Question: Chocloate, bananas? Identifying triggers? Estrogen?
Answer:
Full Question:
Thank you for having a place to ask questions.
I have had these terrible beasts since I was 19. Did everything imaginable to
rid them. I am 52 and at this time, I am taking Nadolol 40mg, twice a day. I
don't have the headaches as often as I used to. I have the aura, with the zigzag
lines and then pain is behind one or both of my eyes. My Dr. gave me a paper
with some triggers, aged cheese, chocolate, peanuts, etc. I do not eat any of
these things, but still have them occasionally, never knowing just when it will
happen. Strong smells, barometric pressure, suddenly seeing a blind spot from
the sun on someone's bumper, etc. I am able to eat Velveeta cheese, cottage
cheese, pizza with mozzarella. Is there any kind of chocolate that a Migrainuer
can eat that is not a cocoa base? Do bananas give headaches? I have eaten things
and then had a headache, but wondered if the food actually gave it to me or was
it something else? I had a hysterectomy in 1993. I am currently taking estrogen
.3 mil. I didn't know who to talk to, but found you by typing in migraine. If
you can't help me, can you pass me on to someone who can. Thank you for
listening, carolyn.
Answer:
Dear Carolyn;
If the Nadolol is reducing the number of Migraine attacks during which you have the headache phase, but leaving you with the other symptoms, it would be a good idea to talk with your doctor about adjusting your preventive regimen. Possibilities would include changing the Nadolol dosage, changing to a different medication, or adding another medication.
Some have reported that "white chocolate" does not trigger a Migraine for them even though "regular" chocolate does. Bananas are a trigger for some Migraineurs, not for others. Triggers are very individualized. There's really no way to know if it's the foods or something else triggering your Migraines. One of the best ways to try to determine that is by keeping a Migraine diary. The estrogen may or may not impact your Migraines. Again, triggers vary a great deal from one Migraineur to the next.
If your doctor can't help you with these issues, try a Migraine specialist. There's a link below to our directory of recommended specialists.
Good luck,
Teri Robert and John Claude Krusz
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To visit our directory of recommended specialists and clinics, click
HERE.
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Published February 20, 2006
