Visual PFO treatment...
September 2, 2005 5:06 pm
You've read here several times about PFO and it's relation to migraine. Check out the article from HeadWay, "Mixed Blood and Migraines" for more on how this common heart defect may be related to migraine.
If you really want to know more about the defect and the operation needed to solve the problem, check out the MIST website. They have diagrams, explanations of words, and even a video animation, which is very helpful. Here's the page with the video and diagrams of PFO. They have other materials around their site to help you understand what all the excitement is about. Who knows? Maybe this will be the key to fighting off your migraine...
I'd be interested if anyone reading this has personal experience with PFO and migraine. Feel free to comment!
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Is it time to make a change?
September 3, 2005 9:43 am
You've just heard about a new treatment. Maybe it's a lifestyle change. You're finally convinced that this could really improve your life. If you're like me, you may be tempted to jump in with both feet right away!
Now that's not always a bad thing. It's good to get started when you're motivated, when you have that extra psychological boost. But an article in a recent HealthQuest newsletter from Mayo Clinic is a good reminder to think carefully before making a major change.
Let me combine some of their advice with some advice that may be more headache or migraine specific:
Think about what's going on in your life over the next little while. How will this change make a difference?
What other changes or treatments are you using? How will these interact? Will you be able to tell what's making an improvement?
Will you be able to keep up this change for the length of time needed? Not just the trial period. If it works well, will you be able to keep it up permanently?
Do you have family and friends that you can talk to, that will support you?
What are the things that will get in your way? Do you have a strategy for dealing with them?
Have you discussed this change with a doctor that you trust? How will she support you?
Are you positive about the possibilities? Or are you already telling yourself that it won't work?
Thinking through some of these things ahead of time will make your lifestyle change or new treatment worth trying, and you won't be left wondering,"What if I'd followed through?" Then you just have to start over.
Have you made a major change to combat a chronic illness? What was it that helped you be successful?
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Should life be a bowl of cherries?
September 7, 2005 8:48 am
A quick tip from RealAge.com. How about cherries as an anti-inflammatory? Ok, don't throw away your painkillers yet. But adding cherries to your diet is certainly one of those "can't hurt" things.
So what's the big deal? Well, two things actually. First, Vitamin C is linked to reducing inflammation markers in your blood. Of course, that you can get from a lot of fresh things.
But cherries are also rich in anthocyanins, which also may inhibit enzymes that lead to inflammation. Other berries, such as raspberries and blackberries are also high in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have been in the news because of their possibilities when it comes to diabetes, cancer and even clogged arteries. Sound too good to be true? Well, cherries may not cure the world's diseases, but they may boost your health more than you thought.
All the way from Tampa, here's a smoothie recipe and a few more research tidbits...
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Pros and cons of the drug industry...
September 10, 2005 7:58 am
Some people rabidly defend the drug companies, others are passionately against them. When you have a chronic illness and you're looking for answers, you've at times felt betrayed by the big companies, or saved by the big companies.
Marcia Angell doesn't seem to be one to take the middle ground. Angell worked with the New England Journal of Medicine for 20 years. Actually, she was editor-in-chief when she left in 2000. She listened over and over while drug companies tried to defend their products.
Now Angell has written a book - The Truth About the Drug Companies : How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It . How can we avoid getting caught in a marketing trap that can do us more harm than good?
One of Angell's biggest concerns is how the big companies get around the law in the USA - the law that says they can't market drugs for things that the FDA hasn't approved them for.
"Off label" drugs have been life savers for migraineurs at times (see this article on off labels). But when can the research be trusted? When can the FDA be trusted? Is there a way we can make helpful drugs more available while at the same time safer? These should be questions we're all asking.
It's one opinion, but it's a reminder to be cautious before we buy into everything we hear. Some of us have had to learn that lesson the hard way.
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Why the treatment isn't working - recent study
September 10, 2005 4:13 pm
There's reason to be optimistic - for some. That's what a Danish study in a Neurology article last month tells us.
This study started in 1989. Groups of migraine and tension headache sufferers were evaluated, and then reevaluated in 2001. Of the migraineurs, 27% had experienced remission. There was improvement among the rest as well. Of the tension headache sufferers, 45% had a maximum of 14 headaches per year. That's great for them, but why are they doing well when others aren't? The interesting part of the study is what the others had in common.
Common factors among those who weren't responding well to treatment? Of the migraineurs, the ones who were not responding well to treatment were the ones with a high frequency of migraine, and those whose migraine attacks started before they were 20 years old.
Of the tension headache patients, the ones who had a poor outcome from thier treatment were again those who had lots of headaches, also those who had coexisting migraine, sleep problems, and - a lack of . . . marriage. That's right.
There's lots of good news, of course. For example, migraine treatment has come a long way since 1989, and even since 2001. Also, these are more clues to help us help those who are still suffering. What's the connection to sleep? Recently I was reminded of the sleep problems of a condition that often comes hand in hand with migraine - fibromyalgia. What's the connection?
It may be worth considering some of the other symptoms you're dealing with. Look at things from another standpoint, and talk to your doctor. And remember, one study is no reason to rush out and get married!
The authors of the study are optimistic - they feel the results overall prove that most people are getting successful treatment. May you and I be among them!
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New NSAID for migraine
September 14, 2005 4:45 pm
The news out of Switzerland this month is that Applied Pharma Research (APR) is going to be marketing a new migraine drug in Canada and the USA. Well, new in a sense.
You may have heard of the NSAID, Cataflam. Cataflam is commonly used for arthritis. Its medicinal ingredient is diclofenac potassium.
The migraine drug will contain the same ingredient, but will be specially formulated to be fast-acting. This is important, of course, for a migraineur. Getting the drug into your system as soon as possible seems to increase the chances of success. APR claims that your blood steam can have peak levels of the drug within 12-15 minutes. If NSAIDs help you, this may be a new option that provides quick relief.
Read more in APR's press release.
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Trauma and headache
September 16, 2005 3:05 pm
There's one major headache-related disorder that has been getting much more press since the Katrina hurricane disaster in the USA. What is it? PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder.
Many of us are familiar with the more obvious symptoms of this disorder - denial and trying to avoid certain memories, flashbacks and dreams, becoming detatched emotionally. But there are also physical symptoms you can watch out for:
insomniaincreased blood pressurerapid heart rate or breathingheadachediarrheanausea
Often these symptoms go unnoticed, because they don't occur right away. Many people are in shock after Katrina, for example, and they may not actually get PTSD for another 6 months. When that headache starts, many people won't even know what it's from. Sometimes people don't realize how much stress an even has caused them. It doesn't take a hurricane to bring trauma into our lives.
The Mayo Clinic has some advice about when to get help from a doctor. Although it's normal to go through feelings that are difficult to deal with, if you find symptoms like these lasting for more than a month, or if you find these feelings getting out of control, see your doctor. Read more about post traumatic stress disorder at the Mayo Clinic website.
Remember, if you have a new headache or the symptoms change or get much worse, you should talk to your doctor right away.
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Vertigo - could it be migraine?
September 19, 2005 11:55 am
Vertigo, the feeling that the world is spinning or that you're about to fall, often goes hand in hand with headaches. Neurologist Dr Lee Moon Ken recently wrote this helpful article about vertigo, in which he talks among other things about the connection to headache.
In their book Migraine and Other Headaches , Drs Young and Silberstein write about a girl who experienced extreme problems with vertigo: ...she began seeing double. This lasted for about a minute. She began to feel like the room was spinning and then she passed out...
This girl had a basilar type migraine, also known as Bickerstaff Syndrome. The symptoms can be serious enough, as you can tell. But vertigo can indicate a more immediate life threatening problem, and isn't something that should be ignored.
Vertigo by itself could even indicate migraine. As you should know, migraine attacks do not always involve pain. It's worthwhile to know your family history and consider whether you may have migraine if you're getting vertigo.
You can read a portion of an eMedicine article on migraine and vertigo here.
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MigraHealth identity crisis
September 20, 2005 9:11 pm
There's been a little confusion that I would like to clear up. The confusion is regarding the special migraine supplement, MigraHealth
 . It looks so much like the amazing MigreLief (formerly Migra Leive, by the way!), but are they the same? They both claim to be doctor recommended, they both claim to be the specific formula that has been clinically tested and has helped many many migraineurs. But if I'm going to try something, I want to make sure I try the best product the first time!
Good product, sure. But this one has had a major identity crisis. After another company claimed the name Migra Leive was too similar to their name, MigreLief was born. But there were actually still two products, exactly the same, being marketed under two names. That's right, MigreLief and MigraHealth are exactly the same. Don't panic.
Soon there will be no MigraHealth, and the confusion will be over. They're all going to merge into MigreLief.
Read this article to find out more about this well-proven supplement. If you like the name MigraHealth, you can click the link at the beginning of the entry to buy it at drugstore.com. If you're getting a book anyway, you can get MigraHealth at amazon.com for the exact same price. Can you see the difference? Hopefully, only in fewer headaches.
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How long have you had chronic headaches?
September 22, 2005 12:40 pm
Here are the results of the poll that we've been running here at Relieve-Migraine-Headache.com. The question was, I've had chronic headaches for... (how long). 837 people responded, and here's what they said:
 So, almost 40% had had headaches for over 20 years, almost 62% for over 10 years.
On the brighter side, I just got an email from a former HeadWay subscriber who said she was unsubscribing because she'd had very few headaches over the past year thanks to a preventative medication she had been taking. Those are the kinds of emails I love to get!
So keep fighting back! There's hope, even after 20 years.
On the main news page is a new poll. Take a moment to vote!
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Double vision caused by migraine?
September 23, 2005 8:09 am
 French President Jacques Chirac's recent visit to the hospital led to a lot of speculation. Supposedly he had been the victim of a "vascular accident". Apparently migraine was involved (which doesn't tell us much!) and we know his vision was affected.
A lot of things can cause vision problems, besides a "vascular accident" (which could indicate a small clot near the eye). Double vision, for example, can be the result of several types of migraine.
For example, Basilar migraine can cause double vision. Hemiplegic migraine, known for causing paralysis on one side of the body can do the same. Sometimes migraine can only affect they eye, with no pain at all. These migraine attacks are often called eye migraines. Ocular migraine can cause double vision, and so can ophthalmoplegic migraine (most often diagnosed in children, and now often not considered true migraine).
In rare cases, sinusitis has been known to cause double vision. There are many other conditions - stroke, thyroid problems, and other diseases that can do the same thing. It's wise to check with your doctor to rule out some of the more dangerous causes.
Meanwhile, a recent poll shows that 51% of the people in France don't believe they were told the truth about Chirac's condition. We can only guess.
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Keeping those pills organized
September 24, 2005 8:46 am
We've talked before about being ready for emergencies, so that you don't have to deal with a lot of thinking and planning when you've got a debilitating headache. One way to be prepared is to have a place where you can keep all your medications organized.
One of the organizers-deluxe is the MedValet. If you're frustrated trying to find something flexible enough for you, this might be just what you're looking for. One nice thing is that you can use the whole case easily, or just take a small pill tray if you know you'll only be gone for the day. A place for sheets and charts will help others know what you need in case of an emergency. And why not stick a headache diary in there?
You can see a good picture and more information about MedValet at their website. Teri Robert also has a helpful review of MedValet here.
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Helping your friends understand
September 26, 2005 10:48 am
Thanks to Kerrie at The Daily Headache for pointing this one out. There's a website put together by Christine Miserandino called But You Don't Look Sick?. It's a very popular site, but for some reason I've never mentioned it here before.
The focus of the site is on those who have Lupus, or, as the home page says, any invisible disease. Sound like anyone you know?
Christine wrote an article that you can read on the site. The article has resonated not only with those who have Lupus, but also migraine, MS (see this blog entry), chronic fatigue syndrome, and more. It's worth taking a few minutes to read - check out The Spoon Theory!
You can look around the site and find free note cards to download about the Spoon Theory, and you can even buy "Spoon Gear". Looks like some great gifts for people with a chronic illness. :-) (No, I'm not fishing for a gift. But hey, if you really like me...) ;-)
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In search of better cold therapy
September 27, 2005 9:03 pm
Cold therapy has proven itself as an effective migraine treatment. But there are many different types of cold therapy, and some work for some people, and some don't.
When you're dealing with a headache or migraine, you want something that's going to cool you just the right amount, and something that's going to cool certain parts of your head and neck. Traditional cold packs run into a number of problems. The temperature is hard to control, they tend to fall off, and they don't last very long. One partial solution has been the popular Migra-Cap, which comfortably covers more of the head.
In an attempt to solve more problems associated with cold therapy, the Neuro-Cool system was developed. Now wait, before you read on, you need to realize, this is not an ice pack. This is a complete cooling and light massaging system, designed for people with chronic pain like migraine. It's not the cheap solution. But as migraineurs know, if it's really going to work, at times the price tag is worth it.
The advantages? The temperature can be controlled, and can last up to 20 hours (no more 20 minutes of relief). It provides a liquid thermal massage, and covers your head and neck in a soft coolness.
If you already know from experience that cold therapy works for you, but you've had limited success getting something that will work well for you, this may be something to try. If you have trouble sleeping, rather than giving you more to worry about this unit will likely help put you to sleep naturally.
Visit the Neuro-Cool website here for more information on the product and pricing.
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Pilates and migraine
September 28, 2005 12:12 pm
It caught my attention because of the claims that it could benefit migraineurs. So what exactly is Pilates?
Pilates is a type of exercize that was developed early in the last century by German born Joseph Hubertus Pilates. The exercises in Pilates are designed to strengthen and balance the body, and increase flexibility. Joseph studied the natural movement of people and animals in an attempt to understand at a deeper level how the body works.
According to the MayoClinic HealthQuest, studies do suggest that Pilates increases flexibility, muscle fitness and endurance, especially if you're in an intermediate or higher level. However, the nice thing about Pilates is that you can start it at any fitness level.
So why would a migraineur care? Well, strength and balance can help diminish migraine triggers. Pilates International suggests that Pilates can help with the health of your nervous system, so important in avoiding attacks. The other nice thing about Pilates is that the motions are all fluid, low impact. Also, it helps strengthen the neck muscles, which often can trigger headaches.
It's important to find a qualified instructor. There has been some concern about the certification process, so check out how much training your instructor has had. Also keep in mind that Pilates will not help with cardiovascular fitness, and doesn't seem to have a huge weight loss benefit. If this is what you're looking for, you'll need to add another variety of exersize to your repertoire.
For more, visit Body Control Pilates (with info for the UK, Canada, South Africa, Poland and Portugal) or the Pilates Foundation (UK), the Pilates Method Alliance (USA) or Pilates Body (Mississauga, Canada).
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How does migraine really impact your life?
September 30, 2005 9:17 am
Some good reports have come out in the last few weeks with migraine statistics. One of these reports came from the European Federation of Neurological Studies last week. EFNS reported on the "Migraine Experience" survey, which looked at how people's lives are really impacted by migraine.
This study was pan-European. Here are some of the findings, as reported by Ian Mason:
69% say migraine makes them feel left out of everyday life75% say migraine hurts their school/work performance81% say their social life comes to a halt with an attack54% say migraine hurts their ability to care for family/children
Of course, if you're with the majority, you're wondering why these numbers are so low. What do you think? Some people get few attacks and are able to keep the symptoms minimal with medication. I'm sure the results would change if you broke up the list by types of migraine, frequency, etc. Leave a comment and let us know how your life is impacted by migraine.
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