Migraines that are caused by exercise.

Yep...that's right I get migraines from exercise.  Sounds like a great excuse to avoid exercise but it really was awful to live with.  Just so you know it's not caused by high blood pressure or anything like that.  It's just the way I am wired. 

Here's an article about exercise induced migraines.  Not a lot of people have heard of this.   

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51 909

I have had this problem for 20 years.  Really it's not just exercise...it's any kind of over exertion.  So when I was younger I would get it from moving out of my apartment, painting my house...anything that was lots of work.  As I got older and heavier it took less and less for me to get migraines.  I got a migraine once from doing groceries...I guess I circled around the grocery store one too many times.  I would avoid all activity.  My daughter knew I had this problem and would do what she could to help so I wouldn't get a migraine.  Unbelievably, I never went to the doctor for medicine.  I suffered needlessly for years and became more and more sedentary.  Last year I decided I wanted to start exercising but knew I couldn't just jump on a treadmill without pain afterward.  I went to my doctor.  He started me on Depakote (which is for the treatment of seizures but also helps migraines) the Depakote is a daily medication I take to keep migraines away.  Then I also have Maxalt for the migraines that actually develop. 

When I started to exercise I had to start slow and build up.  Pretty soon I was at a brisk walk for 45 minutes.  That's not to say there were times I ended up with a migraine because I pushed too hard.  See the medicine I take doesn't keep the migraines away indefinitely.  I can still do too much and give myself a migraine...I can feel it coming on and try to stop before that happens.  Which is a pain in the ass because my body wanted to keep going but my head was saying "if you take one more step ***** I will blow your head off".  I have noticed that it's taking more and more activity to induce a migraine.  After 10 months of building slowly and working with my doctor for the correct dosages...I am able to run now.  I still have the aggravation of wanting to keep on running and having to stop because I know a migraine is coming on.  

I am determined to eventually run a 5K race.  Right now I am working out on the treadmill for 50 minutes.  I do intervals.  I am up to 14 minutes of continuous running before I have slow down to a brisk walk.  I also lift weight too.  It's great to see that my hard work is paying off.  I do wish I didn't have this problem.  If I didn't I probably would be running marathons...hahaha.  But it makes me appreciate running more because I had to do a lot to work for it.  It's something I really wanted to do and I am getting closer to my goal of running a 5K!!! 


 

Congrats on your success and kudos for even risking a migraine. I know how debilitating they can be. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope it helps someone else.
Sue

Wow -- you continue to amaze me.

I get occasional migraines -- and food related migraines, but I had not heard of exercise induced ones.

I am so impressed that you are working so hard to overcome it and build up to a level that you can safely work out at.

I can't wait to read about your first 5K!!!!!  Cheering for you from Tucson!