Can It All Be From A Migraine?

I’ve been struggling with headaches and migraines for my whole life. So much so that I’ve gotten used to suffering. I got so used to not being able to function about 50% of the time, that I didn’t realize how bad it was until I went to this clinic and started finding relief. Before this I had tried basically everything you could think of to try to cure them.

Someone told me about the #1 Clinic for Migraines and Headaches in Boulder Colorado, so I made an appointment. As I sat in the Doctor’s office (with a headache) I felt my usual subconsious feelings of doubt when going to a new doctor… ‘This will probably be a waste of my time and what if I walk out of here with absolutely nothing new’.

Previous Doctor Offered No Help

Back in Iowa at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, I had the same doctor for 10 years and he did nothing for my headaches! He said they were cluster headaches along with migraines and told me to get an MRI. He said cluster headaches are really hard to cure because they are so complicated and that was it… When I moved to Colorado 2 years ago and went to my PCP he could not believe that I was never prescribed migraine medication!

The New Doctor

The office was different from any doctor’s office I’ve ever been in. There were huge windows, a big desk, couches, black shelving with a huge TV hanging in between them. I liked the vibe even though it was different.

    The doctor asked me questions, listened quietly, there were long moments of silence and I was secretly full of doubt.

But then…

He explained migraines to me. In a way that I’ve never heard before and in incredible depth.

Did you know that headaches are just a small part of the whole “migraine experience”?

I had heard of this before but didn’t give it much thought.  

I will be explaining this is layman’s terms so… please keep in mind — I am NOT a doctor this is my regurgitation of what a doctor explained to me for 2 hours. Yes…we talked for 2 hours it was a long appointment.

The migraine starts in the brain stem area. He drew a picture for me while he explained it.

Coming out of our brain stem are 12 different pairs of cranial nerves. The migraine starts there and affects everything that is in close proximity. The cranial nerves happen to be there and wouldn’t you know it, everything those nerves do, gets messed up (there’s probably a more scientific term than “messed up” haha).

So, this means that symptoms we have that accompany the migraine are just symptoms of the whole migraine experience. These symptoms can be easily confused as the cause of the headache rather than an addition to it via the cranial nerve proximity.

Sinus Headaches?

If you have ever had a migraine, did you have pain that felt like sinus pressure? I know I have! My headaches are often accompanied by pain and pressure in my sinuses and behind my eyes. For most of my life I thought my headaches were from sinus issues. Guess what, they’re not! 

It’s one of the cranial nerves that causes the feeling of sinus pressure! It’s not that the sinus issues are causing the headaches, it’s the other way around  🤯

Another one he explained to me is the cause of nausea and vomiting which is controlled by the Vagus Nerve. So if you were a kid who threw up a lot… just like me then you too could be a “migraineur in the making” exact quote from the doctor. If there was a record for being the most vomity kid, I stand a good chance at winning. I even threw up IN class on our desks in first grade. Ah, memories.

Migraines are a Dysregulation of The Nervous System

Migraines cause anxiety and depression! And it’s not what you think. Yes, the pain and debilitating nature caused from the anxiety and depression certainly contributes, but that’s not all. Anxiety and depression are a direct result of this whole migraine “symphony” via the nervous system dysfunction.

Something I find fascinating is something I learned before ever going to this clinic. It’s that depressoin and anxiety are also found to be a nervous system dysregulation. 🤔 I have a lot more learning to do on this topic!

After the doctor explained everything to me I began to think back through my whole life at all my ailments including anxiety and depression.  What he said just made so much sense! Thinking that my anxiety and depression might not be from just being a shitty person (ok joking but sometimes my subconsous thinks things like that!), someone who is flawed, broken, and forever messed up…but that it could be more of a physical cause, a result of dysregulated nervous system involving cranial nerves and neurotransmitters…is a huge relief.

Treatment

I go to the clinic twice per week, which is what they told me to do until we get a handle on the migraines. They inject me with Sumatriptan and Torodol. Before I knew exactly what these were, I didn’t know that they start working right away, I felt amazing afterwards! I seriously assumed it was placebo from the doctor explaining the root of all my problems. But it turns out you get relief from all migraine symptoms right away.

Overall I feel better than I’ve felt in a long time. There are so many layers to migraines that most people wouldn’t even realize. Fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, ear problems, nausea, vomiting, slowed thinking, sugar cravings, and even anger! Going into the clinic twice per week, talking about how I’m feeling, has helped me realize how often I get headaches. Yes I really am doing better but I still get headaches and other migraine symptoms. But I didn’t realize quite how bad it was until I started getting the right help. I’ve been going twice a week for a little over 2 months and at every single appointment I have new headaches to tell them about. BUT the last 2 weeks the headaches I’ve had are low grade headaches. I can still function with them and they don’t grow into a big huge migraine monster that makes me feel like I’ve gone to hell and back.

If you want the name of the clinic please feel free to reach out to me or do a quick google search and I think you’ll find it

xoxo