August 27, 2010, - 5:47 pm

Another Disabling Migraine

By Debbie Schlussel

Dear readers, sorry I didn’t post anything yet today, though I had much to post and say. I’ve been working very hard on an important case, details of which I will announce on the site, very soon. But my hard work on that and other stuff I’ll soon tell you about was too intense, and I didn’t get enough sleep. Then, I slept too hard and got a migraine.

frownyface

I awoke this morning with the beginnings of yet another one of the horrible migraine headaches I’ve told you I sometimes get and which I’ve had since I was a teen. In this case it’s my own fault because of a poor sleep/work schedule. And as they say, if you don’t take care of yourself, no-one will do it for you. So, I stayed away from my desk and my computer and tossed and turned in bed for hours, hoping to get rid of it.

I still have it, but I will try to at least post my movie reviews before the Jewish Sabbath begins. If I do not, here’s a summary: I hated “Takers,” hated “The Last Exorcism,” and loved “Mao’s Last Dancer,” an outstanding movie which sharply contrasts the greatness of America with Chinese Communism.

As always, I really appreciate your support. Regardless of what happens with my headache today, I plan to be back, full speed, on this site by Monday and perhaps earlier, G-d-willing. Stay tuned. And, again, thanks for your continued support and understanding. Sorry.




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46 Responses

Hope you feel better soon Debbie.

Oscar on August 27, 2010 at 5:50 pm

Feel better real soon! I hope you’re feeling your strong self ASAP!

Skunky on August 27, 2010 at 5:54 pm

    I think I will see “Mao’s Last Dancer” on your recommendation. I am an admitted “movie snob” (could just be another way of saying I really don’t like most American films) but so far I have like all the films you have liked (the ones I have seen at least…especially “Taken”, I film I would not have even thought of seeing).

    Love for you to review the Australian film “Animal Kingdom”. It was so good! Too bad it’s not in wide release (it ought to be!) and not well know. For a quasi-socialist country, Australia puts out really good films.

    Skunky on August 28, 2010 at 11:47 am

Hi Debbie,

I read your post about having migraines and I’m sending you the blog post below I did on getting rid of them without drugs. I’m no doctor. I own a one man auto repair shop in Oakland. Communication between the migraine sufferer and the one doing the massage is key. He or she will feel small lumps or sometimes like in my sister’s case a large one. Using the thumbs, the lumps must be massaged out and broken up. This causes the lifting sensation I mention below.

My wife suffered week long migraines, which sometimes ended in trips to the emergency room and drugs that never cut the pain. I came up with a way to massage the base of her neck and top of the spinal cord which would lift the migraine immediately if she told me soon enough; and would lift it after about fifteen minutes, even if it was full blown, including nausea and flashing lights. If you have the migraine victim sit on a stool, you put your thumbs at the nape of the neck with your fingers at the areas on both sides around the temples. You must explore with your thumbs until you find the spot which causes the migraine sufferer the most pain (sometimes the area is formed in an actual lump or group of small lumps). If the sufferer gets a weird feeling, like a lifting sensation, as you massage it, you’re in the right spot. Dig your thumbs in gently at first, and progressively harder while supporting and massaging at the temples with your fingers. Keep increasing the pressure with the thumbs until as with my wife, her feet start to pound. Expand the area of your massage gradually, and I am afraid the adage no pain no gain applies here. Break every few minutes to rub down the sufferer’s shoulders and upper back. If the victim comes to you within a few minutes of the first symptoms, you can get rid of it within the first five minutes. If the migraine sufferer arrives from somewhere in complete pain with nausea, it has sometimes taken me twenty minutes to relieve it.

Since coming up with this well over twenty years ago, I have taught customers, relatives and friends to get rid of these migraine headaches. Each one was different, but there is always a spot the victim can feel, where they experience a lifting sensation. It may sound simplistic, but I never saw another human being in such intense pain as my wife after four days straight with one of these things, and it has always worked on her without drugs, and on all the people I have shown over the years.

BernardL on August 27, 2010 at 6:37 pm

Debbie, thanks you again for your kind words about my mom and I hope you feel better. I take a vitamin Quercertin – it has dramatically reduced the length of my migraines and I rarely have them now. It is really for allergies but I swear by it..

lawren in austin on August 27, 2010 at 7:12 pm

Wifey’s migraines vanished when she stopped consuming eggs. Even the smell of them cooking or in baking was enough to set her off.

Wayne Wagner on August 27, 2010 at 7:17 pm

Debbie, sorry to hear you suffering again. I know by your writing you must be a very driven intense person. Which is I why I think you are the best out there. Sounds from your bio and your writing that you have always been an overachiever. Might have to take some time off and get some R & R.

CaliforniaScreaming on August 27, 2010 at 7:43 pm

Get well soon. We suffer from the same syndrome. My migraine hit yesterday morning and lasted for the whole day. Thank you for the tip that sleeping too hard and too long is a precursor to the migraine, I did not know that. That explains a great deal about my migraines and when they occur.
Take care and have a peacefull Sabbath.

perception of truth on August 27, 2010 at 8:16 pm

So sorry about the migraine.. get better

sharon on August 27, 2010 at 9:45 pm

Debbie/This is why we have….VICODIN. Wash a couple down with a glass of Maneshevitz blackberry. Seriously, I hope you feel better dear.

#1 Vato on August 27, 2010 at 9:54 pm

Theres nothing worse than not getting any sleep, I hope the migraines go away and you feel better.

tyler on August 27, 2010 at 10:28 pm

BOTOX shots.

I’ve been getting migraines since I was 16 years old and have been on almost every medication and treatment for them. Now, since I have been getting Botox shots for my migraines, I can go about 3-4 months without a migraine before having to get another shot. I would seriously recommend looking into it! Get better soon!

Patspfs on August 27, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    I came across a company that makes a non prescription migraine remedy. You may want to try it. I heard it works great. So far it is only being test marketed, but it is supposed to hit the big drug store chains this fall. You have nothing to lose by trying it.

    http://puramedbioscience.com/migraine.html

    Hope your feeling better soon. A close friend of mine also suffers from migraines and I know how debilitating they can be. Her name is Debbie also.

    I4got

    I4got on August 27, 2010 at 11:53 pm

Get well soon Debbie. We need you and your superb analysis.

Jon on August 28, 2010 at 12:04 am

I’m sorry you have to struggle with migraines Debbie — you are in my prayers.

mominminnesota on August 28, 2010 at 12:08 am

Debbie, I know you didn’t solicit for advice this time, but have you ever kept a food record? ARe you sure it was the sleep schedule that set it off and not something in your diet?

I also developed disabling migraines (where you can only curl up in a fetal position and try to stay perfectly still until the agony goes away) from about 18- 28 and eventually found it to be caused by certain red wines. I stopped drinking all red wine and no more migraines for 20 years.

Anyway, we love you and hope you feel better fast.

Quorum on August 28, 2010 at 2:45 am

Debbie– Try MSM powder
http://www.all-natural.com/msm.html

I use it and believe it works
Regards,
Tommy

Tommy on August 28, 2010 at 5:14 am

A triple whisky will always cure a headache, although the headache it cures is probably a result of the previous triple whisky . . .

Preposteroso on August 28, 2010 at 5:31 am

Debbie,
I recently read oxygen therapy is having great results for migraines. Immediate relief with 15minutes of oxygen. Maybe worth looking into. We all need you to be healthy. There are not many out there who is reporting and exposing the lies of main stream media. Praying for you.
Georgia

mominwisconsin on August 28, 2010 at 9:23 am

Get some rest and get better!

L on August 28, 2010 at 9:44 am

Debbie, I can relate to what your saying, because last weekend, I was very sick and pretty weak (that’s why I didn’t post anything all of last weekend). When I woke up last week friday morning, my throat was a little soar, and I said to myself, “I hope that I’m not coming down with a cold”, and wouldn’t you know, I came down with a cold later on that day and it extended til the weekend. All day last week saturday, I didn’t eat anything at all, because I was very sick and I lost a few pounds because of my illness, but I took alot of medicine and drank some tea. When I woke up last sunday, I felt very weak and had no energy, then I ate a meal and I had some energy, but too much energy in my system, by sunday afternoon I started to feel a little better and when I woke up the monday morning I felt more and more better, because I took alot of medicine on the saturday! And I’ve been feeling like a million bucks since tuesday of this week, so I hope you get better sooner than later Debbie and hang in there!

“A nation is identified by it’s borders, language & culture!”

Sean R. on August 28, 2010 at 10:51 am

Hope you feel better soon, Debbie. Glad you got a chance to see Mao’s Last Dancer which I liked, too.

Burke on August 28, 2010 at 10:56 am

Debbie…I can relate to your migraine pain, having suffered for many, many years. Nothing helped….until I had to have oral surgeries a couple of years ago. Miraculously, after having that done, I never experienced another migraine. Who would have thought, it was my teeth all along.

Everyone has a remedy for migraines. I hope you find a cause, and you get relief. In the meantime…I will pray that you will. Sincerely, ~Joanie~

Joanie on August 28, 2010 at 2:56 pm

Debbie, Shavua tov. I hope the following gives you a bit of a laugh. This is what’s now appearing at the bottom of your post for You might also like”:

4 of a kind

Shy Guy on August 28, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Hi Debbie,

I hope that your migrane headache is going away. I look forward to seeing your movie review as well as your other new posts.

JeffE on August 28, 2010 at 8:54 pm

Debbie,

I used to get severe migraines, perhaps several a month. Got them in my 20’s through 40’s. The doctors always told me that they would diminish as I got older.

They were right, at least for me. I rarely get one anymore. When I did get them, I would take some ergotamine preparation (like Cafergot) but based on what I know now, I would stay away from that. I don’t even know if they use it anymore. It can be dangerous. For example, it can elevate blood pressure.

Since I didn’t get them too often, and there was no chance of abuse, the doctor then agreed to let me use percocet, which I did use for years. It generally worked.

Because of some other health concerns, I never took anything like the triptan sulfates (e.g., Sumatrriptan).

About thirty years ago, I went to see Seymour Diamond, M.D. at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. He was helpful. There might be some comparable headache specialists in your area.

I haven’t read all the posts or comments, but I know that Joel Saper, M.D. at the Michigan Neurological and Research Institute has been nationally known for years. I used to devour everything I could read back when I got a more headaches, and I saw his name a lot.

http://www.mhni.com/

You might know about him and his center; maybe you’ve tried it. I would just keep trying different doctors until maybe you find one who can help.

Hope you feel better.

BethesdaDog on August 29, 2010 at 12:02 am

This might cheer you up.

Natalie Randolph got blown out in her first game as head coach of D.C.’s Coolidge High! She lost 28-0!

The Post website shows a picture of her yelling at her players in the locker room.

Sorry, if anybody were to yell at me in a locker room, it would be one of the real coaches, not a substitute Mom (or Wife)!

If I want to get yelled at by a woman, I’ll get married.

BethesdaDog on August 29, 2010 at 12:15 am

I am sorry to hear that you are not well. I have variant migraines which do not hurt, but they sure mess with your vision and I count myself fortunate that I do not have standard migraines. Anyway, take care and I hope that you get back to normal soon.

William Stout on August 29, 2010 at 4:19 am

    Hi, William. I used get these years ago, too, “optical migraines,” which usually didn’t turn into full-blown, debilitating headaches. I was just “blind” (seeing flashing crystals)for about an hour each time. Unfortunately, I had 4 within one week earlier this summer, when the crops & plants around us were coming into full bloom, which turned into the “bed-ridden/black-out curtain” kind of migraines ~ allergy triggered. Many of my friends who have never had migraines or who have not had one in years also struggled w/ them around that time.

    Blessings ~ Aurora

    Aurora on August 29, 2010 at 11:30 am

Osama Siblani and CAIR felon Dawud on Channel 4’s Flash Point this morning. How did they become acceptable mainstream figures? Siblani today: Shari and jihad are positive words.

Yuck on August 29, 2010 at 10:17 am

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/24785701/index.html

See about 14:47 in.

Yuck on August 29, 2010 at 10:43 am

Get Well Soon, Debbie.

Leaning over papers & the computer (neck strain) combined with intense reading/writing/thinking will cause overload on your muscles and blood vessels (lots of blood flow to supply your brain & eyes as they’re hard at work.) Let a chiropractor adjust and massage your neck & back. Also, try placing a towel roll under your neck for a while as you lie on your back (experiment w/ using the towel hot/cold/neither ~ DON’T read while you do this.) Listen to some music or watch old comedies on TV instead. Belly-laugh a lot.

Drink plenty of water & stick to home-made chicken soup for a few days. Then go back to slowly knitting the right foods back into your diet. If late-summer allergies are triggering your migraines, adjust what you’re eating, especially while you prepare this case. Try eating a daily yogurt with 2-3 tsp of organic apple cider vinegar mixed in. Take your vitamins and munch on fresh vegetables ALL day long, whether you want to or not, so you’re getting enough fiber (constipation can trigger migraines.)And you’ve probably been sitting a lot lately.

Make it a practice to pamper yourself once-in-a-while and do some fun “exercise” like going for a leisurely bike ride, walk through the woods (not hiking, just walking,) or swim (NOT laps, just senseless movements ~ stretching, and playing.) Don’t mentally process your work while you do these things ~ no “work thinking” allowed ~ just feel the sensations around you while you enjoy G-d’s surroundings washing over you. Flip over a rock or rotting log and watch ants. If you’re not one to be spontaneous, schedule this or treat this like a prescription you must take. Enlist a family member or friend to be your “enforcer” who makes you have fun & take breaks.

Are you feeling conflicted? Give yourself permission to be lop-sided in your priorities (like a river that gushes in Spring and nearly dries up by Fall.) If you’ve been working so hard that you “let things go” around the house, just “clean” one area by throwing everything that’s out-of-place into a big laundry basket (sort it now or later.) Or sort one kitchen drawer or one bathroom cupboard. Sort your closet and make bags/boxes of clothes to donate. Remember that dust doesn’t rot. You’ll get to it eventually.

Praying for You.
Blessings ~ Aurora

Aurora on August 29, 2010 at 11:06 am

My wife is subject to migraine, too. Her forehead is actually hotter during the attack. Are your attacks monthly or have a greater chance to come on monthly? Pay very close attention to what you eat. Document your diet. Food allergies can result in migraine. Best wishes. MRJE&M

Mark Berlinger on August 29, 2010 at 12:29 pm

Get well soon…
Why don’t you take the time to smell the roses and count your blessings? i.e take a week or two vacation…

Also, the best remedy for Migraine’s is a Caffeine Drip I.V.
Don’t knock it till you try it…
It’s non-toxic, all-natural, chemical and opiate free with no calories. It is in fact, the best & fastest REMEDY known to Mankind. i.e. it cures the problem, without masking the symptoms to hide the problem, like most painkillers do…

Who cares? on August 29, 2010 at 1:10 pm

with the words of nelson muntz: HAW HAW!

Jamal on August 29, 2010 at 2:55 pm

People who don’t know, don’t know that they don’t know…

Who cares? on August 29, 2010 at 4:05 pm

debbie

you got to get somebody to crack your neck

an osteopath, chiroprator, sports trainer, or maybe do it
yourself

it took years of practice for me to do it

but i haven’t had a headache in at least three decades

it’s just like a stiff neck

crack it out and it might never happen again

but i haven;

elmerbittlinger on August 29, 2010 at 10:55 pm

Get Better DS , the day just aint complete till we hear from you.

Brian on August 30, 2010 at 2:02 am

Debbie
I’m so sorry that you have these headaches. I used to have migrains also, but I found I had an allergy to milk that caused them. No more milk, no more headaches.

Hope you feel better soon.
James

James on August 30, 2010 at 6:56 am

My Darling Deb, quit worrying about it. Yes, I will marry you since you keep getting these migraines wondering if I’ll accept your constant proposals. I’ll be your Doctor Love, babeeeeee.

OK, OK….seriously. Minnesota Vikings WR Percy Harvin has been having the same problems.

I wish I had a suggestion but I’ve never had them.

Lastly, don’t apologize for not posting anything. Your health is much more important. Like your other legions of fans I love reading your posts, but your health is much more important.

Get well soon! Love ya, Debbie.

Jeff_W on August 30, 2010 at 9:40 am

Debbie, try removing wheat from your diet, that’s a big sneaky source of a ton of people’s migraines. Going gluten-free (I’m no-carb but removing gluten is a good start) is one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Robert on August 30, 2010 at 9:51 am

Hey Debbie – Sorry to hear about the headaches. I have endured the “classic” variant (with aura) for years. I’m told that they should dissipate with middle age now that I’m 40…
From my non-physician’s perspective, the most important thing is a sense of control, even if it means a little drowsiness on occasion. I used to be frightened to leave the house for fear of an attack.
You may wish to ask about a couple of meds that are taken daily for prevention – either Inderal (Propranolol) or Topomax (Topirimate).
There are several newer non-opiate “triptans” eg, Immitrex that are used for actual migraine pain. I’ve never found them 100% effective & have relied on some kind of back up pain medication like Ultram or Vicodin. Don’t be bashful about getting your pain under control. There are many older, now generic migraine meds worth trying too. Esgic Plus helped me for a while.
Too much info??

All the best.

Jason Dorsey on August 30, 2010 at 10:41 am

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