Headache Sufferers

P

Pollytc

Cathlete
Hello there. I suffer from headaches quite a bit: tension headaches, sinus headaches, migraines....you name it. In other words, I get them quite often, alot of things trigger them (stress, certain foods, and yes, sometimes exercise) and find that they really affect my life. Though I take stuff for them, most days I find that they totally zap me of my energy, and if I do try to exert myself energy-wise, I'm just not my best, and sometimes worsen the severity of the headache. I'm really getting aggravated at this point because I'm trying REALLY hard and am REALLY into my Cathe workouts again, but my energy has been zilch the past few days. I want/am supposed to do ME today, but I keep waiting for my energy to be revived.

For those of you who suffer from headaches, how do you deal with this as far as your workouts, etc. go?!?! I appreciate any feedback!!

Kim
 
Hi

I usually try to cycle when I am recovering from a bad headache. Like you I can get tension, sinus(frequently) and Migraines. I want to be able to do something but find most tapes aggrevate my headaches. Surprisely if I put my headphones on and cycle to some music and zone everything out it makes me feel 100 times better so that by the end of the 60 min. of a music cd I have really pushed myself and have got a great workout.

HTH

Kim
 
Hi Kim,
I am a migraine sufferer and in fact just had one this past week. It is disruptive to my workout schedule, but as you probably already know, you have to let it pass and let your body recoup. Usually when I'm on the downside (still a headache but the worse is over and I can get out of bed), I do something low impact like walking on my treadmill. Generally if I try to tackle one of Cathe's tapes where I exert myself more, I compound the throbbing! Fortunately I've had good success with the migraine medicine I take (imitrex nasal) and have reduced my headaches from 5 days to no more then 2 which I think is miraclous! Also, I'm only having headaches only once or twice a month which is a huge reduction to what I used to have.

So in answer to your question, I can't do strength, hi/lo, step or anything that forces exertion during that time but walking works! If I can walk outside it's even better as the fresh air often helps me.
 
Kim I really do feel for you. My migraines actually lessened when I went on BC pills, but when they do come on ... I'm down for the count for at least 36 hours. Surprisingly, I have found that working out actually holds them off, and sometimes will prevent one that I feel coming on. Not always, but sometimes. I wish I had an answer for you. I was on Imitrex for a while a few years back, but hated the way it made me feel. Now, I just take Motrin and hope for the best. Not exactly scientific, but it seems to take enough of the edge off so that I can function. I've actually gone to work with one a few times. I had no choice. If I get a really bad one, nothing helps except rest, and waiting about 36 hours. They seem to run their course in that amount of time.

Carol
 
I actually take Imitrex too, and like you, have gone to work with them. I just hate when I get so nauseated....that's the worst part sometimes. Almost like having a flu bug of sorts. It generally takes me 12-48 hours to get through one.
 
I have sinus headaches which my doctor is trying to control with another medicine.My sinus headaches turn into sinus infections which causes me to take antibiotics and triggers my lupus to go into a travel mode.
I also have lupus headaches which are like migraines.
Due to a lupus flare nerve damage, when I start to get a headache I have to take a pill NOW, as the pain won't ever go away on its own. I have an ON switch that won't go OFF. :(
I became immune to Imitrex as I took so much of it. Currently I take Maxalt. (Isn't this stuff horribly expensive? WOW!)
I don't dare do a class like Imax or anything with heavy pounding or heavy lifting, for the first day after the pain goes away in fear it will come back
Even when the pain leaves, I can still feel the traces of where the pain was.
Do you girls have that feeling as well?

The nausea is unbearable. Thank goodness there is pain relief now. There didn't use to be. I've been known to sit on the floor and just cry, hold my head and rock back and forth, as the pain was so great.
Wish I could take the Motrins and the Bayer Mirgraine type pills. Alas, I am allergic to aspirin. The triptan meds go directly to the head instead of the long way around through the stomach, so my specialist told me.
There is getting to be a little more competition for Imitrex now. Perhaps one day the price will be more user friendly.
 
Wanda: i do know that once the migraine goes away, I have what I call a "hangover" where I just feel like I've drank way too much and that lousy feeling you have afterwards!! Is that the sort of feeling you are talking about?

Kim
 
Hi Kim, I have a burn, tingly feeling all where the headache was. Perhaps this is because of the nerve damage. ???? Otherwise, I feel really great. I'm on a medicine 'high' for about 24 hours. Experience has shown me to not do the exercises I listed above during that time though. When the pill wears off, if I over-exerted, pain comes back.
Too many pills not only will contribute to the rebound headaches. they also aren't good for your heart, not to mention your bank account.
I've had to take them everyday for about 3 weeks before. During the Spring and Fall is the worst time for me for the sinus headaches. Trying hard with a treatment program this year. Hope it works!

My doctor has also perscribed doing Pilates. I wondered why at first. Now I see that some of my videos are relaxing. This is helping to ward off some of the tension headaches especially if I get to it in time. (all my headaches lead to a migraine if I don't do this or take a migraine pill) Like you I have tension, cluster, sinus and lupus migraine headaches. Nothing like variety, right? hahaha with satire.

Added bonus with Pilates and Yoga type workouts: It prepared me for the core work on Cathe's new workouts. Now they are a piece of cake. (sorry...cake is a bad word.)}( :9

I'm sorry you are experiencing all this pain. And I'm sorry so many more on this board has this kind of pain as well.
Knowing this though, makes me more empathetic when I see you post doing your workouts. I know you have had to make adjustments to work around your pain just like I have to do.
Ah, we are Comrades in the migraine club. (I don't see an emotion smiley to depict the right kind of feeling.)
 
Are you seeing a doctor? I use to get 3 or 4 migraines per week until I finally went to an MD. I have been on a few beta blockers and some work for about 6 months then I need to switch to a different one. I started on Verapamil, but I had zero energy so he put me on Atenolol. I now take nortryptalyn and I can say that if I get a migraine it is 1 a month vs. 3 or 4 a week. I would suggest going to a doctor and seeing what he or she might suggest for you.

Beth
 
Hi Beth. yes, I have been going to the dr. for many years for this problem(have had them since I was 10). I take imitrex for the migraines.
 
Me again!! Well, got ANOTHER headache today at work and it lasted all day. I skipped my class tonight and came home instead to rest. I am feeling somewhat better, and hope that in the next hour or so I can workout to ME!! I hate these darned headaches!!

Kim
 
Boy can I relate to all the symptons and after effects mentioned here! I get that tingly feeling once the migraine's over and I also feel like I have a nasty little hangover too! I tend to drag for a day and a half afterwards too.

I definitely stay away from high impact and weight training when the migraine is coming on and for a couple of days afterwards too - still sensitive then too. Since I don't have any low impact workouts I'll grab a yoga or pilates video and modify whenever I need to.

Oh yeah, I have a stairstepper and if I can, I will get on it and step slower than normal. I find a comfortable pace for whatever phase of the headache I am experiencing.

Recently I fell down the basement steps and hit my head hard which brought on a series fo migraines for about a week. At the time I was seeing a chiropractor and the adjustments and acupunture helped to ease them considerably. But for the most part I just try to bare with the pain because the Maxalt is very expensive!

Take care everyone!
 
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