Migraine Sufferers in Pittsburgh (2009, school, live)

[Chris Kerri]

I have only lived here for seven, or so, months. I have had mild headaches/migraines all my life. But now... these headaches have never been worse! I am almost completely dibilated. It seems to me that weather patters, seemingly especially cold fronts bring on the worst. I was just curious if anybody else knows what I'm talking about. Are you a non-native Pittsburger who has noticed similar headache occurances? Is there some kind of mythical weather trail that just happens to drastically change the atmosphere over this area? I am searching for a doctor who has a clue about this too. Basically, so far, I've boggled my current physician's mind because all my tests are coming back normal.

[pitt_transplant]

There are a lot of old pipes and mercury levels in the water are high here.
Heavy metal toxicity can super charge a headache or cause them alone.

Take some chelated vitamins and eat lots of dark greens to clean yourself out.
It really helped me a lot. I sometimes do "The Master Cleanse" but I dont like it AT ALL.

Eating vegan for a month, chelated vitamins and filtered water is a lot easier and safer.

[fleetiebelle]

It seems to me that weather patters, seemingly especially cold fronts bring on the worst

Sometimes I think this, too. I get the worst headaches when there are severe weather changes. It might have something to do with air pressure messing up sinus pressure.

[guylocke]

There are a lot of old pipes and mercury levels in the water are high here.
Heavy metal toxicity can super charge a headache or cause them alone.

Take some chelated vitamins and eat lots of dark greens to clean yourself out.
It really helped me a lot. I sometimes do "The Master Cleanse" but I dont like it AT ALL.

Eating vegan for a month, chelated vitamins and filtered water is a lot easier and safer.

I don't think these tricks have much to do with vasocontriction or dilation. I would definitely talk to your doctor about medication and relaxation/non-pharmacotherapy options, as well. It's very hard to "will" migraine's away and I don't believe that any research has ever shown things like diet make a difference.

[pitt_transplant]

Migraines are triggered by multiple things. Heavy metals are just one of them.
My condition was also a idopathic diagnosis. Its helped me when no medication or therapy could.

To the OP = give it a go. The whole thing made me feel better over all.

[*Danielle*]

10 mg Maxalt tablets

I have never suffered from migraines until I moved to MI and had to deal with ultra cold days and just weird weather...I hated to turn to meds but I had too...That is what I take when I feel one coming on.

I have yet to figure what my triggers are...I *think* it is the weather...I *think*...

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by guylocke

I don't think these tricks have much to do with vasocontriction or dilation. I would definitely talk to your doctor about medication and relaxation/non-pharmacotherapy options, as well. It's very hard to "will" migraine's away and I don't believe that any research has ever shown things like diet make a difference.

My DD has migraines and she and I have both researched this issue a lot. You have to find your own triggers. For her, it seems to be getting way overly tired, not eating regularly, and some wines. It's possible that Pittsburgh simply has more triggers for the OP than his/her old locale.

[gfr437]

HELP!

Can anyone recommend a good doctor (M.D....not a chiropractor, not a physical therapist, not an
accupuncturist, not a wholistic medicine guru-unless they also have an M.D.) to treat migraines?

My 10 year old son has had a headache for two months now, continually. He's missed two months of school! I couldn't get my general practitioner to do anything, after a month and several visits to the g.p. my *husband* was able to get a referral to a neurologist. The neurologist said: ' Migraine, give him topamax and imitrex when it is worse.' She agreed to order an MRI, and it took 3 more weeks to get that done. We are *still* waiting for the results on that. The topamax and the imitrex aren't helping at all. The next available appointment with the neurologist is FEBRUARY 2009!!!!

No adult would have to put up with a continual headache for two months...does anyone know of a doctor who will take this seriously and actively work on aggresively treating my son?

[Stijl Council]

I have mixed tension/migraine headaches that got a lot worse after having my daughter and then moving here. I feel really bad for your son!

I don't think my neurologist treats kids, but if the triptans aren't working then something's wrong -- either he's on one that, for whatever reason, doesn't work for him (I had to try six different ones before finding one that worked for me), or he has something non-migraine going on.

EDIT: I suggested that you check with Children's to see if they'd recommend he come in, but I just saw your other post in the other thread. I have gone to the ER with severe headaches on a doctor's recommendation before, and if it were my kid that's what I'd do, at least one time to get through the current crisis and to see if a few pain-free days could help him relax. I know that, for me at least, having a migraine for more than a couple days is enough to make my body spasm and the pain go on and on.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by guylocke

...I don't believe that any research has ever shown things like diet make a difference.

Maybe, but diet worked for mine!

I restricted high GI carbs for health reasons... and along with lowering my blood sugar and blood pressure, my migraines ceased to exist.

No research to cite, just personal experience.