We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us how they deal with their migraines. Here's what they said:
Please note that these aren't medical recommendations. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any kind of treatment.
Everyone has a different ritual for getting through their migraines.
For some people it's about prescription meds or over-the-counter pain relief, and for others it's holistic treatments like essential oils or...Nutella. Some people just need a dark room and some sleep.
1. Excedrin + Mountain Dew + 30 minutes = relief.
2. Fever patches, Ibuprofen, purring cat.
3. Ice pack and a towel.
4. Yoga and a dark room.
5. Soothing balm, eye drops, and prescription pills.
6. Pain relief cocktail.
7. Essentail oil and a Be Koool patch, plus pain meds and sleep.
8. Tylenol and waiting it out.
9. Injection of prescription migraine pain meds.
10. Rx meds and a smoothie.
11. Potato chips (or another greasy snack).
12. Sleeping pill and absolute darkness.
13. Very hot shower, drinks, and snacks.
Drink as much Powerade as I can stomach drinking while taking four Excedrin Back and Body (NOT Excedrin Migraine) and take a long, very hot shower, concentrating on massaging my scalp and neck. After showering, drink a large glass of chocolate milk while munching on some crackers to restore any sugars and salts that may have dropped. —Sara Charles, Facebook
14. Venti anything.
15. Sleep and weed.
I used to suffer back when I was in school, now I rarely get migraines except when the barometric pressure is very low. The only thing that helps is sleep. And marijuana. —Nemi1969
16. Nutella and bread.
17. Getting some TLC.
I have someone put their hand over my eyes and the darkness and warmth seems to put me at ease as I lie in bed. —liffieboy
Everyone also has their own tricks for preventing migraines in the first place.
Some people take preventative meds, others keep a journal to find patterns in what causes their migraines, and some practice yoga and try to reduce life-related stress.
18. Seeing a chiropractor.
19. Tracking and avoiding triggers.
20. Quitting bras and smoking.
I barely get them anymore though; ever since I stopped wearing bras and quit smoking. I also do my best to avoid MSG, sucralose, and aspartame. Instant triggers! —Ameerah Sakina, Facebook
21. Taking a beta blocker and visiting a neurologist frequently.
22. Avoiding alcohol and MSG.
I stay away from the foods the trigger them like MSG and alcoholic drinks. —Pamela Tobolowsky, Facebook
23. Stretching and massaging the neck.
24. Doing plow pose.
25. Cutting out soda.
26. Eating the right foods and supplements.
I gave up wheat, gluten, dairy, red meat, and processed foods. I get much fewer migraines than I used to (maybe once a month versus five to 10 times). The only processed foods I eat are rice cakes, brown rice pasta, and maybe some gluten-free crackers. —Sally Mags, Facebook
27. Keeping track of your menstrual cycle.
28. Getting Botox treatment.
Note: Answers have been edited and condensed for length.
This post has been updated to make entry #6 more widely applicable.