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Coffee for Migraine Headaches?

For 11 years I having knowing struggled with migraine headaches. Today is no different. It goes in waves and cycles with my hormones which are for the most part unpredictable. For me and many people chronic migraines are a progressive problem. For six years, the migraines progressively got stonger and more frequent for me. For 2 years now the migraines have been progressively been less frequent. I have consulted many physicians, natropaths and the like for care over the 11 years.

I started this blog purely to find an answer to my health issues and hope that it helps others along the way. What I am hoping I am finding is a food related answer to my daily headache problem. The severe migraines now come only twice a month. Women will understand what times a month. LOL.
The headaches are almost daily.

Some years the migraines were daily, especially during what I endearingly call "the cancer years". I say endearing because those years taught me about myself. What I am made of. I knew I was made of tough stuff with a never-give-up attitude. Though the cancer-care I found that even through the pain of constant headache, I did not want to give up. That is a big statement for those who are migraine sufferers like me.

6 years ago, now almost 7, I was recommended to a migraine specialist in Nashville, TN. This specialist is so renowned that even with an appointment you sit in the waiting room for hours on end. My longest wait was 4 hours with an excruciating migraine. At that time, my head was hurting so bad, it affected my decision making ability and I could not think straight. Instead of going to the local hospital, I drove an hour and waited 4 hours just to get a shot of Toradol to stop the pain.

Along with poly-medicating me, which I am still upset about, this physician recommended a prescription of coffee. Coffee to help minimize a headache? Two cups of coffee in the morning. It was truly part of my prescription for daily migraine preventative care.

I have noticed over the years that the coffee helps my brain be more alert and active. I have for the last 4 years since the cancer, had a half-cup or full cup in the morning. I have also found that I can not drink coffee in the morning when I have a migraine. It makes the headache worse. I can have a cup if the migraine is less severe.

This week I have had the opportunity to test the "coffee to relief migraine pain" prescription theory. I can say that yes, coffee helps control migraine pain for about 3-6 hours depending on the severity of the migraine pain. The pain will come back of course, because a migraine lasts three days and coffee in your system does not. I would recommend a little coffee therapy for anyone who suffers with headaches.

I hope this blog helps someone today. Have a super week.

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