#migraine awareness

[weemstar]

I'm about to start a petition for Nintendo to face legal repercussions for updating pay-to-play games with flashing, strobing, or intentionally eye-straining game mechanics or visuals

The Splatterscreen was the first real problem

But the Fizzbangs and the Square are now INEXCUSABLE for the SHEER LEVEL of flashing and strobing

I can even make the same argument for the small flashes that happen when your attacks actually connect and things like the Fizzybomb explosions, but those were so small it wasn't a problem until everything else was added and compounded the problem.

I did not pay over 100 dollars for this game in-full to be UNABLE TO PLAY IT in its final development cycle

Its to the point trying to do so CAN and WILL send me into a seizure and have me end up in the ER for a disability I cannot control, I haven't touched the game all splatfest because it's TOO much

I am FURIOUS that a game that preaches diversity and inclusion has overlooked people like me SO severely MULTIPLE TIMES

I'm fed the fuck up.

[thirea]

~ Headdache ~

A personal illustration featuring my OC Myliah. With things that have been happening recently I wanted to draw something more focused on myself.

Hope you like this illustration ♥

[red-panda-fangirl]

Todays episode of

Living with Migraines:

I finally felt well enough to make myself a chicken quesadilla. I used a leftover take out packet of picante sauce. It was wonderful until I found the corner of the sauce packet INSIDE my quesadilla.

[crippledcryptidd]

Its Tourette’s awareness month (may 15 - june 15) and migraine and headache awareness month (june). I have chronic migraine, headaches, and Tourette’s, so i’m gonna talk about all of them and having them together

Firstly, migraine is way different from headaches. Migraine is a neurological disorder that causes attacks of symptoms a common one and a very well known one is headache but it is not required. Headache is pain or discomfort in the head or face. Both can be severe and disabling but they are not the same but since the awareness month is for both this post will talk about both

Tourettes and migraine

- Tourette’s and migraine are both neurological disorders and have their similarities and differences. Similarities include (not everyone will experience and these) issues with moving, headache, certain psychological symptoms, ect. Differences include (not everyone will have these) hallucinations (migraine symptom), one sided weakness (migraine symptom), tics (Tourette symptom)

- migraine and Tourette’s can co occur in some people and i am one of them. For me Tourette’s and migraine can interfere with each other, worsening one and other and making things more difficult for me. My migraine symptoms often get worse when i move and Tourettes makes me move a lot, this can lead to increased pain, nausea and vomiting, and other symptoms. Some of my tics can also trigger my migraine attacks and some of the symptoms i have in both of them, like issues walking, can be very bad when both of those disorders are acting up.

Tourettes and headache

- Tourette’s and headache may co occur too and sometimes the tics may cause a headache. I’ve had tics where i hit my head with my hands or hit my head on something, this has caused me headaches or worsened what i already have.

[headpainmigraine]

Migraine isn’t a Headache Part Five: make it go away

I wanted to put something about getting diagnosed before I started to address medication, but the spoons to put my diagnosis journey together down on paper are much more than this section, so I’m skipping it until later.

(We’re out of Migraine Awareness Month now, but we are getting into Disability Pride Month, and chronic migraine is a disability, so!)

Treatment for Migraine can be divided into ACUTE and PREVENTATIVE

(and within that, can be divided into ‘medical’ and ‘complimentary’)

Acute treatment includes medication that treats the pain when you’re starting or having a migraine, like triptans, and methods you use to handle the pain, like cold packs

Preventative treatment aims to stop the migraine happening, so that you don’t need to use acute treatments.

Up until very recently (2021) there were no preventative treatments for migraine that were made specifically for migraine (until 2021)

(2021)

(That was three years ago.)

(Yeah)

Every other medication prescribed had originally been designed for something else.

As a result, you’ll find that a lot of suggested migraine preventative treatments are drugs used to treat things like high blood pressure, seizures and mental health issues like depression and psychosis – dosage makes all the difference.

This isn’t because they believe the cause of your migraine to be high blood pressure, or mental illness, but because the drugs also work to mitigate migraines – I’m only highlighting that because I’ve seen it suggested that when a doctor prescribes an antidepressant for migraines, it’s because they’re treating depression – this isn’t true.

Even botox was first used in beauty treatments before they discovered that women who had it also experienced a reduction in their migraines.

There have been no medications made specifically for migraine until the last couple of years, which is a crazy state of affairs.

And, even now, the meds that are coming out for migraine (CGRP mAb injections -nabs and -gepants) aren’t widely available, and not at all in some countries (India, for example). We don’t yet have access to the exciting new -gepant drugs in the UK.

(EDIT: As of 31st May 2023 we MIGHT be getting access to them! Exciting!)

When you present at the GP with a headache, and the GP diagnoses you with migraine, they won’t usually jump to prescribing preventatives.

They will usually prescribe acute medications first, if anything at all.

It’s not uncommon to be told to take high dose dispersible aspirin or other over the counter meds marketed for migraine.

These meds are usually your average ibuprofen or paracetamol with added caffeine, sometimes with an added anti-emetic.

Remember that migraines aren’t a headache, so your stomach can stop working or work inefficiently when you’re having one.

Prescribing an acute pain relief medication alongside an anti-emetic helps your body actually absorb that acute med while you’re having an attack.

In my experience, no GP ever suggested or prescribed an anti-emetic alongside an acute treatment when I first went to them with migraines, so be prepared to have to make that suggestion yourself, and to be shot down if they disagree.

The usual anti-emetics will be metoclopramide hydrochloride, or prochlorperazine (also used for schizophrenia and anxiety)

Sometimes, your GP will prescribe naproxen, or another prescription NSAID for your migraines.

If you’re lucky, your GP might prescribe a triptan.

I believe the most common is ‘sumatriptan’ but there are a whole host of them (rizatriptan and almotriptan might be two others you’ve heard about).

I’m currently taking eletriptan, which is a much older triptan and not widely used by most GP’s for some reason.

This to say, that if you’re prescribed eg sumatriptan and it doesn’t work for you, try asking for another type.

Another reason triptans might not work for you is the method of administration.

If your migraines present with a lot of vomiting, something that melts on your tongue or a buccal tablet that dissolves under your upper lip might work better for you than a tablet you swallow. Some of them even come in nasal sprays.

TL;DR – Acute Treatment - Medications

- Paracetamol

- Ibuprofen

- Aspirin (dispersible aspirin for fast absorption, 900mg best dose)

- Co-codamol (voted most likely to cause rebound headaches)

- Naproxen (prescription only)

- Triptans (prescription only?)

- Anti-emetics (metoclopramide, prochlorperazine)

- Other prescription NSAIDs (tolfenamic acid, diclofenac potassium, diclofenac sodium, mefenamic acid)

- US only? -gepants

You can’t take most of these medications indefinitely.

They recommend taking cocodamol no more than 3 days in a row because of risk of addiction.

You can’t take metoclopramide for a long time.

Almost all of these meds can cause rebound/medication overuse headaches

Not to mention the side effects these meds come with, or the stress you might be putting on your kidneys/liver/rest of your body.

When your pain is that bad that you CAN’T care about the risks of taking something that might make a little dent in the agonies, you don’t think about those risks.

The hard part is that you get to the point where you HAVE TO start thinking about those risks.

Taking painkillers all day every day every time isn’t sustainable.

I know, it sucks.

Maybe in the future they’ll come up with a painkiller we can take that will reduce the pain without side effects destroying your body, but we’re not there yet.

Just another happy part of being alive as someone with chronic pain!

BUT! That’s where ‘complimentary’ treatments come in. These come in preventative and acute flavours too, with a lot of overlap, but we’re looking at acute treatments this time around.

If you’re a long-term chronic pain patient, you’ll probably already know about all of these.

I covered “lifestyle changes” that might help headaches in THIS PART, and you can use those here (sticking to a sleep schedule, regular meals, staying hydrated, ugh, yeah, I know, it helps though), but, for more urgent relief:

***Little disclaimer, not everything will work for everyone. Maybe you have other conditions that contraindicate these ideas. I’m not a medical professional, just a dude who suffers and uses this stuff to suffer a little less.***

- Cold treatment (ice packs, sticky cold patches, running cold water over your head, cold swimming, cold gels in a tube, ice hats)

- Heat treatment (electric heat pads, microwaveable heat packs, sticky heat patches, hot water bottles, hot baths)

- Balms (tiger balm, roll-on headache gels, pulse point gels, menthol rubs)

- Aromatherapy (helpful sometimes, but just as likely to aggravate your migraine as not. Proceed with caution.)

- Hot drinks (I don’t know why, but a cup of hot chocolate really takes the edge off my migraines?)

- Cold drinks, with ice

- Massage/Muscle treatments (anything from muscle relaxant bubble baths to massage rollers to getting someone to rub your back for you, if you’re lucky enough to have someone willing to do that)

- Gentle stretching (you can find a lot online; look for post-operative/elderly/low impact stretches)

- Sleep masks/Sunglasses (get away, light!)

- Travel sickness pills or ginger caplets for nausea

- Acupuncture (there is a point between the index finger and thumb in the meat of your hand that is supposed to ease pain if you add pressure to it – it doesn’t really work for me, but it’s worth a try. I’d suggest Googling/YouTubing it. I have acupuncture needles and have been shown how to use them, so it might be worth asking if you know a practitioner you trust?)

I’m sure I’m missing something that will come to me later.

For travel, I take:

- painkillers and my triptans (and anti-emetic when I’m allowed to have one)

- travel sickness pills/ginger pills

- balm tin/roller

- cold balm/sometimes cold patches

- shades

I’ve also shaved my head – I usually go down to a Grade 1, but have gone 0 before, which was weird.

Hair grows back surprisingly fast, and having short hair is amazing for migraines, especially in the summer.

You don’t need to spend so much time washing/drying your hair (which is helpful when you’re in the midst of an attack and/or have comorbidities that make showering difficult).

You can also apply cold/heat treatments closer to the scalp, but be careful not to burn yourself (I am absolutely not speaking from experience…)

On a greater scale, just making your room (or wherever you go to hide when you have migraines) as comfortable for you as possible is helpful. Enough pillows, blankets you can kick off if you overheat, a fan to keep the room cool but not cold, curtains or blackout blinds depending on how much light you want to block out.

I use a text-to-speech app to read fanfic to me, or I listen to audiobooks when I’m being photosensitive but can manage sound, and don’t want to be bored out of my gourd.

Has anyone else got any other tips that don’t fall into the above categories for help when you’re having a migraine?

Next up in this series: Preventative Treatment (Meds and Complimentary Treatments)

[magentasky234]

Heads up photosensitive epileptics and people who get migraines, there's is a SWATCH AG advert on YouTube that shows rapidly changing backgrounds and watch colours that could trigger a seizure or migraine.

[helvetica12point]

So one thing I feel like we don't address nearly enough is the many many ways in which migraine fucks you up.

Like, you tell people, "Sorry, I'm having a migraine," and they're always very sympathetic about the headache. They know someone who gets migraines and the headaches are so bad. If you're lucky they assume all lights are too bright and all sounds are too loud and they find a light switch and lower their voice. If you're really lucky, they've heard of a migraine aura and think your vision has gone wonky.

But the exact level of fuckery with migraine goes so much farther because it's basically your brain blue screening. Which means basically any part of your brain can be affected. This can result in your eyes going offline, or full on stroke symptoms (without the permanent brain damage). Other times it's just mild annoyances, stuff that's not going to kill you if you're operating heavy machinery, but things that will absolutely fuck with your sense of reality.

Like phantom smells. Yes, today I want to skip past the true horrors of migraine and tackle a lighter symptom that makes your question your sanity.

Apparently, olfactory hallucinations are a fairly common migraine symptom and boy howdy, is it a trip. I should note that it's never good smells. Nah, you don't smell like, cotton candy or cookies that aren't really there. This is more like your neighbors had a barbeque and four hours later you're still complaining about the smoke from their grill, smoke that was never noticeable inside your house to begin with. Or wondering what spooked a skunk in your backyard, even tho there are no skunks in your neighborhood. It's really fun when your spouse has a very bad sense of smell and often can't smell actual smells that you can.

And yes, all of this is a very long winded way to say that today I realized my brain was in migraine mode when I pulled a washcloth out of the washing machine that had been sitting since yesterday and gave it a sniff only to smell cigarette smoke. We don't smoke.

[katishome]

i’m saying this here because i can’t say this to people in my real life. and also if you have loved ones with migraines, please don’t say this kinda stuff it’s not comforting

my hair is greasy because i’m in too much pain to shower

exercise makes my migraines worse

i do drink lots of water

yes i’ve talked to my doctor about it, no nothing they say helps (ik they’re trying though)

i cant just avoid stressful situations, life isn’t like that

i know i’m not around a lot, and i hate it

i’m always tired because migraines drain me

i don’t know why i have a migraine

i don’t know why they’re almost everyday and none of my doctors know either (probably genetics)

going outside doesn’t help when i’m in too much pain to stand without help

[johnlennonirl]

Yesterday the 12th of May was Fibromyalgia awareness day. I'm a little late uploading it, but spreading awareness is being done nonetheless. Lots of love for my chronic pain people!! <3

[budandtender]

A Comprehensive Analysis of Endocannabinoids' Function in Migraine Regulation

Migrane Awareness Week 4 - 13th September

Introduction

Migraines are a debilitating neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. They are characterised by severe, recurring headaches, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. While the exact cause of migraines remains unknown, researchers have been investigating the role of endocannabinoids in regulating migraines and providing potential relief for sufferers. This article will explore the endocannabinoid system and its connection to migraines, while avoiding any discussion of the medical uses of CBD.

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signalling system that plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis within the body. It is composed of three primary components: endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. Endocannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds that are similar in structure to the active compounds found in cannabis. The two primary endocannabinoids are anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).

These endocannabinoids interact with receptors throughout the body, particularly the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are more commonly found in the immune system and peripheral tissues. Enzymes are responsible for breaking down endocannabinoids once they have fulfilled their purpose.

Endocannabinoids and Migraines: The Connection

Research has shown that individuals who suffer from migraines often have altered levels of endocannabinoids in their system. This has led scientists to investigate the role of the ECS in the development and regulation of migraines. There are several ways in which the endocannabinoid system may be involved in migraine pathophysiology:

1. Modulation of Pain Perception

One of the primary functions of the endocannabinoid system is to modulate pain perception. Endocannabinoids can bind to CB1 receptors in the brain, which are involved in pain processing. This interaction can lead to a reduction in the sensation of pain, providing relief for migraine sufferers.

2. Regulation of Inflammation

Inflammation is thought to play a significant role in the development of migraines. The activation of CB2 receptors by endocannabinoids has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. By reducing inflammation, endocannabinoids may help alleviate the severity and frequency of migraines.

3. Control of Serotonin Release

Serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, sleep, and appetite, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of migraines. Imbalances in serotonin levels can contribute to migraine attacks. Endocannabinoids have been shown to modulate serotonin release, potentially providing a means of regulating migraines through this pathway.

4. Vascular Effects

Migraines are often associated with changes in blood flow within the brain. Endocannabinoids can influence the dilation and constriction of blood vessels, which may impact the development and progression of migraines.

Conclusion

The endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis within the body, and its connection to migraines offers promising avenues for future research and potential therapeutic interventions. By understanding the role of endocannabinoids in regulating migraines, researchers may be able to develop novel treatments that provide relief for millions of people who suffer from this debilitating condition.

If you wish to help support and raise awareness about Migraine, you can donate here to The Migraine Trust.

[temperanceofsleep]

chronic head pain

[affectionatepanda]

I just learned that June is migraine awareness month. I have chronic migraines. In fact, just earlier this week, I had one of my worst ones I’ve had in a little while. I was having a panic attack from how bad the pain was. That did Not help. Luckily I’m seeing a neurologist soon. Maybe he can help with this. At least make them not so severe. Migraine is the leading cause of disability, so I’ve learned. And my personal most hated one. I often say I could deal with everything else that I deal with if I didn’t have to also deal with chronic migraine. That may be slightly hyperbolic considering everything I do deal with but in the midst of a migraine…. It feels very true. I recorded how many I had in my. And this number may be off because I did forget I was doing this at one point but I recorded 14 migraine days last month. As for June, I’m not officially recording them but I’ve already had 6 migraine days. It feels like I’m living off excedrin and ice packs sometimes. So… happy migraine awareness month. I’d prefer to be… less aware.

[semibiblicallyaccurateangel]

Migraine Monster

[crippledcryptidd]

Ended up having a migraine attack and panic attack on my birthday (last night), and i woke up this morning with the migraine still here but was able to fall back asleep and woke up again and it was finally gone now i’m just having my after migraine issues

Luckily that all happened at night after i did my birthday stuff already

[headpainmigraine]

Migraine isn't a Headache Part Three: except for when it is

I talked about where a migraine starts in part two, at the prodrome stage, that lasts for a few hours to days. Then the aura, a stage that not everyone has, a stage that can occur alongside the headache stage - this lasts 5 to 60 minutes typically.

Then you enter the headache, followed by the postdrome, and then your migraine is over and it only took an entire week to get from prodrome to postdrome.

Yeah.

The 'headache' stage of migraine can supposedly last between 4 hours and 3 days.

So, you DO need a headache to have migraines?

Nope.

HEADACHE

Some people experience an 'aura' stage and then go on to have postdrome.

Some people get more nausea and stomach problems (this is more prevalent in children, but can happen in adults too).

Migraines like this, without the headache, are usually called 'silent' migraines, and they can be a bitch to diagnose when most medical practitioners view 'headache' as necessary to have a migraine diagnosis.

If you've been reading this and you think the aura stage sounds familiar, if you've experienced the prodrome and then wondered why you couldn't keep food down, or needed to hide from the light, even without a headache, maybe check that out.

Silent migraines can often be mistaken for a stroke. Just be aware of that, and if you're experiencing any sudden unusual migrainous symptoms, maybe get checked out, just to make sure.

You should also seek immediate medical attention if:

the headache comes on suddenly, like you've been hit in the head with a baseball bat; this is called a 'thunderclap' headache

the pain is brought on by coughing, exercise, posture change, that kind of exertion, which can be a dysfunction of the fluid around the brain and spine

if you've had cancer and develop new headaches

Just in case.

The 'classic' migraine headache is:

a 'moderate to severe' pain,

typically throbbing,

typically on one side of the head and

often felt 'behind the eye' or around the temple

In real terms, you can have a headache on both sides of the head, in the face (the trigeminal nerve is a bitch that can be sensitised during a migraine, leading to pain in the side of the face, along the jaw, through your cheekbone, etc), in the sinuses and in the neck.

If you get a lot of sinus issues, it's worth seeing an ENT specialist to check for blockages/cysts/a deviated septum that can cause headache sometimes.

There are some migraine treatments that involve a device that goes into the nose, these things can often be linked.

It's worth mentioning that, if you're having a 3 day headache, you're also going to be clenched up and tense a lot of the time. If you get them a lot, you're going to end up with pain purely from tensed muscles and because you might find yourself holding still and curled up.

The headache can come with nausea and vomiting, but nausea and vomiting can also come without the headache at this stage!

Our friends in the environment sensitivities gang are still with us, with photophobia and sound sensitivity being common, but don't forget about the senses of smell and touch! Skin feel raw to the wind? That'll be the allodynia.

Headache and abdominal issues aren't the only ways the headache stage of a migraine can manifest - people with vestibular migraines can feel dizziness and vertigo, to the point where the room spins and you can't walk in a straight line, sometimes making you fall.

People with hemiplegic migraines can experience muscle weakness on one side of the body, sometimes including the face; these migraines mimic a stroke. Hemiplegic migraines are something of a different animal, and you should discuss appropriate treatment options with a specialist.

Seeing that headache is the most common symptom in migraine at this stage, calling it 'headache stage' makes sense, but I still believe something like 'culmination' or 'crest' would be better.

I feel like dissociating 'migraine' from 'headache' can only benefit sufferers and make diagnosis easier in harder cases.

But I'm not a doctor.

POSTDROME

Postdrome feels like your body picking itself back up after the tornado swept through it, but it's actually also part of the migraine itself.

It can last hours to days, but most people find it resolving within 24 hours.

Postdrome symptoms can mirror prodrome symptoms, so if you start your migraine feeling sick and lethargic, you might end it feeling hungry and energised.

While most postdrome syndromes are a drag, some people feel euphoria and a lot of energy, because no two migraines are the same.

Unsurprisingly, postdrome usually feels like you think you'd feel after spending three days in pain.

feeling drained, fatigued, listless

finding it hard to think or concentrate/brain fog

feeling physically weak

digestive issues

lingering sore head /scalp tenderness

food cravings and thirst

generally feeling fragile

I tend to feel like I've been flattened. I'm usually cold, and I'll usually look for hot chocolate and something salty to eat. It feels like being a wrung out towel.

For people with migraines who work, I hope this gives you some comfort in knowing that there's a reason you might be 'underperforming' before and after the headache stage of the migraine, because it's all migraine and your brain is weathering a storm.

Migraines can cause all sorts of issues past a headache, and even past the physical. You're more likely to have problems with:

depression

dissociation

anxiety

agitation/irritability/anger and rage

confusion

Anger is a big one.

A study that involved inducing migraine in patients in order to look at their brain activity showed, anecdotally, that people who came in chatty and bubbly became surly and irritable once the migraine started.

Being in pain legitimately provokes 'moody' behaviour.

That's not to say that you have to just accept that and not work on it - it's not an excuse to lash out at people, for example - but maybe give yourself a break for being a little grumpier than the next guy?

That's all I have on that.

Next part? Probably my diagnosis journey, for people who are thinking of pursuing a diagnosis.

Then medications for migraine, and then maybe non-drug treatment, then complimentary treatment?

I don't know. No uptake on the last part, but people still liked the first bit, and this is actually quite helpful for me personally, so I'm going to keep going regardless.

[scissorcraft]

did you know it's migraine awareness month? are you aware of migraines? you should be.