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Welcome to the Environmental migraine triggers Forum

Hello, I use to get migraines all the time and now they seem to be coming back. This time I think the cause is the winter storm that just hit, I’ve been in bed all day, I have taken Imitrex and still have the migraine, I don’t know what else to do, it’s killing me just to sit here and type this.

Hello Dawn,

Has your doctor suggested any other medicines such as an NSAID or Benadryl to combine with the Imitrex for better results? I do hope you are able to shake this attack very very soon. Let us know how you are doing okay?

Imitrex didn’t work for me, switched to Amitriptyline, which worked well, until I had to go off for cardiac change reasons. Maxalt seems to work well, along with Depakote which covers me for sleep problems as well as migraine management. The cluster headaches hit me for a week when the weather does it’s thing.

Weather is one of those awful triggers that makes us feel helpless sometimes because we can’t control them no matter how hard we try. I used a health/weather subscription service that utilized weather conditions and a special algorythm and sent email warnings when certain conditions may be aggravated by the weather. At first I was dismayed to find that every time it said my Migraine attacks may worsen, they didn’t. Because I have some heart issues as well, I also subscribed to that service, and soon found that when it said my cardiac issues may be worsened by the weather, it was my Migraine issues that responded instead. Who knew!

What can be done to avoid a weather-change triggered migraine? Anytime the barometric pressure falls below 30.25, a migraine hits me with a vengeance and so far I’ve found nothing that helps except going to bed and trying to sleep to wait it out. This is beginning to affect my family, work and social life. I need REAL help, now!! My doctor just keeps trying to prescribe antibiotics for a sinus infection.

Elyssa, Can you get in to see a Headache Specialist? They really are the best option for those with Migraines that are affecting their lives like they seem to be affecting yours. It may be that having a discussion with a headache specialist about beginning preventive therapy may be an option for you.

As to prescriptions for antibiotics, that can be hard on your system if you don’t really need them. That is a common complaint amongst Migraineurs though. If you can get a specialist that understands what is happening, you’ll have better luck with management…

Storms not really a snow storm but a deep rain/thunder/ice/or hail storm drives my head crazy

My migraines are triggered by barometric pressure changes–either up or down. Seems to be the rapidness of the change.
Every time I have a migraine there is a barometric change going on–BUT NOT every time there is a barometric change I get a migraine. HOpe that makes sense. I did a migraine diary once. Helped tremedously. Found a pattern to “setting the stage” for a migraine in the fact of food colorings and dyes, gasoline fumes, bright sharp light, reflective light and so on.

Good Morning,
My name is Heather Puente and I too suffer from Migraines. I was diagnosed as having them in 2006. I have started to really pay attention to what triggers them and using a journal. I could really use some opinions or any information you might have on the effect of elevation on a patient with Migraines. I live at an elevation of 6,035-7,000. I never had Migraines till I moved to Colorado in 2002. At first I would get maybe a few a year but no biggee. In 2004 they were coming on more frequently and I had other health issues. I had a complete hysterectomy in that same year. In 2005 we moved to California for two years. My migraines got better however the last year we were there I suffered with them terribly. Found a great Neuro and he got me started on meds and they worked!!! Well Oct 2007 we moved back to Colorado and the pain was back and with a force. So my question is, could this be a very good possiblity that elevation is a main factor in my migraines? I know barometric pressure changes does effect me which, I finally put that together. Colorado weather is known for the changes so rapidly. One day can be 70 degrees and the next day we have a snow storm in the 30′s.

Heather,
If you haven’t already, this is definitely something to discuss with your doctor. Altitude and weather changes can both be strong triggers. Often, people who have one of those triggers have both. One theory is that both higher altitude and barometric pressure changes affect cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Take a look at this article – http://migraine.com/blog/living-with-migraine/migraine-triggers-weather-changes/

Teri

Can anyone recommend a website that provides barometric pressure and other weather info useful for tracking/predicting migraine attacks? Thanks!

KJDREY, I use MediClim myself. However, that said – I rarely have a Migraine when I get a Migraine alert. My attacks usually coincide with the Heart alerts. Not sure why, but I do use them to kind of keep me at least thinking about weather issues that might be headed our way. I hope this is helpful Here is a link: http://bit.ly/vr15xT

Some of my worst migraines come from weather coming from the wrong direction, such as Atlantic hurricanes I easily feel them 800 miles away and nor’easter winter storms coming up the coast.

My migraines tend to not be so much related to the barometric pressure of where I am, but rather a change somewhere within 800 miles or so.

I’ve been doing research on barometric pressure changes because they seem to give me A LOT of trouble. It’s disheartening that there seems to be nothing I can do to avoid them.

I saw a post above asking about a NSAID medication in combination with imitrex.

My doctor recently gave me Cambia samples and they worked very well in combination with my imitrex. BUT – turns out they are $111 a pop (with my insurance).

Can anyone recommend another NSAID, hopefully a generic that will also do the trick?