[Mama Dragon]

<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18382559/" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18382559/</a><br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">They saw a swelling occur and the brain cells became starved of oxygen. The nerve cells were damaged — specifically the dendrites, the long, thin spikes that stretch from one nerve cell to another.</td>
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My heart hurts that they use mice for this <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> but the info they are learning about migraines is scary. I just got rid of yet another one this morning <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/gloomy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Gloomy">:

 

[Momtwice]

Did you know that not only can migraines have food triggers, but they may sometimes be a food allergy symptom?<br><br>
Not fun whatever the cause, stress, hormones, caffeine, food allergies, other...

 

[BelgianSheepDog]

Well that explains why I'm so weird, I've been getting at least one a month since I was 9. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
Seriously though, it's disturbing information, but it's just preliminary. I'm going to wait for more research before I panic. Also, I took depakote for a while (an anti-convulsant that prevents migraines) and while it was NICE not to get the headaches, that stuff is bad juju for your liver. I couldn't stand the thought of being dependent on it for the rest of my life. It also causes birth defects and costs $$$$$$.

 

[RachelGS]

Who funded this study? I'm always wary when a study says, "Oh, you need to take a drug!"

 

[laralee16]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>RachelGS</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7987129"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Who funded this study? I'm always wary when a study says, "Oh, you need to take a drug!"</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that">:

 

[PikkuMyy]

Actually, several studies have shown that untreated migraines cause brain damage. Like seizures. That doesn't mean that you have to take a drug. But it does mean that it's important not to have untreated migraines.

 

[Mama Dragon]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>PikkuMyy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7989290"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Actually, several studies have shown that untreated migraines cause brain damage. Like seizures. That doesn't mean that you have to take a drug. But it does mean that it's important not to have untreated migraines.</div>
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Hrm. I tried to quit smoking when I got pg with #3. Had a migraine that lasted 3 weeks, *nothing* would get rid of it. I started smoking again, 3-5 a day and the migraine vanished for the rest of the pregnancy. Now seriously, I've been more scatterbrained and unable to complete sentences and full thoughts and ideas since I was pg, and I thought it was from having more little kids running around, but now I wonder if that migraine screwed me all up. Having #4 didn't do anything weird to my brain wiring. Weird.<br><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><br>
(and don't knock me about smoking, I've heard it all, and was able to quit eventually and still am a non smoker)</span>

 

[BelgianSheepDog]

I have seen *correlational* studies on migraines and seizures/epilepsy. I have not seen any *causation* shown between the two. I'd be interested in any links along the latter lines, but I am skeptical. The more convincing explanation at this point is that seizures and migraines share a common cause--thus migraines often disappear when a person is given anti-convulsant drugs.

 

[PikkuMyy]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>BelgianSheepDog</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7989641"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I have seen *correlational* studies on migraines and seizures/epilepsy. I have not seen any *causation* shown between the two. I'd be interested in any links along the latter lines, but I am skeptical. The more convincing explanation at this point is that seizures and migraines share a common cause--thus migraines often disappear when a person is given anti-convulsant drugs.</div>
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I agree.

 

[mamaverdi]

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<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>BelgianSheepDog</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7986981"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Also, I took depakote for a while (an anti-convulsant that prevents migraines) and while it was NICE not to get the headaches, that stuff is bad juju for your liver. I couldn't stand the thought of being dependent on it for the rest of my life. It also causes birth defects and costs $$$$$$.</div>
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If you are worried about lasting effects on your liver, you might want to have your carnitine levels checked. Depakote is known to cause carnitine deficiency which can lead to things like weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness....<br><br>
I think having migraines regularly figures into your seizure threshold. I wonder if there is an correlation b/w parents with migraines having children with seizure disorders.

 

[Panthira]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mamaverdi</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7990047"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I think having migraines regularly figures into your seizure threshold. I wonder if there is an correlation b/w parents with migraines having children with seizure disorders.</div>
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Or a parent with a seizure disorder who has a child with migraines?<br><br>
I know my migraines are triggered by a mold, and cannot have peanuts because they tend to have a toxic mold count.<br><br>
This is very scary, because I had soooo many migraines before finally pinpointing the cause, and had one that last 3 days where I was unable to see properly (auras) before going to the ER to have a nice shot of morphine. I still get them but they are of a different variety, not so severe.<br><br>
ETA: While I don't believe pushing drugs on people is the right way to go, I do think there could be some damage caused by migraines. I don't know about long-term damage with every migraine, but perhaps just one or two that send the person over the edge into damaged territory. It's just intuition, because having suffered with them I often wondered while in the midst of one if it was possible I was going to be damaged by the episode, the headache was THAT strong. I liked the suggestion of getting extra oxygen. I can see that helping a bit.. The best way to reduce migraines is to find the cause, and like a PP said, it's usually a food trigger, chemicals, etc.

 

[BelgianSheepDog]

I get classical migraines, another type of migraines (forgot the name), and the occassional absence seizure of unknown etiology. The latter mostly when I am under extreme stress/exhaustion anymore, but more frequently as a kid. I think there's some genetics--practically every blood relative gets migraines--and perhaps birth trauma, as I had a dramatic placental abruption when I was born and had really crappy Apgars.<br><br>
I'm interested in this stuff, but worrying about it takes WAY too much energy. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> I'll look into the carnatine thing.

 

[Momtwice]

Since for me it's related to allergies, I'd rather remove a trigger food than take a drug, because I'm also likely to be sensitive to a new drug!

 

[whateverdidiwants]

Or what about people who had seizures as kids and migraines as adults, like me?

 

[tboroson]

This should be a pretty easy one to confirm by other means: do Republicans have more migraines than Democrats?

 

[Pynki]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>tboroson</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7991094"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">This should be a pretty easy one to confirm by other means: do Republicans have more migraines than Democrats?</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/duck.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Duck">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment"><br><br>
I get migraines. They are mostly triggered by my sinuses, but not always.<br><br>
They originate at the base of my skull in most likely in the cerebellum, or the medula oblongatta. I know this is where the originate from because having DH push his thumbs up underneath that area on my neck helps to relieve the pain.<br><br>
Also, caffiene and asprin get rid of MOST of my migraines. My understanding of why is that many migraines are caused by constricted blood vessels in the brain which would point more the responsibility in the medula oblongatta since it controls vaso reaction.<br><br>
So caffiene acts as a vaso dialator expanding the restricted blood vessels, and the asprin works as a blood thinner getting more blood to the areas that were constricted previously.<br><br>
So I don't need a new drug. Mot of the time I just need some asprin and caffiene.<br><br>
There is a HUGE history of migraines in my family. Especially on my fathers side.

 

[KatWrangler]

My husband use to get them all the time. We figured they were brought on by stress. Having a Coke did help with alot of them. They were so bad he would lay on the bathroom floor, because he would vomit from the pain.

 

[brookely ash]

interesting, i have migraines and my ds has epilepsy. weird.

 

[RachelGS]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>tboroson</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7991094"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">This should be a pretty easy one to confirm by other means: do Republicans have more migraines than Democrats?</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/spitdrink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="spitdrink">

 

[antannie]

I heard there was a link between kids with night terrors and migraines and I have had both. I rarely have migraines now and as I have pretty clear migraine symptoms before hand I take ibuprofen and it works for me as long as I take it before hand. Stress is a major trigger for me as is tobacco smoke and going in to the city - noise, bad air or a combination of.<br><br>
When I read the title of the post I thought perhaps migraines were caused by brain damage. I was given an overdose of nembutal at age 4 or 5 and stopped breathing and it took them quite some time to resuscitate me. I always thought it must have caused me some harm.