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Migraine + Nosebleeds
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NicholausP posted:
Hello all,

For about the past two weeks I've been having severe migraines and nosebleeds. The migraines usually start out with a large spot of blurred vision, sometimes streaks of blur, the blur lasts about 15-20 minutes normally. Then the migraine comes, and each one feels like the worst headache of my life. They have only been lasting around 2-4 hours, and always seem to hit me when I've been at work for a while. The nosebleeds have accompanied the migraines about 1/3 of the time, and only last about 5-7 minutes. I'm wanting to try and figure out what could be triggering the migraines, any help or tips is greatly appreciated.

Things you may need to know:

- I drink around 2-3 Coke Zero's a day, the rest is Light Lemonade or Water. I don't each chocolates or drink coffee, this is a huge and sudden change from the caffeine intake I was on not too long ago.
- I smoke a half pack of cigarettes a day.
- I get around 6-7 hours of sleep a day usually, sometimes only 4-5.
- The pollen count is extremely high right now where I live, but I dont feel congested and I'm not sneezing or suffering from the usual allergy symptoms.

The doctor I saw a few days ago said the nosebleeds and migraines are unrelated, and the migraines are caused from allergies most likely. I was told to take, and have been on Excedrin Migraine pills the past few days which help only very little.

Again, just looking for more opinions on what could be triggering them, and if there's a better OTC drug than Excedrin I should take.
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Migraine + NosebleedsHello all,<br /><br /> For about the past two weeks I've been having severe migraines and nosebleeds. The migraines usually start out with a large spot of blurred vision, sometimes streaks of blur, the blur lasts about 15-20 minutes normally. Then the migraine comes, and each one feels like the worst headache of my life. They have only been lasting around 2-4 hours, and always seem to hit me when I've been at work for a while. The nosebleeds have accompanied the migraines about 1/3 of the time, and only last about 5-7 minutes. I'm wanting to try and figure out what could be triggering the migraines, any help or tips is greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Things you may need to know:<br /><br />- I drink around 2-3 Coke Zero's a day, the rest is Light Lemonade or Water. I don't each chocolates or drink coffee, this is a huge and sudden change from the caffeine intake I was on not too long ago.<br />- I smoke a half pack of cigarettes a day.<br />- I get around 6-7 hours of sleep a day usually, sometimes only 4-5.<br />- The pollen count is extremely high right now where I live, but I dont feel congested and I'm not sneezing or suffering from the usual allergy symptoms.<br /><br />The doctor I saw a few days ago said the nosebleeds and migraines are unrelated, and the migraines are caused from allergies most likely. I was told to take, and have been on Excedrin Migraine pills the past few days which help only very little.<br /><br />Again, just looking for more opinions on what could be triggering them, and if there's a better OTC drug than Excedrin I should take.
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whitebear4 responded:
First the obvious, eliminate the nicotine. If you drink Coke it has caffeine. You could use caffeine to stop headaches, but only right at the beginning. If you intake it other times, when you don't have a headache it could trigger them.

I have heard of nosebleeds at onset of migraine before so it's not that rare.

Don't take the excedrin because it can give you rebound headaches when they wear off. The ingredients that are for stopping a migraine in excedrin is the caffeine. But you could drink your coke right when you get the aura and use that to stop it and for the most part it probably won't give you rebounds. It's good to have a rythym every day and go to sleep and wake up at the same time.

You might need to see a headaches specialist or neurologist and get on preventative meds if you continue to have more headaches.
Report This| Share this:Migraine + NosebleedsFirst the obvious, eliminate the nicotine. If you drink Coke it has caffeine. You could use caffeine to stop headaches, but only right at the beginning. If you intake it other times, when you don't have a headache it could trigger them.<br /> <br />I have heard of nosebleeds at onset of migraine before so it's not that rare.<br /> <br />Don't take the excedrin because it can give you rebound headaches when they wear off. The ingredients that are for stopping a migraine in excedrin is the caffeine. But you could drink your coke right when you get the aura and use that to stop it and for the most part it probably won't give you rebounds. It's good to have a rythym every day and go to sleep and wake up at the same time.<br /> <br />You might need to see a headaches specialist or neurologist and get on preventative meds if you continue to have more headaches.
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Timothy Collins, MD responded:
Your headaches sound pretty typical for migraine, but it is unusual for someone to start having them suddenly (if they haven't had them in the past).

Your MD is correct about nose bleeds and migraines, but migraines are rarely caused by true allergies.

Excedrin migraine could actually make the nose bleeds worse, because it things your blood out slightly.

There many other medications that work better for migraine than excedrin--if your MD isn't going to try a prescription medication, ask for a referral to a headache specialist.
Report This| Share this:Migraine + NosebleedsYour headaches sound pretty typical for migraine, but it is unusual for someone to start having them suddenly (if they haven't had them in the past). <br /><br />Your MD is correct about nose bleeds and migraines, but migraines are rarely caused by true allergies. <br /><br />Excedrin migraine could actually make the nose bleeds worse, because it things your blood out slightly. <br /><br />There many other medications that work better for migraine than excedrin--if your MD isn't going to try a prescription medication, ask for a referral to a headache specialist.
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