Post Migraine
Feb 7th, 2008 at 9:57 am by Susie
I never know when they’re going to hit, mostly because I only know some of the things that trigger them.
Last night I met a friend for dinner, and the bartender talked me into trying his “Pink Panther” cocktail. So I did, and didn’t think anything of it until I was headed home on I-95.
The light from a particularly glaring headlight bounced off one eye and my field of vision started to shift around in the trademark geometric patterns. I had to drive home like that. Whatever I posted last night was through a blur of the resulting seasickness.
Now I have a post-migraine “hangover” and I feel like crap - feverish and shaky. I’m pretty sure whatever was in the drink was a trigger, because it was the only thing unusual that I ingested and I haven’t had one of these damned things in months.
Ugh.
Susie, get a blood test and have your iron level checked. Or, if you know a blood tech, maybe even just get that quick blood drop test they do before you can donate blood to see if you have enough iron.
If you have low iron or are anemic it will bring on migraines (specially if you’re already prone to them). Also — any insomnia, feeling cold, feeling listless, worrying a lot, kinda pale, bruise easily, hair & nails thin — all symptoms.
As far as I know (all my life, and per my last blood test a year or so ago), I have excess iron. It’s always been that way, even when I was pregnant.
Ironically, excess iron can also give you migraines — the symptoms for both overload and deficiency are similar. Basically the iron being out of whack causes vascular headaches.
Anyway, if you have excess iron, you can donate blood and drink tea or coffee or dairy with your meals (as these block iron absorption).
Do you have hemochromatosis?
Hope you feel better.
One doctor told me I had it, another said I didn’t. I didn’t argue. I do drink tea with two meals a day, if that helps.
Some red dyes can trigger migraines for some people as well. I always carry No-Doz and aspirin to take together if I feel one coming on.