Another day and another post....that was my promise to you guys and I shall keep it up. Today's post is very specific, rather than the other more scattered ramblings. This one looks at one of the most mind crumbling, stomach churning symptoms that many of us get......the lupus migraine. In many respects I am lucky, my migraines are only ever caused by one of two things....medication induced and sun induced. I know people who get them simply from watching television, using their mobile phones or computers, I realize in this situation I am very lucky. However, you only need to have had one to feel a fear that will consume you as much as the pain.
The first one that I had made me convinced that I was either having a Stroke or I had meningitis. I had never experienced anything like it in my life and anyone who describes it as a headache has ever had one before...lucky them. It is so much more than a headache and here is why.
The Symptoms of a Migraine
From the research I have done, lupus migraines and migraines in general are the same thing, they may just have different triggers. I will go into these later on. Whatever the cause, the symptoms of migraines can be fairly vast, more than the ones I experience, which just makes it so much worse.....if that is at all possible!
The main symptoms are as follows;
- Throbbing headache often located over the eyes.
- Aversion to light
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Blurred vision and other visual disturbances
- Vertigo
- Auditory sensitivity (not always applicable)
- Sensitivity to smells
- Extreme temperature fluctuations
- Loss of concentration
- Brain fog can become worse
The Causes........
Some people are just susceptible to them, others have them as firm symptoms of their lupus journey, whilst I get them mainly through Hydroxychloriquine and the Lupus itself. For me, the first three weeks on any disease modifying drug is the worst. My migraines will always start with tunnel vision, this will come about 20 minutes before the actual pain kicks in and is a warning beacon for what is to come.
I also end up with what I call mini migraines from the sun, although I find these more easily manageable as they are a clear indicator of how much sun my body can now cope with. Everyone has different triggers though, I have spoken to people who get them nearly every time they enter a space with fluorescent lights, whilst one of my friends who suffers recurrent migraines cannot eat dairy. The triggers are as varied as the symptoms and it really does come own to learning what is is that specifically sets yours off.
If you are having real trouble identifying the triggers for you, then my advice is to write down everything you are doing when the first symptoms arise - are you watching TV? Have you over exerted yourself at the gym? Are you drinking coffee?. List everything that could be a trigger and then look to see if any of these things can be eliminated slowly.
Most common causes that I have found are;
- Florescent lights
- Sunlight
- Dairy - especially chocolate and cheese
- Stress
- Medication side effects
- Some hormone imbalances - many women suffer from migraines before or after their period.
- Interrupted sleep pattern - shift workers are susceptible to migraines.
- Shock or grief
- Too much caffeine
- Sudden changes in temperature and or noise levels
When I had my first lupus migraine I did not know what to do with myself. I wanted to run and hide, instead I opted for taking painkillers, which did nothing at all what so ever. These were cocodamol as well, not weak painkillers - but they didn't touch it at all. As I have had a few occasions where migraines have either been coming, or they actually do hit my in the face, I have been developing a routine to stop them as much as I can.
So here are the tips I have found that work.....
Stay in the dark.....
It is well know that lying down in the dark is one of the best ways to help a migraine. The issue is what happens when it's the middle of the day an the sun is still coming in through the curtains. well this is where you need to get a little creative. If you can stand to have something over your eyes - which I seem to be ok with, then eye masks are a great way to keep the light out.
If however having something touching your face tightly will only add to the pressure, try wrapping the blanket around your head to cover your eyes. I have done this before when it has been too bad to use the eye mask and it does shut out more light.
Also, avoid anything that omits light. Mobile devices are the worst for this, but equally avoid the television, DVD and even a nightlight to read a book to. You don't want to involve any senses at all if possible and although that sounds boring, the more your senses are involved the worse it can actually get.
Drink a whole lot of water.....
Every time I have had a migraine I have had an increase in body temperature and ultimately ended up sweating - not very attractive at all. The issue with this is that it is all too easy to become dehydrated. The same goes for when the trigger for your migraine is the sun, coffee, alcohol or anything where lack of water plays it's part. whenever I feel a migraine coming, I will start drinking water or ginger tea.
Re hydration is important and if you get the sickness, ginger tea is excellent for settling the stomach - something I found extremely useful when starting Hydroxychloriquine. Equally, if you are sick you need to replace those fluids as quickly as possible.
Be aware though, that the temperature of your water can send your body into a shock situation - too cold and you are going to make the headache worse, too hot and you will burn your mouth. Aim for room temperature or tepid water and drink it slowly is my advice.
Cool compresses.....
If the migraine is centered above the eyes, then cooling the area down is far more effective than applying heat. For some pain heat can actual be detrimental as the warmer the area the more blood flow is moved to it. Cooler is the way to go here. You can buy cool pads over the counter at most chemists, these simply stick to your forehead to act as a compress. They are quite expensive though, so personally I use a cool flannel placed over my eyes. This gives some mild relief, enough for me to get some sleep at least.
Painkillers.....
The only painkillers that work for me when I have a migraine is plain old paracetamol and even then it is just to take the edge off. You can be prescribed certain medications specifically for migraines; beta blockers and some antidepressants that have pain killing properties are really useful.
Remember though, before you head for the tramadol, that a build up of painkillers can actually cause migraines - and that is the last thing you need. If you do nee to take the edge off, paracetamol and ibruprofen are great for just easing it a little. Please remember to only take the amount stated by your chemist!
Sleep....
The number one cure for a migraine is sleep. Let's face it, if you can it is far better to sleep through one than to try and stay awake through it. This will give your body the rest it needs to heal and reboot.