headaches
I’m a migraine and chronic head-ache sufferer, something I think I’ve genetically inherited from my mum.
I used to be totally against taking pain-killers of any kind, believing it bad for the body, until I went to a GP last year after five days of constant headaches/migraine and she asked why I hadn’t taken something earlier. My sheepish reply of “I don’t like taking pain-killers” was met with hasty chastising and a prescription for the good stuff (one drug for the pain, another for the nausea). I now have both handy in the medicine cabinet at home, as well as lots of nurofen, panadol and panadol forte.
I’m not sure why I’ve been so anti-pain killers. I hate the stuff and dread taking it. I’m sure there’s some childhood hang-up somewhere there, but I think a lot of it has to do with feeling “weak” for suffering so badly from a headache, like it wasn’t a serious ailment and I should just be able to snap out of it.
However, lots of women I’ve spoken to suffer from chronic headaches and migraines. So many times I’ve brought it up, only to have people say, “oh me too, it sucks”. Is it a hormonal thing?
Medication aside, there are other things which I find help keep the gremlins at bay. Regular cardio exercise. Lots of stretching every day. Regular visits to the chiropractor for my stiff neck. A limited amount of sugar and preservatives in my diet (I try to cook mainly fresh food, lots of veggies). Good posture while at my desk at work. Better stress management.
Any other tips from chronic headache sufferers?
5 comments:
Lots of sleep helps me.
I get mammoth migraines when my babies reach about nine months - which I think must be a hormonal thing...it's just started this time again.
Often having slept with my neck at an odd angle has made the headache or migraine worse. Also stress is a big factor in migraines for me - and I can feel it coming on when it's a stress one...and unfortunately those ones can last up to a week. So I try to stay stress free as much as I can.
from CHS1 to CHS2 my mother has cut wheat and dairy from her diet (almost completely).. this helps with sinus etc. which in turn seems to also relieve the migranes. interesting.
If there are certain things that trigger the migraines - bright lights, loud noises - it can be good to go somewhere quiet, and dark, to have a rest (if you can...I figure that might be hard at work though).
Stress relief, exercise, and appropriate use of pain medication are good things too! =)
my friend gets awful life-stopping migraines when she has something in it with preservative 220 (it's a sulphite - often in dried fruit, wine, muesli bars etc). Since she started avoiding it, she doesn't get migraines. Making sure it isn't an allergy is a good idea.
Medication aside, there are other things which I find help keep the gremlins at bay.
I seriously thought your next words were going to be "praying to Jesus". My mistake thankfully, I started reading this blog a good 135 seconds ago.
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