Treating a migraine

Migraine started I think due to inconsistent sleeping habits. When in the US we would meet up with friends and sleep late over Friday/Saturday evenings. That habit continued and I'd exacerbate it by watching movies during Friday/Saturday nights and straining the eyes further. Or it could be the icy cold weather in which I'd have to remove ice and snow from the car every day all winter. Or perhaps the habit earlier to have milk alone as breakfast in order to reach office fast. For some reason or the other, migraine started in Chicago.

The triggers and effects, although not as frequent as now, were still the same. Missing a meal time means only a tinge of hunger pang, but a day long throbbing pain behind the eyebrow after that. Going out in hot Sun in Bharath seems to have become another trigger, I don't remember it being a trigger in Chicago. Lack of sleep perhaps after coming back to Bharath is perhaps the main reason why it has increased so much here. While I'd sleep 8 hours in US, and no longer feel the need for that much sleep with the passing age, I need to sleep at least 7 hours. This advise of my Ayurvedic doctor Priya N has been ironically an "eye opener".

The cure though, while earlier used to be quick nap, now is only a full night's sleep. Longer naps seem to reduce the pain too. But the biggest relief comes after throwing up the food eaten untimely. I've started groaning with the pain, it is that much. What I now feel is a plan of action when such a huge Migraine attack comes is:
- Throw up the untimely eaten food, obviously nauseating because the migraine headache has started by the time you ate it. Ensure to push as much food out when throwing up.
- Immediately have a pain killer like Dolo, even though now on empty stomach
- Go to sleep, at least for 2-3 hours if not more. You should wake up as if in the morning. The headache should have gone, but if it hasn't, go back to sleep!

For prevention, a regular routine with your Ayurvedic doctor is a must (Allopathy has no clue of the reason or cure). Have trust and continue the medication even if you see the triggers still resulting in the attacks. Long term you will see benefit.