Migranes: related to house issues?

[Hobiedog]

My wife recently started having migranes, or more correctly 'cluster headaches' and after being unsuccessfully treated by a neurologist, she's wondering if we have some adverse health-related issues with our home. She's at her wit's end and wants me to get a Radon test and perhaps water and mold tests. I'm going to pickup a Radon test kit tonight.

I've seen a little white/light gray mold in the attic and something similar in our crawl space, but that's about it. Radon; dunno, I'll test. Water quality hasn't been an issue in our city (Spartanburg, SC) AFAIK.

So, I'm wondering what experiences or thoughts any of you guys have in this regard.

[Ed62]

I think there could be a lot of things causing the headaches. I've heard horror stories where people have gone from doctor to doctor with different symptoms, and get no clear cut diagnosis. Then it's found to be a problem in the home (I'm not saying that's what it is). It might be worth considering a call to your local health department, and explain the situation. They might recommend certain tests, which would eliminate or prove the possibility of a problem in the home.

Ed

[Richard in Smithville]

Migraines run in my family. It's something I inherited from my mum. You can go for years and never get one then suddenly you seem to "grow" into migraines. They can be triggered by almost anything depending on the person. What might be a trigger for one person will not affect another. So it could be something in your house, or even something that your wife has used for years. I'm bothered by drastic weather changes and atmospheric pressure. When that happens, all I can do is get "drugged" up and go to bed for about three to four hours. Try looking at this page

[cabinetman]

Ed's suggestion of getting with the health department might turn up or negate any neighborhood problems or reports. My wife (a nurse), always tells me to drink more water when I get just headaches. I attribute it to my customers. Water seems to help. The plus side is it's supposed to be good for my bladder.
.

[catta12]

Migraines run in my family. It's something I inherited from my mum. You can go for years and never get one then suddenly you seem to "grow" into migraines. They can be triggered by almost anything depending on the person. What might be a trigger for one person will not affect another. So it could be something in your house, or even something that your wife has used for years. I'm bothered by drastic weather changes and atmospheric pressure. When that happens, all I can do is get "drugged" up and go to bed for about three to four hours. Try looking at this page

I am very similar. I have had the bad luck of migraines being passed to all of the men from at least my grandfather on down. Stress and caffeine are triggers for me although my dad feels his triggers are more food related (preservatives). My family has read volumes about migraines over the years without it making much difference. I have heard that the cluster migraines are very bad. I usually get one migraine every 2~4 months.

I have tried Imitrex with limited success. My personal treatment method is to drink two energy drinks with IB profen. I read somewhere that migraines are caused by constricted blood vessels in the brain and that increased blood flow partially helps. I would say this helps, but my head still pounds and I lay down somewhere dark for several hours.

Some R&R might be in order as well.

[Garasaki]

Interesting reading on the migrane site. Actually brought back a lot of uncomfortable memory's

I suffer from migranes with (visual) aura's. I have recently been relatively migrane free except for times when I overexert myself and become dehydrated. While I cannot attest my entire migrane history to this cause, the advice to drink water is what I have been doing recently with reasonable sucess.

My mom also had migranes. She smelled oranges 24 hours before getting her's. Hasn't had em for years and years though. Mine peaked in my early to mid teens (first suffering from them around 10 years old) but they have declined sharply in the last 10 years.

All in all my heart goes out to your wife. To me, it sounds like some recent change has triggered her headaches - could be enviromental (house), diet/activity related, stress...millions of things.

[MilDoc]

If these are true cluster headaches, then they are not migraines. Cluster headaches are much more usual in men then women but women can indeed get them.

No, there are no know environmental triggers to cluster headaches. Mold and radon have been investigated without success.

Triggers can include alcohol, cigarette smoke, sleep apnea, medications such as nitroglycerin or nitrates, and disruption of a person's normal sleep cycle.

Treatment is often not very effective but there are several different treatments that need to be tried.

Look here for some of the best information:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cluster-headache/DS00487

[RodKirby]

...Treatment is often not very effective but there are several different treatments that need to be tried.

Look here for some of the best information:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/clu...adache/DS00487

This from an EXPERT! (Ray in the UK is another sufferer)

I get them about 2 years apart and they last for about 10 days

• Same time of day
• Blinding pain, left temple (have to shut your eyes - automatic)
• No confirmed triggers
• NOTHING works
• Last for about 40 minutes
• I find a quiet spot, glass of water, and just wait it out - groaning!
• Women on the Cluster Headache forum describe them as worse than childbirth - I'd settle for having a baby
• Cluster headaches are NOT migraine headaches

[Hobiedog]

Thanks guys...

And just to confirm; I know that migraines and clusters are two different things. It's just that the jury, er the doctor is out; she cannot decide. At the moment, the Dr. has prescribed Zomig amongst other 'triptans', but the Zomig is the only thing that works. Problem with that is manyfold: the doctor only wrote the prescription for six doses per month. She's had probably 10 incidents in the last 15 days. She doesn't like taking that stuff. It knocks her out for about two hours and she isn't sure about it's long-term affects. Also, although minor, my insurance will only pay for that initial prescription.

I'll tell her about hydration. Intresting that several of you mention this. I told her weeks ago that I didn't think she drank enough water. Oh, and on our second trip to the emergency room last week oxygen took about 4 points of pain on a 10 point scale. My wife asked the neurologist if O2 could be prescribed, but the doctor said it'd be more expensive than the Zomig.

Also to catta12, my wife read on a related forum that many claimed relief by CHUGGING a Red Bull. Our fridge is stocked now. Interestingly Red Bull and other energy drinks contain Taurine which inhibits neuraltransmissions (yeah, I had to check that spelling). Here's an interesting read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine
it lists the Taurine content in energy drinks which practically all max out at the same concentration.

Anyway, her 'headaches' have been a big problem for all of us. Of course she can hardly function, and I feel for her. I wish there was something I could do for her.

Thanks for your recommendations, thoughts and for just listening. And for you guys and girls that suffer I wish you relief.

JT

[RodKirby]

On the subject of family members -

LOML says her problem was accepting that she couldn't do anything to help.

When I have one now, she just goes away and watches TV, with headphones on. When I'm done, I let her know.

Also, when I have one, I just want to be alone to groan until it's over. For me, groaning (outside if the weather is OK), seems to help pass the time.

[cgallery]

Something to try: Stay wide awake for 24-hours. Then, after the kids (if any) have left for school, go to sleep in a darkened room for two hours (set an alarm clock). Wake up, go about your day. Go to bed at your regular time that night, and resume a normal sleep pattern.

[MilDoc]

IMHO the distinction between cluster and migraine headaches is not difficult. It's a historical diagnosis mainly, depending on patient symptoms. The fact that O2 helped would lean me toward cluster headaches, but it still depends on the complete symptom profile. Maybe you should ask for a referral to a headache specialist?

[rnelson0]

I read somewhere that migraines are caused by constricted blood vessels in the brain and that increased blood flow partially helps.

Actually, it's caused by expanding blood vessels. The problem is that caffeine binds to the receptors that activate the constriction of the capillaries between your skull and your outer skin on your skull, preventing the expansion that would normally happen. The expansion and contraction cycle happens somewhat frequently, at least a few times a day. When you ingest caffeine on a constant basis, your blood vessels stay in the constricted state. Then, when the caffeine is removed, your blood vessels expand. The tissues around the capillaries are now no longer used to this cycle and that's why it feels like your head is pounding - it's actually your blood beating in a tight space!

There are a number of triggers to migraines, some known, some unknown. The biggest are caffeine and stress, at least in my experience with my wife. Loud and persistent noises can be another (the only migraine I ever got was after operating a chainsaw for an hour without proper ear protection). I also think it's somewhat psychosomatic, in that once you believe you're going to get them all the time, your body triggers them. Not that believing you weren't going to have migraines would have saved you, but it may have lowered the frequency.

The last paragraph is opinion only.

[mater]

Has she started taking medicine for high blood pressure? I had headaches problems all my life and years ago a Dr put me on high blood pressure medicine and I had headaches so bad I had to start taking Imitrex until I stopped taking the BP medicine. Another Dr changed my BP medicine and the headaches stopped. Also a friend of mine had migraines and the Dr put him on blood pressure medicine for them and he told me the other week he hasn't had one since.

[Mrs. Wallnut]

And just to confirm; I know that migraines and clusters are two different things. It's just that the jury, er the doctor is out; she cannot decide. At the moment, the Dr. has prescribed Zomig amongst other 'triptans', but the Zomig is the only thing that works. Problem with that is manyfold: the doctor only wrote the prescription for six doses per month. She's had probably 10 incidents in the last 15 days. She doesn't like taking that stuff. It knocks her out for about two hours and she isn't sure about it's long-term affects. Also, although minor, my insurance will only pay for that initial prescription.

I'll tell her about hydration. Intresting that several of you mention this. I told her weeks ago that I didn't think she drank enough water. Oh, and on our second trip to the emergency room last week oxygen took about 4 points of pain on a 10 point scale. My wife asked the neurologist if O2 could be prescribed, but the doctor said it'd be more expensive than the Zomig.

Also to catta12, my wife read on a related forum that many claimed relief by CHUGGING a Red Bull. Our fridge is stocked now. Interestingly Red Bull and other energy drinks contain Taurine which inhibits neuraltransmissions (yeah, I had to check that spelling). Here's an interesting read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine
it lists the Taurine content in energy drinks which practically all max out at the same concentration.

Anyway, her 'headaches' have been a big problem for all of us. Of course she can hardly function, and I feel for her. I wish there was something I could do for her.

Thanks for your recommendations, thoughts and for just listening. And for you guys and girls that suffer I wish you relief.

JT

I have heard this also. But who can handle CHUGGING a Red Bull, those are nasty things.

I have heard from my boss's mother who reads those natural remedy type of things and she said that if you are getting a headache (and I know that your wifes headaches are worse than a normal one) but for those who just have a mild headache to drink Apple Juice. I have tried it and it seems to work. Don't know why and I know this doesn't help much but thought it was interesting info.