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Amber
Contributor

Mental Illness and Migraines

Hi everyone

I would be interested to know if any of you suffer from severe and frequent migraines.  Is there a link between mental illness (maybe chemical imbalance in the brain) and migraines?

Both my son and I have bipolar disorder and can have up to four, sometimes five migraines a week.  Of course, it could be genetics, but I would like to know what you think.

Also, if there are any migraine sufferers out there, do you have any solutions that have worked for you?

Many thanks

Amber Heart

19 REPLIES 19

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

Hi Amber - Yes, I've suffered from migraines just about all my adult life. They are just hideous and mine are severe (they completely incapacitate me - I get sensative to light and noise, and spend the entire time throwing up. just yuk). Mainly they are related to my period (ie tend to come on monthly), but also triggered by stress (also, alas, wine 😞

But I've never had as many as you and your son in a week - that must be terrible! (most I have got them are fortnightly), which was quite enough. And I'm not sure if there is a link between mental illness and migraines. Definitely think genetics play a role too (my mum and my nana had them)

The biggest thing for me is medication - catching it early with imigran. I also try and minimise triggers as much as possible - avoiding red wine, MSG. I think exercise has also helped manage stress. 

Have you talked to your doctor and/or a psychiatrist about it?

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

Hi Amber,

How debilitating for both of you! It is amazing that you function at all.

Yes I have bp and I suffer from migraines. I don't get them very often any more thank god. I'll list what I have sussed about mine and hopefully some of it might help:

Reducing them by:

- keep well hydrated, plenty of water particularly

- minimise caffeine (max 2-3 cuppas/day for me) and alcohol intake 

- wear sunglasses on bright days (don't need to be flash -from the harware store about $15) even if cloudy and/or mid-winter

- minimise stress, lots of quiet time, as high BP makes them worse/more frequent

- sleeping well, if not sleeping try to rest in bed during "usual' sleep hours (even if reading because a bit racey or triggered)

- avoid SSRI drugs (my worst ever migraines, unrelenting for weeks and could barely function, caused by these meds) not recommended for bp anyway I'm told by my psych

- deal with the underlying (emotional and/or physical) issues causing the tension

 

Treatment:

- when needed treat it early if possible; rest, quiet, paracetamol, sleep, Mersyndol, Imigran (worked for me when I could get the nazal spray) - in roughly that order

- strangely someone once told me that having a caffeine hit (Coke or latte) with ibuprofen (and food) was good, and it did work for me sometimes but as both of these are not great to take lots of I don't use this one any more

- avoid Tramadol as a treatment (some doctors prefer it), made my nausea worse - also very slow acting

 

I hope at least some of this is helpful. It is amazing that you can care for yourself let alone your son too. Take care.

 

Best regards,

Kristin

 

 

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

Migraines are debilitating..and depends on the type of migraine. A friend gets cluster headache type migraines and has found effective treatment with combinations of meds. However, to get her treatment, she went to a migraine specialist. Wondering if you have access to a migraine specialist or pain clinic? You might be able to get referral from your Psychiatrist?
My mum used to get migraines all of the time, but they mostly stopped with age...but her solution was to get into a darkened room, cold flannel on her head and rest while we were out. No red wine either and chocolate not at all.
Problem bring, when you have a migraine you can't do anything at all. Think I have also read about Sam Perkins (Kieran Perkins ex wife) sharing her migraine treatments in the news a while back. Hers may have involved an implant or use of a TENS machine ( the machine offered in labour).. Hope this helps..

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

I'm the same, I've always suffered headaches and migraines and last year started getting what I labled pop up migraines.  They'd appear out of nowhere, make a lot of noise and then go.  Mind you I'd have to lie down with a heat pack on my head but it'd be all over inside half an hour.  I ended up on a massive daily dose of asprin in an attempt to prevent them which did work but obviously I couldn't keep that level of asprin up so thankfully they seem to have abated back to a more managable level again.

My kids are also prone to migraine and my dad is on medication for them so guessing it's genetic in our family.

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

This is a very interesting topic for me. I have got migraines for the past 2 years or so & never been able to pin point what triggers it.

 

I agree with what some of you have said about catching it early - dark room, closed eyes, panadol.

 

There has been 1 thing that has worked as a preventative is going to the Oesteopath - apparently I'm quite tense in my shoulders and clench my jaw - and  the Oesteopath helps out with that.

 

Thanks for bringing up the topic - it's given me some tips.

 

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

I clench my jaw too - have to catch myself and make myself relax.  Some of that deep breathing stuff helps there!

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

This may sound completely ridiculous but my dentist convinced me to invest in a mouth guard. So at night, when I was clenching my jaw regularly, the mouth guard prevented me from biting too hard or grinding my teeth. Did find it uncomfortable at first but got used to it. No longer wear it as teeth grinding, jaw clenching was also linked to the meds I was taking at the time. Nowadays visit an osteo every 3-4 months and yep, practice relaxation in bed before I nod off. I find progressive muscle relaxation really helps unclench my jaw and shoulders..

Re: Mental Illness and Migraines

Thank you so much everyone - I didn't think there would be so many helpful replies.  I have been down many paths to no avail - allergy specialist (food), acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopath, massage etc., dental mouthguard, tablets, preventative tablets, pain specialist, injections into my head.  The only thing I am left with is to take imigran with two extra strength panadeines and go to bed.  Unfortunately, I am allergic to asprin and antiflammatories so I can't take them.

I do find that stress has an affect on how many migraines I get.  Many years ago I ended up in hospital with a suspected brain tumour, which they ended up saying was "only a migraine".  It went on for days.

My son has recently been prescribed special glasses with prism lenses.  They are rose tinted.  He is finding them helpful, but not a total solution.  I said I would get him a pair of prism sunglasses for Christmas.

I also know that you can have an operation to cut the nerve down the side of your neck to stop the pain signals, but I think it may be a bit risky.  Botox is another option, but very expensive.

I will follow up some of your links however.  I am ever hopeful.

Amber Heart

 

 

 

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