Migraine support - Exercise and fewer migraines

Author

Exercise and fewer migraines - not true for me

Cindy Wells

2005-05-19, 11:53 am

Throughout the period when I was being diagnosed, the doctors and
their staff kept telling me exercise would reduce my migraine frequency.
Since I had an active lifestyle (when not on preventatives that slowed
me down), I didn't believe it. Within the last year, I picked up a $4
pedometer and find it easy to do 10,000 steps around the farm (except
for bad weather days). Hay season brings my step count up to 15,000 -
20,000+ steps (chasing a baler to monitor for problems or just picking
up bales). We started baling on Tuesday and the migraine started to
build on Wednesday afternoon. I finally medicated this morning (it
was only a 7 but the storm front passed through at 1 am).

I hate this. I really wish the medical staff wouldn't repeat the
advice for "average migraineurs" since the "statistically normal"
patient doesn't exist. (If they'd only ask the patient first, and
then advise exercise for those who need a healthier lifestyle for
other reasons it would be nice.)

Cindy Wells
(I'm not the only one who's ill so the work continues with me taking
extra magnesium to control the nausea.)

wafflycat

2005-05-19, 11:53 am

"Cindy Wells" <lcwells8892@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:Xns965B606E9E0F5JSrrwellsnscktnet@216.196.97.142...
> Throughout the period when I was being diagnosed, the doctors and
> their staff kept telling me exercise would reduce my migraine frequency.

snippity..

> I hate this. I really wish the medical staff wouldn't repeat the
> advice for "average migraineurs" since the "statistically normal"
> patient doesn't exist. (If they'd only ask the patient first, and
> then advise exercise for those who need a healthier lifestyle for
> other reasons it would be nice.)
>

Indeed. At the weekend Nathan did a 500km cycle event over in France, in the
pouring rain & cold. He finished on a high but the physical & mental effort
needed to complete the ride has hit today. He's fatigued, aching all over
and has a *migraine* :-(

Cheers, helen s

> Cindy Wells
> (I'm not the only one who's ill so the work continues with me taking
> extra magnesium to control the nausea.)

Cindy Wells

2005-05-19, 11:53 am

"wafflycat" <waffles*AT*v21net*DOT*co*DOT*uk> wrote in
news:428ce1a0$1@news.greennet.net:

<snip>
>
> Indeed. At the weekend Nathan did a 500km cycle event over in France,
> in the pouring rain & cold. He finished on a high but the physical &
> mental effort needed to complete the ride has hit today. He's
> fatigued, aching all over and has a *migraine* :-(
>

My sympathies to Nathan, These aren't "exertion" headaches since they
don't trigger during the workout and they aren't "relaxing from
the stress" headaches, either. Blah.

Cindy Wells

> Cheers, helen s
>
>

wafflycat

2005-05-19, 11:53 am

"Cindy Wells" <lcwells8892@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:Xns965B71F9C8147JSrrwellsnscktnet@216.196.97.142...
> "wafflycat" <waffles*AT*v21net*DOT*co*DOT*uk> wrote in
> news:428ce1a0$1@news.greennet.net:
>
> <snip>
>
> My sympathies to Nathan, These aren't "exertion" headaches since they
> don't trigger during the workout and they aren't "relaxing from
> the stress" headaches, either. Blah.
>

Ta - sympathies passed along :-) Nathan too was absolutely fine during his
weekend efforts and it hasn't hit really until late yesterday, so not really
a "relaxing" HA. I think it is, however, in his case, just sheer fatigue,
mental & physical exhaustion.

Cheers, helen s

[vbcol=seagreen]
> Cindy Wells
>

MKC

2005-05-19, 5:51 pm

suppose they are allergy triggered? Have some good friends that farm and when its hay season (coming right up) I cannot be at their place for very long before I melt down.

or then again, I think often they just 'are'

mk

Cindy Wells <lcwells8892@netscape.net> wrote in message news:Xns965B71F9C8147JSrrwellsnscktnet@216.196.97.142...
"wafflycat" <waffles*AT*v21net*DOT*co*DOT*uk> wrote in
news:428ce1a0$1@news.greennet.net:

<snip>
>
> Indeed. At the weekend Nathan did a 500km cycle event over in France,
> in the pouring rain & cold. He finished on a high but the physical &
> mental effort needed to complete the ride has hit today. He's
> fatigued, aching all over and has a *migraine* :-(
>

My sympathies to Nathan, These aren't "exertion" headaches since they
don't trigger during the workout and they aren't "relaxing from
the stress" headaches, either. Blah.

Cindy Wells

> Cheers, helen s
>
>

Cindy Wells

2005-05-19, 10:51 pm

"wafflycat" <waffles*AT*v21net*DOT*co*DOT*uk> wrote in
news:428cea39$1@news.greennet.net:
<snip>

> Ta - sympathies passed along :-) Nathan too was absolutely fine
> during his weekend efforts and it hasn't hit really until late
> yesterday, so not really a "relaxing" HA. I think it is, however, in
> his case, just sheer fatigue, mental & physical exhaustion.

That is one explanation I can believe.

Cindy Wells
>
> Cheers, helen s
>

Cindy Wells

2005-05-19, 10:51 pm

"MKC" <mknchad@gte.net> wrote in news:rP7je.1025$6d.820@trnddc07:

> suppose they are allergy triggered? Have some good friends that farm
> and when its hay season (coming right up) I cannot be at their place
> for very long before I melt down.

In my case, the hay does trigger some allergic response but
allergies don't trigger a migraine for me. (Otherwise, I'd have
a migraine from cutting onwards, rather than during baling.)

Cindy Wells
(more likely diesel fumes or low blood sugar are my triggers. I can't
eat enough calories during this season.)
>
> or then again, I think often they just 'are'
>
>
> mk
>
>

Susan34

2005-05-19, 10:51 pm

Years ago my neurologist told me to hire a persona trainer. He said
studies had shown the there was a direct corrolation between people
that exercise and the frequency and severity of their headaches.
Anyway, me hire a personal trainer? Was I a millionnaire? No.
So...over the years when my kids were young I did aerobics for a while.
I still had the headaches. Then, this past January, my company moved
to a different location. They have a gym right there. I have been
going since early February, exercising about 3-4 times a week during my
lunch hour. It has helped me tremendously. My headaches have gone
down in frequency and severity. I do still get headaches, and had
another visit to the ER last week, but overall, I am doing much better.

Cindy Wells

2005-05-19, 10:51 pm

"Susan34" <susan34henry@yahoo.com> wrote in news:1116546946.092880.85620
@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:

> They have a gym right there. I have been
> going since early February, exercising about 3-4 times a week during my
> lunch hour. It has helped me tremendously. My headaches have gone
> down in frequency and severity. I do still get headaches, and had
> another visit to the ER last week, but overall, I am doing much better.
>
>

I'm glad it works for you. How active were you when your doc suggested
the personal trainer?

Personally, the only time my migraine frequency goes down is if I avoid
my triggers. I can avoid the fluorescent lights (or replace them with the
really high frequency ones) and the diesel fuel (esp. around my period)
some of the time but not the rest of the ones I've identified.

Cindy Wells
(sufficiently active except for the period I was on amitriptylene (sp?)
that I needed to see a dietician to increase my caloric intake in
a healthy manner.)