Struggling with Headaches

[Emancipation 2]

So since I've been here (a month today), I've been struggling with migrane like headaches. I've been on a Naturopathic diet for a few years and granted, I have "cheated" a bit more than usual the past 4 weeks, plus the change in life etc. But the truth is I'm not one that is "geared" to have headaches, and migrane's are unheard of for me.

Last week I went through SEVERE headaches for days as I cut out the sugar that I was consuming (perhaps a couple of squares of chocolate a day, a cookie here and there but no pop or anything LOADED with sugar etc). The only other thing I can think of is 1. Polution in the NE (We're in CT), 2. Processed foods (including take out) and the difference in preservatives that might be there or 3. The Corn Syrup thing - (we found bread the other day that had it in it!! Holy Flip!). Unfortunately I can't do anything about polution if it's that!!

Anyway, I wondered if any other Canucks suffered from this at any point. Perhaps I'm just loosing it tee hee.. But it's REALLY getting annoying. Last night I had KFC (aka "dirty bird"), which, I'm thinking may have contributed, but KFC back home doesn't bother me (apart from the greese), and I didn't have anything that I would have percieved to have "sugar" in it..

AHHHH!! Anyway, anyone else's experiences would be very very helpful who's gone from Canada To US and started or had worsening head aches/ migranes.

[DeadPoolX 9]

It's probably stress-related headaches. Moving to another country is very stressful. Sometimes headaches (and migraines) can have a delayed onset. Meaning, that you don't always get them right when you're suffering from the stressful situation -- you might get the headache/migraine later on, once the stress has passed. These are usually dubbed "executive migraines."

The reason they're called "executive migraines" is because the idea is that you have stress all week and then relax on the weekend and BOOM! A migraine hits. It's the built-up tension and stress from the week and when you've let your guard down, it strikes. This tends to happen to a lot of people.

Also... have you recently started taking any sorts of medications? Birth control pills? Asthma medication? Anything different in your diet? Alcohol? MSG? Anything that might trigger a headache or migraine, for instance.

If these headaches/migraines continue, I'd suggest seeing a neurologist about it. At the very least, you could get some medication if necessary (Imitex, Zomig, Axcert, and Relpax are all good for getting rid of the migraine, as well as Ultracet for pain management) and make sure this isn't something more serious.

[Emancipation 2]

Hmmmm interesting concept I hadn't thought of before executive migranes.. I did list changes to my diet on my original post. That's all I can come up with besides the difference in preservatives and Corn Syrup being added to everything in the US menu. Gonna have to wait till I get EAD to get "proper" health insurance, as hubby's policy is WAAAAY to costly. Forced to rely on interm insurance until then. But thanks for your input there, I'll take a look see on google for this "type" of migrane

[Autumnchik 6]

I just wanted to add that, even though I was not the one to make a move from Canada to the US, I did move from Georgia to New Hampshire over the summer, right before starting this joyous process I have never been sicker in my life as I have in the past 8 months!!! And in Georgia, I spent 3 years working in the school system where I had contact with sick kids ALL THE TIME. My doctor here thinks that my body is just acclimating to a new environment and I will probably get every bug that goes around this year. I also had a week or two of hideous headaches (and I am not a person who ever gets headaches). They went away, and the doctor attributed it to stress (gee, imagine that!).

[ceriserose 1]

I spent the first 6 months of my time here swollen and itching and headachy. I figured it was the change in everything (food, water, environmental factors) along with the stress of life changes. (I have had severe allergies and chronic headaches since I was a young child and migraines are the latest way those act out...for the last 10 years or so). Needless to say, I was pretty much a mess.

I went on an immune booster remedy from the health food store and cut out everything processed I could foodwise. I had brought a bunch of Imitrex with me for the really bad headaches and coasted with Advil Migraine when I could. And then I just waited it out. Unfortunately I never did pinpoint what caused me to go so haywire...I just put it down to the whole change.

I hope you feel better soon!