Migraines

[Gigi4647]

Does anyone have any experience with migraines?
I suffer almost daily migraines. I have suffered them off and on since I was in my 20's. I am now in my 50's.
I had several years migraine free until I had a Cardiac Catheter test. I have since had a double heart valve replacement surgery, I have Celiac Disease, Type II Diabetes, Allergies, Asthma, Sleep Apnea, Osteoarthritis,
Osteoprosis, Joint problems and Trigger Finger in both hands. I take a multitude of medications. I have posed questions regarding the migraine problem to many of the physicians I see. My Neurologist is currently treating me for this. He is very perplexed. He has had me on many medications all of which have not helped. I have just been taken off Keppra.
I was just wondering if anyone might have any suggestions. These headaches are very painful.

[Red_Star]

And to add...again lol, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause migranes. Where is the edit button when you need it! :)

[Red_Star]

To add, 13 million in the United States alone is estimated to be undiagnosed with thyroid disease.

[Red_Star]

There are many causes of migranes from hormonal imbalances to certain foods. Based on your current medical conditions, a few possible causes:

* Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (autoimmune hypothyroidism). A Dutch study entitled "Coeliac disease in Dutch patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and vice versa" has confirmed the link between Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Celiac's disease. "Of 184 patients with coeliac disease, 39 (21%) were positive for thyroid serology." Migranes can be due to low thyroid hormone. This is also a cause of unexplained fatigue as the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) doctors use to make a diagnosis can be normal (hence why it is estimated 13 million are estimated to be undiagnosed).  A good thyroid lab workup includes TSH, free T3, free T4, Reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies - TPOAb and TgAb.

* Magnesium deficiency: Studies have found 92% of diabetic have low RBC magnesium. Low magnesium is a common cause of migranes. RBC (red blood cell) magnesium or ionized blood magnesium blood tests are better to help pick up a magnesium deficiency than serum magnesium.  A deficiency still may be missed with all three tests however as only 1% of magnesium is in the blood.  Fatigue is also one of the many symptoms of low magnesium.  If you decide to take supplements, check with your doctor first due to your heart surgery.

* Vitamin D deficiency: can cause migranes in some people and is a listed cause of chronic fatigue. An extremely common deficiency state in autoimmune diseases. Optimal vitamin D is 80ng/mL or 200nmol/L. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. Vitamin D deficiency is also shown to worsen the severity of asthma symptoms.  Both vitamin D, calcium and magnesium all work together. Besides all the other health benefits of these three nutrients, they are essential for good bone health.

* Hypochloridia (low stomach acid). Stomach acid is proven to lower as we age.  Not to mention low stomach acid is linked to various autoimmune diseases including Celiac Disease. In the case of hypothyroidism, metabolism slows down stomach acid production.  Low stomach acid leads to all sorts of health problems from poor nutrient absorption (which can cause so many symptoms from fatigue to migranes) to increased parasites, bacterial or fungal infections, to various gastrointestinal problems (bloating, acid reflux, IBS).

An easy home test can roughly determine if you have high or low stomach acid:

The baking soda test:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder) in an 8 ounce glass and drink it.

If sufficient quantities of acid are present in the stomach, bicarbonate of soda is converted into gas, producing significant bloating and belching within 5 or 10 minutes of drinking the mix.  Little or no belching is suspicious for low stomach acid.

Digestive enzyme supplements are good for high or low acid production.  Betaine HCI with pepsin supplements help with stomach acid production. You can find both these supplements at health food stores. Apple cider vinegar can be used in combination or as a substitute for HCI supplements

* Vitamin B12 deficiency. You need enough stomach acid to release instrinsic factor for absorption of vitamin B12 in the gut. Fatigue is the number one symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency. A highly misdiagnosed deficiency due to far too low a reference range.  Optimal is over 800pg/mL or 600pmol/L. A urinary methylmalonic acid (UMMA) test aids in diagnosis (more sensitive for a B12 deficiency state).