The Wife Has mindgraines

Thank you all for the ideals, I will apllied them as needed Over the next few weeks we are going to monitor things and see which does what so far we know that the weather does bother her and certain foods heres something that we cant understand if she make a cheese burger here at the house and eats it she gets a headach from it like 3 hours later but yet if she eats a cheese burger from Mcdonalds shes ok thuoght I might mention that. I know that the mygraines effect each person differently And you are right I cant really Imagine what she is going threw, I assured her that were going to beat this together as a team after All I said when I do 13 years ago I ment for either good times or bad times.

Sounds like you are already doing some good work with trigger identification. Regarding the cheeseburger at home vs. at McDonalds, I don't know for sure, but it may be that the cheese you're using at home is real, aged cheese which tends to have higher tyramine levels, a known migraine trigger. The cheese used at McDonald's is probably a "cheese food product" that's not aged. That's one possible explanation, anyway.

I know it can seem like a lot of work, but as Nancy mentions, keeping a detailed, daily migraine diary is highly worthwhile. In my case, not only did I track pain levels, medication and side effects, and what I ate, but the weather conditions and temperature, my menstrual cycle and what activities I did each day. The pay off was being able to see patterns that emerged after several months and what things helped and what did not. Then you have a written record that you can review with your doctor to show if a certain medication or supplement is effective for you or not.

Good luck to you!

Re: Cheese

McDonald's does not serve cheese -- is is the cheese food type product.  I suspect that a switch to Cheese Food Type Burgers built with Velveeta would do the trick.  If aged cheese is triggering migraines there are surely other foods to stay away from.

Weather is a trigger for me.  Rapid changes in barometric pressure, impending thunderstorms, changes to the electrostatic equilibrium that accompanies full moons. The worst though is the really nasty hot dry winds know as the Santa Ana's (or Santanas actually - Spanish for Devil Winds).

Look Walt - you're engaging with people here and particpating in her treatment and being a good husband.  But your protestations that your freedom is taking a big hit -- if shared with your wife -- are not going to help matters.  Trust me on this.  My wife used to complain about how my migraines are dragging her down and to be honest - I've realized she has no idea what I'm expereincing or how profound the pain.  So I had her eat a small bowl of sherbert real quick to get the spike headache (she'd neve had one.) She got the spike and I said, it's like that only much longer.  From that point forward she had a much different attitude.

So consider this: Migraine is a real deal "disease".  So is Lupus.  Both can result in people labeling you as lazy, a hypochondriac, a sissy or a baby and "mental" ... or worse.  Would you feel deprived if your wife had been diagnosed with say, epilepsy or heart disease?  Maybe.  My point - change your thinking about this and you'll change the way you feel.  You guys are just taking the first few steps down this path and there are a lot of things you can do here.  I'm not going to lie to you and say it's absolutley going to get better but what I can promise is that you'll end up dealing with this in a way that makes the best of things.  So yeah, it's a bummer but hang in there.  I encouraged my wife to get into some things that would help her build a community so when I'm out of commission she can have have a life.  (And that had been an issue for us.)  Now she belly dances like a pro and does something called "Zumba" and it's amazing how much better we're both dealing -- and how much healthier she is!

Sage

Something to look closer at with food triggers i.e. the cheese burger, are things like aged cheeses. For example you may use cheddar cheese at home & Mc Donalds uses american.

Keep a food diary along with your headache diary. It takes awhile but adventually you will

figure it out. I found out for myself I was now sensitive to citrus and a preservative called Citric Acid its in all kinds of things.

Have patients with each other, it's difficult for both parties.

I've been a sufferer for over 3 yrs. now. My husband is my rock.

I know it's hard on him sometimes. But hey a marriage is in sickness and in health right.

Hang in there your not alone.

HELLO THIS IS CHERYL, WALTERS WIFE. IHAVE LUPUS AND MIGRAINS SO SEVERE THEY

HAVE ME TO THE POINT OF PASSING OUT. I CANT STAND LOUD NOISES OR BRIGHT LIGHT. EVEN THE TV HAS TO BE ON LOW. YES AT TIMES I THINK MY HUSBAND THINKS I AM PRETENDING  BUT BOY WOULD I LIKE TO EXCHANGE PLACES WITH HIM FOR ONE DAY. HE IS A MUSIC MAN AND LIKES TO PLAY GUITAR WITH HIS AMP, SOMETIMES I CAN HANDELL IT AND OTHER TIMES NOT.  EVEN THE SOUND OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS VOICE WILL SET ME OFF. I HATE THIS, I DO CRY ALOT. I AM ON 9 MEDS AND

I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD I HAVE BOOP, THYROID , CARPEL TUNNEL, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ARTHRITIS, BESIDES THE LUPUS AND MIGRAINS. I HAVE GOOD DAYS AND BAD ONES. BUT LATELY THEY HAVE BEEN MORE BAD.

Hi Cheryl

I'm so glad to see you posting. Although I must say, it sounds like it is time to see a "true" Migraine specialist. These doctors devote their entire practice treating patients with Migraines and headache disorders. See, here's the thing, a neurologist usually isn't a Migraine specialist because they treat so many different conditions, like MS, stroke and epilepsy. This makes it hard for them to be experts in one area. What is sounds like you need is an expert, a Migraine specialist who treats one disorder - ours- Migraine disease and headaches.  Take a look at this article: Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help looking for a Migraine specialist, look at our Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialist list.

If you'd like to talk with other Migraineurs and get some additional information and support, come join our discussion forum. You'll need to register again once there because it's a separate membership database, but you can use the same member name, email address, and password that you used here. You can find our forum at http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/migraine/forums.

I hope to see you over at the forum for lots and lots of support!

Hi Cheryl, I've suffered from migraines for 25 yrs, my husband was not sympathetic either and is a musician. I went through hell. Now he is better and does not play his drums in the house realizes it is horrific for me.  My husband never went for counselling but should have and maybe your husband should, some need to they can't accept a sick spouse. I wish you luck . I was extremely sick with migraines, vomiting and in bed for days.

Hi Walt,

I don't think anyone would get confused between the two of you. If you've never experienced a Migraine attack, I'd recommend not suggesting your wife is "bluffin." With all her other health conditions, why would she want more? Migraine disease is very painful.

You may be interested in reading my rather painful account of getting SSDI.  I was married for 24 years and thought I had a supportive husband. When we got married there was something about "in sickness and health....." Anyway, take a look at My Social Security Disability Journey it is pretty interesting. Migraines are a chronic condition no one wants to have.