Lunch with Lisa: The Best Migraine Hacks

In the American Migraine Foundation’s first episode of Lunch with Lisa, AMF Board Member and Founder of The Daily Migraine Lisa Jacobson shared her best hacks for dealing with migraine. From cold drinks that double as ice packs to migraine glasses that reduce light sensitivity, let us know which hack was your favorite in the comments below!

Reference to any specific products, medications, treatments, or manufacturer does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the American Migraine Foundation.

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[LilySurene]

I love that you’re being up front about the realistic goals of being functional, not pain free. Some days the difference between functional and not is very fragile, and sometimes keeping functional is a huge effort and win. People around me don’t understand that functional isn’t pain free, and that little sliver of being functional doesn’t mean everything is fine.

[phenomenal]

Definitely some great hacks for me to adopt. I currently don’t have a migraine bag but I’m going to create one. The soda can is a quick easy one.

A somewhat costly option is an eye massager device. I use the Eyeris 3, which I purchased during the holidays for a discount. Either heat or ice can be added. Castor packs with heat give me some relief also. And using a neck light to use less light at night or in dark rooms.

[lemonsept]

I got terrible migraines when I was in nursing school. The stress was just terrible! It was a 45 minute drive back and forth to class. The instructor was not very understanding. More than once, I has to stop on the side of the highway, pull over and get sick. What an ordeal!
Stress does it to me every time.

[catherinelin]

This is fantastic information, as a physician who also suffers from chronic migraines. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

[moongoddess]

This is a great video! My mom gets migraine without headache, so it's vertigo, nausea, vomiting and even some ataxia (uncontrolled movements or partial temporary paralysis). Thank you so much for all the ideas for hacks. It's so challenging and awful because it is all trial and error. I just want to share that my mom had "regular, " but very debilitating migraine headaches with aura and nausea/vomiting. Gradually they became less and less severe. But she started getting vertigo spells. We didn't make the connection, and nor did any doctors. This past year, the vertigo spells got super intense and much more frequent, and balance issues. She needed to go to the ER a couple times and got admitted a few times. Most doctors and info you we found in researching vertigo points to inner ear issues. We went to an excellent specialist - otoneurologist- and even they didn't immediately identify the issue as a migraine without headache, even though we provided a detailed medical history. But in that history, I didn't go into much detail on migraine because I had no idea there could be a connection. After suffering through another month or two, we finally observed that she was also photosensitive and sound sensitive during the vertigo attacks. We also identified that some vertigo spells were brought on by bright light (sitting in the sun). My sister and I did our own research on the connection between migraines and vertigo and the pieces fell into place. We returned to the specialist and layed out the case for migraine without vertigo. The doctor agreed and also said that migraine without headache is terribly under-diagnosed because most docs and non docs always connect migraine with headache so it isn't even considered. I want to spread the word about this because migraine symptoms can change significantly over time - also not well known fact. So if you have or had migraines, be aware and tell your friends and family about migraines without headaches. I hope this info saves anyone - even one person - some time, frustration, suffering and deep sleuthing. Hang in there everyone!

[philip]

I guess I'm lucky. Sumatriptan works very well for me.

[elainefosque]

Peanut butter triggers migraines for me.

[cruiz]

This is a fantastic resource! I have hemipelic migraine. I have my own migraine kit too.

Hopefully it helps someone, but this is what I carry: a TENS unit for the neuropathy pain, small trail mix pouch (or small food item), umbrella, a gel ice pack (pop it in the fridge at work), anti nauseous meds, abort meds in a keychain pill bottle (great for when you forget), brita water bottle so I can refill anywhere, I have a pair of FL-41 migraine glasses -- I highly recommend them! I also have FL-500 for lower lighting. Lastly, I carry a comfort item, for me it's a fidget ball for the anxiety.

I also found that Gatorade or IV in a bottle has been helpful when in the auras.

My neurologist wants me to track my symptoms, sometimes I struggle to remember to write it down or I am in the migraine and I can't look at the phone screen due to the light sensitivity. I asked my friends and family to help me with this. I call them and I describe my symptoms and they text it back to me so their is a time stamp/record I can share w/my doctor who want me to use this as a tool for identifying triggers.

Thank you for your video, this is super great info.