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Weather patterns and Migraines?

I have had migraines since I was a teen but for the last 2 years I have had "seizure like" auras with extreme neausea and vertigo. There was some debate about what was causing these symptoms. After extensive testing I have now been told it's non-epileptic and all migraine. We are now trying to find a daily preventative program. My Dr has suggested that our weather patterns might not be the best for my condition and that I might want to consider moving. I have not been able to narrow down very many triggers but I do know that weather shifts can trigger me. This has been very debilitating. I can have 3 auras a day and 3 full on migraines a week. The current preventatives are helping, they have knocked me down to 3 auras a week some with headache. If this is the best I can get here then I can't live like this. Does anyone have experience or ideas with determining good  weather patterns for migraine sufferers. Perhaps specific places. Please help.
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Avatar universal
LW,
Here is the model we used and you should be able to do the same.  Go to Weatherunderground.com (it a free weather site).  Select the Local Weather Tab.  Scroll down to History Data.  Enter your zipcode and begin selecting dates when you have had migraines.  You should begin noticing patterns of when your migraines start and what the major weather factors were.  For my wife it will always be a low pressure weather system having high West winds with humidity exceeding 50%.  I should also note that her migraines typically preceed the winds by about 10-12 hours on average.  The center of the low pressure system is usually on the Illinois/Indiania borders and moving East.  Now that we are aware of this we watch for developing systems that will move East through that area.  

To get the medical community trained in this area will take a sea change at the medical school level.  Doctor's are trained in a pathology rather than a meteorology philosophy.  The challenge for Doctor's is to accept that they need to consider consulting a broad range of outside specialties to fully appreciate a holistic approach to medicine.  The old adage of a butterfly over Indian Ocean causes a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean.  The small and seemingly inconsequential can lead to larger unanticipated problems.

Hope this helps you to help yourself.  
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Avatar universal
Just checked out the weather site, what a lot of great information! I was really surprised they have as a 2 or low risk a day where there's a strong chance of thunderstorms! Even though the risk they associate w the day may not be accurate for me, it helps to have the info in advance, like the humidity is going up 60% over the next few hours, we'll see what happens w that!
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Avatar universal
I appreciate you sending me this... Had you not sent it to me by name I wouldn't have received, as I haven't been watching the discussion. I have had migraine activity every day since the 23thd, will be interesting if the weather site can help explain why.. What a great tool, thanks so much!
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Avatar universal
So my head did let right up and I had no more issues. I went for 5 days of testing in Strong Hospital and they ruled out several things incliuding heart problems, they don't think that I have an inner ear problem but many of my symptoms do line up with inner ear.
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Avatar universal
According to weather underground for your area at 10AM, wind speed at was East at 10 MPH, humidity 61% and it began snowing.  All are essential elements under my theory for what I call a EMRICH headache to begin.  The center of the low has not hit your area but is due West so it will be interesting to see if it will let up for you.

We were fortunate in that the system stayed further North of our location so a migraine did not develop for my wife.

Has your Doctor considered Heart health for the vertigo?  Atrial fibrillation  is notable for vertigo.  Also Ear abnormalities can also be a cause.  My wife has not ever had vertigo associated with her migraines, but my Mother has.  

We use the forecasting tools so we can better plan any activities that could impacted by the weather related migraines.  So it is helpful.  
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Avatar universal
According to weather underground for your area at 10AM, wind speed at was East at 10 MPH, humidity 61% and it began snowing.  All are essential elements under my theory for what I call a EMRICH headache to begin.  The center of the low has not hit your area but is due West so it will be interesting to see if it will let up for you.

We were fortunate in that the system stayed further North of our location so a migraine did not develop for my wife.

Has your Doctor considered Heart health for the vertigo?  Atrial fibrillation  is notable for vertigo.  Also Ear abnormalities can also be a cause.  My wife has not ever had vertigo associated with her migraines, but my Mother has.  

We use the forecasting tools so we can better plan any activities that could impacted by the weather related migraines.  So it is helpful.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's about 10am and half an hour ago I had that strange feeling slight vertigo that sometimes proceed a significant event. So it might not be a good day! Thanks so much for looking at all this for me.
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