Migraines - Florida,NY

You need to get the medical records of what happened to you in there. There is usually an anesthesia record also. Call the hospital and find out how to get them.Usually you will have to make a written request. All anesthesia lowers blood pressure. Some people who have complications like that under anesthesia have undetected heart problems.

Anesthesia can affect people badly who have adrenal problems. Adrenal problems can also cause heart problems (but isnt the only cause.) Both adrenal fatuge (Addisons) and hyperadrenals (cushings syndrome or conns syndrome) will get migraines. hypoglycemia usually runs along with it and can also cause migraines (because blood sugar is controlled by adrenal hormones also). Many people who have adrenal fatigue are not diagnosed. They just know that they don't "feel good". Most doctors do not know how to recognize it. Have you had instances in the past where you get dizzy, often when you rise from a chair? Or shakey when you dont eat?

Usually, when a person's adrenal hormones (called aldosterone and /or
cortisol ) get extremely low, they will get nausea, vomiting, confusion, inability to speak, breathing may become harder, chest , stomach or leg pain can occur,they loose blood supply to the brain,vision may blur or blackout, blood sugar drops drastically, blood pressure drops, and they can eventually slip into comatose and /or death if the blood sodium, sucrose and cortisol are not restored to normal levels. so another possibility is you could have gone into shock?

People who have adrenal fatigue usually do not have enough of the stress hormone being put out. so when any kind of body stress happens (illness, exercise, operations, dental visits, menses, birthing, even parties) the small amout of hormone they do have get used up quickly, leaving the body drastically and dangerously low. My daughter slipped in shock after snow sledding one day.(Addisons's crisis.)

The docotrs who are experts in hormones are called endocrinologists. If you do get a blood sugar test, don't do a morning fasting blood test. They can be falsley ok until someone is fullblown diabetic. do a 24 hour glucose tolerance test, which is much more accurate. Testing blood cortisol is not accurate either. Do a saliva test for cortisol. A cardiologist can check your heart.

Sometimes magnesium malate or citrate will help greatly with migraines. 1000 mg is about right....citrate may cause loose stool until the body can get accustomed to it.

First off, let me say how amazed I am by your delivery story and am happy you are okay.

I get these every so often. I have lupus and these began right when u was diagnosed. Some things set them off like bright sun reflections off of cars, etc., msg in food and definitely lack of sleep. I carry excedrin migraine with me and take it at the first sign of an aura. Mine start exactly like yours. Breathing in vicks or anything menthol helps me. A darkened room and a cool pack on my forehead and neck help also. Lots of water too.

Please get checked out for sure. Til then, take it easy and attempt (with the help of your hubby or family) to sleep in one morning and get a good night's sleep. Be well!

I used to get a migraine a month that lasted for several days - hormonal, sounds like that's what yours is too. I saw a dr for them and tried many different migraine medications - when I got to a point to where I couldn't take the migraines and the side effects from the medications, I tried accupuncture. It was wonderful. I went for about 3 months - a few times a week at first then it got less and less and the last one was a month inbetween. I didn't have a migraine for 1 1/2 years after that and that was about a year ago now. My insurance didn't cover it, but it was worth the money out of my pocket (and she was very reasonably priced and willing to work with me on payment if need be).

Mine are hormonal, and sound like yours (although mine usually last for 2-3 days, instead of sporadic).

I would try 2 things:
1. Go get on any BC pill, just for awhile to regulate your hormones. For me, changing pills and getting on the pill (after kids) made a huge difference. My hormones were so whacked out that establishing a baseline with the pill fixed the problem.

2. Use a different drug. For me, I've tried every migraine drug on the market - prescription based - and the only thing that works is aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood and reduces inflammation, which are 2 key contributors to any headache. Your dosage for a migraine can be stronger than what's on the bottle. For example, I like to use Aleve for mine. I take 3 at a time, which is the prescription doseage for Naproxen (Aleve). If you're using Advil migrage, the prescription dose for ibuprofen is 600mg. That's 3 regular Advil.

So play around with your dosage. You won't hurt yourself, as long as you do some homework to learn the prescription strength of each.

OH! The anaesthesia thing happened to me, too, with my C-section! My husband thought he'd lost another wife (his first wife died).

But I agree that the migraines being so far apart are probably hormonal. Other things to consider are neck issues, reaction to some food, maybe needing more nutrients... especially since having a baby.

We had a terrible, TERRIBLE problem with migraines in our younger daughter. They started at age two and only increased over the years (She's the one written about in the "It's Not Mental" book-www.ItsNotMental.com). One big issue it turned out was needing some nutrients which help mitochondrial function (mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of our cells).

And like you say - the auras themselves can be awful... and scary! With her they varied.

Oh - here is something else. She, of course, did not have caffeine (or chocolate) but with her type of migraine - her blood vessels were dilating, so the doctor had her use a little caffeine (we gave her a small amount of coca cola) and ibuprofen which helped for years before they got super bad. The caffeine trick would not have worked if she normally had consumed caffeine. And it depends on whether the migraine is one with constricted blood vessels or dilated ones. The doctor knew her's were with dilatation because her eyes would get bloodshot.

So - best advice is simply try to get yourself as healthy as possible (everything starts with our gut - especially if you had antibiotics, be sure you heal your gut). Nutritional status can be checked, if warranted. An Integrative medical doctor might be able to steer you in the right direction.

Since you are using over the counter migraine meds, I would wonder if you have ever seen a doctor about them? I would suggest asking your primary care doctor for a referral to a neurologist. You may need tests, you may need prescription meds. Also keep in mind that if you had an epidural for your anesthesia, one documented side effect is long term headaches.

I feel your pain. But they really don't sound like a migraine. Normally a migraine is an all day thing and end up in a dark room with no sound and really nausas and can't move cuz any movement makes your head pound even more. because any light or sound makes you want to vomit or actually vomit. Ive never heard them coming and going as quick as you say. I honestly think it has something to due with your c-section. It sucks that you had to go through all that I'm glad everything worked out for you.I'd call your doctor and tell them whats going on and go from there. Good luck.

We just saw a Nuero with my 12 year old son who is experiencing migrane like headaches. He also fainted recently and suffered a head injury when he fainted.

If this helps this is the advice we got:

8 -10 hours a sleep a night. No tv, computers, etc... one hour before going to bed.

NO MSG,
Caffeine,
Chocolate,
Nitrates commomly found in deli meats and hot dogs, sauages...
Aspartame (artifical sweeter found in diet soda and other "low cal" foods
Tyramine (a protein found in ageds cheeese, wine and beer)

Also 64 - 80 glasses of water a day! (try giving that to a 12 year old)

Beleive me I am doing the research now on what we can feed him. MSG is in EVERYTHING.

Good Luck I am hoping these changes will help our son and be helpful to you!! Discuss with your GYN - hormonal changes can also affect your body. Also, you just had a baby! Please relax as Mom we tend to care for ourselves last.

From all you describe I think it's probably hormones. For years I have suffered from what are called 'menstrual migraines,' which are just what you would expect. Now that I am in menopause they have abated a lot.
The advice about things to cut out is very wise. Migraines have a lot of 'triggers;' these are things you might be able to tolerate in a small amount, but if added together they push you over your 'threshold' and result in a migraine. If your hormones are out of whack, that's probably just about to your threshold and so avoiding the other triggers may prevent the pain.
However, as many have pointed out, migraines can be serious so you really ought to see a doctor, specifically a neurologist. They can help you determine what may be the cause, and if it is migraine and not something more serious, there are prescription medications called triptans (Imitrex, Maxalt, Amerge, etc) which work really well. Excedrin Migraine never worked for me, either.
If you are breast feeding please be careful about what meds you take, though.
This is an awful thing; migraines are so debilitating. I do think it's your hormones and they can be regulated, but please do see a doctor.
Best of luck,
S.

Try Midol and see if that makes a difference. My MIL told my FIL over and over and over to take one and try it. His prescriptions stuff was not working at all. She tricked him by just switching the pill she got for him and he finally had relief. It has all kinds of meds in it so make sure you aren't doubling up on some other med too.

call dr you need an MRI do you take pill as soon as you feel it coming on i carry excedrin migrain with me all the time good luck see an eye dr and a brain dr

If this keeps up, you should get an appointment with a neurologist. Imitrex is a helpful drug for migraines. There are 3 ways to administer it - pill, nosespray, and injection - some people only get relief through one of the three methods. (The injection is just a pump - push it against your thigh and it's done - very easy.)

I would ask the doctor to let you try one method at a time to see if any of them work.

I agree with the posters who say lots of water. Whatever you weigh, you should drink half that number in ounces of water per day. It helps flush the toxins out of your body. And no diet soda. Drink the water instead. Were you hooked on coffee, and then suddenly stop drinking it? Caffeine withdrawal can cause horrendous headaches. Taper off it you are trying to come off of caffeine.

MSG can also cause migraines. You might need to investigate your food for that.

I don't know about your question regarding your birth experience. That is indeed frightening, C.. We're so glad you are still here to talk about it.

Don't go this alone. Get the doctors involved in this. Hugs to you!
Dawn

I don't really have any advice on what might be going on with you. I would definitely talk to your doctor about them though. You could also try peppermint oil. Rub a little on the back of your neck right at your hairline. You can also try it on your temples. It may help and then you don't have to take so much medicine. Good luck and I hope you figure it out soon. Migraines suck!

i am thinking your body probably went through some major stress when all this happened. LOTS of water. if your drinking diet soda stop and see if that helps. that is what was causing my migrains was the diet soda. also cut out sugars and breads if the soda alone isnt working. you might be putting too many carbs into your body and it cannot process it. i agree with others contact your doctor about this. congrats on the baby!

It is more likely your hormones.
Or Thyroid.

You need to see your Doctor who can check you over and take some blood.. They may send you to a Neurologist.

As we "mature" our bodies do all sorts of strange things.. You do not have to suffer, make an appointment and find out exactly what is going on.