Talk:Migraine/Archive 1

message: Hormonal changes may contribute to migraines. People susceptible to migraines may have very sensitive nervous and hormonal systems. Many neuropeptides serve as hormones and neurotransmitters with the characteristic differences in structure being very small. One significant example is Serotonin which in one form binds to receptors in the stomach lining and in another form binds to receptors in the brain. One form of migraine that is somewhat rare that appears in adolescents is the abdominal migraine which has classic migraine headaches along with gastric discomfort.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.221.185.221 (talk • contribs) 16:56, 15 February 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: I think that the hormonal aspect of migraines, especially for women, is well worth documenting here. goodwillstacy 00:32, 6 December 2005 (UTC)
replies: text:  Is there a difference between men and women getting migraines? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.136.121.173 (talk • contribs) 01:11, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Hormonal changes

message: Is there a reason "Greek" isn't capitalized?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.16.250.66 (talk • contribs) 06:19, 6 October 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: No, it is the language and not the printing style, uh? JFW | T@lk 08:25, 6 Oct 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  Capitalization 

message: Should add a short paragraph about the success of botox in treating severe migraines. -- Barolo 21:01, 03 Jan 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I've started with a one-liner and a reference. I get Botox treatments for migraines myself, and it works. I was skeptical about whether it would work, until the first treatment wore off after three months and I realized how much it had helped. I'll try to add more information later. --Pbfurlong 20:20, 2 December 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Botox 

message: Some text in the article was taken from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm (public domain)  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wouterstomp (talk • contribs) 01:24, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Public domain site

message: Could someone work at fixing up some of the grammar in this article? It looks somewhat like it was written ESL. Gadriel 03:15, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Fix? 

message: Is it just me, or does the symptoms category not actually list any symptoms? 24.153.226.7 05:35, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I have a list of all known migraine symptoms, in outline form (arranged by type of symptom). I can add it as soon as I figure out how to make tables. 68.126.224.85 00:03, 23 December 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Symptoms 

message: An earlier version of this article stated that it's a misconception to refer to a migraine as a headache, that the migraine is actually the disorder itself, and the headaches the most commonly known symptom. This version stated that it was possible to suffer migraine attacks with no headache at all. That seemed to describe my migraines exactly, but all of that information is now either missing or directly negated (since the current version of the article says in the very first sentence that a migraine is a headache). So my question is, which version is accurate? We should get people to quote their sources more often to avoid such confusion.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.182.62.38 (talk • contribs) 01:09, 13 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Quoting the public domain site: 'Headache-free migraine is characterized by such migraine symptoms as visual problems, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. Patients, however, do not experience head pain.' Therefore headache is a symptom of migraine that may or may not be present in a migraine attack. In light of this I'm going to correct the opening sentence. Cheers. !mAtt™ 21:28, 18 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Earlier Version 

message: The article states the same thing in a couple places, such as the technical name of the condition where one suffers a migraine attack without an actual "headache". But, I ended up on this page while 'suffering' from a migraine, so I don't quite have the capacity to do it myself at the moment. Any takers? 70.92.174.251 20:31, 22 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Organization needed. 

message: I wonder if anti-inflammatory drugs should be added under treatment, I believe they are commonly used against migraines. Any opinions?Neltah 22:46, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Anti-inflammatory drugs

message: I think the article is very helpful and informative. It is noted that some sufferers experience psychological effects after a classic migraine. I can attest to this anecdotally. During the postdrome of a migraine attack, my thinking is slow and my emotional state is flat. Reference is also made in the article to the 24-hour period preceeding an attack, but no 'prodrome' symptoms are listed. Several sources on the subject of migraine describe the sufferer as experiencing a range of symptoms including, irritable bowels, yawning, crankiness, food cravings, drowsiness, depression and euphoria the day before the onset of an attack. Euphoria appears before most of my migraines, usually presenting as an inexplicable burst of creative or physical energy, loquaciousness and a feeling of well-being. Only very recently was I able to recognize this euphoria, while I was experiencing it, as a prodrome to an attack and take action to prevent onset of the migraine. Other sufferers of classic migraine may benefit from knowing about prodrome symptoms.  72.141.26.222 05:51, 20 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Yeah, I'd have to agree there as well, on the topic of prodromes and post-attack symptoms. I suffered terribly from migraine as a kid, and afterwards I'd always be detatched and "daydreamy". Before an attack my vision would go wonky (things would look as if they were hundreds of meters away when they were at arms reach, and my depth perception would go out the window), I'd go pale and my eyes would "wash out" from blue to grey. Never experienced euphoria (damn shame :P ) but I'd definetly get the feeling of things "not being right". It took a while for my schoolteachers to catch on to the fact that I suffered migraines, alot of the time I'd have to bear one out for half a day because they thought I was attention-seeking. Do you know what it's like to be photo-, phono-, and smell- (didn't know the prefix, sorry) phobic and be trapped in a bright classroom filled with screaming 2nd graders and smells like food or paint? Not fun. I would like to see some more symptoms listed as well. I'm glad they've drawn a distinction between migraine and a nasty headache - too many people say "I've got a migraine" yet they're still capable of carrying out their normal day-to-day lives. Migraine typically sidelines you when it hits. And it's beyond pain, it's into uncharted territory.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 61.68.99.35 (talk • contribs) 10:32, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Prodrome 

message: Hi, everyone,
I have noticed that a google search of magnesium+migraine brings up lots of info . My idea is to make a section called Dietary supplements, like in the Clinical depression article, and put in there the most promising, well researched, and which migraine sufferers might want to take on a daily basis. The others can remain in alternative treatments.
I can volunteer to track down the research on q10 and magnesium. --Mihai cartoaje 04:28, 22 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: A doctor in Dallas, Texas does IV administration of Magnesium for acute migraines. It works for some people. He said that magnesium supplements may help, but the dose levels in the IV are much higher. MeekMark 14:40, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  magnesium 

message: Pathophysiology reads like some foreign language in parts. The different migraine theories need clear separation.
Migraine Triggers starts with "so there needs to be some explanation for why a particular migraine episode occurs at a particular time and not at another time." Needs rewriting for tone, and possibly integration into the Pathophysiology section.
I'm done for now, hopefully someone else will give this article some attention too. :)  -- Taral 02:36, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: And, like, I don't think I'm stupid or nothin', but couldn't pathophysiology just be causes? I know you lose bonus points on the 50-cent words, but I think it easily makes up for it for the average passer-by who, like myself, was looking for the section on "causes." Wiki Wikardo 05:27, 21 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  I think that is at least a $5 word; I've got a college degree but I've never seen that word before; many (some people believe many) people could probably guess what it means, but certainly something would be clearer. Causes isn't quite the same (see http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/pathophysiology), but close enough. MeekMark 03:27, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Cleanup 

message: The section Migraine#Alternative_approaches very long and unweildy - I suggest these sub-sections:
: ===Prism Eyeglasses===
: ===Exercise, Physical Therapy===
: ===Medical Treatments===
:   (Botox®, Spinal Cord Stimulator)
: ===Herbal===
: ===Biofeedback/Visualization===
:   (Can't think of a good section name that would encompass these related topics)
: ===Accupuncture===
I'm sure someone can come up with better sub-sections, but this is a start.  MeekMark 17:41, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Be bold and make the changes if you think it is better.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Btball (talk • contribs) 08:37, 17 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Alternative Approaches Section 

message: What about research done into using LSD as treatment? http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18180578-23289,00.html
I'm surprised this isn't mentioned.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.68.251.237 (talk • contribs) 18:50, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm not surprised at all. This is something in development, which is very unlikely to ever reach the point where doctors will prescribe their migraine patients LSD rather than a triptan. If you insist, please do the readers a favor and find an academic paper that discussies the benefits of LSD rather than a somewhat sensationalist (because involves illegal drugs) newspaper article. JFW | T@lk 22:04, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  I would have thought the disadvantages of LSD somewhat outweighed the advantages...  Jatos 18:40, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

text: In a similar vein, does anyone know if DHE has any hallucinogenic properties like its more notorious cousin? 130.36.62.139 14:29, 22 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  LSD as treatment? 

message: Moved here for discussion
* Migraines Linked to Higher Sex Drive
An anonymous user from IP 205.188.116.73 which has received several warnings about vandalism.  
It is a shared IP for AOL users and I suspect this is vandalism also.  
Rather than cite an AOL news article, I think it would be better to cite a scientific article - if this link is appropriate at all.  
Brian 08:18, 17 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: You could be right, but I know of at least three migraineurs (all doctors) who admit to this prodromal phenomenon. It doesn't seem to last beyond the onset of headache, though, and we're all pretty normal performers the rest of the time! Jbelsey 16:45, 6 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  External Link about migraine and sex drive 

message: Is there anyone here who knows if migraines are linked to hypotension. The reason I ask is I suffer from both migraines andd hypotension, and I seem to be more prone to migraine symptons when my blood pressure is low.  Jatos 18:43, 21 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I haven't heard anything one way or the other on that, but I experienced a dramatic reduction in migraine frquency and intensity after getting my hypertension under control. However, my doc put me on atenolol for the high BP (it's also used for migraines), so it's tough to say if there's a link between my BP & my migraines or if the atenolol's just pulling double duty. 130.36.62.139 14:35, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

text: Yes. Blood pressure is under control of several hormones, including adrenal cortisol. Low cortisol can mean low pressure, your brain may not get enough blood flow, and may dilate your cranial vessels to compensate. (If there is still not enough blood, you would faint.) Cranial blood vessel vasoconstricting serotonin keeps the vessels' smooth muscle tone in balance with normal pressure changes (standing up, sitting down). • Under the "vascular theory", if you have migraine genes, the dilation process becomes extreme due to loss of normal serotonin, and your blood vessels expand until they stretch and hurt. Migraine by type (common or classic) is associated with different than normal lengths (alleles) of the serotonin transporter gene. I think the serotonin transporter protein (made by the gene) is mishaped and maybe it reuptakes too much serotonin. Where does the serotonin go? Spare serotonin is apparently stored in and resupplied from the platlets. When the platlets become exhausted of serotonin, then that could be one cause of a migraine headache. Cortisol levels are supposed to rise under this kind of stress and help stimulate the DNA replication of enzymes which make more serotonin from 5HTP, and it from food tryptophan. But if you don't have enough cortisol to keep your blood pressure normal, then you aren't going to make more enzymes or serotonin very fast. Milo 08:07, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

text: Yup, I suffer from severe migranes and I've always theorised on a link between it and the fact my blood pressure is low (I had a kidney removed when I was younger) - sometimes they seem to be caused by for example leaning on my arm or crossing my legs - that side of my body will go totally numb and then the classic symptoms of migrane will onset. I'm due to go on medication to raise my blood pressure soon so I may find out for sure. --Streaky 08:07, 20 September 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Is there any known hypotension Link? 

message: I have recently been suffering these slightly migrane like symptoms. But they differ from the symptoms iv read on here quite a bit. Instead of a long period of Purudome i think it was called before hand, my things happen with no warning. Mine make me feel as if my head is spinning in 5th gear, I feel sick, but I never ever come close to being physically sick, its closer to extreme dizziness. And, I don't get "flashing lights" or weird crenalation like lines, I get full blown visions of events that I don't remember happening. Most often I see conversation between my self and several friends, or events involving friends at school, like kicking a football around or something. They are very intense and realistic.
Mine only last for about a minute or two at the most, i have no cravings for food, depression or anything like that.
But the strangest thing is, I seem to be able to classify these things into two distinct types, there are the heavy headaches that accompany these weird hallucinations, and then there are these small, mild ones i get where i merely feel slighty ill, and only slightly. However, during I've noticed rather worryingly, that what i was doing when these mild attacks occur is something that I realise i saw happening in a heavy attack. At least I think I do see that. I get a huge feeling of de ja vu.
However there is an explanation for this, deja vu is theorised to be communication between the "now" and "memory" area of the brain, so the "now" event mirrors itself in the memory area and you think you're experiencing something thats also in your memory at the same time, when reality its never happened before. Is it possible that that is what Im getting when I feel deja vu? And the headache I get is just there because my brain associates the headache with the heavy headaches i got where I supposedly saw the thing im now having deja vu over?
These things only happen about once or twice a month at the most, though slightly more recently at the moment as I've just finished exams.
Whats going on? I'm not particularly worried about it, being psychic would be kinda cool.  --SGGH 13:04, 24 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: If the headache is brief too (minutes instead of hours) probably not a migraine. The vivid images could be symptoms of a serious disease; I'm not a doctor, and I don't play one on TV either, but I'd find a neurologist that specializes in headaches. MeekMark 16:55, 24 June 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  I've always had a VERY active and powerful imagination. Seeing as it isn't definitely a migrane (though there is family history) I'll put it down to recent exam and social stress and an over active imagination, but if persist I might head down doctor way. Probably just very lubricated synapses though. Cheers.--SGGH 17:47, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

text: I'm not a doctor nor do I play another one either, but like the guy says, go see a real one. Though it doesn't sound like a migrane to me either. --Streaky 08:14, 20 September 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Is this a migrane? 

message: I was only interested in the "Aura" section. None of the links that I attempted to follow there actually linked to anything.   —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.40.59.79 (talk • contribs) 02:52, 26 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Dead-end Links 

message: New topic post moved here from heading "Is there any known hypotension Link?"
: User:Milo mentioned "migraine genes", but the article does not. The article is listed in the Genetic disorder category. Can anyone provide a reference for this or remove the category. --apers0n 18:25, 3 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: That's great, migraine clearly has genetic components - do you also have a reference for the STG polymorphism and depression? Could you update the article with this information, both in the intro and perhaps in the section "Triggers" (the section could be renamed "Causes")? If not, I will do it. --apers0n 18:35, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  I found the other reference here:  --apers0n 18:53, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Migraine from multiple genetic disorders 

message: Further investigating serotonin mechanics, I just read the serotonin article which says (body) serotonin is constructed in the intestinal tract's enterochromaffin cells. • Somehow circulating platelets get loaded up with serotonin made (replicated) in the intestinal gut. This helps explain a connection with food-caused migraines (e.g., tyramines), and a connection with the low adrenal cortisol cause of migraine. 80% of cortisol hormone recirculates through the gut daily in order to stimulate DNA replication of the disposable gut lining, surely with simultaneous DNA replication of serotonin. Low cortisol means a thin gut wall causing "leaky gut syndrome", which lets tyramines and other offending substances pass through instead of being rejected. The adrenergic drug prednisone cures migraines by replication thickening of the gut wall cells, and replicating endogenous serotonin, as well as replicating enzymes to boost every other supporting metabolic process. Milo 23:36, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Serotonin replication and low cortisol migraine 

message: The statement in the intro:
*Migraine's simplest treatments such as applying hot versus cold water are illogically contradictory among different patients.
Was changed by User:Moshe Constantine Hassan Al-Silverburg to:
*... such as applying warm water are illogically contradictory...
Neither statement really makes sense, can anyone throw any light on this or provide a reference? --apers0n 13:27, 5 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Yea I was kinda confused with the whole sentence. I thought they were saying "hot as opposed to cold" because they wanted to clarify that they weren't using a different meaning of the word "hot" or something, I kinda thought that "illogically contradictory" meant that it works for some people but for others it might have the opposite effect. Maybe we could track down the editor who originally added it and ask them what they meant.- Moshe Constantine Hassan Al-Silverburg | Talk 18:26, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

text: Gzuckier improved this to "The simplest treatments, such as applying warm water or applying cold water, have contradictory results among different patients." On reflection, that plural should become singular. I worked on it some more yielding "The simplest treatment, applying warm/hot water or cold water soaked cloths to the affected area of head, is contradictory — hot or cold can either increase or decrease pain, though it is consistent in the same patient.[+reference]" • The reference is "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine" (aka "Out of the Earth") by Simon Y. Mills, Viking Arkana, 1994(1991). Mills is former president of the UK licensed medical herbalists association. • In an age of pills, we have nearly forgotten what is probably the oldest migraine treatment, dating to the prehistory of hot water from sunlight, thermal springs, and eventually fire. The treatment reduces pain for some migraineurs as long as one can continuously keep up the activity. • Mills' point is the traditional classification of migraines into "hot" and "cold" types, meaning that one's migraine type is determined by whether one's pain is reduced by hot/warm versus cold water. This info is probably worth adding to the body of the article. Milo 19:59, 5 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Hot/cold/warm water treatment 

message: Which terminology do you prefer in the article "headache phase" or "pain phase"? Please add long comments to the subsection above.
Prefer "pain phase". Milo 02:53, 9 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Comment. Can we get a more accurate reference for this source? There are 3 possibles in Pubmed:  (2-7),  (8-15) and  (24-30) - or none of the above? --apers0n 16:01, 12 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  Apers0n, I'm a bit confused on which source you mean sice the 3 Pubmed sources you listed are to different journal articles. Do you mean the International Classification of Headache Disorders? Should we perhaps link to the PDF version on their Web site? http://216.25.100.131/upload/CT_Clas/ihc_II_main_no_print.pdf  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Msteri (talk • contribs) 16:12, 12 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Yes, that would be much better, ideally using Template:Cite journal, mentioning the specific page number referred to in the article, and that it's a 780 Kb PDF document with 150 pages... If someone wanted to find the exact reference online and didn't have a copy of the journal, then the current "Cephalalgia 2004;24(suppl 1)1-160" reference doesn't help much if it's not listed on PubMed :-) --apers0n 05:58, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Please vote in migraine phase terminology poll 

message: I've added an epidemiology section. I'm waiting for permission to arrive but hope to include a diagram or two in due course Jbelsey 14:55, 20 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Epidemiology 

message: I have had debilitating migraines every week for over twenty years. Other than vomitting, there is only one "treatment" that can eliminate the pain every time, even once the migraine is full-blown: head/neck massage. It does not need to be done by a professional, and it does not need to be "deep" (thereby artificially triggering a headache). Rather the massage needs to be persistent, from fifteen minutes to an hour (for example, applying pressure to the temples, blood vessels around the ears, and at the base of the skull). The problem with this cure is that you need somebody who is willing to massage your head for extended periods of time. Of course this only addresses the symptoms (migraines can be preempted in many other ways, before becoming full-blown...but drugs have almost no effect whatsoever once the migraine is full-blown).
p.s. I have a question for neurologists: why does throwing-up stop the neurons in one's head from firing? Therein, perhaps, lies a pharmaceutical treatment.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.82.188.80 (talk • contribs) 19:45, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Head/Neck Massage 

message: What is this at the top of the page?  "For the Finnish melodic death metal group, see myGRAIN."  It links to two different groups. Not sure the first one is even relevant. Does this belong at the top of the page anyway, or somewhere else?  --TeriRobert 05:14, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Yes, it belongs at the top of the page. Many Wikipedia articles have such disambiguation notices at the top of the page; it allows readers who have come to the wrong article by accident to find the right article quickly, instead of reading through screens of irrelevant text. Katherine Tredwell 19:53, 19 January 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  Thanks, Katherine!! --TeriRobert 05:06, 21 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Finnish group, myGRAIN?? 

message: This leads to a directory of other links, not information itself. It's covered with Google ads, making it a commercial site. Other links to commercial sites have been removed, even when they were content sites as opposed to link sites. I'm told that linking to commercial sites is expressly prohibited. Some editors are quite vehement about this and will call you on spamming  if you keep adding this link.  --TeriRobert 20:47, 1 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Acephalgic Migraine Information Link 

message: In the part about abdominal migraine, it sounds as though it occurs only in children and as though it is a very severe disease that includes vomiting. I am diagnosed with abdominal migraine. I have never thrown up on account of it. I just get a migraine in my head and a 'migraine' in my stomach at the same time. The migraine headache part is a real migraine and not a version of one, it just has a stomache ache addition.
Daffy100 02:01, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Migraines In Stomach 

message: After reading this article, I have the impression that migraine is diagnosed by symptoms alone, and that no physical test (scan, blood analysis, etc.) can be used to confirm or rule out the condition. Is this correct? If so, would it be worth spelling it out? Perodicticus 12:42, 26 January 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I think it's a good point though; a lot of people don't understand that migraine *does* have specific criteria, and instead use the term for any bad headache (like tension headaches or cluster headaches).  The differences are mentioned in the section on types, but maybe there should be a separate section explaining what isn't a migraine or what else a so-called migraine might be (differential diagnosis).  (I disagree with removing the statistics though.) --Galaxiaad 02:20, 21 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Diagnosis 

message: Folks,
the section on pathophysiology doesn't cite any references in refuting a commonly held (mis)conception re: migraines caused by vascular disorders.  
Migraine was once thought to be initiated by problems with blood vessels. This theory is now largely discredited. Current thinking is that a phenomenon known as cortical spreading depression is responsible for the disorder. In cortical spreading depression, neurological activity is depressed over an area of the cortex of the brain. This results in the release of inflammatory mediators leading to irritation of cranial nerve roots, most particularly the trigeminal nerve, which conveys the sensory information for the face and much of the head.
Can these be researched/added?  Cnbingham 23:05, 6 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  References for pathophysiology section?