Sunday, May 27, 2012
Sunday, January 31, 2010 MigrainePuppet asks

Q: Strangest item you carry because of Migraines?

What is the strangest item you carry around because of your Migraines?  

 

Mine - A baby diaper favor from a baby shower.   

 

I was at a baby shower where there were those toxic CFL bulbs.  On the tables, they had these cute baby shower favors that were replicating a baby's diaper pinned together with a little mint in the middle.  We undiapered the mint and used the mock diaper to unscrew the offensive bulbs.  Now I carry around this fabric for just such an emergency.  You never know when you may need a miniature diaper to help thwart a Migraine.

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Answers (8)
Teri Robert, Health Guide
2/ 5/10 1:05pm

Hmmmmmmmmm. Strangest thing?

 

I don't know if this counts, but I carry a little bottle of peppermint smelling salts that I make myself. It really helps with nausea. (I'm going to do an article that teaches how to do it.)

 

Teri

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2/ 5/10 9:27pm

Of course it counts!  It definitely sounds worth trying.  I can't wait for the article to come out.  I love to read about the homemade treatments like the microwavable rice sock and such. 

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2/ 5/10 9:36pm

I found something called (under several names including) 'preggie pops'.  They're lollipops for pregnancy morning sickness, but work wonderfully for migraine nausea!
Sometimes peppermint makes me feel much better, but during some migraines my sense of smell is so sensitive, that I hate it! 

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2/ 7/10 1:19am

Where do you get "preggie pops"?

 

I think the diaper lightbulb twister is the still the strangest item on the list, but this is giving me lots of new ideas.

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2/ 7/10 8:23pm

I get them from the local pharmacy...found them several places, usually smaller local pharmacies, but unfortunately not at the larger chains.  This store: http://www.threelollies.com/store/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=36 carries the "Queasy Pops" that have worked best for me!

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2/ 4/10 3:47am

Peppermint Altoids...they help with nausea when I am stuck.

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2/ 4/10 1:37pm

Dill pickles help nausea, this has been a very long time aid in detering nausea.

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2/ 4/10 6:18pm

Thanks.  Might be tricky to carry in my purse, though.

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2/ 4/10 8:34pm

Pregnant women have been craving pickles forever, and didn't always know that it was for the gastric benefits. They can be sliced up inti bite sized pieces-& put into a ziplock- they don't spoil, since they are pickled. You could also find a small plastic container you trust for your

purse! It helps me, my children, my adult frinds..... 

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2/ 5/10 12:26am

Don't pickles cause migraines for some people?

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Teri Robert, Health Guide
2/ 5/10 1:07pm

The peppermint Altoids are great. Some people like the ginger Altoids. I tried one, but YUCK!

 

Teri

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2/ 5/10 9:22pm

I keep looking for the ginger Altoids.  I know they're around and I'll find them.  I've use a ginger hard candy sometimes which I find better than the peppermint Altoids.  The ginger candy was definitely an aquired taste.  I would imagine the ginger Altoids would be something you need to get used to too.

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2/ 7/10 1:13am

Ginger gum is available now. It really helps though it doesn't last long. Ginger ice cream is being made by Haagen Daz (sp?) in their five-ingredient line. So, is mint ice cream. They're both really tasty and don't contain any of the food colorings and other artificial stuff that other ice creams have. A holistic-diehard friend got me started on ginger capsules, and I find they work better than phenergan and some of the drugs the doctors have given me.

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2/ 4/10 8:57am

I carry a Tens Unit, the pads to go with the unit, a supply of different meds for the migraines.  I look like a walking medical center.

 

I've been living with migraines since the age of 5 and I am in my late 40's now.

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Teri Robert, Health Guide
2/ 5/10 1:07pm

GiGi,

 

A TENS unit? How do you use it/how does it help with a Migraine?

 

Teri

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2/ 7/10 1:10am

I can't speak for the other TENS unit user, but for me it helps to relax spazzing  or knotted muscles and loosen pressure on nerves, especially those in the upper back. They help with sciatica also. Triggerpoint injections do the same for me, as do certain chiropractic methods. The TENS can't be used above shoulder level, so my neurologist's PA gives me triggerpoint injections there and I receive occipital nerve blocks in the scalp muscles behind my ears. Those can stop a migraine in its tracks sometimes.  Other times, it takes a couple days for full effect. One of my prophylactics is Amrix, an extended release version of the muscle relaxant flexeril.

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2/ 4/10 9:31am

A migraine tool box with ice packs, handwarmers, ear plugs, sunglasses in different shades ranging from those good for offices to those good for night driving, abortive and rescue meds, daily prophylactics, saline, ginger gum and  ginger capsules for nausea, spearmint Altoids, dramamine, anti-diarrheals, and stomach acid reducers. I keep an extra yoga pad and pilates ball in my office for stretching during the day. My TENS unit is at home along with another set of exercise tools.

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2/ 4/10 1:46pm

With regard to the impressive list of migraine determents, I would suggest using sharpshooters earplugs, they have a metal cartridge inside that shuts down when the noise is too loud. 

I only would also add an additional set of industrial ear protectors,- sometimes 1 pair of ear plugs is just not enough, & I need both

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2/ 5/10 12:24am

Interesting you should say that because I sometimes need to wear the headsets my husband uses on the shooting range in addition to the earplugs I get at the drug store.  I had some industrial strength earplugs but they disappeared. Where would I obtain others? I also keep a chemical filter painting mask on hand for when my husband is doing work around the house. I look like something out of a nuclear war movie, but I can at least leave the confines of our heavily filtered bedroom while he's making home repairs. Been thinking about taking it to work to use in the office when we're getting socked with exhaust or mechanical fumes there.  Using it does allow me to take care of chores like changing the cat box, or helping to paint using no-VOC paints. Might be a good addition for road trips when bad weather is holding exhaust fumes close to the ground, now that I'm thinking about it. You know what got me badly on a recent vacation  -- high sulphur content in the water supply everywhere we went in Florida. I kept smelling sulphur and getting nauseous or vomiting. Everyone told me I was imagining it. Turns out there really is a high sulphur content to the water supply. Between that and all the fragrances in sheets, house cleaning supplies, soaps, etc., everywhere we went, I lived on rescue meds all week. Thanks for the reminder!

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2/ 4/10 12:24pm

I carry the world's ugliest yellow-tinted glasses for night driving and to mask fluorescent lights. They work well, but they look like horrible 70's CHP or aviator goggles, not in the cute fashiony way, and I look awful in them. I'm always embarrased to wear them in public, but they help when I start to get dizzy.

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2/ 5/10 12:28am

I use those too at night -- they look they Mr. Magoo glasses in yellow. My grandfather wore them in sunlight because of his macular degeneration.

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2/ 5/10 1:30pm

Ha ha, yes! Good thing I'm married...those things would scare off any potential suitors! :)

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2/ 4/10 3:57pm

They say I carry a pharmacy..lol..never know when or which one I will need.."cause I'm not usually home when the migraine begins..

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2/ 4/10 7:04pm

On a daily basis, I carry a veritable pharmacy...If I can take a cooler, then I take ice-packs and fruit pops (are good for nausea)....If were traveling for overnight or more, I take a small stuffed eeyore; its a kind of 'inside' thing with my family.  They can tell by how/wear I'm holding it how I feel, so if we are with a group of people I can let them know if I need a break without interrupting. (generally, the tighter or closer to my face eeyore is, the worse I feel, and if I have it out at all, they know we might need to cut whatever activity short.)

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2/ 4/10 7:06pm

BTW - MigrainePuppet, I love the thing with the diaper!  Just today, my mom and I were in a restaurant discussing taking out the bulb in the lamp above us, and I was like, 'but its too hot to touch....'LOL

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2/ 5/10 9:25pm

The best thing about the diaper, besides that I didn't burn my fingers, is that it's small enough to fit in my purse and doesn't take up much room.  It was really a great help!  I think it's real funny that you ran into the same situation.  Hopefully, you can find your own diaper. :)

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2/14/10 3:01pm

A TENS Unit.

 

Moderator's Note: TENS units can be helpful used on the upper shoulders and neck. According to physicians, they should never be used on the head or face. Before using a TENS unit for Migraines or headaches, please ask your doctor to show you proper placement for the pads.

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By MigrainePuppet— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 01/31/10