to get any lower.

Well, let’s hope this at least reduces my migraines, I’m happy to put up with a few side effects if have my brain chiselled out a bit less frequently!

Anu, poor old you... I don't suffer with migraines that often but over the past 10 years have had a few and they're horrible so you have my sympathies   My dad started suffering at about our age, and still does, and swears by taking a Veganin tablet the minute the sparkles in his eyes appear.  This knocks the sever headache pain on the head and makes it bearable.  It may work for you. 

One thing I do find that helps me, although it's not preventative at all, is put a cool damp cloth on my forehead and keep replacing it, it really does help with the pain. 

Hope you get yourself sorted, you're fit and healthy but have you thought it could be something you eat or drink ?  May be visit a nutritionist and get some specialist help ... might be worth a try.

Good luck and hope to see you out on your bike soon x

I don't know if it applies to migraines, but neck and back problems can certainly trigger headaches... 

Good luck finding something that works. I've only had one migraine, but it was pretty heinous - can't imagine how awful it would be to be going through that all the time.

Poor you Anu.  There's nothing worse than a migraine.  I had a nasty one the other week - I didn't realise how bad it was until I had to ride home from work.  I thought I was going to pass out.  I was off work for 2 days so you have my sympathy.

It could be related to your back as DD says - are you still having treatment on that?

oh, my back saga goes on and on...

<!--[if gte vml 1]><vhapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" opt="75" oreferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <vtroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <vath o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </vhapetype><vhape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='width:14.25pt; height:14.25pt'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\anu\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif" o:href="http://www.shecycles.com/forum/smilies/sad_smiley.gif"/> </vhape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->

don't know what happened there... but anyway...

I have been to see a physio, chiropractor, GP and NHS back specialist and so far nobody has been able to give me a clear diagnosis, let alone what to do about my aching back. I have another appointment with my GP next week and i want a referral to a private back specialist. I have looked around and found a couple of orthopaedic surgeons who at least sound like they know waht they are doing...

The NHS back specialist was such a waste of time, I saw him 3 times, had a steroid injection in the SI joint (no effect) and in the end he just said "I have no idea what's causing the pain but if sitting down hurts just stop sitting. See you again in 2 months" Now what sort of treatment plan is that - stop sitting!!! How can he know that not sitting will make it better if he doesn't know what's causing it??!!

Well, if dealing with idiots gives you migraines at least I have an explanation what has triggered my recent spell!!

He doesn't sound like a specialist! What a waste of space and time.  I bet it was uncomfortable having the steroid injection in your SI joint - ouch.

I'm learning more and more about the back and what could be triggering 'pain', it's a bit of a mine field but someone out there should be able to help you out.  I know a very good osteopath - he's an ex-pro roadie so he knows cyclists and injuries inside out.  It may be a trek going to see him (he's in Stoke) but he fixed me in a couple of sessions.  If you need his details let me know.  It may be worth the couple of hundred miles to get there!

Could it be a food sesnistivity. Now,  I'm a big beliver in orthodox medecine, but  I used to suffer from migraines - totally debilitating for a couple of days or more, about once every 6 weeks or so. I gave up all forms of dairy food  (initalli tried cutting out wheta, but after 2 months, was still getting migraines)- was really strict about it - and they went away! After about a year or so I tried small amounts of dairy again, which seems to have (touch wood) kept the symptoms at bay.  Eczema and Psoriasis has also cleared up.  

Sorry - a bit late but just came across this thread.  I have had migraines for the past 25 years (since teenager really).  I take migraleve which helps if I get it early enough.  They can vary from one a week to several months with none. 

I also have a friend who does something called Bowen - manipulation of the soft tissues.  I am fortunate that she works in the same office as me and 99% of my migraines come at work so a bit of help from her and my migraine is usually manageable after about an hour (which is sooo much better than in the past).

My main cause seems to be blood sugar related - if I eat a lot of sweet stuff or rubbish on one day and then nothing the next morning its odds on I'll have a migraine that lunchtime or early afternoon.  I get the roaring in the ears, flashing lights, then the pain. 

Never tried some of the preventative stuff you mention and wonder whether this might help - my main worry is that I am on a charity cycle ride in India soon and could certainly do without a migraine during the trip!

brief update...

I stopped taking Propranolol just over a week ago and I feel like I have been reborn!

I had forgotten how much energy I can have! I was aware the medication was making me tired and exercise felt really pointless when I couldn't get my heart rate up at all but the amount of zing I have now feels great! I've been back on the bike doing little rides (back ache permitting) and I have loony grin on my face all the way! Fingers crossed this will last...

I still have odd sensations in my head, short sharp headaches and tingling down my cheeks, I see moving patterns when I close my eyes and all sorts of weird things so I have an appointment with a neurologist in a week. My GP thought it's better just to check all these oddities are migraine related and a not cause for any concern. I can also find out about more exercise-friendly preventatives should I need them in the future.

Kris- if you do wish to try any preventatives my best advice is try them well in advance before you need to do anything important to find out what side effects you might get.  I would not want to be taking these drugs if I had to do anything physically demanding.

If your migraines usually come at work hopfully they stay away when you are in India. 

Anu, I didn't see this thread initially but thought it still worth posting. I've suffered since a teenager and went through the usual trials with diet (dairy free for a year - what a nightmare), painkillers, numerous preventative treatments and accompanying side effects, and neurological investigations. In my early 20's my GP suggesting that they'd probably disappear when I had a family - I now have 3 lovely teenage sons but no sign of the migraines subsiding.

I was 35 when my GP finally agreed to prescribe Sumatriptan - what a difference - I still get the initial migraine symptoms every 3-4 weeks (although they do seem to be lessening - must be my age<!--[endif]-->) but so long as I take a tablet with a little food asap (even if I don't feel like eating) and then continue taking them every 3-4 hours as the effects wear off I find I can carry on virtually as normal. The attack still lasts a couple of days but so long as I can take the medication it's not a problem. The only time an attack really takes hold is if I can't to grab a bite to eat with the tablet (for some reason the sickness kicks in quickly and then it's too late) or on those, er, occasions when a little beer over indulgence means that food is out of the question - self-inflicted that though really. I don't really find the attacks exercise related although if I've been for a pretty long ride and feel a headache coming on I'll take a tablet with my post-ride snack.

Take care, and hope you get sorted soon.

Being old and boring, I listen to Radio 4 in the car. They have a programme called Case Notes, which looks at a particular medical issue each week. They had a programme on migraines and headaches, and you can listen again here

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/casenotes_20071002.shtml

 It was a really interesting programme and gave me some tips that are quite useful. I suffer from migraine and used to get them after going out on a bike ride (not every time though). I always used to drink water or sugar free squash, but listened to some of the nutritional advice on this and use isotonic drinks now. Since then I;ve not had a migraine post exercise.

 They also discuss some new treatments that you could discuss with your GP.

Thanks for the link JoeyEmma, I found it very interesting. Nothing wrong with Radio4!

My migraines just seem to be completely random, they are not triggered by any food or not eating or exercise, neither is there any sensory link. The only "pattern" is that I've never had one start while I'm sleeping or exercising, but that could be just a coincidence. 

I'm seeing a neurologist next week and will definitely mention that PFO stuff discussed in the program. 

I've had migraines since 14 and mine are primarily hormonal - linked to my cycle. (and were raging during those 14-19 years, oh lucky me) Perhaps worth checking your hormones, cervical smear etc? I mention it mainly because you've only started getting them in the last year so it certain sounds like something has changed that wasn't there before, which of course could also be your back. I know one woman who never had migraines until she hit menopause.

I also get exercise migraines (a mystery to me as to why until last year, I just thought I was weird), again since late teens. Now I take ibuprofin before a run or ride and that seems to prevent it.

I know this is an older thread and hope maybe you're feeling better!

Anu,

hope you are feeling better - i used to suffer when I had a stressy job - used to have to leave work before my eyesight got too bad - seems under control now. The only thing I took was ibuprofen.

 Now its just if I go without food - like stuck in a meeting until after 12 or also after a hard bike ride - I drink plenty of water - anyone know why this might be ? Still easily cured with a nurafen and a nap luckily but no good when kids are around!

Does anyone else get post ride migraines/headaches ?

Hi, I've been getting bad headaches after strenuous exercise for over 20 years. I used to run, and after a Sunday race all I'd want to do was lie down - the head ache would last all day. I always thought it must be due to dehydration but no amount of drinking water after the race would ease the pain.

I now get it after strenuous biking, or during if it's anything longer than an hour; anything that gets my heart going, even though I drink most of the water from my Camelbak . I'd also read about 'exercise induced headaches' as Tina mentioned. The headaches are quite debilitating but I don't think they are severe enough to be called migraines. Perhaps Isotonic drinks are the answer, but I'd have to find one with nil calories as I don't want to be using up my WW 'points' for a rehydration drink. I think I'll also try Ibuprofen before I go out.

i used to get migraines extremely frequently when i was a teenager, leading to my doctor putting me on beta blockers to get me through the Leaving Cert (A-levels in ireland)... There was never any thought about what could be causing my migraines but just a drug solution offered. I felt horrible while I was taking these for four months and became extremely moody (moodier than normal teenage behaviour that is )

Ever since I came to university and got away from my stressful second level school, I began to try to control my migraines. I gave up eating red meat which had an amazing effect, began to mountain bike and generally became less stressed. Of course, it's more difficult to avoid around exam time but it still can be avoided with good time management, preparation and exercise. For me, it is about controlling my response to stressful activities mainly.

well, a few months on propranolol seemed to sort me out! I have not had a migraine since September!

I had a chat with a neurologist and he couldn't really give any explanation - just that the result was better than expected. Apparently migraines can come and go for no reason. I absolutely hated the side effects of propranolol but this is by far the longest migraine-free period I've ever had, so it was worth the misery.