With migraines, your head often feels like a battle zone.  If you suffer migraines and Meniere’s disease, it can feel like WWIII.  Blinding headaches, throbbing ears, constant ear ringing, sharp pain in the eyes, dizziness, and vomiting are enough to make you want to raise the white flag.  What’s the connection between tinnitus from Meniere’s disease and migraines?

What is Meniere’s disease?

Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder that causes dizziness and tinnitus (ear ringing).  Most people who get Meniere’s disease are between the ages of 40 and 60, although it can happen in any age group.  Meniere’s disease is caused by excess fluid in the ears that gets in the way of sound messages between the inner ear’s cochlea and the brain.  Scientists do not agree as to why people get Meniere’s disease.  Theories range from viruses, autoimmune disorder, allergies, or hereditary predisposition.

What are the symptoms of Meniere’s disease?

Three main symptoms indicate Meniere’s disease:

• Sporadic vertigo: Sensation of spinning or rocking that includes nausea and vomiting; vertigo is not constant, and doesn’t usually last longer than one day.
• Sensorineural hearing loss: Hearing loss that is caused by abnormal brain processing and communication between the brain and the cochlea is a symptom used to diagnose Meniere’s disease.
• Tinnitus: Constant ear ringing; with Meniere’s disease, tinnitus symptoms are usually low pitch.

How are migraines and Meniere’s disease related?

Like Meniere’s disease, migraines are a disorder that occurs in the brain.  One popular theory is that your nervous system, responding to migraine triggers, causes a spasm at the base of your brain that causes blood vessels to constrict, setting into motion a series of chemical reactions that lead to debilitating migraine headaches.

Some scientists believe that migraines are caused by intercepted messages between the brain and the blood vessels in the head.  This bears striking resemblance to the cause of Meniere’s disease, which involves intercepted sound messages between the brain and the inner ear’s cochlea.

More facts correlating Meniere’s, tinnitus and migraines

• Overwhelmingly, migraine disorder occurs more often in people with Meniere’s disease than in the general population.
• The classic symptoms of Meniere’s disease- nausea, vertigo, ringing in the ears- are also common symptoms of a migraine attack.
• Some scientists believe that like migraines, Meniere’s disease is also caused by constricted blood vessels.
• Current research suggests that tinnitus in migraine sufferers is a symptom of allodynia, a neuropathic pain disorder that also occurs in fibromyalgia patients. Central sensitization caused by a hypersensitive nervous system causes symptoms like headaches, skin pain, and tinnitus.

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from tinnitus and migraines? If so, do you experience migraines with aura, or migraines without aura?

If you liked this article, then please share it with your friends!

Read more about migraine symptoms and causes:

Migraine Headaches, Cluster Headaches …Ponytail Headaches?

Allodynia and Migraine Pain

Sources:

Tinnitus in Migraine: An Allodynic Symptom Secondary to Abnormal Cortical Functioning?

Meniere’s Disease- NIDCD Health Information

Migraine art exhibits are hard to watch; sometimes gruesome, always disturbing migraine art portrayals of migraine symptoms like migraine aura, excruciating migraine headaches, and stomach-clenching nausea allow migraineurs to give skeptics a glimpse into their struggles with chronic pain.

Migraine stigma affects everybody

“If only you could see what migraines feel like, you would be more sympathetic.”

That’s the motto of many a migraineur having to deal with agonizing migraine headaches and public skepticism at the same time.  While migraines may happen once or twice per month, their ominous presence lingers 24/7, threatening to disrupt work, pleasure, sleep, and all the other nuances of daily life.

Migraine art raises awareness

“Migraines make me feel useless, depressed, and alone.”

Depression is one of the most troubling aspects of migraine illness. Despair magnifies pain, making it harder to cope with severe headaches, vomiting, nausea, and eye sensitivity.  You feel like you can’t contribute to society, can’t perform your work duties, can’t function in a family unit- all because you never know when the next migraine attack is going to strike.

With the popularity of migraine art, millions of chronic pain sufferers know that they are not alone at all, and that they are part of a society of migraine patients facing the same struggles that they themselves endure.

What’s that Smell? Migraine Sensitivity and Olfactory Auras

Migraine is a documented illness

“Migraines are not an excuse to get out of work- they’re part of a neurological disorder.”

Migraine art dates back to the 12^th century, hundreds of years before doctors first began documenting illustrations of scintillating scotomas, a visual phenomenon that occurs with migraine aura, mere minutes before a migraine attack.

It is widely believed that Lewis Carroll, the man behind the Alice in Wonderland tales, experienced migraine auras frequently, as evidenced by character descriptions like the elusive Cheshire cat, or Alice’s not feeling “quite myself.”
 

Go Ask Alice: Migraine Auras in Wonderland

Read more about migraines with aura

Migraine Aura Video Simulations: You Tube’s Top 10

Migraine Pain, Portrayed through Art and Poetry

When Migraine Aura with Aphasia leaves you Lost for Words

Sources:

Migraine Aura Foundation

Migraine headaches are not just about throbbing head pain; sufferers of migraine have strong sensitivity to smells, resulting in olfactory aura- an indicator of an approaching migraine attack. Migraine odors usually include unpleasant imagined smells such as burnt food, cigarette smoke, or rotten garbage.

What causes migraine headaches?

Millions of people suffer from migraine symptoms, such as severe headaches, nausea, and dizziness, but nobody has come up with a universal migraine cure. However, by determining migraine triggers and experimenting with various migraine remedies many- if not all- migraine suffers are able to find a measure of relief from their debilitating migraine symptoms.

What is a migraine aura?

A migraine aura appears during the migraine prodrome stage- generally, just a few minutes before the migraine attack strikes. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is one example of a migraine aura that includes distorted body image, auditory hallucinations, loss of spatial awareness, and temporary jumbled, confused speech patterns.  Typical migraine auras are bright lights and voids, such as blue-green zigzagging lines, eclipses, and blind spots.

Olfactory hallucinations

Sometimes, migraine patients report smelling weird, unusual odors before a migraine attack- odors that don’t actually exists, save for them.  Thes olfactory auras are called parosmia.  The majority of migraine patients describe imagined smells as putrid, smoky odors.  Common descriptions are:

• burning wood
• toxic-smelling aromas
• sewer-like stenches
• smoke
• decomposed garbage.

Read more about migraine illness:

Night Terrors, Migraines, and Insomnia- 7 Nightmare Headaches

Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky

Sources:

Imagined smells can precede migraines

Olfactory hallucinations in primary headache disorders: Case series and literature review

Olfactory aura symptoms- Migraine Aura Foundation

Migraine Symptoms: Olfactory Hallucinations

Image credits, from top:

andertoons, John Kasawa, steakpinball, Grant Cochrane

Flickr

Other people have difficulty understanding chronic migraine illness; here are some communication tips to improve your relationship with friends and family.

Invisible illness, unmistakable pain.

Flickr

How many times have people said to you, “How was I supposed to know you had a headache?  You look fine to me.” Haven’t you ever wished that you had a “not now, I have a headache,” sign that you could paste to your forehead?  Although migraine isn’t officially an “invisible illness,” it ought to be.  Admit it- sometimes, when you see somebody hobbling along with a crutch, or wearing a cast, you’re a bit jealous.  You think, “Hey!  I’m suffering, too…the only reason nobody notices is because I don’t show it externally.”

Get it all out into the open

Flickr

You might not have any observable handicaps, but you do have a tool that you can use to communicate your illness to others: your voice. It might not get you a spot in the handicapped parking zone, but communicating verbally with others to help them understand your condition will go a long way towards improving your relationships, relieving stress, and removing migraine stigma.

There are no psychics, mind readers, or empaths here

Flickr

Friends and family won’t know that you’re suffering a migraine attack unless you tell them each time.  Don’t expect people to sense that you often feel depressed, anxious, alone, helpless, angry, or weak.  They can’t understand what you go through without some help on your part.

Here are some excellent tips for breaking the ice about migraines:

1- Talk about your migraines when you’re not in pain. Don’t wait until you’re writhing in pain to explain that the noise from the television feels like a drill boring through your skull.  Take your husband, son, daughter, or friend aside on a good day.  Make a lunch date, or just pick a quiet moment before bedtime.  Explain to them all about all the ins and outs of migraine attacks- the aura that sometimes occurs before the attack, symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramping, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to lights, scents, and sounds.  See Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!

2- Introduce them to migraine art. A picture is worth a thousand words, so why waste your breath?  Sometimes, video imagery, artistic renderings, or even poetry by fellow migraine sufferers explains migraine symptoms in ways that mere words cannot express.  See here for some examples of Migraine Pain, Portrayed through Art and Poetry.

3- Share links. Email your friends links to various migraine advocacy groups, or other organizations that help people with chronic pain.  Some good ones are Migraine.com, Magnum, and the Invisible Disabilities Association.  See our list of the Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients.

4- “Like” migraines. Share relevant information on Facebook.  Join migraine pages, and suggest them to your friends.  Here are some great blogs for migraine awareness. Tell them about Invisible Illness Week, which takes place on September 12-18, 2011.

Flickr

5- Say it in a letter. Read to them “A Letter to People Without Chronic Pain.”

6- Encourage questions. Your family might not realize that it’s okay to ask you how you’re feeling, or what they can do to help.  Make it clear to them that you welcome their comments, as long as they respect your feelings.  Read 35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer.

7- Educate your friends and family. Have any good books on migraines, chronic pain, or other invisible illnesses?  Offer to lend them a copy, or send them a link to a good migraine book on Amazon.    See our list of Gotta Have Books for Migraineurs- 5 that Stand Out.

8- Keep your workmates in the know. If migraine triggers at work are an issue, then explain your situation to your boss and coworkers.  Does somebody at work wear overpoweringly strong perfume every day?  Talk to her openly about it.  Explain that it’s not personal, but that you are, in a sense, allergic to perfumes, the reaction being severe migraine pain.  If your employers are unable to provide you with a migraine-free environment, then you might have the right to disability benefits.

Flickr

Sources:

When Migraines Endanger Our Friendships

Helping Others Understand Your Migraine

Helping Others Understand: A Letter to People Without Chronic Pain

Free Digital Photos

Do you know somebody who suffers from chronic migraines?  Show them you care by giving them a thoughtful gift package of goodies every headache suffer wants.

More than Words

If you’re close with somebody who gets regular migraine attacks, then you probably understand the agony that they endure.  At times, it can be difficult to find the right words to offer comfort, especially when it seems like no amount of words will do.  Throbbing headaches, sharp jolts of eye pain, stomach cramps, intense nausea, and frequent vomiting are just a few of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks.  Nothing you can say will alleviate their pain, but a few caring gifts will speak louder than any words of sympathy.

What NOT to gift somebody who suffers from chronic migraine headaches:

• Trigger foods, such as cheese, chocolate, wine, dried meats, or really anything aged.  Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky

• Perfume
• Flowers
• Artificially scented candles.  A good alternative is a lightly scented candle made from soy or beeswax.
• Potpourri
• Scented soaps, lotions, or powders

Free Digital Photos

Twenty Great Gifts for Chronic Migraine Headache Sufferers

• 1- Eye covers- Migraine headaches are sometimes caused by bright lights.  To relieve head pain, sufferers need to relax in a dark room with a cold or warm cloth over their eyes.   Look online for some soothing eye masks that provide relief.
• 2- Unscented bath products- A warm, sudsy bath is a delightful way to de-stress for at the end of the day.  Pick out a line of bath gels, salts, and foaming agents that don’t contain perfumes, as scents are a common migraine trigger. Free Digital Photos
• 3- Aromatherapy oils- For some migraineurs, essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, and rosemary provide headache relief.  For others, the opposite effect might be true.  Before diving into the apothecary section, ask your friend which scents trigger migraines for her.
• 4- Herbal tea collection- You can’t go wrong with a variety pack of caffeine-free teabags.
• 5- Dietary supplements- Instead of asking her if she knows about alternative medicine options, go ahead and buy her a bottle of natural herbs formulated to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine symptoms.  Migraine therapies usually contain butterbur, magnesium, riboflavin, and C0Q10.  New York Times- Patient Thanks Butterbur for Migraine Relief
• 6- Music CD- Migraine patients benefit from relaxation exercises; order a CD that features calming background music, or instructional meditations.
• 7- Hot/Cold packs- Cold packs relieve swelling and head pain, but sometimes you want soothing heat for muscular aches.  Look for a hot/cold pack that does double duty.
• 8- New pillow- Buy her a fluffy pillow for when she is bedridden with headaches.  Specialty pillows include body pillows, side sleeping pillows, and neck pillows. 10 Unusual Chronic Pain Relief Tactics for the Bedridden
• 9- New zip-up robe- Most leisure robes and caftans come in one-size-fits-all, so that would be an easy gift to buy.
• 10- Neck massage tool- Neck pain contributes to headaches.  Most health stores and techie gadget shops sell a collection of massage tools for the neck and back.
• 11- Cleaning help- A migraine attack can last for day.  An elaborate (and much appreciated) gesture would be to hire a cleaning lady for the day.
• 12- Day planner- Having a calendar to track future errands, reminders, and events is an effective way to reduce stress. Free Digital Photos
• 13- IPad- iTunes offers a wide selection of health apps that are geared towards migraine patients, including headache diaries, stress managements, and more.   20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers
• 14- Window tints- Vinyl window tints are an easy, inexpensive way to darken your room without buying heavy curtains. Wall paper for your windows comes in many attractive designs.
• 15- Tinted sunglasses- Dark sunglasses are effective for deflecting light-induced migraines.   Rainbow Colored Sunglasses that Prevent Migraines
• 16- Spa package- Who wouldn’t love a trip to a local spa, complete with massage, sauna, and facial?
• 17- Gym membership- Yoga and Tai Chi are therapeutic exercises for chronic pain sufferers.  Find a gym that has a good selection of fitness classes, and buy her a one-month membership.   Blow Off Migraine Pain with 4 Simple Yoga Breathing Exercises!
• 18- Biofeedback session- Biofeedback is a popular alternative migraine treatment that helps pain sufferers learn how to control stress.
• 19- Coupon booklet good for errands, carpooling, laundry, grocery runs, or just a hug.
• 20- Donation to non-profit migraine advocacy organization. Free Digital Photos
• See Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients for some reputable migraine support groups.

Related Reading:

35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer

Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist

Gotta Have Books for Migraineurs- 5 that Stand Out

Sources:

Top Ten Gift Ideas for a Migraine Sufferer

Headache Relief Gifts – Headache and Migraine Center – EverydayHealth.com

Gift Ideas for Headache Sufferers

12 Nice Things You Can Do For Someone In Pain

Flickr

Outrageous, bizarre, and just plain ignorant things said to migraine headache patients by husbands, ER doctors, neurologists, coworkers, neighbors, family, and well-meaning friends.

Some things are better left unsaid

We’ve all received a few choice comments regarding our chronic migraines that we wish we could forget.  Often, people mean well, but simply don’t know what to say.  At such times, the right response is usually no response.  Saying something to a friend or neighbor that you might regret later will just add fuel to your already raging inferno of stress.

Then, there are the times when people make insensitive comments, the kind that frankly leave you too flabbergasted for words.  A good line of defense is to store up some verbal ammo, something that, when said with a faint smile, will get your point across without causing offense.

Flickr

Here is a list of 35 things people should never say to anybody suffering from chronic migraine pain, and some suitable replies.

1. Have you tried (fill in the blanks)? Yes, I’ve heard of aspirin, Excedrin, Imitrex, Botox, Aleve, etc.
2. Migraines, they have treatments for that now.  You must not be trying hard enough. Just grin and walk away.
3. Have you tried Googling your migraine symptoms? Even better, send your friends, family, and coworkers a few links to some helpful migraine advocate websites.   Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients
4. It’s all in your head. Correct- my brain, which is in my head, keeps sending out pain signals to my nerve sensors.
5. We all get headaches… Yes, well, migraine illness is a neurological disease, like Parkinson’s disease.
6. What, are you sick again? Unfortunately, I will probably have to battle with migraines all of my life, unless scientists come up with a foolproof cure.
7. Funny, you don’t look sick… Looks can be deceiving.
8. Gosh, you look terrible! Thanks?
9. What can I do to help? This question is okay, as long as you plan on following up with real actions.  Offer to pitch in with housework, drive carpool for a few days, or pick something up at the supermarket.
10. What’s with the sunglasses? I’m not trying to bring back the 80’s, it’s just that bright lighting causes migraines.
11. Why don’t you get out and enjoy life a bit? Between migraine attacks, I do go out and do the same things non-migraineurs do.  But during a migraine attack, and while recuperating afterwards, the pain is just too immense for me to even step outside.  Flickr
12. Maybe if you just stop thinking about it all the time, it would go away. You try to “stop thinking” about a blunt axe digging into the side of your head, which is what migraine headaches often bear to mind.
13. You just need to learn how to relax. Stress is the #1 contributor to headaches, that is true.  However, relaxation techniques are just one part of a multi-faceted plan towards preventing chronic migraines.  6 Migraine Myth-conceptions
14. You just need to exercise more. Same as above, yoga, tai chi, and moderate aerobics are all effective at reducing the number and severity of migraine symptoms, but they are part of a larger pain management approach.
15. You’re just looking for attention. Toddlers, children, and sometimes, troubled teenagers, seek negative attention.  Please don’t infantilize my condition.
16. You just need to have a few kids. It’s true that pregnancies sometimes reverse the symptoms of migraines, but you’re not suggesting I have babies just to prevent having migraines, are you?  6 Safe Migraine Treatments for Pregnant Moms
17. You just need to drink more (fill in the blanks with either alcohol or water).
18. You just need more sex (from husband).
19. You get migraines at the most inconvenient times (also, from husband).
20. You’re probably just getting your period. If that’s the case, then I’ve been getting menstrual migraines for approximately twenty years.
21. You must have done something to deserve this (from clergymen).
22. Your migraines make you an inconvenience to others and a detriment to society (also, from clergymen).
23. You must have a low threshold for pain. Actually, to quote Diana Lee, blog master of Somebody Heal Me, “Some research in the past few years suggests we actually have greater pain tolerance than non migraineurs.”  Flickr
24. Now that you’ve been laid off, the migraines will go away, because obviously they are caused by stress, right? (From coworkers) That’s like saying to a married couple who has been trying to conceive, “Now that you’ve adopted a child, you’ll probably get pregnant right away!”
25. No pain, no gain! That saying isn’t even true about sports, anymore.
26. Well, at least it is not life threatening (from neurologist).
27. It can’t be that bad; you came to work, didn’t you? Because I’m still waiting on that winning lottery ticket…
28. Why aren’t you home in bed, lying in a dark room with a cold cloth on your head? Are you offering to pay my mortgage and feed my family?
29. I get migraines, but that doesn’t stop me from going to work, doing the laundry, visiting my family, etc. Like most things in life, migraine symptoms are not black and white; migraine sufferers experience a wide range of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, head pain, light sensitivity, aura (visual disturbances), speech slurring, feebleness, and temporary loss of consciousness.  So, your migraine experience does not necessarily correlate to anyone else’s.
30. When I was your age, I didn’t have the luxury of being sick. This is your grandma talking, so just smile and politely change the subject.
31. Did you forget to take your Happy Pills today? Pretend you didn’t hear that one.
32. I just hate taking pain pills… Yeah, well, it’s no pleasure cruise for me, either.
33. Wow, you’re like a walking medicine cabinet! Think to yourself, “Then why did I forget my stupid pills?”
34. You know, we try not to encourage narcotic drug addiction (from ER doctor, to a patient who was suffering a severe migraine attack, complete with throbbing headache, vomiting, and nausea).  If you’re distressed, and in extreme agony, then you probably won’t be able to think clearly enough to respond appropriately.  If you know somebody who is a good advocate, somebody who’s not afraid to stand up to an inexperienced, overeducated ER doctor, then enlist that person as your emergency hospital chaperone.  When the pain is overwhelming, let somebody else do the talking for you, and you’re more likely to get a positive outcome.
35. (Referring to migraine trigger foods) You might as well eat that- you’re bound to get another headache soon, anyways. Such remarks are tacky and insensitive.  You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s on a restrictive diet, or somebody who’s trying to lose weight, would you?

Flickr

Related reading:

Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!

Managing your Migraines at Work- 4 Healthy Changes in Attitude

Migraine Aura Video Simulations: You Tube’s Top 10

Sources:

10 Things NOT to Say to a Person with Migraines

Twenty Things NOT To Say To A Person With An Invisible Illness

What is the worst thing anyone has or can say to you about migraine?

12 Nice Things You Can Do For Someone In Pain

Ga-Ga-sized heels are all the rage, but at what cost to your physical and neurological well-being?

Migraine headaches are a leading cause for disability

Migraine headache illness debilitates millions of sufferers, most of whom are woman, every year.  For many, migraine attacks keep them at home and out of work, school, and social engagements.  Migraine symptoms such as throbbing head pain, nausea, vomiting, visual impairments, and speech difficulties make it difficult, if not impossible, for migraine patients to hold down a job.

Nevertheless, Republican candidate Michele Bachmann assures her supporters for the upcoming Presidential Election of 2012 that she has her chronic migraines under control.  Although she has required emergency treatment on several occasions for chronic migraine attacks, Ms. Bachmann has declared that migraine medications keep her condition stabilized, and that her “uncomfortable high-heeled shoes” were to blame for most of her head pain.

“Can wearing high-heeled pumps trigger migraine headaches?” ask experts.

Well, it’s no secret that wearing spikey heels promotes bad posture.  According to Spine-Health, poor posture distorts the natural curve of the spine, contributing to “back and neck pain, as well as headaches, fatigue, and possibly even concerns with major organs and breathing.”

Sacrificing comfort for fashion is one thing, but sacrificing your mental and physical health for a really cute pair of Jimmy Choo’s is beyond normal comprehension.

Which came first- the power heels or the migraines?

Still, not all health experts agree.  Dr. Joel Saper, founder and director of the Michigan Headache and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, thinks it’s more likely that the correlation exists between migraine headaches and stress; for a career woman struggling to earn the respect of her peers, leather high-heeled shoes are just par for the course.

And for Michele Bachmann, who hopes to win a male-dominated political campaign, even recurring flashes of migraines won’t keep her from rising to new heights.

Also read:

The Four Phases of Migraine Headache Attacks

10 Unusual Chronic Pain Relief Tactics for the Bedridden

Slash your Migraine Medication Budget- 8 Ways to Save Money

Sources:

What Migraines? New Yorkers Defend Their High Heels – NYTimes.com

High Heels Cause of Michele Bachmann’s Migraines? – ABC News

Can High Heels Trigger Migraines? – TIME Healthland

Good Posture Helps Reduce Back Pain

Reduce migraine triggers at work from within

Is job pressure making your life difficult?  If you suffer from chronic migraines, then you already have a lion’s share of stress.  Many migraine patients have difficulty performing at work, and the results are sobering, as unemployment rates are particularly high among migraineurs.  However, with just a few politely executed communications, you can turn your work environment into a more migraine-friendly office setting.

Don’t brush your migraines under the rug. Migraine illness is a real disease, just as Parkinson’s disease and asthma  are valid illnesses.  You wouldn’t neglect to tell others about your dietary needs if you had diabetes, so why should you treat your migraineur’s needs any differently?  Instead of pretending to ignore the elephant in the office room, be open about your weaknesses- and strengths.  Don’t be afraid to admit that you are suffering from chronic pain, but leave no doubt that you are committed to maintaining your job performance level.  Publicly acknowledge any efforts your employers or coworkers make to accommodate your needs.

Stay in touch with your physician. If you’re not satisfied with the results that you’ve been getting from your current migraine treatment, then ask your neurologist about any new alternatives therapies.  The headache relief you’ve been waiting for could be just around the bend; all you need to do is ask.

Take steps towards improving your work environment. If certain aspects about your job are giving you miserable migraines, think about some possible approaches that could change things for the better.  If it’s a lack of fresh air, ask if you could get a seat by an open window.  Discreetly mention to any heavily perfumed office workers about your heightened sensitivity to strong scents.  If the bright track lighting is triggering your headaches, consider wearing sunglasses to work, and casually mention to your coworkers how much relief you get from donning a pair of colored lenses.  They’ll take your openness as a sign that you are comfortable talking about your migraines, and that you are doing what you can to improve your situation.

Give your office mates the benefit of the doubt. Regardless of your efforts to explain that migraines are a neurological disease, you will nevertheless receive well-meaning advice that applies to milder, common tension headache pain.  Even if you’re writhing in pain, try to slap on a small grin and politely excuse yourself.  Don’t say something that you will regret later; it’ll only add to your stress level and make it even harder for you to relax around your coworkers.

Related Reading:

Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky

Wine, Cheese, Perfume, and other Headache Triggers

Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist

Sources:

Dealing with Migraines in the Workplace

Tips for Handling Migraine In the Workplace

Migraines in the Workplace

Migraine treatments like Topamax don’t have to break your bank; follow these 8 economical guidelines.

It’s hard enough to make ends meet these days, even if you don’t have an expensive pharmacy bill.  Migraine treatments such as Imitrex, Topamax, and Maxalt can be costly, unless you take advantage of some of the cost-cutting opportunities that are accessible in your area.

Here are 8 tactics for saving money on migraine treatments:

• 1- Buy generic. “Plain wrap” brands of medicine usually have the same potency as the more expensive versions, and generic medications are increasing in availability.  Call your neurologist, and find out if he can order your current migraine treatment under a generic label.
• 2- Buy over-the-counter (OTC). Over-the-counter medicines are always less expensive than the types that require a doctor’s prescription.  The only catch is- some are less effective than others are.  While a 100-capsule bottle of OTC migraine pain reliever might be cheaper than the same amount of prescribed pain reliever, you might need to twice as much just to get the same results.  Should I Take Excedrin for Migraine Headaches?
• 3- Consider alternative medicine. Scientists conclude that a high correlation exists between migraine illness and magnesium deficiency.  Nutritional magnesium supplements for alternative migraine treatment are available online, and are a more frugal and healthier alternative to traditional migraine abortive medications and pain relievers.  Additionally, many migraine sufferers have successfully used non-drug approaches to relive migraine pain, such as biofeedback, acupuncture, and chiropractic care.
• 4- Stand by your family doctor. Don’t assume you need to visit a costly neurologist.  If your family practitioner says he can help, then let him.  You’ll save money in the end.
• 5- Read the insurance manual. Become familiar with your insurance plan; namely, which meds are covered, and what, if any, copayments are required.  You might find a better plan that meets your migraineur’s needs.
• 6- Grill your pharmacist. Ask if your prescription is part of any current migraine medication savings, such as rebates, coupons, vouchers, or free medical trials.  Walmart pharmacy offers a $4.00 Prescription Program; Target, Costco, and Kmart also offer excellent savings of pharmaceutical products, but not all treatments are covered; you’ll need to inquire from their customer service desk.
• 7- Don’t be shy. Before your doctor gives you a prescription for a costly migraine treatment, be upfront about your migraine budget.  Ask if there are any comparable medications available at a lower cost.
• 8- Break some habits…and make new ones. If you haven’t omitted headache triggers from your diet, then there’s no better time than the present.  Pick up a headache diary from your local hospital, or check out iTunes for a selection of migraine journals for your iPod, iPhone, or iPad.  If you aren’t on a light exercise program, then start one immediately.  Even twenty minutes of light exercise, each day, alleviates stress, the number one trigger of all headaches.

Related reading:

Still on the Fence about Botox for Headache Relief? Read what Scientists and Skeptics have to Say

New Study Warns against Taking these Painkillers with Antidepressants

20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers

Sources:

How to Save Money on Migraine Medications – Headache and Migraine Center – Everyday Health

Pink Pearl Girl’s Migraine World: Migraine Medication Savings

Alternative Measures for Migraine Treatment

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency

Migraine Disease is a debilitating illness that causes untold suffering to its victims- sharp, pounding headaches, nausea, intense sensitivity to light and sounds, and visual distortions.  Many headache triggers provoke migraine attacks; scientists believe that magnesium deficiency is one of them.

A deficiency in magnesium may lead to the following symptoms and conditions:

• Muscle spasms
• Migraine headaches
• Cerebral infarction
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Osteoporosis
• Anxiety

A good course of action to ensure that you are getting enough magnesium is to take regular magnesium supplementation every day.  In addition, including foods that are high in magnesium will give you the extra migraine-fighting power you need.

Here are 5 of the best food sources of magnesium:

#1- GRAINS: One cup of rice bran packs a whopping 922mg of magnesium- that’s 230% of the RDA.  Buckwheat flour is also a rich source of magnesium, at 301mg for each cup of whole groats.  The same amount of raw oat bran contains 221mg.

#2- NUTS: Nuts are very high in magnesium, with Brazil nuts leading the way at 376mg in one 3.5-ounce serving.  Almonds are close behind, with 156 mgs for a two-ounce serving.

#3-Molasses: One hundred grams of blackstrap molasses contains 242mg of magnesium.  Use it to replace honey or corn syrup in recipes.

#4-VEGETABLES: Lots of veggies are rich in this essential mineral.  One cup of canned spinach, Popeye’s favorite, packs 163mg of magnesium.  Cornmeal follows with 155 mgs in every cup.  One cup of artichoke hearts delivers 101mg of magnesium.  Stuffed artichokes add an elegant touch to every meal.  Learn how to remove artichoke hearts on YouTube.

#5- FISH: Three ounces of halibut provide 91mg of magnesium, while a serving of fresh Yellowfin tuna has 54mg.

Suggested reading:

Why Magnesium Prevents Migraines

Top 4 Headache Treatments

Source:

High Magnesium Foods

Office of Dietary Supplements – Magnesium

Top 10 Foods Highest in Magnesium

Magnesium & Migraine | The Daily Headache