Tips

7 October 2016

FitBit and Migraine

The easier it becomes to track information, the more we want to do it. Although some people prefer to avoid the hassle, there are a growing number who are tracking as much health information as possible using their smart phone, and sometimes an additional device such as FitBit.

Apps such as Curelator and Migraine Buddy have helped many migraine patients track detailed information. It’s not that we want to look back and see how painful life has been over the past 30 days. It’s a way to find triggers, and possible solutions, to migraine attacks.

FitBit is one example of an “activity tracker”. It tracks things like how many calories you’re burning, how active you are in general, quality of sleep, the food you eat, heart rate, and more. As you may imagine, knowing and controlling your overall health can have a huge impact on your migraine symptoms. Here’s a promotional video for a recent incarnation of FitBit:

Using Power Sync for Fitbit, you can even sync FitBit data to your Apple Health data.

Kelley Nunn, blogger at My Migraine Brain, has used FitBit (read a bit about her tracking system here). Vera Sweeney, another blogger, has also written a little about using (and hiding!) FitBit.

The Mayo Clinic and Allergan will be working together with Second Opinion Health to test the use of FitBit and the Migraine Alert app (an upcoming app not yet available to the general public) to predict migraine attacks.

To find out more about the trial (which as I write it not yet open to participants), see Individualized Prediction of Migraine Attacks Using a Mobile Phone App and Fitbit (Migraine Alert).

You can request to try out Migraine Alert – just watch the video below for more information (it’s open to those with episodic migraine only at this point).

How about you? Do you use health tracking with your smart phone? Has it helped?

5 October 2016

Botox for Migraine: One size does NOT fit all!

James Medications, Tips, Treatments 1

We’ve talked a lot about the pros and cons of Botox for migraine here. One of the biggest challenges with Botox treatment is that it is, in many ways, still in its infancy.

That is, we still have a lot to learn about who will benefit most, what dosage to use, and where the injection sites should be. But we do know that treatment should vary depending on the patient.

After a frustrating experience trying to pass on the treatment of an 83 year old woman, Dr. Alexander Mauskop at the New York Headache Center takes the time to VENT – and to remind doctors that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Botox treatment.

Doctors, it’s worth whie to read a little about Dr. Mauskop’s experiences. He has used Botox with many patients for 22 years, and takes the time to keep track of how well it works, how often it should be administered, and how.

Although more clinical trials do need to be done, it’s helpful to at least read about the experiences of other doctors.

To find out more about recommended needle size, treatment frequency, and dosage, check out Common avoidable problems with Botox injections.

26 September 2016

New Headaches Late in Pregnancy? Get Checked!

James Tips 4

A new report suggests that doctors should take women seriously when new headache symptoms crop up late in pregnancy.

As we’ve talked about before, migraine symptoms in particular tend to either stay steady or even lessen during pregnancy – although sometimes they get worse (see Migraine During and After Pregnancy). Headache: Protect Yourself During Pregnancy

While headache symptoms anytime during pregnancy should be a concern, a recent report suggested special caution if there are headaches late in pregnancy, or even right before/after the birth of the baby.

Researchers at Icahn School of Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine (both in New York, USA) suggest that brain and/or vascular imaging may be necessary to rule out urgent concerns. They write:

There is considerable overlap between the cerebrovascular complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia/eclampsia, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), and both hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes; although, their imaging may be distinctive. Imaging is necessary to distinguish between arterial and venous pathology causing headache in the peripartum patient, as there can be similar presenting symptoms. Mass lesions, both neoplastic and inflammatory, can enlarge and produce headaches and neurological symptoms late in pregnancy.
Imaging of Headache in Pregnancy.

So basically, there are a variety of conditions that may “look” the same in the doctor’s office. Imaging techniques will help to narrow down exactly what is going on so that you can get the treatment you need.

Your doctor can help guide you and tell you the type of testing you may need. Whatever the case may be, remember that any new headache symptoms during pregnancy are a reason for concern, and should be discussed with a doctor who takes your concerns seriously.

For more information on headache and migraine in pregnancy, see The Myth-Busting Guide to Migraines and Pregnancy.

1 September 2016

Getting the SpringTMS device for Migraine (and a video description)

James Tips, Treatments 0

It’s been a while since we talked about SpringTMS, so it’s time to bring it up again. SpringTMS is a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) device which you use as soon as you feel a migraine attack coming on.

Devices like SpringTMS are increasingly popular because they lessen your need for medication, they’re easy to use, and there are few if any side effects. Of course the main benefit is that, in many patients, it stops the symptoms of migraine. Read more about SpringTMS here.

SpringTMS The device is currently available in the USA and the UK. I’m not sure about its availability or the logistics of getting it elsewhere, but if you have experience outside of the UK or US leave a comment.

In the UK, SpringTMS is available by prescription through a cost sharing program. It’s available at certain clinics in London and other locations in England. For more information, visit the official UK website here. The company is eNeura.

In August, Kerrie Smyres did the legwork for us to get information about obtaining (and paying for!) the device in the USA. Essentially, SpringTMS is available by prescription under a rental program, and so the price will vary depending on the rental plan. There may be reimbursement through your insurance plan.

But I will let you read Kerrie’s post for more details. Some of the information is applicable in the UK as well, so check it out if you’re interested: Your Guide to Getting a Spring TMS

The official US website is here.

Here’s a video made for US customers about the device:

29 August 2016

Magnesium for Migraine: More Study Needed

James Tips, Treatments 1

We’ve talked often about magnesium for migraine, as one of the best treatments for migraine available today. As with any treatment, however, it works for some people and not for others.

Of course, in spite of our clumsy comparisons of the body with a machine or a computer, each human body is actually incredibly unique and complex. So nailing down the “whys” is sometimes almost impossible.

Fatigue: An early sign of magnesium deficiency

Part of the reason may have to do with the level of deficiency in each person. A magnesium deficiency may contribute to migraine attacks in some patients, but not all actually have a deficiency.

There are many other factors as well. The type of magnesium, when you take it, what you take it with (for example, if you’re taking magnesium for migraine, avoid taking it along with calcium) (more tips here).

Dr. Alexander Mauskop at the New York Headache Center has shared some interesting observations, which point to the need for further research into magnesium for migraine.

Here are some of his thoughts:

Magnesium seems to help less than 50% of migraine patients (Dr. Mauskop feels that this is because the rest do not absorb the magnesium).
About 90% of patients with an actual magnesium deficiency improve with magnesium supplements.
The other 10% require regular infusions of magnesium, and “these infusions are often life-changing”.

Now there is another interesting new observation here. Of these last 10%, two patients recently noticed a significant difference between two methods of infusion. Dr. Mauskop explains:

These patients tell me that when we give them an infusion of magnesium by “slow push” over 5 minutes they get excellent relief, but when they end up in an emergency room or another doctor’s office where they receive the same amount of magnesium through an intravenous drip over a half an hour or longer, there is no relief.

A likely explanation is that a push results in a high blood level, which overcomes the blood-brain barrier and delivers magnesium into the brain, while during a drip, magnesium level does not increase to a high enough level to reach the brain.

Essentially, and this seems to be the case sometimes with sumatriptan as well, two patients may take the same amount of medication or magnesium, but one has a “quicker” dose. The one who has the “quicker” dose responds better than the other patient.

While we wait for more studies to be done (and a good question is – does generic plain old inexpensive magnesium get the funding that the fancy new medications do?), how can we use this information?

First, if you have tried some magnesium supplements without success, consider actually being tested for a magnesium deficiency. If you are deficient, it will definitely be worth trying more magnesium options, even if it takes time.

Second, remember that there are a lot of options when it comes to magnesium treatments. Try some different supplements, and consider talking to your doctor about infusions.

Finally, if you do receive infusions, ask about the 5 minute “slow push” method that Dr. Mauskop mentions. It may do more to stop those symptoms than the slow-drip method.

For tips from our community, check out:

For the full article from Dr. Mauskop, see More on intravenous magnesium for migraines, muscle cramps, PMS, and other symptoms