Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm curious if anyone else who has autism also has recurrent and debilitating migraines.
I get migraines multiple times throughout the month. Growing up I had headaches but it was in my late teens and early adulthood when they really began to affect me in a way that caused disruption to my daily life.
In the last three years my anxiety has also worsened and this has increased the migraines and their severity to the extent that I can no longer work and when they happen not only is my anxiety at its worst but I'm also bed bound.
My GP has been somewhat unhelpful regarding this. She gave me medication for my migraines and anxiety but they don't seem to actually help at all. I've tried a few different medications now but they all have little to no effect on my symptoms.
Is there anything else I can do to help with my migraines? If I hadn't had the MRI and tests I would swear I have a brain tumour. The pain and other symptoms I get are that bad.
I'm open to any suggestions you might have to help me with this.
Hi
I've suffered with Migraines for years and been fobbed off by GPs numerous times. My advice is don't give up!
Log your Migraines to see if there are patterns that develop, i used the Migraine Buddy app, it was a really good app. i take anti depressants, which have helped with the stress related ones. But you will find that you never get rid of them completely.
Do some research and go back to your GP and see if you can get something that will help to prevent them better.
All the best.
I have migraines preceded by classic visual aura. I definitely know that my migraines are related to serotonin levels. I know this because when I was given Sertraline (which increases the concentration of circulating serotonin) for mild depression it directly triggered my migraines. I took a tablet a day for 10 days, then stopped. For the last 5 days of taking the Sertraline I had a debilitating migraine each day. For two days after stopping I had migraines, then for another two days I had visual aura, but no subsequent headache. After that I was back to having migraines very occasionally (two or three times a year).
Many other things can affect serotonin levels, sunlight, vitamin D, some food and food additives such as aniseed and foods high in tryptophan. Serotonin levels can be affected by and can affect mood, obviously. Therefore, the effects of overwhelm could include changes in serotonin.
I definitely don’t have anything to offer in terms of medical recommendation, it can be so hard to get GPs to take things like this seriously.
But in terms of a link between migraines and autism I think there likely is one (from a completely unqualified pov obviously)
I suffer badly with migraines and they seem very linked to sensory overwhelm. A friend of mine who is autistic suffers with the same thing. Unfortunately neither of us has found anything that works to treat them consistently though!
I get migraines about once every 5-6 weeks. I think it my body's way of forcing me to shut down.
Over the years I have tried all sorts of medication but nothing really seems to work. The only luck I have had is dispersible aspirin if I take it just as I feel it come on. The GP has given me anti sickness meds which means I don't vomit anymore, which is good.
They wipe me out for 2 or 3 days and I loose money as I am partly self employed. I can't do anything at all except lie in bed and ride through the pain like my skull is crushing my brain.
My oestopath helps with cranial massage and I gave noticed since seeing her it has made them further apart. She also helps with the pain my anxiety causes in other parts of my body.
Sorry I couldn't be more help.