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Family troubles, scandal, weight gain ... Janet Jackson doesn't let anything stand between her and an over-sexed performance, even a nationally viewed nip slip. But lately, she's canceled a string of concerts. The culprit? Like 28 million other Americans, Miss Jackson gets nasty migraines (vestibular migraines to be exact, a form of the headache that causes vertigo). Fortunately, her missed appearances will reportedly be rescheduled.
The headaches, which tend to affect three times as many women as men, may have an unexpected upside. New research shows that women with a history of migraines are less likely to develop breast cancer. Scientists believe there may be a hormonal link, as women with high estrogen are more likely to get breast cancer, while migraine-sufferers tend to have low levels of it.
It's a small concession for all those missed performances of "Escapade," and for some of us, huddling under blankets in a pitch-black room, trying to do yoga without puking up our Topamax.
More basic facts on migraines -- and how to treat 'em -- on AOL Health.
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Friday 14 November
By GataNegrra
It can NEVER be dark ENOUGH when one of those damned migraines is gnawing on my head. I'm under a blanket and a pillow in pitch darkness w/ my eyes closed. 800 migs of ibuprofen slays it every time. Oddly enough, sometimes getting brain freeze on purpose helps.
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Monday 17 November
By arshell
I use to suffer from terrible headaches and eratic throbbing for about four years.After seeing a neurologist ,having several cat scans and MRI's, my doctor finally diagnoised me with migraine headaches. I didn't have the classic symptoms like fierce blinding pain and needed to be in the dark. I used Excedrin,Excedrin Migraine,and Excedrin Tension medication.It helped a little,but the pain always came back like about two hours later. FINALLY there was relief!! My doctor prescribed me with a medication called Fioricet. It worked to the ultimate!! Unfortunately, I had to stop taking it because of side effects. It took my hair out!!!!
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Monday 17 November
By arshell
I use to suffer from terrible headaches and eratic throbbing for about four years.After seeing a neurologist ,having several cat scans and MRI's, my doctor finally diagnoised me with migraine headaches. I didn't have the classic symptoms like fierce blinding pain and needed to be in the dark. I used Excedrin,Excedrin Migraine,and Excedrin Tension medication.It helped a little,but the pain always came back like about two hours later. FINALLY there was relief!! My doctor prescribed me with a medication called Fioricet. It worked to the ultimate!! Unfortunately, I had to stop taking it because of side effects. It took my hair out!!!!
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Wednesday 19 November
By abjuniper7141
I suffer from migraines of the best kind, no headaches. I still get the virtigo, nausea, extreme light sensitivity, etc. Trying to watch TV with 2 pairs of shades on is not fun. I suffered for years before a neuroophthamologist discovered what it was. I still suffer from them even with the Topamax, but the episodes are shorter in duration now.
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Wednesday 19 November
By nelta
I have been a migraine sufferer for over 15 years now, it got so bad sometimes that I would pass out. Two years ago, my neurologist prescribed Frovatriptan, Frova for short, it is the only medecine that actually works for me. I take it the moment I feel a migraine coming and it stops the migraine from developing and if I can't take the pill the moment I feel it coming, it's okay, it still calms the migraine pain and 2 hours later I can take a second one to completely get rid of it. It is very expensive, one pill costs about $20.00, but if you have insurance that would help out a lot.
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Wednesday 19 November
By Jennifer Antle
I have suffered from migraines for 26 years (since I was 10).I take Topamax daily as a preventative but that doesn't stop them all together, so when I feel one coming on, I take Relpax and within 15 minutes, it is gone. It is like a miracle drug to me!! I don't know how I would make it as a mother if I did not have the Relpax.
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Wednesday 19 November
By Janice
For my migraines I take Cafergot (2 tablets) and WAIT about 20 minutes, then take one Annaprox. (make sure you take this with food), otherwise can cause you to vomit. This is the only thing that has worked for me.
You can get Cafergot in a generic form (called Ergotamine). Hope this will help some of you that suffer with migraines.
Please remember that you have to take BOTH (Cafergot & Annaprox) to make the migraine go away.
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Wednesday 19 November
By holli
I too have horrible blinding headaches. I cant stand smells, light and it has to be freezing cold.I get very nauseated and the pain is right behind my eye...I also take Relpax...but Im thinking of trying the new drug made by the people who brought us Imitrex...i cant remember what it is called but all Triptans cause you to have high blood pressure. My mother and father both suffered from migraines and they are healthy in shape and active and both suffer from high blood pressure because of taking Triptans for Migraines.
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Saturday 22 November
By M Lee
I suffer from chronic migraines, I have the same headache all the time. At times I have a low level of pain and other times it is intenese for months. I suffer from cognitive problems, severe fatigue, balance problems, and other neurolgical problems. My problem of 30 years was exacerbated in 2000 when a co-worker elbowed me in the skull. Since then I have more severe and deblitating problems. I am on disability. For any that still suffer, follow a migraine diet which you can find on any related website to a "t" no matter what you think about how the foods affect you. Don't keep taking medication that does not work and please find a specialist in migraines and headaches, not just a regular physician or neurologist. For those of you who do not get the headaches but the pre-monetary symptoms that is usually an "ocular" migraine. Good luck
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Friday 28 November
By Vince
I am one of the 1/3 of men that get these things and they have basically crippled me. I cant take lights, especially flourescent, noise some smells, Often it causes me to get violently ill and fatigued. I have had this all my life but when I was younger it would come for 1 or 2 weeks in the late spring and then again in the winter. Now almost everyday. Relpax and Phenergan seemed to work for me but its very expensive. Frankly I do not see how a person that suffers headaches can get on that stage with the lights and noise. I can barely look at this screen to type this out..
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Friday 28 November
By Vince
I have had these all of my life but for some reason they increased to almost everyday. But one thing I want to warn people on ist this. I was told by my headache specialsit that over the counter meds can cause rebound headaches. I was taking Excedrin E/S after I found out about the Rebound Headaches I notice they came out with Excedrin Migraine. So I started taking that until I read the label and found out it was the exact same thing as what I was taking before. They also came out with Excedrin Tension and its the same as well. I call them and asked if this was a mistake and the lady said they have the exact same ingredients. I asked why woud they market these as being different when they are the same and she told me "THE FDA PERMITS US TO" so be careful and read the labels or descriptions before purchasing pills for this pain...
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Sunday 30 November
By keb8563
40+ years of vomitously intense "ice pick in the eye" pain several times a month, with the advance aura of emotional lability, difficulty focusing, sensitivity to light/sound, etc
What helps: Zomig, often ramped up with sudafed, caffeine, afrin, or advil(or some combo thereof); Midrin dulled the pain but usually did not help as much as Zomig. Being very careful about diet and regular sleep and not getting too overstressed; chiropractic care - these all keep my migraines at a life-is-still-worth-living level.
What does not help: percocet (just made me feel very very sick and depressed); maxalt (a new Rx, made me weepy, dizzy, and then much worse); amiltryptyline, which I've taken daily for a month or more to reduce the frequency but I think I've had as many or more.
BE AWARE: a fair percent of migraine sufferers have a cardio valve abnormality that can be corrected with surgery (This was discovered by accident, during heart research). I have not pursued this, as mine are at a tolerable level of frequency and the meds do help, but if you are losing your life to migraines, check with your doctor about this. It's called MVP.
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Sunday 30 November
By Gail
I suffer migraines too, I am debilitated for days! Stress is a factor with mine, I am on a medicine that my family doctor here in the USA gave me and it works, ISOMETH-D-CHLORALPHENZ-AP. In the UK I was prescribed 'Migraleve' which had pink and yellow tablets. One time I was hospitalized with migraine and it was unbearable. I am a shadow of my former self when I am sick, the relief of it being gone is like a new lease of life!
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