Migraine triggers - what are yours?

[mill4023]

I started getting migraines about 3 or 4 years ago. They aren't very frequent, which I'm obviously thankful for, but it also means I haven't really nailed down any triggers.

I cut out Splenda about a year ago and it does seem like the frequency has gone down, but I'm not sure.

Last week, I had red wine in the evening and bacon the next morning, and had a migraine that afternoon. I know these are both possible triggers, but I guess there's really no way to tell if one or both of these caused the migraine. So I thought I'd seek the collective knowledge of the DIS.

For those of you who have migraines,
Have you determined any of your triggers?
If so, how did you determine them?
How soon after eating or drinking something would your migraine start? I've heard that it is normally very soon, but I'm not sure if a food or drink from the previous day could trigger a migraine.

Thanks

 

[MsLeFever]

Sour dough bread (which I love and just have to have on occasion)

My period (nothing to be done about that one)

Not enough sleep

I highly recommend Relpax. The pills are pricey - about 10 bucks apiece but when I have a migraine they are SO worth it!

 

[cntrygal]

skipping a meal

my period

my ex

 

[mill4023]

Well, since I'm a guy, at least there's one trigger I don't have to worry about.

 

[Hedy]

Have you determined any of your triggers? Yes.
If so, how did you determine them? When I was first dianosed with migraines, I kept a diary of what I ate did the day I had one.
How soon after eating or drinking something would your migraine start? Mine are sunlight (so I wear sunglasses); hot, crowded places (you sould see me at WDW-I look like a celeb hiding from the paparazzi); window air conditioners.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Sulfates are my biggest trigger...

 

[Sleepy]

milk
smells (flowers, perfumes, smoke)
noise (repeating sounds like the thumping of music)
not enough sleep
Hormones are the big one.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I have never been able to figure out a trigger..... my migraines are as random as my personality

 

[mill4023]

So for those of you who know some of yours, how quickly do you get the migraine after the trigger?
I'm trying to figure out if I should only be looking at what I had to eat or drink on the day of the migraine or if I should be looking back to the previous day.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Perfume, cigarette smoke, eating bacon (which I love!), changes in the weather.

I have suffered since I was 25 with migraines. My mom had them. I am now 56 and my migraines are getting fewer and less severe! I can sometimes head them off if I take over the counter Excedrin Migraine. On the occasions that doesn't work I use my Maxalt, Rx, prescription.

TC

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

My biggest triggers are allergies -- dust, pollen, some flowers, cats (which I have two of ) and most trees. Once I started on allergy shots though my headaches don't occur as much. Stress and bright, fluorescent lights are another trigger. My office looks like a cave -- I keep the blinds drawn and the overhead lights off.

Chocolate used to be a trigger, not so much anymore. When it was an issue, I could eat a candy bar and guarantee a headache in 24-48 hours. AWFUL!

 

[Dancemom03]

It's odd, I haven't heard my worst trigger mentioned yet... Ceiling fans - especially if sunlight/ceiling lights are shining off the blades. I used to spend a lot of time during the day at a good friend's house. After seeing the misery I went thru after a few hours of sitting in her kitchen with the sunlight hitting the spinning fan blades, she'd always remember to turn the fan off as soon as I got there. Depending upon the table and whether the ceiling lights are recessed close to it, on occassion we've even had them turn off the ceiling fan above us in the restraurant we have lunch at several times a week. And the ceiling fan in my bedroom hasn't been on in years during the daytime b/c the sun comes in the windows and then creates a strobe effect.

Strobe effects are almost always a guaranteed trigger for me within less than an hour... in video games, TV shows, police cars in the dark on the side of the road ahead, sunlight filtering thru trees on the road coming in the side window at certain times of the day as I'm driving. I've gotten good at looking away or shielding my eyes. As a teen, I'd heard strobe effects on tv could trigger epileptic seizures and remember thinking this must be one of those stories your mom makes up to get you to stop doing something. I can easily see that research scenerio happening now though.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

MSG & insomnia are 2 of my big ones.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

My triggers are: chocolate, artificial sugar, too much caffeine, weather changes, hormones, lack of sleep.

When I eat too much chocolate I usually will get a migraine within the hour. If I catch it before it gets to bad when I see the "aura" I can take Excedrin Migraine and that will help reduce it. It is so strange, if I have too much caffeine I get a migraine but then I have to take the pills with caffeine in it to help reduce it.

 

[Jockaroo]

It's odd, I haven't heard my worst trigger mentioned yet... Ceiling fans - especially if sunlight/ceiling lights are shining off the blades. I used to spend a lot of time during the day at a good friend's house. After seeing the misery I went thru after a few hours of sitting in her kitchen with the sunlight hitting the spinning fan blades, she'd always remember to turn the fan off as soon as I got there. Depending upon the table and whether the ceiling lights are recessed close to it, on occassion we've even had them turn off the ceiling fan above us in the restraurant we have lunch at several times a week. And the ceiling fan in my bedroom hasn't been on in years during the daytime b/c the sun comes in the windows and then creates a strobe effect.

Strobe effects are almost always a guaranteed trigger for me within less than an hour... in video games, TV shows, police cars in the dark on the side of the road ahead, sunlight filtering thru trees on the road coming in the side window at certain times of the day as I'm driving. I've gotten good at looking away or shielding my eyes. As a teen, I'd heard strobe effects on tv could trigger epileptic seizures and remember thinking this must be one of those stories your mom makes up to get you to stop doing something. I can easily see that research scenerio happening now though.

What she said. Seriously, I could have written every word of this. My main trigger seems to be extreme contrasts/patterns of light. Have the lights "moving" it is worse. Mine will hit in around an hour to two hours. It is bad when your criteria on selecting a restaurant is whether it has ceiling fans. Sunlight coming through the slats of window blinds is another big trigger.

Although not a true migraine, I do get severe headaches if I get dehydrated.

 

[bookgirl]

Well, not to be indelicate but I get one at that "time of the month". I can't figure out the other trigger, but hormones is one.

 

[ginna74]

I had smelled lysol at one time while I was having a migraine so when I smell it for long periods of time I can get them. I don't eat lime pie either for the same reason. I also get curvy lines in my vision and a loss of my (forgot what it is called but it is vision to my side or up or down) before I get a migraine, but I don't always have to get the migraine, BUT I always have these before I get a migraine if that makes sense. If my son rough houses to much at night he gets one in the morning. So we try not to let him get worked up after a certain time.

 

[Crystal0608]

MSG. I've had them for years and just figured it out last year. I get them every time I eat at a chinese restaurant or eat stuff high in MSG's, which was a lot until I stopped knowingly eating it. I also get them with high stress and lack of sleep, never in the front of my head though- back and sides.

 

[DSNY4ever]

-Strong smells, especially perfume type smells (this is my worst), smoke too
-MSG
-Chocolate, bananas, processed meats, too much sugar, yogurt, peanut butter, alcohol and coffee- luckily I don't really like alcohol and I hate coffee
-not enough sleep
-waiting too long to eat
-being out in the sun too long when it is really hot
-not drinking enough water
-strong head movements (something like cartwheels...or sometimes roller coasters)


I got them HORRIBLY as a child, but I grew out of them when I got older (like in college), I only get one about every few months now. Had one just the other day and it was terrible!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

most already mentioned.

glare (off snow even on low sun days), moving/intermittent light, dehydration, MSG, some scents (the cheap cinnamon potpourri that is EVERYWHERE at Xmas time!), any kind of cold in my sinuses (the WORST!).

I have to wear sunglasses ALL the time: until dusk especially in the car and then sometimes have to close my eyes while riding at night.