sarahruby
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Posts: 300
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Feb 19, 2017 14:38:10 GMT
DS is 15, a freshman in high school. Does well in school. He suffers from migraines...we are trying to find something that helps.
He had an MRI done, all was good there. He takes preventive medicine topiramate, 50mg both morning and night.
Fioricet to take as needed, and sumatriptan for worse headaches.
DS shared that topiramate and sumatriptan does not help him...but the Fioricet is helping.
We've been working with the doctor past few months.
I'm trying to find other solutions for him....I discussed acupuncture with him, he is resistant it.
I'd like to hear what has worked for you guys..... I don't want to keep him on meds that is not helping
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gsquaredmom
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Posts: 4,080
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Feb 19, 2017 14:50:42 GMT
We found my son's triggers, many the same as mine, and he gets very few migraines. The triggers? Light reflecting off roads, cars, mirrors, etc. Certain light bulbs. Light bulbs that flicker. Nitrates, nitrites, MSg, food dyes blue the worst, too much sugar, not enough water, artifical sweeteners.
Find your son's triggers. Neither of us takes meds regularly for migraines. Some of my students have Botox done regularly.
Eta I take Alka seltzer when the aura starts. He takes 3 advil and two Tylenol and caffeine. We lie down in the dark.
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Post by leannec on Feb 19, 2017 14:56:22 GMT
I was going to suggest Topomax but I see that he is taking that already ... it's a lifesaver for me I wish I had more suggestions ... I'm in a part of the world that gets "chinooks" which are episodes of severe changes in barometric pressure ... I always get a migraine from it and the only thing that works for me is Tylenol #3 ... weird I know I hope you are able to find some sort of relief for your ds!
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sarahruby
Full Member
Posts: 300
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Feb 19, 2017 14:59:07 GMT
We found my son's triggers, many the same as mine, and he gets very few migraines. The triggers? Light reflecting off roads, cars, mirrors, etc. Certain light bulbs. Light bulbs that flicker. Nitrates, nitrites, MSg, food dyes blue the worst, too much sugar, not enough water, artifical sweeteners.
Find your son's triggers. Neither of us takes meds regularly for migraines. Some of my students have Botox done regularly. I told DS to make a note of what is setting them off when he feels them...he has yet too. I'm wondering if the school lighting might be a trigger???
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Post by Patter on Feb 19, 2017 15:00:04 GMT
Topomax never worked for my daughter. She finds Botox injections help the most. She gets 32 injections every 3 months. She goes again at the end of March. For me, have I have lots of triggers, and I always found good 'ol Excedrine Migraine and an ice pack work the best. I did not want to take other meds that the doc prescribed. I am just funny that way.
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Post by Patter on Feb 19, 2017 15:00:35 GMT
Oh, and looks like we posted at the same time. Lights are a HUGE trigger for me!!! It truly could be his issue.
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Post by beachbum on Feb 19, 2017 15:01:50 GMT
My main trigger is artificial sweeteners. Even a little can trigger a migraine for me, I have to be careful. My neurologist will go on a rant about those things! Aged cheeses can do it, getting a little dehydrated, and red wine. I kept a food diary for months to figure out exactly what was causing them. 50 mg of Topiramate didn't work for me, but when it was upped to 100 mg morning and night it helped. The only thing that helps me when one starts is Zomig - the kind that you put under your tongue. I tried several other meds first but nothing helped. I have a friend who acupuncture is working well for when nothing else worked before.
I feel for your son, it is so hard to try to keep your life on 'normal' when you are dealing with migraines.
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,080
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Feb 19, 2017 15:03:57 GMT
We found my son's triggers, many the same as mine, and he gets very few migraines. The triggers? Light reflecting off roads, cars, mirrors, etc. Certain light bulbs. Light bulbs that flicker. Nitrates, nitrites, MSg, food dyes blue the worst, too much sugar, not enough water, artifical sweeteners.
Find your son's triggers. Neither of us takes meds regularly for migraines. Some of my students have Botox done regularly. I told DS to make a note of what is setting them off when he feels them...he has yet too. I'm wondering if the school lighting might be a trigger??? Maybe. He graduated from the same school I teach in. We both have had some lights trigger auras and migraines there, and I have had students ask me to turn off lights at times. Usually it's a flicker that others may not even see. I think it's when the ballast is about to go bad and flicker more obviously. The gyms have lights I cannot look at. I avoid certain hallways.
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Post by AN on Feb 19, 2017 16:02:00 GMT
Your son's are clearly much more severe than mine, but I had them when I was younger and then they came back in my early 30s. I take Relpax when I feel one coming on (I always get the visuals before) and it cuts the severity and duration in about half.
That said, for me the trigger is stress. I have Saturday syndrome big time - a Saturday or Sunday morning after a stressful week or the first day of a vacation is a "risk" time for me to get them. I've had to work on significantly reducing my stress and taking more pre-emptive down time. I know you said he does well in school. I'm a type A person and rarely can identify that I feel stressed. Performing at work (or previously, school) comes pretty easily for me. Yet it's ignoring that stress and pushing harder that triggers physical symptoms for me. I'm not saying that's the case for your son as it sounds more physical, but something to consider especially if he is a good student, in sports, lots of social activities, etc.
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 5:39:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2017 16:21:17 GMT
I went through a period of migraines. The kind I had would start with zig zagging lines and/or a missing field of vision. Then the headache would set in. Nothing worked and they were coming with greater frequency. A friend suggested I try giving magnesium supplements a try. It's been a lifesaver for me. Since I've been on it, I haven't had a migraine except when I weaned back to see if I still needed them. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for everyone, but it might be worth a try.
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Post by littlemama on Feb 19, 2017 16:25:20 GMT
Dh has gone through imitrex, imitrex injections, Maxalt, Zomig, and now is back to Imitrex. The worst thing he ever did was take Topomax. We were just talking about it again last night. I know it works for many, but for him, the side effects were a deal breaker. Identifying triggers is important to reducing the headaches, as is taking the meds at the first sign of onset. There are weird things that can trigger them, so have your ds write down everything.
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Post by micheley on Feb 19, 2017 16:33:38 GMT
What helped my dd was Elavil and magnesium. She has also started eating healthier foods and staying hydrated. I hope your ds finds relief soon.
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Post by salem on Feb 19, 2017 16:41:32 GMT
Both my DD and I suffer from migraines. My 9 yo DD has had a few but not as frequently as myself and my 15 year old. For her it seems mostly hormonal. Pretty much guaranteed to have one days before her period. I'm the same way, but also have issues with perfumes/flowers and the lights at work are terrible. My latest pair of glasses have a nice tint on them that helps reflect light away from my eyes. It helps a lot. A suggestion if he wears glasses?
Neither my DD or myself take prescription meds. I did try Imitrex at one time. It didn't really help too much. We usually use Advil and caffeine to control them. Dark room if needed. It's torture sometimes when you just want to function and you can barely sit up straight.
I wish him relief. Poor kid.
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Post by donna on Feb 19, 2017 17:04:30 GMT
I started being able to control mine better once I figured out my triggers. Light is my biggest trigger. I have to have all windows covered because glare will trigger one very quickly. I keep half of the lights turned off in my classroom. If a light starts flickering I call the office to get it fixed immediately. I cannot consume artificial sweeteners and have to be careful with msg and sulfites.
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,443
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
Mar 18, 2015 4:10:31 GMT
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Post by milocat on Feb 19, 2017 17:41:31 GMT
How long has he been on the topiramate? It can take a while to fully start working. He needs to journal his life. Everything he eats, sleeps, weather, etc etc. To try and look for patterns so he can try and figure out his triggers. When you hear how some people have narrowed theirs down to specific ingredients it's from journaling. You can get a build up of triggers. "Having a glass of water" isn't the cure for migraines and such an annoying thing to tell someone with migraines but being dehydrated, a bit tired and stressed and there was a change in barometric pressure all works together to create a perfect storm. So knowing your triggers and which ones you can avoid can help you. You could have choose to stay hydrated and rested then maybe the stress and the barometric pressure wouldn't have caused a migraine. Also, be careful taking NSAIDs too often they can cause rebound headaches. I take topiramate, magnesium, B2, feverfew, CoQ10 daily. The vitamins will take months to see a difference. I don't eat gluten, it was giving me low grade daily pain but not a full blown migraine. I'm not 100% gluten free, I just don't eat big servings of it like bread & pasta but if there is a but of flour in something I'll eat it. Some good resources are Migraine Again and The Daily Migraine and Migraine Pal all have websites and Facebook pages with lots of articles and interaction. There is an app called Migraine Buddy that helps your track and journal. @leannc as soon as I saw your name I thought oh no don't let her have barometric migraines she lives in Calgary,chinook central. That has to be one of the worst places to live I'm not affected by the weather, we get plenty of chinooks up north too.
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Post by peasapie on Feb 19, 2017 17:44:15 GMT
Topomax didn't work for me. I gave it a full year and started calling it Dopeymax because it made me foggy-brained.
I take 1 frova + 3 Advil the moment i get the feeling I might be getting a migraine. Tell him not to wait because then the meds don't work.
Even with all of that, my migraines didn't go away and I was getting 15 or more a month. I now get botox shots in my scalp by a neurologist, paid for by my medical. My headaches have been reduced by 85%
Best wishes to your son -- I feel great sympathy for him.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Feb 19, 2017 17:49:39 GMT
I take 20 mg of nortriptyline nightly as a preventative. It doesn't prevent jack, but I do think it has cut the severity of my headaches and made them more responsive to other meds. When I get a headache I take 50mg sumatriptan and 600 mg ibuprofen (ONLY advil liquigels). I can't recall the last time that didn't work.
Side note, though: my sumatiptan is a generic made by Dr Reddy's. It works fine for me, but my sister says it does nothing for her. Other generics are fine for her, as are other delivery methods, like injections, but that one generic is useless. Sometimes it may be worthwhile to just ask if there is another generic option to try of the same drug.
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sarahruby
Full Member
Posts: 300
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Feb 19, 2017 18:23:51 GMT
I went through a period of migraines. The kind I had would start with zig zagging lines and/or a missing field of vision. Then the headache would set in. Nothing worked and they were coming with greater frequency. A friend suggested I try giving magnesium supplements a try. It's been a lifesaver for me. Since I've been on it, I haven't had a migraine except when I weaned back to see if I still needed them. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for everyone, but it might be worth a try. I'm going to have him try the supplements!
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 5:39:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2017 18:52:19 GMT
I'm so sorry your son is suffering!
Sumatriptan in the injectable form, knocks out the toughest migraines in less than an hour. The only disadvantage is I have to lie down for at least 30 minutes.
I would watch his diet closely! No MSG! MSG is in so many products. French onion dip, ranch dressing, popped cheese popcorn, taco seasoning and chicken/beef broth. Stay away from bananas, yogurt, chocolate, nuts and wine.
Recently discovered opioids caused my migraines. Even the chief of neurology, called in at the hospital following my surgery, missed this big time. I mean, seriously, just google Norco, Loratab, Oxy and migraines. We paid him $300 for the consult and all he did was up my pain meds. After being released from the hospital I spent a week in bed from migraines. That is when I googled and found my answer. After eliminating my pain meds, the migraines STOPPED! Of course that meant I could only use Tylenol after a spine fusion.
Again, I'm so sorry your son has to deal with migraines at such an early stage.
ETA - YES to overhead lighting. There are several stores that I can't shop in for that very reason!
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zella
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Jul 7, 2014 19:36:30 GMT
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Post by zella on Feb 19, 2017 19:57:25 GMT
One of the most difficult things about migraines is that no two people have identical triggers or have identical helpful regimens. The more your son can track everything about his life, the more likely he is to find triggers. It would be good for him to track all food and drink; the weather; how he's feeling emotionally; where he goes and what he does. It's a lot, I know. You can find migraine apps for phones, or online; these can help make tracking everything a bit easier. I had some visits last year with the headache clinic at UW (University of Washington). Did learn some useful info. Rebound headaches from painkillers can occur with as little as 6 doses in a month. I will dig around and try to find more details on that for you. Fioricet is rarely used today; I can't recall why, but I'll see if I can find that answer too. Preventive meds can take a year or more to bring about improvement. There are other preventives that your son can try. If you have good insurance, botox is worth a shot (sorry, terrible pun there). It didn't work for my daughter, but it does work for some people. There's also something called a sphenopalatine ganglion block. It is expensive, but should be covered by insurance. I had it done last year and had no bad migraine pain for a couple of months after two treatments. I'm going to get it done again early next month. You will probably have to go to a pain clinic, major hospital or teaching hospital to find someone who does it. There are supplements that are definitely worth trying. One is Petadolex. You won't get fast relief, but if taken daily for several months, you may see an effect. Of everything I've tried over the years, the ganglion block is the only thing that worked quickly. With supplements, you want to find one that has some combination of ingredients known to have a positive effect on migraines: butterbur, feverfew, riboflavin, CoQ10, magnesium. Also, beetroot. You can get beetroot capsules (I could never eat beets, even if they magically stopped all my migraines, so capsules are the way to go for me). Overhead lighting is a big trigger for me, and your son is sitting in classrooms with overhead lighting 5 days a week, so if it is a trigger for him, it's going to be tough. He might need to wear sunglasses that wrap around to keep the light out. Here are some glasses that use tinting to lessen migraines: Glasses. Your son should avoid wearing glasses that have a plastic frame, as the overhead lighting causes a refraction with the plastic that can trigger migraines (I figured this out when the huge glasses were in style, back in the 80's). Another thing to try is the Cefaly headband. It is expensive, and in the US you need a Rx (it's available without a Rx in Canada). Some insurance companies cover it. I wish I could say there's a quick fix, but for most of us migraineurs, there isn't. It just sucks.
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Post by alexa11 on Feb 19, 2017 20:25:59 GMT
Mine were hormonal- haven't had one since my hysterectomy 10 years ago. But the only thing that would relieve one was a Toradol injection- it's an NSAID- worked immediately. My dr was about to prescribe the injectable for me so I wouldn't have to come in to office before I had the surgery. Pain killers did nothing for me. Neither did Topamax. I'm sorry that he's suffering!
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zookeeper
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Aug 28, 2014 2:37:56 GMT
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Post by zookeeper on Feb 19, 2017 20:52:30 GMT
ight reflecting off roads, cars, mirrors, etc. Certain light bulbs. Light bulbs that flicker. These are my exact same migraine triggers. I never sit facing the windows and my glasses are always with me. I do think it is about finding your son's triggers. Also...I know people that have had amazing luck with dry needling for migraines. I will try to find a link and post it for you.
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zookeeper
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Aug 28, 2014 2:37:56 GMT
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Post by zookeeper on Feb 19, 2017 20:54:21 GMT
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Post by newfcathy on Feb 19, 2017 21:04:33 GMT
My allergies trigger mine, ds suffers as well but has no allergies, has chronic sinusitis. His are better when he remembers to take his flounase.
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Post by maryland on Feb 19, 2017 21:22:03 GMT
A few friends sons also started getting migraines during their early teen years. I hope your son is able to find something that works.
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ModChick
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Jun 26, 2014 23:57:06 GMT
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Post by ModChick on Feb 19, 2017 21:48:58 GMT
For migraines I take Maxalt (rizatriptan) which has been the only med that works for me as long as I take it within minutes of the aura starting. I'm like Leanne, I get migraines from the weather changes which we sadly have here often. I also have floruescent lights, nuts, chocolate, caffeine and cheese as triggers. Though staying away from all of those doesn't guarantee I won't get a migraine but it helps. I suffer daily with headaches and find Advil extra strength works ok to keep them at bay.
I've had acupuncture after a car crash and it was amazing. Maybe he should consider the acupuncture. If he's resistant because of the needles it's zero pain. They are so small, maybe have him watch a YouTube video to see that it's really quite "easy", for lack of better word. I was nervous the first time but within minutes my pain from the accident was virtually gone, my muscles so loose and relaxed. Hmmmm maybe I should try acupuncture for my migraines, lol.
Has anyone ever got that ear piercing that's suppose to help with migraines? Maybe that would help. I wish I could be more helpful but it's a daily battle for me as well. Good luck!
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ModChick
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Posts: 5,062
Jun 26, 2014 23:57:06 GMT
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Post by ModChick on Feb 19, 2017 21:55:47 GMT
I went through a period of migraines. The kind I had would start with zig zagging lines and/or a missing field of vision. Then the headache would set in. Nothing worked and they were coming with greater frequency. A friend suggested I try giving magnesium supplements a try. It's been a lifesaver for me. Since I've been on it, I haven't had a migraine except when I weaned back to see if I still needed them. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for everyone, but it might be worth a try. I'm going to have him try the supplements! Perfect description of my aura migraines! Glad I read this. I'm going to try the magnesium as well. OP I hope your son gets relief soon, living with migraines stinks!
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AmandaA
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Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
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Post by AmandaA on Feb 19, 2017 22:09:01 GMT
There's a lot of good info on this thread already but wanted to chime in about a few things....
I also have excellent results from Fiorecet. It isn't usually what most PCP's or neuros like to use as a first line... but if it works it can be fantastic. I know you mentioned that the Imitrex wasn't helping. For me, Imitrex (and all of the related triptan class meds) made me feel worse. So a huge chunk of the preferred treatments aren't an option. And most recently my neuro has put me on high (like so high the pharmacy thought it was a mistake and wouldn't fill it) doses of naproxen. I was super skeptical since I had used so many of the true big guns of migraine meds. But it really has worked wonders for me and without any side effects that alter my level of consciousness (which I think would also be important for him). Back in my late teens and early 20's, I was on low dose Elavil (before things like topamax were even in use) and magnesium supplements. To say it was life changing would be an understatement. I honestly don't think I would have graduated from nursing school without it. I was unable to function more often than not before starting it.
And I wouldn't have survived my first pregnancy without acupuncture! I couldn't take anything but Tylenol for the HA's which was a joke. I ended up on limited duty with a chronic daily migraine pattern. Acupuncture was amazing. Not sure why he is resistant, but it really doesn't hurt and they aren't "needles" if that freaks him out. Every now and then one might feel like a bee sting (and would come right back out). But the rest felt just like a small poke- pressure, not pain. And once thy were in, I rarely even knew they were there or had any idea how many there were unless I looked. I would strongly encourage him, or heck even bribe him, to try it and see if it helps.
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RosieKat
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Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
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Post by RosieKat on Feb 20, 2017 6:14:05 GMT
I went through a period of migraines. The kind I had would start with zig zagging lines and/or a missing field of vision. Then the headache would set in. Nothing worked and they were coming with greater frequency. A friend suggested I try giving magnesium supplements a try. It's been a lifesaver for me. Since I've been on it, I haven't had a migraine except when I weaned back to see if I still needed them. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for everyone, but it might be worth a try. I'm going to have him try the supplements! I specifically use Migrelief. It has magnesium, one of the B vitamins, and feverfew, all of which have been shown to help many people. It was recommended by my neurologist. Since I began taking it, I haven't had to take any other preventative medicines. I also used acupuncture. If he doesn't want to try it because of the needles, let him know that my needle-paranoid, then 9-year-old DD tried it for other reasons and found it painless and actually relaxing. Determining triggers can be helpful. Just know that it doesn't necessarily help - I discovered that the vast majority of my triggers are things I can't control, like weather changes.
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Post by dizzycheermom on Feb 20, 2017 6:31:33 GMT
My daughter started having a lot of aura migraines and a friend told us to try 400 mg of vitamin B2 daily. It has helped tremendously! We were using just the b2 but now she takes Migrelief which we purchase on Amazon, it has 400mg of B2 and some magnesium. Hope that helps!
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